DeCROCE NAMED TO STATE’S HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE; WANTS TO TACKLE COSTS AND EDUCATION RELEVANCY

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R- Morris Passaic) has been named to the Assembly Higher Education Committee. 

 

DeCroce said she is honored to serve on a committee whose oversight of higher education touches the lives of so many families in New Jersey. 

“Traditionally, the path to success and social mobility in America has been through our colleges and universities.  I want to make sure that a quality higher education is affordable to everyone who has the desire to pursue learning,” said DeCroce.

DeCroce said she is concerned that the cost of college is placing too high a burden on college graduates and their parents. “The spiraling costs of a college education are having a tremendous negative impact on students and families. The debt burden carried by college graduates is impacting their working lives and is proving to be a disincentive to some who want to pursue advanced learning,” said DeCroce.

The assemblywoman said she would like to see more fiscal accountability and cost controls on colleges and universities that accept government financing.  “Gov. Christie and the legislature have been fighting successfully to hold down the costs of our primary and secondary public schools and demanding more accountability from teachers and administrators. I believe we need to do the same with our colleges and universities where costs are far outstripping the rate of inflation,” said DeCroce. 

DeCroce pointed to a study released last fall that said tuition and mandatory fees for in-state students at the state’s public colleges will range from $10,422 at New Jersey City University to $14,740 at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. Those costs are exclusive of room and board paid by students who live on campus. 

Tuition and fees at Rutgers University for the average in-state undergraduate rose this year to  $13,073.Students living on campus will pay a total of more than $24,000 once room and board are added to the bill.

DeCroce, a career businesswoman, also noted that college curriculums need to be more relevant to today’s workplace. “The mission of our colleges should be to turn out people who have skills that are readily and immediately adaptable to the available employment opportunities,” said DeCroce.

The assemblywoman said she encourages businesses to become more involved with college administrators in shaping curriculums that give students the skills necessary to meet today’s job requirements.

CONSTITUENT SERVICES

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce’s District Office assists constituents by working as a liaison between state agencies and removing red tape, as well as providing a valuable resource of public information and programs in the community.  The district office addresses a variety of areas, such as professional licensing delays, citizen suggestions for policy, public safety complaints, questions about pending legislation, notary legislative endorsements, and public assistance issues.  The office is staffed by trained professionals who will work with each individual to best resolve his or her case or make an appropriate referral.  To inquire with a concern or to make an appointment to meet with a staff member, please call (973) 265-0057.  Constituent service hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 4:30PM. 

If you would like to voice your opinion on an issue facing New Jersey, you may write Asw. DeCroce at 1055 Parsippany Blvd., Ste. #104, Parsippany, NJ 07054 or AswDeCroce@njleg.org.

BRAMNICK ANNOUNCES DeCROCE HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF NJBIZ’S 2013 50 BEST WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick today announced that Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, R-Morris, Essex and Passaic, has been named as one of NJBIZ’s 2013 50 Best Women in Business. The program recognizes dynamic women for their professional success, community involvement and advocacy for women.

“Assemblywoman DeCroce is not only an outstanding public servant, but a role model for women of all ages,” said Bramnick, R- Union, Morris and Somerset. “She’s a long-time trusted friend and it’s an honor to have her serve as a member of the Assembly Republican caucus where she has championed important legislation affecting women.

“In addition to her record of public service, BettyLou is a successful businesswoman who epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit. Her leadership skills, her commitment to service and her selfless willingness to give back to her community has helped thousands of citizens, small business owners and women leaders in Morris County and throughout the state. BettyLou is more than deserving of this meritorious award and, on behalf of the Assembly Republican caucus, I congratulate her.”

DeCroce will be honored along with the other recipients at a dinner at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ on Thursday, March 21 from 6 to 9 p.m.

“I have always considered the opportunity to serve my community and state in both the private and public sectors a privilege,” said DeCroce, R-Morris, Essex and Passaic. “To be recognized for doing so is not only a pleasant surprise, but an incredible honor. ”

DeCroce has enjoyed a successful career for more than 30 years in the New Jersey real estate industry. As President of Gallo and DeCroce ERA Realty in Parsippany, she has earned top honors in the real estate business, including the MVP Office Award for Outstanding Achievements from the Business Broker’s Council of New Jersey in 2002, the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Memorial Award, and the MDA Jerry Award for Outstanding Fundraising from 1999 to 2002, and her company earned the ERA Franchise Systems Superior Performance Award from 2002 through 2012.

