Legislators Officially Join Forces on Bridge Investigation

Source: Inquirer -

The Legislature voted unanimously Monday to establish a joint panel to investigate disruptive lane closures in September at the George Washington Bridge, though Republicans continued to voice frustration with the Democrat-led effort.

“We’ve been down here twice, and both times in the last two weeks were related to the investigation,” Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R., Union) told reporters. “I would hope we can move forward with property-tax relief and those other issues.”

The decision comes 10 days after the Assembly and Senate created separate special investigatory committees. Those committees were dissolved Monday after Democratic leaders brokered a deal last week to combine their efforts.

Documents obtained and released by legislators this month suggest that Gov. Christie’s deputies at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey worked with at least one member of the governor’s inner circle to shut down the lanes, perhaps as political payback.

The scandal has consumed the start of the legislative session and created a political headache for Christie, a popular Republican who has not hidden his possible ambitions for the presidency in 2016.

“Who knew what and when did they know it? That’s all this is about,” Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald (D., Camden) said Monday on the Assembly floor.
The new committee is composed of 12 legislators from both houses: eight Democrats, including Greenwald, and four Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D., Bergen) and Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D., Middlesex) are co-chairs.

While there was universal agreement on the need to continue investigating, Republicans suggested the scope of the inquiry was too broad. They asked, for example, whether the committee would delve into allegations made by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer that the Christie administration had tied Sandy relief funds to a development project. Christie’s office strongly denies that claim.

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R., Morris), who is not a member of the new committee, asked how the committee would approach someone such as Zimmer, who has said that she has met with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and has been advised not to discuss the matter publicly. Democrats said they would consult their outside special counsel to determine how to proceed in such a scenario.

Republicans, who are the minority party in both houses, also said they were wary of a Democratic-led partisan investigation. All four Republican committee members voted against a resolution to establish the parameters of the investigation, including its power to issue subpoenas.

Wisniewski argued that it was impossible to know what the documents subpoenaed by the panel might reveal. Therefore, he said, it would be unwise to declare certain subject matters, such as the Hoboken controversy, off-limits.

“This investigation started out as an inquiry into the operations and finances of the Port Authority. Following that level of inquiry, we uncovered e-mails that originated from [the governor's office],” Wisniewski said on the Assembly floor. “We can’t predict what other information will come before the committee.”

This month, the special Assembly panel served subpoenas to 20 organizations and individuals, including some of Christie’s top advisers. Wisniewski said Monday that the committee would reissue those subpoenas as a matter of precaution. The recipients have until Feb. 3 to respond.

The new committee has subpoena power through 2016.

Separately, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has issued subpoenas to Christie’s reelection campaign and the Republican State Committee, seeking information about the lane closures.

In the meantime, at least one legislator expressed hope that the Legislature would continue to legislate.

“We’ve been down here twice, and both times in the last two weeks were related to the investigation,” Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R., Union) told reporters. “I would hope we can move forward with property-tax relief and those other issues.”

Route 53 Now Officially "DeCroce Memorial Highway'

Source: Morris Bee -

It’s official.

Gov. Chris Christie signed bipartisan legislation Thursday renaming Route 53 (Tabor Road) to the Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway after DeCroce, who served as Assembly Republican Leader when he died following a legislative session in January 2012.

DeCroce’s wife, District 26 Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, R-Morris, Essex and Passaic, issued the statement Jan. 6 following the General Assembly passage of the bill.

“I extend my sincerest thanks to the bill’s bi-partisan sponsors for initiating this measure. Those who knew Alex know he never sought the limelight. In fact, he would be quite uncomfortable over this because he was not one to flaunt his accomplishments. His only goal was to get the job done for the people of his district and the state. Alex was a huge supporter of transportation issues. To have Rt. 53, which runs through his hometown and district, named for him is truly a great honor to his legacy.”

DeCroce was noted an avid proponent of transportation issues in New Jersey, and was a former chairman of the Transportation Committee. He was the prime sponsor of legislation that renewed the Transportation Trust Fund. He also was a strong advocate for crime victims’ rights.

Route 53 is a state highway that spans about  five miles from U.S. Route 202 in Morris Plains north to Bloomfield Avenue in Denville.

Guide Dogs Focus of Newly Enacted 'Dusty's Law'

Source: Parsippany Patch -

Gov. Chris Christie signed into law Friday legislation that boosts criminal penalties for recklessly actions against guide dogs. The bill was sponsored by District 26 Asw. Betty Lou DeCroce and Assembly Republican Whip Scott Rumana.

The bill, called “Dusty’s Law,” is named after Dusty, a seeing-eye puppy in Bergen County who was still in training to assist a visually impaired person when he was attacked in July 2010. Though the dog survived his serious physical injuries, he was unable to continue in the training program due to the emotional trauma he suffered.

“Guide dogs and guide-dogs-in-training are bred to have a docile, obedient nature,” said DeCroce, a Republican who represents parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. “Unfortunately, this gentle demeanor often brings out the worst in aggressive dogs. Currently, even the most serious dog-on-guide-dog attack is not considered a criminal act.

“This legislation is needed to ensure that reckless dog owners are held responsible when such attacks occur.” Rumana agreed.

“It’s important that we not only recognize the vital role these animals play in assisting those with an impairment, but that we afford them the protections they deserve,” he continued. “This measure sends a message that abusing or killing these dogs will have significant repercussions.”

Specifically, the legislation will make it a fourth-degree crime for a person to recklessly kill a guide dog, or to recklessly permit a dog that he or she owns or has immediate control over to kill a guide dog. A person who recklessly injures a guide dog, or recklessly permits a dog that he or she owns or has immediate control over to injure a guide dog will be a disorderly person under the bill.

