Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Annette Quijano, Pamela R. Lampitt and Linda Stender sponsored to ensure victims of sexual assault aren’t responsible for paying for forensic sexual assault exams was released Monday by an Assembly panel.

“This is simply the right thing to do,” said Quijano (D-Union). “Sexual assault victims have already suffered enough. I see no reason why we should add to that suffering by essentially forcing them to pay for the investigation into their own assault. We must remember that these women are the victims, not the criminals.”

“The idea that we would make anyone pay for their own exam following a sexual assault is abhorrent,” said Lampitt (D-Camden). “This bill will ensure that never happens and will give common-sense support to victims when they need it the most."

“With this bill, we would ensure victims won’t face the insult of having to pay for their own exams following a sexual assault,” said Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). “It’s hard to believe that was ever even a possibility, but this bill makes it an impossibility.”

The bill (A-2597) was released 6-0 by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

A 2001 state law established the Statewide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. Under that statute, each county provides forensic sexual assault examinations to sexual assault victims. The examinations are conducted by physicians or certified forensic sexual assault nurse examiners.

Sell Ad Space at Toll Plazas

Courier Post
Editorial
June 11, 2010

The state should be eager to raise money for road projects without hiking tolls or taxes.

The state's transportation trust fund is nearly empty. Lawmakers in Trenton saw this coming for years and have long debated whether to raise the state gasoline tax. We have the third-lowest gasoline tax in the nation here -- a most unusual circumstance in a state where virtually every other tax ranks among the highest in the nation.

Because all our other taxes are so inflated, state legislators have, rightly, been afraid to raise the gasoline tax and shake more money out of New Jerseyans' pockets.

But the transportation trust fund, which provides money for major road repair and renovation projects, still desperately needs an infusion of cash. There are dozens of major roadwork projects on the drawing boards that have waited years for state funding.

Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, D-Camden, and Assemblyman Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, have a common sense proposal for how to generate some cash for these projects without raising any taxes or tolls -- put ads at the toll plazas on our highways.

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt and Assemblyman Albert Coutinho to spark economic development by increasing the number and types of businesses eligible to benefit from tax exempt purchases in Urban Enterprise Zones was released Thursday by an Assembly panel.

"In tough economic times, we must do everything we can to ease administrative burdens and red tape that have hurt struggling small businesses in UEZs," said Lampitt (D-Camden) "This bill will throw UEZ businesses a lifeline, promoting economic development and job creation by expanding the number and types of businesses that will benefit from tax exempt purchases at the point of sale, at a time when such aid is critical.”

“UEZs have been a successful program throughout our state, but with this change we can make them even more successful by easing back on burdensome rules and regulations that have limited economic growth and job creation,” said Coutinho (D-Essex), who chairs the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee that released the bill. “This can only benefit communities that rely on UEZs as a centerpiece of their redevelopment efforts.”

Under current law, sales of tangible personal property, except motor vehicles and energy, and sales of services, except telecommunications and utilities, to a qualified business for the exclusive use or consumption of that business within a UEZ are exempt from the sales and use tax at the point of sale if the business is a “small qualified business” with annual gross receipts of less than $10 million.

Legislation Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt and Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin sponsored to allow commercial advertising and sponsorship on the state’s toll plazas to help ease the burden on taxpayers is advancing toward law.

“With cuts to every part of the budget, government must find new and creative ways to fund transportation projects without going to taxpayers’ pocket books,” said Lampitt (D-Camden). “Allowing advertisers to pay for space on New Jersey’s toll plazas does just that, without burdening New Jersey’s families.”

Under the bill (A-2407), the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority would be authorized to allow the placement of commercial advertising and sponsorship signs on any equipment or materials related to the collection of tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway.

“New Jersey is home to the nation’s first and third busiest toll roads,” said Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “Companies will jump at the chance pay for advertising access to the toll plazas and taxpayers will reap the benefits.”

The bill was recently released by the Assembly transportation panel and now goes to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

As of May 29th, constituents may apply for NJ SHARES if their gross monthly income ranges from 176% to 400% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) and they have not received a LIHEAP benefit this heating season. Our office will now refer to the USF chart in to determine income eligibility. For more information, contact our legislative office at 856-435-1247.