Chris Christie Signs 7 Bills Into Law, Including One Inspired By 'Snooki'

Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill Monday while signing 7 others into law, including one inspired by Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi of the reality T.V. show "Jersey Shore" (see list below).

The legislation limits how much state universities can pay speakers, setting a $10,000 cap on the amount of state money that can be spent.

Snooki was paid $32,000 from student fees to speak at a 2011 Rutgers student event. Musician and actor Steven Van Zandt, meanwhile, is being paid $35,000 to speak at Rutgers' commencement Sunday.

Rutgers has said that no operating costs go towards the speaking fees, saying the money comes from its beverage contract.

Christie said he signed Senate Bill No. 2355 after several incidents in recent years "have shined a light on
the fees paid to some invitees to speak at our state’s public institutions of higher education, with some individuals receiving in excess of $30,000 for speaking engagements."

"In light of the rising costs of college education, public institutions of education must be mindful of how they spend their resources, which directly contribute to the costs of tuition and fees charged to students," he said.

Since the speakers are not paid with state funds, however, Christie said this bill is "essentially a symbolic statement on the rising costs of higher education and will have minimal impact on limiting the ability of the state’s public institutions of higher education to engage speakers at whatever rates they mutually agree to
pay."

"Despite the symbolic practical nature of this bill, I agree with the intent of the sponsors that we need to bring
attention to the twin problems of rising tuition costs and the resultant increases in student loan debt owed by college graduates," he said. "Our public institutions of higher education need to be better stewards of both state resources and non-state sources of revenue to ensure the costs of a college education do not become unmanageable."

Also, Christie signed legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Robert Auth (S2562/A4244), that combats the growing problem of predators using heavy-handed influence to separate victims from close family and friends.

“Perpetrators using predatory alienation can destroy relationships, devastate families, and make off with the victim’s money and assets,” said Auth, R—Bergen. “Victims of this diabolical exploitation fall prey to emotional and psychological coercion. The psychological attacks leave them disoriented, disconnected from family members and loved ones, and easily manipulated.”

Here is what Christie has signed and vetoed:

BILL SIGNINGS:

S-2355/A-714 (Cunningham/DiMaio) – STATEMENT UPON SIGNING - Prohibits public institution of higher education from using State funds in excess of $10,000 to pay fee of commencement and other speakers

S-2398/A-3879 (Bateman, Allen, Greenstein, Singleton/Ciattarelli, Auth, Space) - Requires school district to adopt policy allowing students in grades 9 through 12 who participate in certain interscholastic extracurricular activities to earn varsity letter

S-2538/A-4204 (Sweeney, Singer, Vitale, Sarlo/Mazzeo, Houghtaling, Downey, Andrzejczak, Land) - Requires Office of Emergency Management to establish county storm preparedness funding program

S-2562/A-4244 (Weinberg, Cardinale/Vainieri Huttle, Caride, Pintor Marin, Auth, McKnight) - Requires DCF and DHS to study predatory alienation and its effects on young adults and senior citizens

S-2915/A-4560 (Ruiz, Rice/Pintor Marin) - Adjusts reference to population for library director position in unclassified civil service

S-2997/A-4597 (Smith, Bateman/Zwicker, Singleton, Muoio) - Appropriates $59,532,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and capital and park development projects

SJR-89/AJR-111 (Vitale, Madden/Quijano, Webber, DiMaio, McKnight) - Designates May of each year as "Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month" in New Jersey

BILL VETOED:

S-3040/A-99 (Sweeney, T. Kean/Prieto, Sumter, Schaer, Greenwald, Rible, Dancer) – CONDITIONAL - Transfers management of PFRS to Board of Trustees of PFRS

Patch file photo