Matt Milam

ASSEMBLY PANEL ADVANCES BILL TO PROTECT SMALL CHILDREN FROM TIP-OVER ACCIDENTS

Measure Is Named After Two Young Girls Killed When Large Televisions Tipped

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano, Matthew W. Milam and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. to protect small children from tip-over accidents involving furniture and televisions was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill is named Chloe and Samantha’s Law after two young girls who were killed when large televisions tipped onto them.

“Each year thousands of people, primarily young children, are injured or even killed because of large furniture or televisions tipping over onto them,” said Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “This is smart and sensible legislation that would protect our young children from tragic accidents.”

ALBANO & MILAM: MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESTORE FISCAL SANITY, HELP NJ WEATHER GLOBAL ECONOMIC STORM

(1st Legislative District) – Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam today said the state may have taken steps to weather the global economic crisis, but more needs to be done.

Following the State of the State address, the lawmakers renewed their call for fiscal sanity and a responsibly balanced state budget.

“New Jersey has already taken strong steps, including the largest spending cut in state history and measures we sponsored to ensure no debt is incurred without voter consent and implement historic new business grants and tax cuts, but this isn’t enough,” Albano said.

CONNERS/MILAM BILL TO ENSURE DECEASED NEW JERSEY VETERANS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT CLOSER TO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Jack Conners and Matthew Milam sponsored to ensure the cremains of New Jersey veterans are treated with respect is closer to law.

The bill would give veterans’ organizations the right to receive the cremains of a veteran that have not been claimed by a relative or friend.

The Senate recently gave the measure final legislative approval.

“It is particularly important that we do all we can to ensure that fallen service men and women are honorably received,” said Conners (D-Burlington), chairman of the Assembly Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

BILL TO BOOST NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES NOW LAW

Measure Provides $3,000 for Each New Job

(WOODBRIDGE) – Gov. Jon S. Corzine today signed into law a bill designed to help New Jersey businesses emerge stronger from the global economic crisis.

The bill is among about 40 advanced by the Assembly to help residents and businesses withstand the financial uncertainty.

The bill (A-3294) creates the “Invest New Jersey Business Grant Program” program that will help small and mid-size businesses by providing grants of $3,000 for each new job created.

Sponsored by Assembly members Nelson Albano (D-Cumberland), Matt Milam (D-Cumberland), Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex), Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) and Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer), the measure replaces and expands the state’s Business Retention & Relocation Assistance Grants.

VAN DREW, ALBANO, MILAM BACK CALL TO GIVE TOWNS MORE TIME TO FILE HOUSING PLANS

Legislators also call for revising 2.5 commercial development fee

(1st Legislative District) –Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam today backed a call by top Assembly leaders to give towns more time to submit housing plans to the state, but said more must be done to ease regulations, including rethinking a proposed 2.5 percent fee on commercial development.

VAN DREW, ALBANO AND MILAM: NEW REPORT SHOWS NEED TO REVAMP DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION SERVICES

Comptroller’s Findings Call into Question Spending by Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

(1st Legislative District) –Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam today said they would explore introducing legislation to revamp the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse after the state comptroller found the agency hands out grants without proper review.

ALBANO/MILAM BILL TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL TOURISM ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam sponsored to promote agricultural tourism in New Jersey was advanced today by an Assembly committee.

The bill (A-879) would establish a statewide motorist sign system that would be easily identifiable and promote agricultural tourism attractions.

ALBANO/MILAM BILL TO ENSURE CARE FOR PETS DURING EMERGENCIES ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam sponsored to ensure pets are cared for during emergencies was released today by an Assembly panel.

State law only requires state and local officials to address farm and service animals during emergencies, but the bill (A-3052) would expand the requirements to include domestic animals.

“As demonstrated by thousands of pets that were abandoned or displaced after Hurricane Katrina, the sheltering of domesticated animals in the aftermath of a natural disaster is an increasingly important issue,” said Albano (D-Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland). “We don’t want to see that repeated in New Jersey.”

ALBANO/MILAM BILL TO PROMOTE NEW JERSEY WINERIES ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam sponsored to promote New Jersey wineries by declaring November as “New Jersey Wine Month” was released today by an Assembly committee.

ALBANO/MILAM BILL TO ENSURE FREE RECREATIONAL SALTWATER FISHING IN NEW JERSEY ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam sponsored to ensure free recreational saltwater fishing continues in New Jersey was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill (A-3252) answers a federal law that authorized the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to collect a fee beginning in 2011 to cover costs associated with a new saltwater angler registry.

“The idea that fisherman should have to pay to use the open ocean is absurd,” Milam said. “This has always been free in New Jersey and should remain that way forever.”