She is the former Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs where she oversaw the Division on Local Government Services and the Division on Women. Under her leadership, she helped earn an SBA grant to help women entrepreneurs gain important contacts, funding and information on starting a small business, and authored the Best Practices Model for municipalities.

In 2012, DeCroce was elected to the General Assembly to represent the constituents of the 26th Legislative District. She fills the seat formerly held by her husband, the late Alex DeCroce, who served as Assembly Republican Leader. She currently serves on the Assembly Education and Assembly Women and Children committees, and the Joint Committee on Public Schools.

DeCroce, who has made giving back to the community a hallmark of her career, has served on the board of the Morris County Cancer Society, the New Jersey Crime Victims Law Center, the Morris County Clerks Association, the State of New Jersey Clerks Association, the International Clerks Association, and as Vice Chair for the Employees Legislative Council.

RIBLE-SIMON-DeCROCE ASK SPEAKER OLIVER TO POST REFORM THAT WOULD MAKE N.J. SAFER FROM VIOLENCE

LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW RESIDENTS TO DECIDE WHETHER VIOLENT OFFENDERS BELONG IN JAIL OR IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS

Assembly Republicans Dave Rible, Donna Simon and BettyLou DeCroce asked Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver today to include a proposal that would keep dangerous offenders in jail as part of the legislative response to prevent violence.

“Any serious effort to prevent violence should begin with common sense solutions such as keeping people in jail if they have been accused of committing violent acts,” said Assembly Republican Conference Leader Dave Rible, R-Monmouth and Ocean. “We would like to work in bipartisan cooperation to keep New Jersey safe and this proposal has been endorsed by law enforcement, Governor Christie, and Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature.”

Rible, Simon and DeCroce, sponsor ACR-153, bipartisan legislation to permit voters to decide whether New Jersey should deny bail for dangerous defendants, bringing the state’s policy in line with federal law and 48 other states. They sent a letter to Speaker Oliver requesting her to add the resolution to the Assembly’s Feb. 21 session.

“A reasonable approach to reduce the risk of violent acts in our communities includes placing violent offenders behind bars, where they cannot do any more harm,” Assemblywoman Donna Simon, R-Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer and Middlesex, said. “Ensuring violent offenders don’t repeat their offenses while awaiting trial is also common sense gun safety because it makes sure that those with the capacity for violence do not have the opportunity to hurt our neighborhoods, children and senior citizens.”

The legislation was unanimously approved by bipartisan committees in the Assembly and Senate before stalling last summer.

“Tragedies throughout the country have shown it’s time to get serious about reasonable solutions to protect public safety,” Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, R-Morris, Passaic and Essex, said. “Guaranteeing bail to even the most violent offenders is a glaring deficiency in our state’s law that we can all agree to fix with this common sense solution.”

DeCROCE SAYS INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON GENERATOR BILL COULD THREATEN N.J. ECONOMY

(Parsippany, NJ) Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Morris, Passaic) – sponsor of the N.J. Residents’ Power Protection Act, which would require gas stations and other key facilities to have backup natural gas powered generators, says she is not buying the arguments of the lobbyists representing gasoline and convenience store owners that were made in Trenton on Monday in opposition to the legislation. 

“The lobbyists are unwilling to recognize the damage that the lack of gasoline and power to vital businesses caused to the economy of the state and the lives of the people who live here,” said DeCroce. “They are putting their interests ahead of the overall good of the state.”

DeCroce’s legislation would address the power outage problems suffered by many residents during Hurricane Sandy by requiring vital and unique facilities to install either natural gas or propane powered generators. Those facilities would extend beyond gas stations and nursing homes to include private assisted living facilities, Class C (dementia patients) boarding homes, pharmacies, and firehouses and ambulance squad facilities.

To offset the cost of the generator upgrades, the bill provides for a corporation business tax deduction and gross income tax deduction (not to exceed $10,000 in either case), and a sales tax exemption, for the purchase of applicable equipment by the business and facilities covered under the N.J. Residents’ Power Protection Act.

Sal Risalvato, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience Store and Automotive Association, reportedly objected to generator legislation saying, even with the requirement for natural gas generators: “You would have seen the same gas lines. You would have seen the same inconvenience.”  Assemblywoman DeCroce stated that this was a tunnel vision statement on his part.

“For anyone to characterize what happened in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy as simply an inconvenience, demonstrates a complete unwillingness to recognize the dire problems faced by millions of people,” said DeCroce.

