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Simpler Homeowners’ Insurance Post-Sandy, Rejecting Christie School Funding Changes Targeting At-Risk Children, Requiring Legislative OK for Lottery Privatization & Protecting Identity Theft Victims Highlight Monday Assembly Agenda

Repurposing Closed Hospitals, Helping Avoid Diabetic-Law Enforcement Confrontations, Improved Home Fire Safety, Anti-Big Brother Act, Outlawing Synthetic Marijuana, Dredging Study, Domestic Violence Protections & Helping Vets Access College Also on Tap


(TRENTON) — Simpler homeowners’ insurance policies following Hurricane Sandy, rejecting Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed school funding cuts targeting at-risk students, requiring legislative approval for privatizing the state Lottery and requiring debt collectors to cease collections against victims of identity theft top Monday’s Assembly voting session.

Repurposing closed hospitals, helping avoid confrontations among diabetics and law enforcement, improved home fire safety, the Anti-Big Brother Act, outlawing synthetic marijuana, requiring a Delaware River dredging study, enhanced domestic violence protections & helping veterans gain access to college are also on tap.

The session is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. It will be streamed live here.

The agenda can be viewed here.

Highlights include:

  • Amid confusion following Sandy among homeowners, a bill (A-3642) to require insurance companies to provide a clear one-page summary of policies to homeowners. It’s sponsored by Ruben Ramos (D-Hudson), Gary Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen), Linda Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) and Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden);
  • Legislation (ACR-172) Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon), Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen), Benjie E. Wimberly (D-Passaic/Bergen) and L. Grace Spencer (D-Essex) sponsored rejecting Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed school funding cuts targeting at-risk, bilingual and special education students;
  • Legislation (A-3416) sponsored by Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon), Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) to require legislative approval for any plan to privatize state lottery operations, as the Christie administration is planning;
  • A resolution (AR-130) urging the governor to seek legal advice from the U.S. Department of Justice before contracting with private sector manager to operate the state Lottery. It’s sponsored by Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen), Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex) and Sean Connors (D-Hudson);
  • Legislation (A-3043) sponsored by Jerry Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) and Shavonda E. Sumter (Passaic/Bergen) to help transform ailing or obsolete hospitals into productive healthcare facilities once again;
  • 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);
  • 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);
  • 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;
  • A bill (A-1570) sponsored by John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), Jerry Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) and Mila Jasey (D-Essex/Morris) to require fire suppression systems in new single- and two-family homes;
  • 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;
  • 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);
  • 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
  • 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).