Elease Evans

WATSON COLEMAN / CRUZ-PEREZ / JASEY / EVANS / GUSCIORA & POU BILL ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by six Assembly Democrats to give counties the ability to establish grant programs to address homelessness was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

The law (A-3101) is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assembly members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), Elease Evans (D-Passaic), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) and Nellie Pou (D-Passaic).

“The number of homeless, in New Jersey – especially women and children – is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure,” Watson Coleman said. “State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street.”

McKEON / JASEY / EVANS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

Law Signed by Gov. Corzine Promotes Redevelopment, Economic Activity

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John F. McKeon and Assemblywomen Mila M. Jasey and Elease Evans to improve neighborhood revitalization, create jobs and provide tax breaks to more businesses has been signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

The new law (A-2623) extends the Neighborhood Revitalization State Tax Credit program to areas adjacent to those approved for a preservation and revitalization plan, provided it doesn’t increase the eligible area by more than 25 percent.

“It doesn’t make much sense to limit the revitalization of New Jersey’s distressed cities just because one area of a struggling neighborhood does not fit within the lines on a map,” said McKeon (D-Essex). “This change decreases disparities between neighborhoods and extends tax breaks to even more businesses, promoting redevelopment and economic activity in these tough financial times.”

JOHNSON / DeANGELO / EVANS / CONAWAY / COUTINHO LOOK TO MAKE TO PROMOTE FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS

Bill creating check-off for food pantry donations gets final legislative approval

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Gordon Johnson, Wayne DeAngelo, Elease Evans, Albert Coutinho and Herb Conaway to address recent shortages and closings at food pantries has received final legislative approval.

The legislation would establish the “Community Food Pantry Fund” in the Department of the Treasury and allow taxpayers to voluntarily donate a portion of their income tax refund to it.

The bill passed the Assembly in October and the Senate in June.

“The global economic meltdown means hunger isn’t being limited to the poor,” said Johnson (D-Bergen). “New Jersey is a generous state, and we can and should make it easier to spread that generosity and do whatever we can to ensure no one in this state goes to bed hungry.”

WATSON COLEMAN / CRUZ-PEREZ / JASEY / EVANS / GUSCIORA / POU BILL ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation to give counties the ability to establish grant programs to address homelessness is closer to becoming law. The bill (A-3101) is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assembly members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), Elease Evans (D-Passaic), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) and Nellie Pou (D-Passaic).

“The number of homeless, in New Jersey – especially women and children – is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure,” Watson Coleman said. “State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street.”

ALBANO / BARNES / EVANS / GREENSTEIN / MILAM / SCALERA INTERNET SAFETY BILLS GET FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Nelson Albano, Peter Barnes III, Elease Evans, Linda Greenstein, Matt Milam and Fred Scalera sponsored that would give law enforcement enhanced abilities to crackdown on child Internet crimes received final legislative approval today by the Senate.

The bills are part of Attorney General Anne Milgram’s Internet safety initiatives. They were approved by the Assembly in March.

“This would give law enforcement the tools they need to better protect children who use the Internet for education and recreation,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “No longer will Web sites be the playgrounds of criminals looking to prey on vulnerable children.”

ALBANO / BARNES / EVANS / GREENSTEIN / MILAM / SCALERA INTERNET SAFETY BILLS CLEAR SENATE PANEL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Nelson Albano, Peter Barnes III, Elease Evans, Linda Greenstein, Matt Milam and Fred Scalera sponsored that would give law enforcement enhanced abilities to crackdown on child Internet crimes was advanced Tuesday by a Senate panel.

The bills are part of Attorney General Anne Milgram’s Internet safety initiatives. They were approved by the Assembly in March.

“This would give law enforcement the tools they need to better protect children who use the Internet for education and recreation,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “No longer will Web sites be the playgrounds of criminals looking to prey on vulnerable children.”

CHIAPPONE / RAMOS / EVANS BILL CREATING NJ COLON CANCER EDUCATION FUND CONTINUES ADVANCING

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. and Elease Evans to establish the “New Jersey Colon Cancer Education Fund” continues advancing toward law.

The legislation (A-2519) would allow taxpayers to voluntary contribute to the fund through a check-off on state corporate and personal income tax returns.

“Setting up an educational fund to help pay for the research and study of this tragic disease will hopefully lead to a cure so no future New Jersey family is forced to deal with this terrible diagnosis,” said Chiappone (D-Hudson).

WATSON COLEMAN / CRUZ-PEREZ / JASEY / EVANS / GUSCIORA LEGISLATION TARGETING HOMELESSNESS ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation to give counties the ability to establish grant programs to provide affordable housing and support services for the formerly homeless and those at risk of losing their home was released Thursday by a Senate committee.

The bill (A-3101) is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assembly members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), Elease Evans (D-Passaic) and Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer).

“The number of homeless, in New Jersey – especially women and children – is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure,” said Watson Coleman (D-Mercer). “State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street.”

JOHNSON / DeANGELO / EVANS / CONAWAY / COUTINHO BILL CREATING CHECK-OFF FOR FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS CONTINUES ADVANCING

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Gordon Johnson, Wayne DeAngelo, Elease Evans, Albert Coutinho and Herb Conaway to address recent shortages and closings at food pantries continues to advance.

The legislation would establish the “Community Food Pantry Fund” in the Department of the Treasury and allow taxpayers to voluntarily donate a portion of their income tax refund to it.

EVANS / OLIVER BILL TO STRENGTHEN CHILD WELFARE TASK FORCE NOW LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblywomen Elease Evans and Sheila Oliver sponsored to revise membership of the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect has been signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.