KARCHER-VITALE BILL TO INFORM PREGNANT MOMS OF OPTION TO DONATE UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD, PLACENTAL TISSUE APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which would require hospitals and health care professionals to advise pregnant women of the option to donate umbilical cord blood and placental tissue to a public or private blood bank was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 37-0.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would create the “Safe Patient Handling Act,” and require health care facilities to establish guidelines for safe patient handling was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “When enacted, this bill will create a win-win situation for patients and health care workers by working to cut down on the risk of injury,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Services Committee.  “In order for the program to be effective, it is imperative that safe patient handling plans be developed, implemented and closely monitored to make sure that they are working properly.”

            “This legislation would establish necessary guidelines to help protect both patients and the workers who care for them,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen.  “The risk of injury is always there when dealing with transporting patients but the safety guidelines set up in this bill would work to reduce the number and severity of these injuries, for all parties involved.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would create the Safe Patient Handling Act, and require health care facilities to establish guidelines for safe patient handling was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

      “This piece of legislation will reduce the risk of injury to both patients and health care workers at the facility,” said Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D- Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.  “This is a win-win situation for both patients and health care workers.  It is imperative that safe patient handling plans be developed, implemented and evaluated.  This process will enhance the safety of those who work and those who are cared for in health care facilities throughout New Jersey.”

            “This legislation is about establishing guidelines to protect both patients and health care workers.  In hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities, the risk of injury is always there, especially if a patient is being lifted, repositioned or transported from one location to another,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who is a member of the Senate Health panel.  “This bill would work to reduce its numbers, while helping to ensure that safety is always key when assisting patients.”

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

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 unanimously approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.

VITALE BILL TO PROHIBIT NEW JERSEY FROM INVESTING IN IRAN APPROVED

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 Budget and Appropriations Committee today.

VITALE-RICE BILL TO EXPAND CHILDREN’S CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS SAFETY NET APPROVED IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Ronald L. Rice which would provide additional revenue to the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 8-0.

KARCHER-VITALE BILL TO INFORM PREGNANT MOMS OF OPTION TO DONATE UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD, PLACENTAL TISSUE APPROVED

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which would require hospitals and health care professionals to advise pregnant women of the option to donate umbilical cord blood and placental tissue to a public or private blood bank was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 8-0.

VITALE BILL TO PROTECT RESERVE SOLDIERS ON MILITARY LEAVE ADVANCES

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would provide additional employment protections for reserve soldiers on military leave in time of war or emergency was approved by the Senate Labor Committee today by a vote of 4-0.

Supporters of marriage equality say they have 19 votes in the Senate and 39 in the Assembly – two votes short of passing a same sex marriage law – and are “thrilled, strategically” that legislative leaders have decided not to post the bill during the lame duck session, according to an e-mail sent by Garden State Equality President Steven Goldstein and obtained by PolitickerNJ.com. Goldstein says his organization’s focus in lame duck is on hate crimes legislation.

After Maryanne Connelly won 47% in her 1998 House race against Bob Franks, she immediately launched a 200 rematch.  But when Franks decided to give up his seat after four terms to run for the U.S. Senate, Democrats, sensing an opportunity for a pickup and not believing Connelly was the strongest candidate, instead backed then-Union County Administrator Mike Lapolla for the seat.