Senate Committee Advances Singer Bill to End Costly Health Insurance Mandate for New Jersey College Students
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer to eliminate a costly state mandate requiring all full-time college students in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage was approved Thursday by the Senate Higher Education Committee.
“Families and students are already struggling with the rising costs of college and should not have to face additional, burdensome state mandates,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean.) “By lowering financial burdens, New Jersey’s college students are better poised to finish their degrees and become our next generation of leaders.”
Singer, Kyrillos Urge Senate Democrats to Reinstate Vital Sandy Recovery Legislation
Senators Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) and Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) urged Senate Democrat leaders on Thursday to reinstate vital Superstorm Sandy recovery legislation to Monday’s Community and Urban Affairs Committee agenda.
“It is appalling that Senate Democrats have decided to punish towns and residents devastated by the worst storm in our state’s history for personal, political motives,” said Singer. “Instead of choosing to work together to provide critical assistance to our residents and businesses, Senate Democrats have decided instead to hold them captive as political pawns.”
Senate Clears Singer Bill to End Costly Health Insurance Burden on County College Students
The state Senate passed Monday an amended version of Senator Robert Singer’s legislation to eliminate a costly state mandate that county college students in New Jersey maintain and prove health insurance coverage.
“College is an increasingly expensive burden on students and families, and the state should not be in the business of making it more financially daunting,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “We can allow the next generation of leaders to focus more on their professional aspirations than whether or not they can afford to graduate.”
Christie Signs Singer’s Tanning Bill to Prevent Cancer
Gov. Chris Christie signed into law bipartisan tanning legislation sponsored by Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean).
Senator Singer’s prohibits people younger than 14 from spray tanning and those younger than 17 from using tanning beds in tanning facilities. Seventeen-year-olds can use tanning beds only if a parent or guardian is present at the tanning facility for initial consultation.
“In sponsoring and advocating for this law, I have given careful consideration to its potential impact on the business community, but I firmly believe it is my primary responsibility as a Senator to protect children,” Singer said. “There are copious studies proving that tanning can be habit-forming and impose severe, life-threatening health risks upon young children and teenagers.”
Senate Passes Singer’s Tanning Bill
The state Senate passed bipartisan tanning legislation sponsored by Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean).
Senator Singer’s S-1172 prohibits minors younger than 14 from spray tanning and those younger than 17 from using tanning beds in tanning facilities. Seventeen-year-olds can use tanning beds only if a parent or guardian is present at the tanning facility for initial consultation.
“Tanning can be habit-forming, and children and young teens are the most-vulnerable to the life-threatening risks of skin cancer,” Singer emphasized. “We hear of serious, sometimes fatal cases of skin cancer in young people in their twenties and thirties who were frequent users of artificial tanning beds as teens.”
Christie to Consider Signing Singer’s Life-Saving ‘Yellow Dot Program’
Legislation sponsored by Senator Bob Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to provide emergency responders with vital health information about injured motorists was passed today by the full Assembly.
The legislation, S-71, would provide interested motorists a yellow sticker to place on their vehicles to notify emergency responders that critical health information is available in the glove compartment.
“In case drivers cannot communicate during an emergency, this measure gives our responders critical health information and a better chance of reviving our motorists in life-threatening circumstances,” Singer said. “Yellow Dot programs are effective, simple initiatives in several states, including Connecticut, New York, Virginia. This is worth our every effort, as you can’t put a price on saving lives.”
Ocean County Legislative Delegations Hold Meeting for Local Officials to Discuss Sandy-Related Issues
Representatives of the 9th, 10th and 30th state legislative delegations hosted a meeting on Tuesday, January 15 at the Toms River Municipal Town Hall to provide local public officials the opportunity to discuss Superstorm Sandy-related issues.
Invited to the meeting to answer questions from the local officials were representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Governor’s Office, as well as other state officials with agencies actively engaged in storm-related matters.
Jersey Shore Republican Senators Urge House Approval of Remaining Sandy Aid
With the U.S. House of Representatives poised to vote on $51 billion in disaster aid for Sandy recovery and relief, Senators Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth), Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth), Robert Singer (R- Ocean), Jim Holzapfel (R- Ocean), Chris Connors (R- Ocean), and Sam Thompson (R- Ocean) issued the following statement urging passage of funding package:
Prior to Sandy, the federal government has never hesitated in stepping up with financial assistance to communities and states devastated by natural disasters. Even in an era of intense partisanship, victims of Hurricane Sandy should be treated no differently. They are Americans like everyone else.
Gov. Christie Signs Kean, Singer Student Loan Literacy Initiative
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. and Senator Robert Singer to assure that New Jersey families understand student loan rates, schedules, debt and defaults was signed into law today by Gov. Chris Christie.
“The price of college and complexity of student loans impose short- and long-term stresses on families,” said Kean (R-Union). “It is paramount that our schools educate students and families about the immediate and future costs of collegiate investments to help them choose the right college and career path.”
O’Toole, Beck, and Singer Respond to Sweeney Remarks
Senators Kevin O’Toole, Jennifer Beck, and Robert Singer issued the following statements in response to statements made by Senate President Stephen Sweeney that Governor Christie “prayed a lot” and “got lucky” that Hurricane Sandy devastated portions of New Jersey:
