Senate Passes Singer Bills to Protect Consumers, Establish Standards for Third-Party Energy Suppliers
Two bills sponsored by Senator Robert Singer to increase consumer protections for customers of third-party energy suppliers were passed today by the full Senate.
Sen. Robert Singer’s legislation, S-2466 and S-2468, increases consumer protections for customers of third-party energy suppliers. (Flickr)
“The deregulated energy market has brought with it a host of third-party energy suppliers and the opportunity for consumers to shop for providers offering lower rates,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “However, a lack of transparency and oversight has led to confusion and misleading contracts that have left too many customers who switched to third-party suppliers in hopes of lowering costs with astronomical gas or electric bills due to variable-rate plans and changing energy costs. These bills ensure a greater level of transparency and establishes clear standards to better protect consumers in the third-party energy supplier marketplace.”
Singer Editorial On Innovative Ways to Cut Health Care Costs, Offer More Affordable Care for New Jersey Families
The following editorial by Senator Robert Singer addressing innovative ways to cut health care costs and offer higher-quality, more affordable care for consumers was published by the Asbury Park Press on Oct. 16, 2015. Senator Singer serves on the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Sen. Robert Singer discusses the need to support innovative ways to cut health care costs and offer higher-quality, more affordable care for consumers. (©iStock.com)
Rapidly escalating health care costs have left families and businesses across New Jersey struggling to find high quality care they can afford. Consumers in New Jersey now pay the second-highest health care premiums in the country and those costs continue to rise faster than the national average.
The cost of health care for public workers now consumes nearly 10 percent of the state budget and the federal surcharge, which can be as much as $750 million to the state, is looming.
Senate Passes Singer Bill Improving Coordination Between Behavioral/Primary Health Services
A measure sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to create better coordinated and comprehensive primary and behavioral health care services was adopted by the full Senate.
Sen. Robert Singer’s legislation allows for better coordinated and comprehensive primary and behavioral health care services. (©iStock)
Under Senator Singer’s legislation, S2375, ambulatory care facilities would be permitted to provide primary health care services and behavioral health care services under a single license.
“The state’s current requirement forcing facilities to obtain multiple licenses is an unnecessary burden that restricts a patients’ access to needed care and makes it much more difficult for health centers to provide coordinated, holistic care,” said Singer. “Making it easier for ambulatory care facilities to also provide mental health services will allow more patients to get the full spectrum of care that they need.”
Singer Bills to Protect Consumers, Establish Standards for Third-Party Energy Suppliers Advanced
A three-bill package of legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer to increase consumer protections for customers of third-party energy suppliers was advanced by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
Senator Robert Singer’s package of bills would increase consumer protections for customers of third-party energy suppliers (SenateNJ.com)
“The deregulated energy market has brought with it a host of third-party energy suppliers and the opportunity for consumers to shop for providers offering lower rates,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “However, a lack of transparency and oversight has led to confusion and misleading contracts that has left too many customers who switched to third-party suppliers in hopes of lowering costs with astronomical gas or electric bills due to variable-rate plans and changing energy costs. This package ensures a greater level of transparency and establishes clear standards to better protect consumers in the third-party energy supplier marketplace.”
Senate Adopts Singer Bill Protecting Victims of Identity Theft From Debt Collection
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer protecting consumers who fall victim to identity theft from debt collection was passed by the full Senate.
Senator Robert Singer’s legislation protects consumers who fall victim to identity theft from debt collection. (©iStock)
“Victims of identity theft can be buried in thousands of dollars of debt from fraudulent purchases before they even realize they have been victimized,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “This legislation makes sure victims of identity theft have a means to restore their lives and avoid the financial ruin of wrongly being tied to debt caused by fraud and no fault of their own.”
Singer Bill to Protect Developmentally Disabled From Dangerous Acts Gains Senate Approval
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer that would upgrade current law to better protect those with developmental disabilities from being victimized by the acts of others that are dangerous and potentially deadly gained Senate approval.
Sen. Robert Singer introduced the legislation after a 19-year-old autistic man was coerced into jumping into frigid Atlantic waters in February from a jetty in Manasquan by two men who videotaped and posted the incident to social media. (Flickr)
“Today’s unanimous Senate vote sends a clear message that bullying or taking advantage of anyone, especially those who are less able to protect themselves, is wrong and won’t be tolerated,” said Senator Singer. “These updates to current law will enhance protection for those with developmental disabilities and will make sure anyone committing these types of troubling acts is held accountable.”
Senate Passes Singer Trio of Healthcare Bills to Raise Awareness, Combat Skin Cancer, ALS, COPD
The New Jersey Senate advanced a trio of healthcare bills sponsored by Senator Robert Singer to raise awareness, encourage prevention efforts, and support New Jersey residents coping with Skin Cancer, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS,) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Sen. Robert Singer’s healthcare bills raise awareness, encourage prevention efforts, and support state residents coping with Skin Cancer, ALS, and COPD. (©iStock)
Senator Singer’s bill, S-2459, ignites an aggressive effort to fight COPD by creating an 11-member task force to investigate strategies to promote awareness on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The task force will also study the resources that are used statewide to combat COPD and determine the best way to improve the quality and accessibility of community-based services for those living with this disease. Nearly 451,000 people – 5.1 percent of New Jersey’s population – are living with COPD, according to the most recent statistics available from the CDC.
“We need to do more to help the hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents struggling with COPD – the third leading cause of death in the U.S.,” said Senator Singer. “By establishing a task force to evaluate how we can raise awareness and expand community resources, we are helping countless New Jerseyans with COPD live fuller, happier lives.”
Singer Bill Protecting Victims of Identity Theft From Debt Collection Advanced
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer protecting consumers who fall victim to identity theft from debt collection was advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Robert Singer would protect consumers who fall victim to identity theft from debt collection. (©iStock)
“Identity theft is a serious crime and one that can unfortunately bury even the most cautious consumer under a mountain of debt,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “This bill gives those who fall victim to identity theft a means to restore their lives and avoid the financial ruin of wrongly being tied to debt caused by fraud and no fault of their own.”
