DeCroce, O'Toole Applaud Governor's Energy Resiliance Initiative; Urge Legislation Leaders To Approve Power Protection Act

Source: Assembly Republican Press Release -

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce and Senator Kevin O’Toole today applauded Governor Christie’s administration for allocating $25 million to pursue creative and cost-effective alternatives to enhance statewide energy resilience – including the purchase of generators. The funds are being allocated from the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

“I applaud the Governor for taking a strong leadership position on the vitally important issue of backup power when some leaders in the legislature are not,” said DeCroce.
DeCroce (R-Essex, Morris, Passaic) is the sponsor of the N.J. Residents Power Protection Act (A-3495), which seeks to address the power outage problems following Superstorm Sandy that hit New Jersey late last October.

Senator O’Toole (R-Bergen, Essex, Morris,Passaic) is the sponsor of companion legislation in the senate. He noted that the Christie Administration energy resilience plan includes a $7 million grant program that will allow targeted retail fuel stations, on and near evacuation routes, faster and more reliable access to backup power during an energy emergency.

The state will make funding available to more than 250 fuel stations located along key thoroughfares identified by state homeland security and emergency management personnel. Eligible station owners will use the funds to purchase generators or permanent connection points for mobile generators, also known as “quick connects.”

“The Governor should be congratulated for recognizing thatNew Jerseystill has serious gaps in its energy security network and that he is allocating federal funds as an innovative solution while the legislature continues to deliberate on this important issue,” said O’Toole.

DeCroce’s legislation would require all gas stations, nursing homes, and other critical facilities to have generator backup power during declared emergencies. To help implement the generator program, DeCroce has included in her legislation a tax incentive to make the upgrades affordable to businesses.

While DeCroce’s legislation has been stalled by state legislative leaders, she says she is encouraged by Governor Christie’s leadership on backup power issue and hopes it will spur the legislature to act. The governor’s emergency energy program is targeted at critical facilities, including police and fire stations, shelters, emergency operations centers, and wastewater treatment plants in 146 municipalities, counties and other government units.

“While the governor’s program serves the needs of 146 municipalities, counties, and other government entities; we need a mandatory statewide backup program that serves the residents in all 565 municipalities,” said DeCroce.

“It’s nearly a year sinceSandyslammedNew Jersey, and the State Legislature has not done enough in my opinion to avoid a repeat of the horrific conditions residents had to endure in the aftermath of that storm,” said DeCroce.

DeCroce said the images of long lines of people trying to get gasoline for cars and generators at the few gas stations that were open; and the disruption to commerce and the threats to the lives of our elderly brought by the loss of power are still firmly etched in her mind.

“The conditions for many people, especially our most vulnerable citizens were barbaric and must never be repeated,” added the Assemblywoman. “I hope the Assembly Speaker and Senate President will take a cue from Governor Christie on the matter of energy security and will post the kind of legislation needed to protect all the residents of this state.”

DeCroce Named 'Champion' For Work On Health Care For Women And Babies

Source: Montville Patch-

District 26 Asw. BettyLou DeCroce received the New Jersey Primary Care Association’s “Community Health Center Champion Award” for 2013 at a special ceremony Friday at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Atlantic City. The association said DeCroce was recognized for her commitment to improving outcomes in high-risk pregnancies throughout the Garden State.

“I am sincerely humbled by this recognition and would like to thank the NJPCA for this honor,” said the lawmaker, who represents citizens of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. “In New Jersey, we are fortunate to have access to some of the best medical care in the country. That being said, there’s no excuse for not making sure we provide high-risk, expectant mothers and their babies with the best possible care and outcomes.”

DeCroce sponsored Assembly Bill A-4056, which she said would improve outcomes in high-risk pregnancies and improve the health of low-income mothers and their newborns with more thorough testing and pre-natal care.

