Singer Bill Package to Improve Maternity Care Advances
Legislation to make Pregnancy, Delivery, and the Postpartum Period Safer
A trio of bipartisan bills sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth) that aims to improve the health and well-being of mothers before, during, and after pregnancy unanimously passed the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. The bills’ passage comes in the wake of a state and national health emergency: African American mothers are dying both during and after childbirth at disproportionately higher rates than white mothers, with some of the most staggering rates occurring right here in New Jersey.
A trio of bipartisan bills sponsored by Sen. Robert Singer that aims to improve the health and well-being of mothers before, during, and after pregnancy passed the Senate Health Committee. (©iStock)
“New Jersey’s high maternal illness and death toll are disturbing, particularly for African American mothers,” Singer said. “We must take action to fix this deadly crisis. This requires a comprehensive approach of prioritizing maternal health during pregnancy, childbirth, and throughout the postpartum period. Enacting this legislation package will reduce preventable deaths and ensure more New Jersey mothers and babies leave the hospital happy and healthy.”
Now Law: Singer Bill to Draw Nursing Aides to NJ
Legislation Allows Out-Of-State License Use
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-30) to allow nursing aides who were certified out-of-state to use their license to care for people in New Jersey was signed into law on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 by Governor Phil Murphy.
Senator Robert Singer’s legislation allow nursing aides who were certified out-of-state to use their license to care for people in New Jersey was signed into law. (Flickr)
“Prior to my bill being signed into law, many highly-qualified and experienced nursing aides couldn’t work in New Jersey simply because they live out of state,” Singer said. “The number of job openings for certified nursing assistants is staggering. There are more than 1,800 vacant positions in nursing homes throughout New Jersey.
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Singer Explores Ways to Fund NJ Transit Without Fare Hikes
The New Jersey State Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer to prevent NJ Transit customers from being forced to cope with additional fare hikes. The legislation, SJR-54, would establish a task force charged with finding alternative ways to fund climbing expenses at the troubled agency.
Sen. Robert Singer’s bill would prevent NJ Transit customers from being forced to cope with additional fare hikes, by establishing a task force to find alternative ways to fund climbing expenses at the troubled agency. (SenateNJ.com)
“Asking commuters to pay more for this service is wrong,” Senator Singer said. “This is not the time for fare hikes. We have made good progress enacting reforms that will fix our broken transit system, but we need to dig deeper, particularity when it comes to exploring alternative revenue sources. This task force may be the key to discovering how we can finally get NJ Transit back on track.”
Singer’s ‘Charlie’s Law’ Unanimously Passes Senate
Bill Named in Memory of NJ Man Who Passed Away After Battle with Addiction
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth and Ocean) that would require pharmacists to instruct their patients on how to safely dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Charlies Law, S-3240, would also ensure pharmacists’ patients can access drug deactivation products.
Senator Robert Singer’s bill requiring pharmacists to educate their patients on how to safely discard unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles passed the New Jersey Senate. (WikiMedia)
Charlie’s Law is named in memory of Charlie Van Tassel, a beloved son and brother who battled addiction for many years before his passing at the age of 33. Charlie’s family remembers him as an athlete and family prankster who loved music and dancing.
“Prescription drug abuse has reached crisis levels in New Jersey,” Singer said. “All too often, this is a disease that begins in the home, because so many people don’t think twice about the medication that’s left unattended in a bathroom cabinet. Unused or expired medication, especially opioids and needles, can be poisonous, addictive, or even deadly if they fall into the wrong hands. To help prevent tragedies such as Charlie’s untimely passing, we have to educate patients on how to best dispose of unused drugs.”
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Singer & Kean Fight to Change Code Blue Law to Save Lives During Winter Weather
New Bill Drafted in Response to Concerns that NJ’s Homeless Need More Protection from Severe Cold
In response to concerns that local officials in Toms River and throughout New Jersey are struggling to authorize shelter for the homeless during winter weather events, Senator Robert Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean will introduce legislation to change New Jersey’s Code Blue standards to ensure no one pays the price for language in the law.
In response to local concerns, Sens. Robert Singer and Tom Kean will introduce legislation to change New Jersey’s Code Blue standards. (©iStock)
Currently, a Code Blue is triggered when temperatures reach 25 degrees Fahrenheit or colder without precipitation or 32 degree or colder with precipitation. The new bill would eliminate the 25 degree standard, so that a Code Blue would be triggered as soon as the temperature falls to 32 degrees, regardless of whether or not there is precipitation at the time.
