Cardinale Waits for Sponsored Bills to Leave Committee

With the Legislature taking a break after the state budget process,
Patch takes a look at some of the bills still pending that have been
sponsored by District 39 Senator Gerald Cardinale.

Introduced in January 2010, the Senator proposed Bill S51 which would
require all public school principals and teachers to conduct an oral
recitation of the Declaration of Independence before school begins
every morning for grades three through 12. While the bill would
appropriate $10,000 to making this happen, it has since stalled in the
Senate Education Committee.

Stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee is Bill S52 to modify the
tort liability of product sellers. Basically any product seller is
subject to liability or breach of implied warranty if the manufacturer
has filed for bankruptcy, but only if no more than five years has
passed or has only just recently purchased the business.

If a physician wants to refer a patient to certain physician-owned
hospitals, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens
Committee will keep them waiting as S53 is still waiting for a
hearing.

The Senate Environment and Energy Committee have yet to discuss S54 on
how to change restrictions on certain county or municipal stream
cleaning activities. If approved, it would allow municipalities and
counties to properly, quickly, and economically clean and de-silt
streams to help prevent serious flooding that may cause personal
injury and property damage.

S55 would make permanent the previously temporary authority of the
Administrative Director of the Courts to set certain fess for the
service of process by mail – that is if it ever receives a hearing by
the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill would make various changes
to the fees charged by the clerk in actions in the Special Civil Part
of the Superior Court, Division. The bill also increases payments to
the individuals who serve process in the Special Civil Part. The
Special Civil Part handles small claims (up to $3,000), tenancy
matters, and claims for monetary relief between $3,000 and$15,000.
Cases in the Special Civil Part are typically tried by a judge without
a jury.

Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic
Preservation Committee was S56 to freeze expenditures by public
entities on salaries and benefits for period of three years and limits
such expenditures thereafter. It would only allow subsequent increases
only to the extent that those increases do not exceed any increase in
the CPI (consumer price index).

Psychologists could begin to video record sessions conducted with
children alleged to be abused or neglected once the Senate Health,
Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee takes a look at S57. The
requirement is meant as a way to protect the interests of
psychologists and children should issues or questions arise regarding
the therapy provided during the sessions.

Cardinale called for the end of the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ)
Program with S58 to the Senate Economic Growth Committee. Under the
UEZ, a city can designate up to 30% of its total area, usually in the
industrial or commercial portion to be included as a way to
reinvigorate the business climate by also reducing the general sales
tax by 50% and implementing hiring incentives. Examples of the UEZ can
be found at Elizabeth Center and the Jersey Gardens Outlet Center.

The Senator called for a bistate commission to coordinate management
and flood prevention of waterways flowing between Bergen County, and
Rockland County, NY with bill S59. His version was approved by the
Senate 38-0 in September 2010 but is still waiting for approval by the
Assembly. In March, it was reported out of the Assembly Committee for
a second reading and is now waiting for a vote. A similar version in
the Assembly, A2440, is sponsored by District 39 representatives
Charlotte Vandervalk and Robert Schroeder.