Nia Gill

GILL MEASURE SIGNED TO HELP HOMEOWNERS SETTLE MORTGAGE DEBT

TRENTON - A bill, S-1181, sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill to help homeowners save their homes from foreclosure by finding out exactly how much they owe was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

"Before a lender takes the final step to foreclose on someone's home, the owners with the debt should be able to find out exactly how much they owe," said Senator Gill, the Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. "This new law will help people put together the correct amount to settle the debt and save their homes."

DEMOCRATS ON JUDICIARY PANEL BACK FARBER FOR AG

TRENTON - Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee today supported the nomination of Zulima Farber to be the next State Attorney General. The committee vote was 8-2 and the full Senate is expected to consider the nomination on Jan. 30th.

Senator John H. Adler, the Committee Chairman, said he was confident that Ms. Farber's term as the State's top law enforcement officer would be marked by "excellence, intelligence and compassion.

TRENTON - Senator Nia H. Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, made the following statement today following the final passage of bill S-2083, which would give domestic partners funeral and inheritance rights, and S-2167, which would permit public entities that do not participate in the State Health Benefits Plan to offer health benefits to the domestic partners of employees:

"We are constantly working to make our domestic partnership law stronger and provide to same-sex couples with rights that are equal to those of married couples. We are still a long way away from having true equality, but each year we are striving to bridge the gap.

CARABALLO: GILL'S USE OF 'COURTESY' JUSTIFIED
TO FORCE SENATE ACTION ON SYRINGE ACCESS
Assemblyman Offers 'Unwavering' Support of Effort to Spur Senate Consideration
Of Bills That Would Combat HIV/AIDS, Save Lives

TRENTON - The Senate approved legislation today sponsored by Senators Nia H. Gill, John H. Adler and Loretta Weinberg that would reform the individual and small employer health insurance markets, making health insurance policies in these markets more affordable for consumers.

"Time and again, the small business community has cited dramatically rising health care costs as a major hurdle that many businesses are finding difficult to handle," said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. "They want to do the right thing and provide health care to their employees, but under the current laws, it can be difficult to qualify for entering the market and then afford the insurance. This bill is a critical step in providing more affordable health insurance for our state's small business owners."

GILL ON FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF CHARITABLE IMMUNITY REFORM

TRENTON - Senator Nia H. Gill, the prime sponsor of legislation to remove the legal protection for charities that negligently put children in harm's way by hiding sexual predators within the institutional framework of the charity, issued the following statement on its passage today in the Senate by a vote of 34-1, receiving final legislative approval:

"Victims of sexual abuse have waited so long for their day of reckoning, and today, we are so much closer to granting them the justice they so richly deserve.

Peter Eagler, who gave up his seat on the Passaic County Board of Freeholders to concentrate on his State Assembly re-election campaign -- before Essex County Democrats dumped him from the organization line -- seems to be planning his political comeback. There are reports that he is working hard to fill vacant Democratic County Committee seats in Clifton. It's possible that Eagler wants his ducks in order in case 34th district Senator Nia Gill winds up in Jon Corzine's administration (Gill, a Corzine favorite, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for several posts, including Attorney General and even United States Senator.) That would prompt a special election convention for Gill's seat, and perhaps a subsequent one if Sheila Oliver or Thomas Giblin move up from the Assembly. Eagler could also be looking at a return to the Board of Freeholders; there is considerable speculation that Democrats want to dump incumbent Lois Cuccinello from their line.

BRYANT-GILL LAW WILL BOOST COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE

A bill, sponsored by Senators Wayne R. Bryant and Nia H. Gill to boost the ability of locally-based health care centers to meet the needs of their communities was signed into law today by Acting Gov. Codey.

GILL TO CHAIR SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

In his capacity as Senate President, Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today named Senator Nia H. Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, to be the new Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.