Proposed NJ Laws Advance For 3 Essex County Lawmakers

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Proposed state laws sponsored by two Democrats and a Republican in Essex County took a big step forward this week, with the New Jersey Senate voting in their favor.

On Monday, the senate cleared three bills that involve language access on state forms, assistance for water bills, and mental health services at homeless shelters.

Here are some details about each bill.

LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

A proposed New Jersey law would require government forms and notices to be translated from English into the state’s “15 most common languages.”

The bill, S-2459, would require state agencies to translate forms, privacy protections, and notices of rights in the top five most used languages by the end of the first year, then add an additional five languages by the end of the second year and add the five remaining languages in the third year after implementation. Read More: NJ Bill Would Make State Agencies Translate Forms Into 15 Languages

Sen. Teresa Ruiz (District 29), a primary sponsor of the bill who represents Newark in Essex County, said New Jersey is second in the nation in terms of people who speak a language other than English at home.

“It is to everyone’s benefit that all residents are kept informed and are aware of services offered by the state regardless of what language they speak,” said Ruiz, a Democrat. “When people are in need, and especially in crisis, they should be able to connect to the resources available to them.”

The bill was released from the Senate by a vote of 23-13.

WATER BILLS

Meanwhile, the senate also advanced a proposed state law that supporters say will help struggling households in New Jersey get assistance with their water bills.

S-3333, which counts Republican Sen. Kristin Corrado (District 40) among its primary sponsors, would requires water companies to participate in the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. It would also temporarily prohibit water service providers from taking certain actions against a household for unpaid bills. Read More: NJ Bill Would Pressure Water Companies To Join Federal Aid Program

“The federal government provided $24 million dollars to fund the state’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, but more than $17 million remains unspent,” Corrado previously said. “That’s because most water and sewer companies in New Jersey do not participate in the assistance program, which prevents their customers from benefiting from this federal aid.”

“This bill aims to boost participation in the program to help more eligible homeowners before the deadline this September,” she added.

“The state continues to sit on billions of unspent federal relief dollars instead of getting it into the hands of those who need help, including with their water bills,” the senator said after Monday’s vote. “Struggling families shouldn’t be at the mercy of their water company’s decision to participate in this valuable assistance program.”

The bill was unanimously released from the Senate on Monday.

The 40th district includes Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Verona in Essex County.

HEALTH CARE FOR HOMELESS

A proposed state law that would “open a door” for mental health care providers to operate in homeless shelters took another step forward on Monday.

The senate unanimously voted to release S-3261, a bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Renee Burgess, who succeeded recently deceased former senator Ronald Rice in the 28th District last year.

According to Burgess, here’s what the bill would do if it becomes law:

“The bill would authorize behavioral health care providers to offer services in response to emergencies, or on a part-time or full-time basis, at a specified location within an emergency shelter for the homeless that is exclusively used by a behavioral health care provider. Under the bill, ‘behavioral health care providers’ include psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced practice nurse, psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or any other licensed or authorized mental health, behavioral health, or substance use disorder treatment provider. The bill would also define ‘behavioral health care’ as services, other than primary health care services, provided to a patient for the treatment of a mental illness, emotional disorder, or drug or alcohol use disorder.”

“A greater emphasis needs to be placed on the provision of behavioral health services to homeless persons in order to create and maintain permanent solutions,” Burgess said.

“This legislation is a crucial first step to opening the door for service providers to work within shelters, but it is even more critical because the bill provides homeless persons with the choice and access to efficient and holistic care,” Burgess added.

The 28th District includes the municipalities of Irvington, Maplewood, Newark and South Orange in Essex County.

• See Related: NJ Bill Would 'Open Door' For Mental Health Care In Homeless Shelters

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