In addition, a person who recklessly interferes with the use of a guide dog, or who recklessly permits a dog that he or she owns or over which he or she has immediate control to interfere with a guide dog by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of that guide dog or its handler would be guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense.

Fourth-degree crimes are punishable by a prison term of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Disorderly persons offenses are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both; petty disorderly persons offenses are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both.

The bill also requires someone convicted under the law to pay restitution, which includes the value of the guide dog; replacement and training or retraining expenses for the guide dog and the handler; veterinary and other medical and boarding expenses for the guide dog; medical expenses for the handler; and lost wages or income incurred by the handler during any period that the handler is without the services of the guide dog.

Under the measure, a “guide dog” is defined as a dog, or dog in training, which has been or is being raised or trained by a volunteer puppy raiser or staff member of an organization generally recognized as being involved in the rehabilitation of the blind or deaf and reputable and competent to provide dogs with specialized training; or is fitted with a special harness so as to be suitable as an aid to the mobility of a blind person.

Gov. Christie Signs DeCroce and Casagrande's 'Autumn Joy Stillbirth Research Act'

Source: Assembly Republican Press Release -

The “Autumn Joy Stillbirth Research and Dignity Act,” sponsored by Assemblywomen BettyLou DeCroce and Caroline Casagrande, has been signed into law by Gov. Christie.

“With the guidelines that will be established, we will provide effective tools to help medical professionals and staff provide sensitive and compassionate care following the loss of a child in stillbirth,” said DeCroce, R-Essex, Morris and Passaic. “Families grieving and struggling after a stillborn loss are especially vulnerable, and skilled care is crucial.”

The new law calls on the Department of Health to create a database for stillbirth research and to develop protocols for stillbirths and to create a database for stillbirth research. It requires the development of policies to ensure that families experiencing a stillbirth receive psychological and emotional support.

“An entire family is impacted by the stillbirth loss of a child,” says Casagrande, R-Monmouth. “This new law will better prepare medical workers to care for, and comfort, mothers and fathers struggling with the emotional and psychological trauma of that loss. In addition, establishing a comprehensive research database could ultimately provide clues for the prevention of stillbirths in the future.”

DeCroce and Casagrande’s bill is named in honor of Autumn Joy Vijayvergiya, a baby who was stillborn in New Jersey in 2011.

Approximately one in every 160 pregnancies in the U.S. ends in stillbirth, or 26,000 each year.

Assembly Approves Bill to Rename Route 53 Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway

Source: Jefferson Patch

The New Jersey General Assembly followed in the footsteps of the state Senate Monday by passing a measure to rename Route 53 in Morris County after former Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce of Parsippany, who died suddenly in January 2012. Asw. BettyLou DeCroce, who was appointed and then elected to fill her late husband’s seat, released a statement to express her gratitude.

BettyLou DeCroce

“I extend my sincerest thanks to the bill’s bipartisan sponsors for initiating this measure,” said the assemblywoman, who represents District 26, which covers parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties.

The Senate approved its version of the legislation in September 2013.

DeCroce said she isn’t sure that her husband would share her happiness at the bill’s passage by both legislative houses.

“Those who knew Alex know he never sought the limelight,” his widow said. “In fact, he would be quite uncomfortable over this because he was not one to flaunt his accomplishments. His only goal was to get the job done for the people of his district and the state.”

DeCroce said re-naming the nearly 5-mile, state-controlled thoroughfare, which starts in Morris Plains and runs through Parsippany and Denville, is an appropriate tribute for the late lawmaker.

“Alex was a huge supporter of transportation issues,” she said, noting that he was former chair of the transportation committee, prime sponsor of the renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund and a crime victims’ advocate. “To have Route 53, which runs through his hometown and district, named for him is truly a great honor to his legacy.”

The bill, S-2580/A-3789, now heads to Gov. Chris Christie for his consideration.

DeCroce and Casagrande's 'Autumn Joy Stillbirth Research Act' Approved by Assembly

Source: Assembly Republican Press Release -

The General Assembly today approved the “Autumn Joy Stillbirth Research and Dignity Act,” sponsored by Assemblywomen BettyLou DeCroce and Caroline Casagrande.

Assembly bill 4280 calls on the Department of Health to create a database for stillbirth research and to develop protocols for stillbirths and to create a database for stillbirth research.

“By establishing guidelines, we are providing medical professionals and staff with tools to ensure grief-stricken families receive sensitive and compassionate care following the loss of a child in stillbirth,” said DeCroce, R-Essex, Morris and Passaic. “For a family coping with a horrific loss, appropriate and skilled care is crucial.”

DeCroce and Casagrande’s bill is named in honor of Autumn Joy Vijayvergiya, a baby who was stillborn in New Jersey in 2011. It requires the development of policies to ensure that families experiencing a stillbirth receive psychological and emotional support.

“A stillbirth is an emotionally devastating event for the mother, father and the entire family. Our bill will better prepare medical care-givers to provide sensitive, proficient treatment for the emotional, and psychological trauma of the loss,” said Casagrande, R-Monmouth.

Approximately one in every 160 pregnancies in the U.S. ends in stillbirth, or 26,000 each year.

By directing the Department of Health to establish a database to serve as a comprehensive resource for stillbirth research, the bill could ultimately provide valuable information for the prevention of stillbirths.

The “Autumn Joy Stillbirth Research and Dignity Act” now moves to the Governor. Companion bill S-2843 passed the Senate, 39-0-1.