“After listening to powerful testimony about the high rate of miscarriages in our state during an Assembly Women and Children Committee meeting last fall, I introduced a bill requiring more proactive monitoring and care during the crucial perinatal period, from the 20th week of a pregnancy through the first four weeks after a baby’s birth,” she said. “I am confident that with the collaboration of the New Jersey Primary Care Association and medical professionals and advocacy groups, we can bring this life-saving legislation to fruition.”

The New Jersey Primary Care Association is a nonprofit corporation that represents community-based ambulatory health care providers and affiliates across the state.

DeCroce said the measure so far is finding bipartisan support in Trenton.

DeCroce Recieves Community Health Center Champion Award From The New Jersey Primary Care Association

Source: Assembly Republican Press Release -

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce was presented with the New Jersey Primary Care Association’s “Community Health Center Champion Award” for her commitment to improving outcomes in high-risk pregnancies in New Jersey.

“I am sincerely humbled by this recognition and would like to thank the NJPCA for this honor,” said DeCroce, R- Morris, Essex andPassaic. “In New Jersey, we are fortunate to have access to some of the best medical care in the country. That being said, there’s no excuse for not making sure we provide high-risk, expectant mothers and their babies with the best possible care and outcomes.”

DeCroce is the sponsor of bi-partisan legislation, A-4056, to improve outcomes in high-risk pregnancies and improve the health of low-income mothers and their newborns with more thorough testing and pre-natal care.

“After listening to powerful testimony about the high rate of miscarriages in our state during an Assembly Women and Children Committee meeting last fall, I introduced a bill requiring more proactive monitoring and care during the crucial perinatal period, from the 20th week of a pregnancy through the first four weeks after a baby’s birth,” stated DeCroce, who received the award at a conference today, at The Golden Nugget Hotel in Atlantic City.

“I am confident that with the collaboration of the New Jersey Primary Care Association and medical professionals and advocacy groups, we can bring this life-saving legislation to fruition.”

DeCroce was elected to the General Assembly to represent the constituents of the 26th Legislative District in 2012. She serves on the Assembly Education, Assembly Women and Children, and Assembly Higher Education committees, and the Joint Committee on Public Schools.

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.

New Jersey Primary Care Association, Inc. (NJPCA) is a not-for-profit corporation that represents the organizational providers and affiliates of community-based ambulatory healthcare, specifically focusing on FQHCs, in the State ofNew Jersey.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN DECROCE ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL CODE BODY IN ATLANTIC CITY

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Morris), drawing on her experience as a Deputy Commissioner at the State Department of Community Affairs, which oversees code enforcement and fire safety, addressed the International Code Council (ICC) at their 10th Annual Conference in Atlantic City.

The ICC is an international membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention.  The group develops codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings.

Stressing the need for policymakers at the local, county, state and national levels to cooperate and share information on code development and enforcement, DeCroce said, “I believe there is an urgent need for municipalities, state and national agencies to have an open a dialogue that leads to informed decision-making.

She said that a lot of the work that the ICC will do at its conference over the next 10 days can be a catalyst to that dialogue.

"The springboard for that open and cooperative dialogue should begin with the ICC,” said DeCroce. “There is a need to have a dialogue about what regulations work and which ones don’t.  In an era of limited government resources, governments need to streamline regulation and employ those that have the greatest safety impact on people’s lives.” 

DeCroce also mentioned the key role code development and enforcement plays in the rebuilding efforts from Superstorm Sandy.  “We need drive only a short distance from here to see the devastation brought by Sandy and the many examples of how code requirements, properly enforced, made a difference”, said DeCroce. 

“Buildings constructed in accordance with modern codes fared much better than older, non-compliant structures.”

NJ 101.5: "STOPPING TOWNS FROM USING YOUR CASH TO OVERPAY LAWYERS"

Source: NJ 101.5 -

This summer, State Comptroller Matt Boxer released a scathing audit that revealed a repeated waste of taxpayer dollars by government entities on excessive or improper payments for legal services, including one town that paid a salary for an attorney with no job duties at all.

Assemblywoman Betty Lou DeCroce has introduced a bill she hopes will be a quick fix to the problem.

