Barbara Buono

SENATE APPROVES BUONO EXPANSION OF LEMON LAW

TRENTON - The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono that would better protect consumers under the State’s "Lemon Law" for new car purchases.

The Senate unanimously approved S-534, which would amend the "Lemon Law," which protects purchasers of new automobiles or motorcycles. The bill would expand protection under the law from two years or 18,000 miles to 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.

"The 18,000 miles provided for under the current law is no longer representative of how many miles the average New Jersey family puts on a car in two years," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. "Drivers commute much farther today than when the law was enacted 15 years ago."

TRENTON - The New Jersey State Legislature gave final approval to two bills today that would set out specific guidelines for health insurance providers to follow in authorizing the delivery and payment of health care services by doctors and hospitals.

Bill S-2824, the "Health Claims Authorization, Processing and Payment Act", would require that "utilization management" occur according to certain standards when it comes to authorizing certain health care services. The bill is sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono, Joseph Vitale and Loretta Weinberg.

SARLO / BUONO BILL TO GIVE POLICE TOOLS TO TRACK CRIMINALS ON INTERNET

Expanding Info Provided to Police Will Better Identify E-Criminals

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senators Paul A. Sarlo and Barbara Buono which would require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disclose certain identifying information to law enforcement agencies investigating a crime was approved by the Senate yesterday by a vote of 38-0, receiving final legislative approval.

"Unscrupulous individuals are turning to Internet crime, because it's become very hard to track down the criminals' identities," said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic. "We want to respect the privacy of citizens, but at the same time, we cannot give criminals a loophole large enough to drive a truck through. By asking ISPs to cooperate with police officers to investigate wrong-doing, we are finding the middle ground between a legitimate law enforcement need and the freedoms of law-abiding citizens."

BUONO-DORIA BILL REGULATING NON-PRESCRIPTION CONTACTS APPROVED

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Joseph V. Doria which would require that non-prescription, cosmetic contact lenses only be distributed by licensed professionals was approved by the Senate yesterday by a vote of 37-0, receiving final legislative approval.

"While cosmetic contacts might seem like a simple novelty item, the simple fact of the matter is that they're largely unregulated, and can cause serious vision problems, such as corneal abrasions, conjunctivitis, and even blindness," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. "Contact lenses should be properly fitted by a licensed professional, not handed out over the counter, and should be subject to strict safety guidelines, whether they are prescription or not. The fact that kids can get their hands on these and do lasting damage to their eyesight makes it that much more of a priority, and we need to take immediate legislative action."

New regulations would add time certainty to physician requests from insurance providers

TRENTON - The Senate approved legislation today sponsored by Senators Joseph Vitale and Barbara Buono that would set out specific guidelines for health insurance providers to follow in authorizing the delivery and payment of health care services by doctors and hospitals.

"For doctors, these new standards will provide the certainty they need to effectively provide care," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. "Currently, if a patient can't wait the days or weeks it may take their insurance provider to make a decision on treatment, the doctor or hospital caring for the patient is forced to provide the care. They hope the treatment will be eventually authorized, but it is most definitely a gamble, as it is the health care provider stuck footing the bill if authorization is not provided."

TRENTON - The Senate Urban and Community Affairs Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono that would require every New Jersey elementary and secondary school to install carbon monoxide detectors inside each building, reducing the likelihood of children falling sick from carbon monoxide poisoning while on school grounds.

"For years, we have encouraged families to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes to provide them with a measure of protection against the silent killer," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. "Our children deserve to have the same level of protection while at school. I think there is an expectation on the part of parents that our schools make every reasonable effort to ensure that our children learn in a healthy environment."

SARLO / BUONO BILL TO GIVE POLICE TOOLS TO TRACK CRIMINALS ON INTERNET

Expanding Info Provided to Police Will Better Identify E-Criminals

A bill sponsored by Senators Paul A. Sarlo and Barbara Buono which would require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disclose certain identifying information to law enforcement agencies investigating a crime was approved by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee today by a vote of
4-0.

"Unfortunately, e-crime has become a sign of the times, but all too often, prosecutors are put at a disadvantage because of the inherent anonymity of the Internet," said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic. "Under this bill, law enforcement officers would have at their disposal detailed identifying and usage information to press the case against those using the Internet to perpetrate fraud or worse."

NEW JERSEY BECOMES FIRST STATE TO REQUIRE CHEMICAL PLANT SECURITY MEASURES TO PROTECT AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACK

Expands Worker Involvement in Security Assessment, Advances Use of Inherently Safer Technology

(TRENTON) - Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today announced that New Jersey is the first state in the nation to require enforceable plant security practices for its 140 chemical facilities to provide the public and workers greater protection from potential terrorist acts.