Senator Shirley Turner

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, issued the following statement today on the announcement of an agreement between Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Capital Health Systems over reimbursement rates for medical services:

“I am obviously pleased Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield and Capital Health Systems have been able to work through their differences and reach an agreement that will allow Horizon subscribers to continue using the Helene Fuld and Mercer campuses of Capital Health as in-network providers.

TRENTON – Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) today urged Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Capital Health’s Fuld Hospital to continue negotiations over reimbursement rates and other contract issues.

According to published reports, the hospital and the insurer are at an impasse in their discussions over a new contract and new reimbursement rates, putting at risk thousands of patients who are insured by Horizon and use the Fuld campus for medical care.

TRENTON – The state would have to find sites for the legal operation of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles under terms of a bill approved today by the Senate.

Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) is the sponsor of a bill (S-1059) that would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to designate three sites within New Jersey for use by all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles. The sites would be located in the northern, central and southern parts of the state and would be made available for the use of ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) that would require all four-year colleges in New Jersey to provide more comprehensive information about the actual cost of attendance was approved 5-0 today by the Senate Education Committee.

The bill (S-2776) would require schools to post the information on their websites, along with information on the graduation rates of admitted students and information on the faculty. The "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act," would ensure such information is updated annually.

A pair of bills that would regulate the operation of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles and designate sites in New Jersey for ATV and off-road vehicle usage were approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.

Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) is the sponsor of a bill (S-1059) that would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to designate three sites within New Jersey for use by all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles. The sites would be located in the northern, central and southern parts of the state and would be made available for the use of ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles.

TRENTON – A bill, S-5/A-2720, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Brian P. Stack and Senator Shirley K. Turner, to help more small businesses in urban enterprise zones qualify for on-site exemptions from paying the sales tax was enacted today by Governor Corzine.

            “This bill will help small businesses eliminate red tape and help them grow by encouraging community investments,” said Senator Stack, D-Hudson. “By expanding the definition of a qualified small business, this bill will help generate economic growth in a more timely manner.”

TRENTON – The Senate Education Committee today approved a bill, S-1861, sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner to move school board elections from April to November to save tax dollars and to increase voter interest in local school management.

            “It’s obvious from the turnout figures, year in and year out, that people don’t focus on school board elections held in April,” said Senator Turner, Chair of the Senate Education panel. “By holding the school board elections in November, there will be greater focus on those who are seeking to control millions of local education dollars.”

TRENTON – The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today approved a bill, S-874, sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, to punish landlords who commit flagrant violations of local housing and zoning codes by penalties of up to six months in jail and fines of up to $4,000.

            “There are some bad landlords who take advantage of their tenants by forcing them to live in sub-human conditions,” said Senator Turner. “This bill will help crack down on landlords who ignore the deplorable ways their tenants are being treated.

TRENTON– Governor Jon S. Corzine signed two pieces of legislation today sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that will strengthen and streamline the ability of the Department of Education to develop and apply rules aimed at governing local schools and holding districts accountable.

            “New Jersey’s schools have been tarnished dealt by mistakes over the past few months that could have been avoided if there was better oversight of local schools,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Chair of the Senate Education Committee.  “Now we are empowering the Department of Education to hold districts accountable so that we don’t have situations in the future like the obscene payout promised to Keansburg’s retiring Superintendent.”

            The first law signed today, formerly bill S-1911, will grant the Commissioner of Education rule-making authority in several areas related to fiscal accountability, efficiency and budgeting procedures.  The Commissioner can now issue emergency regulations in relation to several recently enacted laws - specifically the School District Accountability Act, the property tax levy cap law, the CORE law, and the School District Fiscal Accountability Act.

            Senator Turner explained, “There are laws on the books that require the State to hold districts to a higher standard.  Now we can take the necessary actions to enforce those standards and look out for the educational needs of every New Jersey community.  We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.”

            The second new law, previously bill S-1912, eliminates the role of the State Board of Education in the appeal of decisions made by the Commissioner of Education regarding disputes that arise under the State’s school laws.  Under current law, the Commisioner of Education hears and decides controversies and disputes that arise from State school laws.  Until today, these decisions could have then be appealed to the State Board of Education, whose decision could have subsequently be appealed to New Jersey’s Appellate Courts.  Now all appeals will be made directly to the courts.

            “It is a waste of time and money to continue to have the State Board handle appeals when so few decisions are overturned.  It would serve the taxpayers and local schools better for them to appeal directly to the courts and skip the middle man,” added Senator Turner.

            According to the Department of Education, 90 decisions made by the Commissioner in 2005 and 2006 were appealed to the State Board of Education.  The State Board of Education overturned only eight of those decisions, a rate of about 9%.

TRENTON –  A bill, S-1950, sponsored by Senators Sandra Bolden Cunningham and Shirley K. Turner, to create two new Superior Court judgeships to help expedite a State program to rehabilitate non-violent drug offenders and make them employable citizens has been signed into law by Governor Corzine.

            “Warehousing drug offenders wastes taxpayers’ money and prevents such offenders from gaining the skills they need to cope in the work world,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Drug addicts need job training, education , positive reinforcement as well as supervision.”