VITALE UNVEILS PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR ALL NEW JERSEY

TRENTON –Senator Joseph F. Vitale, a longtime advocate for affordable and accessible health care coverage, today announced an ambitious and transformational health care reform package aimed at covering all New Jersey residents by the year 2011.

VITALE BILL TO BAN SALE OF FLAVORED CIGARETTES APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would prohibit the sale of certain flavored cigarettes in the State of New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 34-1.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale, which would allow State psychiatric hospitals to ban on-campus smoking, as long as a smoking cessation program is offered for clients, patient and employees was approved today by the full Senate by a vote of 25-11.

            “This bill would do for residents at psychiatric hospitals what they and others around the world might not be able to do for themselves – stop smoking,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, who chairs the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.  “Statistics have shown that the impact of cigarettes and nicotine at psychiatric facilities is higher for a number of reasons, including deeper inhalation, and the increased negative effect that nicotine can have when combined with psychotropic drugs.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would allow State psychiatric hospitals to ban on-campus smoking, as long as a smoking cessation program is offered for clients, patients and employees, was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

            “Statistics have shown that the impact of cigarettes and nicotine at psychiatric facilities is higher for a number of reasons, including deeper inhalation, and the negative effect nicotine can have on psychotropic drugs,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, who chairs the panel.  “This legislation would send a clear message that we are dedicated to protecting the health of clients, patients and employees at these facilities.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would require health care facilities to establish guidelines for safe patient handling received final legislative approval today by the full Assembly, by a vote of 77-3.

            “The goal of this bill is to cut down on the risk of injury to patients and care givers,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.  “The effectiveness of the program lies in its development, implementation and monitoring.  Health care facilities must develop realistic patient handling plans and the Departments of Health and Senior Services and Human Services must maintain an active role in monitoring the programs.  This must be a joint effort.”

            “It is way past time for New Jersey to adopt safe handling legislation that helps to protect patients and those who care for them,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who is a member of the Senate Health panel.  “There is always a risk of injury when dealing with transporting patients, but this bill would set up safety guidelines to help reduce the number and the severity of the injuries for all parties involved.”