The bill will be formally introduced during the next Senate quorum on Thursday, Jan. 31.
“I was devastated to hear that the homeless are being turned away from shelters in Ocean County this winter,” Senator Singer (R-30) said. “Snow or no snow, when the temperature reaches 32 degrees, it’s time to get inside. I cannot even begin to imagine the terror someone must feel when it’s freezing and you have nowhere to go. Code Blue was designed to save lives. No one should be forced to suffer because of problematic language in a law that was meant to help people.”
Singer’s ‘Charlie’s Law’ Requiring Pharmacists to Educate Patients on Safe Drug Disposal Passes Committee
Bill Named for NJ Man Who Lost His Life to Addiction
Senator Robert Singer’s (R-Monmouth and Ocean) bill requiring pharmacists to educate their patients on how to safely discard unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles passed the Senate Health Committee. S-3240 would also require pharmacists to ensure patients can access drug deactivation products.
Senator Robert Singer’s (R-30) bill requiring pharmacists to educate their patients on how to safely discard unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles passed the Senate Health Committee. (WikiMedia)
This legislation, “Charlie’s Law,” is named in memory of Charlie Van Tassel, a beloved son and brother who struggled and succumbed to his addiction at the age of 33. Charlie’s family remembers him as an athlete and family prankster who enjoyed music and dancing. He battled addiction for many years before his passing.
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Singer Resolution Urges People 50+ to Get the Shingles Vaccine
SR-70 Echoes CDC’s Vaccination Recommendations
The New Jersey State Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) urging New Jersey residents who are 50 and older to get vaccinated for shingles.
Sen. Robert Singer’s resolution urges New Jersey residents over the age of 50 to get the shingles vaccine. (Flickr)
“Shingles is a very painful condition, and it carries serious risks, particularly for those of an advanced age, but it can still impact people who are younger,” Senator Singer explained. “The most effective way to reduce your risk is to get vaccinated, plain and simple. I urge all NJ residents who are over 50 to get vaccinated now. The shingles vaccine is virtually painless, safe, and widely-available. There is no reason to suffer.”
Senate Passes Singer Bill to Bring More Nursing Aides to NJ
The New Jersey State Senate has passed reciprocity legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) that would allow nursing aides who have been certified in a different state to use their license to practice in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Senate has passed reciprocity legislation sponsored by Sen. Robert Singer to allow nursing aides already certified in another state to use their license to practice in New Jersey. (©iStock)
Singer noted that unless the Legislature takes action, New Jersey will have the nation’s third largest shortage of nurses by 2030.
“We are in the midst of a statewide doctor and nurse shortage,” Senator Singer said. “This crisis is impacting the quality and speed of care that we can provide to our residents. There is no doubt that this problem will only continue to grow as New Jersey, and the country, struggles to meet the needs of an aging populous. This bill is an easy way to instantly expand the pool of highly-trained applicants.”
Singer Works to Stop Fare Hikes & Find New Ways to Fund NJ Transit
In an effort to prevent NJ Transit customers from being forced to cope with fare hikes, Senator Robert Singer has sponsored legislation to find alternative ways to fund climbing expenses at the troubled agency.
In an effort to prevent NJ Transit customers from being forced to cope with fare hikes, Sen. Robert Singer has sponsored legislation to find alternative ways to fund climbing expenses at the troubled agency. (SenateNJ.com)
The legislation, which would establish the “New Jersey Transit Alternative Revenue Task Force” was today advanced by the Senate Transportation Committee.
“Commuters have sacrificed enough. They shouldn’t have to pay more,” Senator Singer (R-30) said. “Fare hikes are not the answer. We know that there are other ways to save money and get NJ Transit back on track. This legislation will pave the way for cost-saving solutions at the agency, such as better advertising or selling off real estate holdings.”
Singer: Murphy’s Marijuana Legalization Rhetoric Goes Up in Smoke When You Follow the Money
Senator Robert Singer said it’s clear when you follow the money that Governor Phil Murphy’s interest in marijuana legalization has little to do with improving social justice.
Sen. Robert Singer said it certainly appears that money is the primary concern driving marijuana legislation in New Jersey. (Pixabay)
“If improving social justice was truly the Governor’s goal, he could have supported the legislation that I sponsor with Senator Rice to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana,” said Singer (R-Monmouth). “That would prevent both arrests and incarceration, solving the social justice problem for most people. We could have done that a year ago. The fact that Governor Murphy never truly considered decriminalization tells you that money, not social justice, is the driving force behind the movement to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in New Jersey.”