The gasoline shortages had a dramatic impact on people’s lives and on commerce in general in this state. When tens of thousands of people are waiting for hours in line to get a few gallons of gas to power their home generators or operate their cars, that’s not an inconvenience; that’s an emergency.  This created an economic ripple effect that I will not allow to be ignored,” said DeCroce.

"This is not just about gas stations.  This is about protecting the lives of our vulnerable, senior citizens, residents needing constant medical care, and our families," she added.

The assemblywoman said generators would keep gasoline stations open, and coupled with better deployment of gasoline deliveries, would improve both economic and quality of life issues immeasurably. She said she hopes the gasoline retailers and other business  groups will contribute positively to the post-Sandy discussion.

“The governor and others are leading the way in making substantial regulatory changes to reduce the impact that major storms will have on the people of New Jersey,” said DeCroce. “Instead of pretending that Sandy didn’t happen, the lobbyists should be contributing positively to  the discussion on how we avoid a repeat of the toll that Sandy took on people’s lives.”

BETTYLOU DeCROCE SWORN INTO ASSEMBLY

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, R- Morris, Essex and Passaic, who won a special election in November to serve the unexpired term of her late husband Alex DeCroce, was sworn in today to the General Assembly. In January, DeCroce was elected by the Republican County Committee to represent the 26th Legislative District until November’s election. Assemblywoman DeCroce joins Senator Joe Pennacchio and Assemblyman Jay Webber serving the 26th Legislative District.

DeCroce has over 30 years of experience serving at various levels of government. Prior to her service in the Assembly, DeCroce served as a councilwoman in Mine Hill and as the Roxbury Township municipal clerk and deputy township manager. Most recently, she served as deputy commissioner in the state Department of Community Affairs.

“I am honored to represent the people of the 26th Legislative District,” said DeCroce. “I have spent my professional career serving the public, and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the effort to make New Jersey a better place to live and work. I am committed to serving the needs of my constituents and intend to be a voice that represents the interests of taxpayers. I am sure Alex would be happy that I am able to serve the public as he proudly did for over 20 years.”

Commenting on DeCroce’s swearing in, along with her Republican colleague Assemblywoman Donna Simon, Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick said, “I am so very proud to lead a caucus that has state representatives as talented and honest as Assemblywomen DeCroce and Simon. They are true treasures of the state of New Jersey and their districts are very fortunate to have them as their advocates.”

WEBBER-BUCCO-DeCROCE BILL ON EDUCATIONAL COSTS FOR STUDENTS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Jay Webber, R-Morris, Essex and Passaic, supporting women and families in domestic violence shelters and the communities that host them, was approved by the General Assembly today.

In addition to Webber, other primary sponsors include Assembly Republicans Anthony M. Bucco and BettyLou DeCroce.

“This bill is the result of the unanimous support of the Assembly which recognizes the financial burdens presently imposed on towns that provide transitional facilities for battered women and their children,” said Webber, who is a member of the Assembly Budget Committee. “During the budget hearings this year, the committee heard testimony that drew its attention to the school funding obligation placed on the municipality where these facilities are located if the student resides there beyond one year. The typical stay at a transitional facility is two years, requiring the host town to absorb the cost of the second year of the student’s education.

“This bill removes the unfair financial burden on the host municipalities that house victims of abuse from communities across the state and will help sustain the viability of the transitional housing facilities which provide the compassionate care these abused victims need and deserve,” Webber stated.

The legislation, A-3164/S-2120, which received unanimous support in the Assembly (77-0), would take effect in the 2012/13 school year. The bill stipulates the State will pay the educational costs of students who reside in a domestic violence shelter or transitional living facility for more than one year. The Departments of Education and Children and Families will establish rules to identify those facilities that qualify as transitional living facilities or domestic violence shelters.

“New Jersey’s per-pupil costs are a drain on local budgets,” said Anthony M. Bucco, R-Morris and Somerset, who is also a member of the Budget Committee. “Communities with shelters that house students who live in these facilities are forced to bear an inequitable fiscal burden. At a time when host towns are trying to cut costs, but preserve services while keeping property tax rates in check, this bill helps alleviate the costly burden municipalities are incurring.”

An administrative law court’s decision in 2010 interpreted conflicting statutes and concluded that once a family in transition lives within a school district for 12 consecutive months, the financial responsibility of any school age children in that family is the host district’s responsibility.

“Municipalities around the state are strapped for cash as it is,” said DeCroce, R-Morris, Essex and Passaic. “Requiring them to bear this additional fiscal burden on their own isn’t fair. At the same time, we have a responsibility to assist victims of abuse who face dire situations through no fault of their own. This legislation is an equitable solution.”