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 was signed into law today by Governor Jon Corzine.

“This new law will work to drastically reduce 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 program’s effectiveness lies in its development, monitoring and implementation. Facilities and the Departments of Health and Senior Services and Human Services must work together to help protect patients and health care workers.”

“This law is long overdue, and I’m glad that we’ve finally approved a piece of legislation aimed at protecting patients and those who care for them,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who is a member of the Senate Health panel. “When dealing with transporting patients, there is always a risk of injury, but this bill puts guidelines in place to help reduce the number and severity of these injuries for all parties involved.”

Several presidential campaigns are sponsoring events tonight so that New Jersey supporters can watch the returns of the Iowa Caucuses.  

John Edwards' New Jersey campaign will host a caucus “watch” party at 7 PM tonight at Tumulty’s Pub, 361 George Street, New Brunswick.  State Sen. Joseph Vitale will be the host.

Barack Obama’s campaign is sponsoring parties tonight in Newark (8PM at the Robert Treat Hotel, 50 Park Place), Jersey City (7:30 PM at the home of Vanessa Czaplicki, hosted by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and State Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham) , North Arlington (7PM at the McGorty residence, hosted by Congressman Steven Rothman), and Cherry Hill (8PM at the Coastline Bar and Restaurant, 1240 Brace Road).

Hillary Clinton’s New Jersey campaign office will open at 5:30 PM tonight at 130 West State Street in Trenton.

VITALE BILL TO PROTECT AGAINST CHARITY CARE FRAUD SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which will improve State oversight over the hospital charity care subsidy program, which provides funding for emergency health care for the uninsured, was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

GOVERNOR, VITALE ANNOUNCE UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ALL CHILDREN

WOODBRIDGE – At a news conference at Woodbridge Center Mall today with Governor Jon Corzine and Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez, Senator Joseph F. Vitale, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and author of New Jersey’s FamilyCare program, announced a new option for families still struggling to find affordable health care for their children.

BUONO-KARCHER-VITALE BILL TO PROTECT AGAINST FRAUD IN CHARITY CARE APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono, Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which would improve State oversight over the hospital charity care subsidy program, which provides funding for emergency health care for the uninsured, was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 36-0, receiving final legislative approval.

VITALE BILL TO PROHIBIT NEW JERSEY FROM INVESTING IN IRAN RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would prohibit New Jersey’s pension and annuity funds from investing in foreign companies doing business with Iran and require the funds to divest any interests in such companies was unanimously approved by the Senate today by a vote of 34-0, receiving final legislative approval.

VITALE-CONIGLIO BILL TO REQUIRE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO ADOPT VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Joseph Coniglio which would require the establishment of violence prevention programs in health care facilities in order to protect workers from violence was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-0, receiving final legislative approval.

VITALE-BUONO BILL TO PROMOTE 'TREATMENT OVER PAPERWORK'

Statewide Medical Information Database Would Make Medical History Paperwork a Thing of the Past

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would establish a Statewide health information technology plan was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 6-0.

VITALE-BUONO BILL TO MODERNIZE ENVIRONMENTAL PENALTIES ON POLLUTERS RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would expand the State Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) enforcement abilities and increase environmental penalties, bringing them more into line with current environmental priorities, was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 26-11, receiving final legislative approval.

VITALE-WEINBERG BILL TO REQUIRE ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL TESTING WHEN POSSIBLE APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would prohibit animal testing when a federally-recommended alternative exists was approved today by the Senate, by a vote of 33-0.