The bill, called the ‘Transparency in Government Legal Bill Act,’ requires a detailed invoice describing each legal service performed, an itemized list of the expenses involved for each service and how the amount of the charge was determined.

“When someone receives a bill, they have a right to see a breakdown of the charges before making payment,” says DeCroce. “Taxpayers are footing the bill for contracted legal services provided to agencies and departments and each bill should be scrutinized to make sure the charges are fair, accurate and can be substantiated.”

Under DeCroce’s bill, before any town pays any legal fee, an invoice must include the following information:

• The date(s) and description of issue for which service was provided.
• The name of the attorney and the method used to calculate the bill.
• The total charge for the service(s) provided.
• The invoice must include a description of each service rendered and the name(s) of the individuals involved in providing that service.
• The amount of time spent on each particular service.
• A list of expenses and disbursements made for each service rendered, with specific notes on which services are reimbursable.
• A notation on the limit of charges for services that may be billed as provided in the contract and whether payment of the invoice will exceed the limit stipulated in the agreement.

“This legislation spells out the elements that must be included in an invoice and ensures taxpayers are only paying for services that can be documented just as any client is entitled to before remitting payment,” says DeCroce.

DECROCE LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE ITEMIZED BILL FOR PAYMENT OF LEGAL SERVICES

Source: Assembly Republican Press Release -

Following through on a report issued by the state comptroller in the summer regarding the payment of legal bills by government entities, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce has introduced legislation that would require a detailed invoice for the services rendered before payment is made.

The bill, called the “Transparency in Government Legal Bill Act,” requires that information, such as a description of each legal service rendered, an itemized list of the expenses involved for each service and how the amount of the charge was determined, must be detailed in an invoice.

“When someone receives a bill, they have a right to see a breakdown of the charges before making payment,” said DeCroce, R- Morris, Esssex and Passaic. “Taxpayers are footing the bill for contracted legal services provided to agencies and departments and each bill should be scrutinized to make sure the charges are fair, accurate and can be substantiated. This legislation spells out the elements that must be included in an invoice and ensures taxpayers are only paying for services that can be documented just as any client is entitled to before remitting payment.”

Under DeCroce’s legislation (A-4370), prior to the authorization of payment, an invoice must include the following information:

1.The date(s) and description of issue for which service was provided.
2.The name of the attorney and the method used to calculate the bill.
3.The total charge for the service(s) provided.
4.The invoice must include a description of each service rendered and the name(s) of the individuals involved in providing that service.
5.The amount of time spent on each particular service.
6.A list of expenses and disbursements made for each service rendered, with specific notes on which services are reimbursable.
7.A notation on the limit of charges for services that may be billed as provided in the contract and whether payment of the invoice will exceed the limit stipulated in the agreement.

Stickley Museum Will Honor DeCroce and Lim

Source: Bergen Record-


The Stickley Museum’s Design for Living Gala will be held on Oct. 5 at the Mountain Lakes Club in Mountain Lakes.

The gala will honor Assemblywoman Betty Lou DeCroce and Jasmine Lim, business administrator for the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, both of whom have been steadfast friends of the museum for many years. It will also honor the memory of the late Alex DeCroce, who served as a museum trustee for 10 years.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to publicly acknowledge our appreciation for these individuals who have played a leading role in the Stickley Museum’s success story,” said Heather Stivison, the museum’s executive director. “The support and assistance of both Jasmine Lim and Betty Lou DeCroce, and of Alex DeCroce until his passing last year, have been critical to the Stickley Museum’s remarkable transformation from a property slated for development into a thriving cultural and historical center.”

Lim describes her relationship with Craftsman Farms and the Craftsman Farms Foundation as both “longstanding and multi-faceted.”

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms is located at the intersection of Manor Lane and Route 10 West. Restoration of the National Historic Landmark, Craftsman Farms, is made possible in part, by a Save America’s Treasure’s grant, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and by support from Morris County Preservation Trust, the New Jersey Historic Trust, and individual members.