Panel Advances Bucco Bill Enhancing Programs to Help Residents with Disabilities
Measure Expands Eligibility for NJ Workability and Personal Assistance Services Programs
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco that would bolster access to medical and support services for working residents with disabilities was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco’s legislation that would revise eligibility requirements for both the NJ Workability Program and the Personal Assistance Services Program cleared the Senate health committee. (SenateNJ.com)
Bucco’s bill, S-3455, would revise eligibility requirements for both the NJ Workability Program and the Personal Assistance Services Program, enabling more people to qualify for assistance.
Pennacchio/Bucco Legislation Allowing New Jerseyans to Donate Part of Tax Refund to Cancer Research Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Pennacchio and Anthony Bucco that allows New Jerseyans to donate a portion of their tax refund toward cancer research and/or pediatric cancer research has been advanced by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Anthony Bucco that allows New Jerseyans to donate a portion of their tax refund toward cancer research has been advanced by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. (Pixabay)
“The voluntary contributions from New Jerseyans under this bill will provide support for approved scientific research projects that focus on the numerous different causes of cancer. This additional funding and support will allow researchers to investigate new cancer treatments and new ways of preventing this insidious disease,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “I would like to thank Senator Joe Vitale and the Senate Health Committee for posting, and voting on, these bills. I think everyone in New Jersey knows someone who was diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life, so this is extremely important legislation.”
Bucco Measure Designating March 9 as ‘Covid-19 Heroes Day’ Signed by Governor
Senator Anthony M. Bucco’s resolution to designate March 9 of each year as “Covid-19 Heroes Day” to honor essential workers was signed into law today by Governor Murphy.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco’s resolution to designate March 9 of each year as “Covid-19 Heroes Day” to honor essential workers was signed into law today. (Pixabay)
“Essential workers in multiple occupations valiantly mobilized to help New Jersey residents during this formidable pandemic, jeopardizing their own health and well-being in the process,” said Senator Bucco (R-25). “By designating March 9 as ‘Covid-19 Heroes Day,’ we will help bring awareness to these courageous individuals and honor them for their service and sacrifice.”
Bucco: Bipartisan Support to Fix Underage Marijuana & Alcohol Use Laws
Says Parental Notification Must Be Restored for Children Caught Drinking or Smoking Pot
Senator Anthony M. Bucco said there should be enough bipartisan support in the Legislature to fix a recently enacted law that prohibits law enforcement from notifying parents when children are caught using or possessing marijuana or alcohol.
Sen. Tony Bucco said there should be enough bipartisan support in the Legislature to fix a recently enacted law that prohibits law enforcement from notifying parents when children are caught using or possessing marijuana or alcohol. (Pixabay)
“Police shouldn’t be prohibited from telling parents that their child was caught engaging in illegal or dangerous activity with drugs or alcohol,” said Bucco (R-25). “Thankfully, it appears that both Republicans and Democrats in both houses of the Legislature want to fix this outrageous provision of our law. Governor Murphy apparently is supportive of this fix as well. Given that broad support, there’s no reason to delay action on moving this important legislation forward.”
Bucco and Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) introduced legislation (S-3528) last week that would make the correction. Other similar bills have been introduced or announced in both houses.
O’Scanlon & Bucco to Introduce Bills Addressing the Most Severe Failings of the New Marijuana Law
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Senator Anthony M. Bucco are taking the lead to fix some of the most obvious problems with the new cannabis law passed by the Trenton Democrats.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Sen. Anthony M. Bucco are introducing legislation to fix some of the most obvious problems with the new cannabis law passed by the Trenton Democrats. (Pixabay)
The Senate Republican colleagues will introduce legislation that would restore liability protections for police during a marijuana-related interaction with underage youths and another to repeal a new law prohibiting law enforcement from notifying parents if their child is caught possessing alcohol or marijuana.
