Increased Fines for Failing to Stay to the Right, Anti-Big Brother Act, Help for Domestic Violence Victims, Limiting Where Cosmetic Surgeries Can Take Place, Studying Impact of River Dredging Disposal & Helping Vets Also on Tap
(TRENTON) – Testimony on how Sandy impacted the economy and education in New Jersey, discussion from emergency management officials on the progress of Sandy’s recovery efforts and bills to protect consumers from abusive debt collection, combat human trafficking, increase fines and impose a license suspension for using a hand-held device while driving, banning synthetic marijuana and help diabetics avoid disagreements with law enforcement top Thursday’s Assembly agendas.
Also on tap are bills to increase fines for drivers who fail to stay to the right unless passing, the Anti-Big Brother Act, permit domestic violence victims to testify via closed circuit television, limit where cosmetic surgeries can take place, study the impact of heavy traffic disposing of Delaware River dredging material and helping veterans and military members afford college.
The hearings are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. They will be streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
The agenda is attached. Highlights include:
· The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to hear testimony on the impact of Superstorm Sandy on New Jersey’s economy.
· The Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to hear testimony from emergency management officials on the progress of Sandy’s recovery efforts.
· The Assembly Education Committee will meet at 1 p.m. to hear testimony on the impact of Superstorm Sandy on school districts, including the impact on infrastructure, the challenges of education students after the storm, the displacement of students and personnel and the uses of school buildings as shelters.
· Legislation (A-1535) sponsored by John Burzichelli and Celeste Riley (both D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) to eliminate abusive practices in the collection of consumer debts by debt buyers. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Consumer Affairs Committee.
· A bill (A-3005) to require debt collectors to cease collections against victims of identity theft. It’s sponsored by Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen) and Tim Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic) and will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Consumer Affairs panel.
· A bill to combat human trafficking through better prevention, protection and treatment (A-3352). It’s sponsored by Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex), Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex), Angel Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester), Linda Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) and Shavonda Sumter (D-Passaic/Bergen) and will be heard at 1 p.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
· A bill (A-1683) sponsored by Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen) and Tim Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic) to criminalize the purchase and possession of firearms ammunition by those convicted of certain crimes. It will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
· A bill (A-1080) to increase the fine and impose a license suspension for talking or texting on a hand-held device while driving. It’s sponsored by Annette Quijano (D-Union), L. Grace Spencer (D-Essex), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Angel Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) and will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
· A bill (A-945) to help avoid disagreements between law enforcement and diabetics by allowing those with diabetes to voluntarily make a notation on their driver’s license. It’s sponsored by Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) and will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
· A measure (A-2277) sponsored by Gilbert “Whip” Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester) to increase the fine for failing to keep right unless overtaking. It will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
· A bill (A-2673) sponsored by Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Marlene Caride (D-Passaic/Bergen) to prohibit the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana. It will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
· The Assembly Education Committee will consider The Anti-Big Brother Act (A-2932) sponsored by Annette Quijano (D-Union) and Ruben J. Ramos (D-Hudson). The bill requires a school district that furnishes a student with a laptop computer, cellular telephone or other electronic device to provide the student with written notice that the electronic device may record or collect information on the student’s activity, or the student’s use of the device if it is equipped with a camera, global positioning system or other feature capable of recording or collecting information. That will be at 1 p.m.
· Legislation (A-1824) to limit where certain cosmetic surgical procedures – including liposuction and breast implant – may be performed in New Jersey. Specifically, the bill provides that a physician is to perform such procedures only in an office or facility that is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care or The Joint Commission. The bill is sponsored by Herb Conaway, M.D. (D-Burlington), Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex) and Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.
· A bill (A-1822) to require the state to study the potential impact of heavy vehicle traffic along routes for disposal of dredged material from the Delaware River. It’s sponsored by Herb Conaway, M.D. and Troy Singleton (both D-Burlington) and Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). It will be heard at 1 p.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
· Legislation (A-3219) to allow domestic violence victims to testify via closed circuit television. It’s sponsored by Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), Gabriela Mosquera and Paul Moriarty (both D-Gloucester/Camden) and Angel Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester) and will be heard at 1 p.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
· A measure (A-2626) to require colleges and universities to waive or reimburse application and transcript fees for veterans and military members. It’s sponsored by Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington), Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex), Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), Daniel R. Benson and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Gilbert “Whip” Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester) and will be heard at 1 p.m.by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.