Bucco to Murphy: Fixing NJ’s Broken Unemployment System Not a “Waste” of Money
Senator Anthony M. Bucco expressed shock at Governor Phil Murphy’s suggestion at his press briefing today that investing funds to fix the State’s broken unemployment system would be “throwing good money after bad.”
Sen. Tony Bucco expressed shock at Gov. Phil Murphy’s suggestion at his press briefing today that investing funds to fix the State’s broken unemployment system would be ‘throwing good money after bad.’ (Pixabay)
The governor then suggested that he believed New Jersey should wait for the federal government to rebuild the unemployment system on their end, saying, “I don’t want to waste money in the meantime.”
“It defies belief that Governor Murphy would say it’s a ‘waste’ of money to fix our unemployment system for those who need quick access to the benefits they earned to survive,” said Bucco (R-25). “It’s shocking that the governor is willing to sit back and wait while people are suffering when there’s no indication that federal action is on the horizon.”
Bucco: Murphy Must Detail Plans for Fixing Broken Unemployment, MVC & Vaccine Computer Systems
Senator Anthony M. Bucco expressed disappointment that Governor Phil Murphy failed to offer details of plans to modernize and fix critical computer systems in his State budget proposal for FY 2022 that was unveiled today.
Sen. Tony Bucco expressed disappointment that Gov. Phil Murphy failed to offer details of plans to modernize and fix critical computer systems in his State budget proposal for next year. (Pixabay)
“Over the past year, millions of New Jerseyans have suffered due to broken and outdated State computer systems that are responsible for unemployment benefits, MVC transactions, and scheduling vaccine appointments,” said Bucco (R-25). “When Governor Murphy is sitting on a multi-billion dollar budget surplus, it’s beyond disappointing that he was unwilling to detail any planned investments in upgrading these critical systems that people depend upon.”
Editorial: Murphy Must Upgrade Broken Unemployment, MVC & Vaccine Scheduling Computer Systems
The following editorial by Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) calling on Governor Phil Murphy to upgrade the broken State unemployment, motor vehicle, and vaccine scheduling computer systems was published by NJ.com on February 20, 2021:
For far too long, New Jersey has failed to invest in upgrading and modernizing some of its most critical computer systems. This past year made it clear we cannot delay these important projects any longer.
In this NJ.com editorial, Sen. Tony Bucco calls on Gov. Phil Murphy to upgrade the broken State unemployment, motor vehicle, and vaccine scheduling computer systems. (Pixabay)
It’s not just old systems that are broken. In recent weeks, a flood of people have told me the new COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system doesn’t work either.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, thousands of constituents have contacted my office for help after trying and failing on their own to get the services they deserve from the Division of Unemployment Insurance and the Motor Vehicle Commission.
Bucco Measure to Designate March 9 as ‘Covid-19 Heroes Day’ Clears Senate
Senator Anthony M. Bucco’s resolution to designate March 9 of each year as “Covid-19 Heroes Day” to honor essential workers was approved by the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Tony Bucco’s resolution to designate March 9 of each year as “Covid-19 Heroes Day” to honor essential workers was approved by the New Jersey Senate. (Pixabay)
“Essential workers have put their own health, and indeed their own lives, at risk for the well-being of all New Jerseyans,” said Bucco (R-25). “By designating March 9 as ‘Covid-19 Heroes Day,’ we will help bring awareness to these courageous individuals and honor them for their service and sacrifice.”
Bucco Bill Establishing Task Force to Protect New Jerseyans from Telemarketer Harassment Advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco that would establish a task force to protect New Jerseyans from telemarketer harassment and intimidation was advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Bucco that would establish a task force to protect New Jerseyans from telemarketer harassment was advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee. (Pixabay)
“In order to reduce the harassment and intimidation carried out by some telemarketers, we need to modernize consumer protections to keep up with advancing technology,” said Bucco (R-25). “My legislation will establish a task force, consisting of experts and individuals who have experienced telemarketing harassment, to develop strategies to combat this awful behavior.”
