A resolution sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz that honors American military troops by encouraging the display of yellow ribbons was unanimously approved today by the Assembly Military & Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

“The yellow ribbon has come to be recognized as signifying honor, courage, and hope for military families and loved ones,” said Muñoz, R-Union, Morris and Somerset. “So many of our military personnel and civilian men and women have answered the call to protect our nation from harm and preserve peace and democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. It’s a debt we can never repay. The least we can do is show our continuing support by displaying these symbolic yellow ribbons throughout our communities.”

The resolution, AR-48, signifies that the General Assembly recognizes and honors American military troops and civilian men and women around the world working and fighting to preserve peace and democracy. It encourages the public to show their support by participating in “The Yellow Ribbon Campaign” by displaying yellow ribbons on their homes and businesses, and encourages municipalities to start their own patriotic societies.

          Wednesday’s State Commission of Investigation report indicating the substantial expense incurred by taxpayers by providing government-paid leave for public union employees is another reminder of the need to reform a costly expense that should not be borne by taxpayers, said Republican Assemblywomen Nancy F. Muñoz and Alison Littell McHose today.

          The assemblywomen pointed out that while the report estimated the cost to taxpayers at $30 million in salaries and medical benefits from 2006 through 2011, the issue of these employees’ participation in the state pension plans is another aspect of this practice that needs fixing.

          Muñoz and McHose are sponsors of A-2438 which bars certain employees of specified public agencies from participating in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). It also repeals the law permitting PERS and Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) members on leave who work for labor organization to purchase pension credits.

          “Historic pension reform was enacted last year, but we can still make progress in the effort to correct another aspect regarding public employees on paid leave which also costs taxpayers,” said Muñoz, R-Union, Morris and Somerset. “The SCI report was an eye-opener. The bottom line is that comprehensive reform is needed on the inconsistent practice of granting paid leaves, which also includes whether these employees should still be participating in a state pension plan. This aspect can be addressed immediately by A-2438.”

          “Until reports like this are issued, taxpayers are not aware of what they are paying for,” said McHose. “When someone calls attention to a flaw that costs millions in taxpayer dollars, the answer is to fix the problem, not attack the motive of the report.

          “As I stated two years ago, ‘The SCI’s investigations often target wasteful and abusive governmental practices and, uniquely, the SCI makes its results public even if there is no criminal prosecution.’” continued McHose. “Hearing that ‘some union officials have been on paid leave for years or even decades’ is outrageous enough, but what makes it worse is that SCI said they found no evidence that these officials on full-time paid leave are paying both the employee and employer contributions to the pension fund, as required by law. While the spoils go to these public employees, taxpayers continue to foot the bill.”

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz that would ensure the immediate dispatch and timely transport of critically ill patients between health care facilities by specialty care transportation units (SCTU) today unanimously cleared the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.

SCTUs transport critically ill and compromised patients between health care facilities (such as hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers) when patient needs exceed a level of care currently available to them. SCTUs, which are licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), are equipped with advanced life support equipment, including medications, cardiac monitoring devices and ventilators, and are staffed with highly skilled health care professionals.

“Situations often arise when a critically ill patient at a hospital needs to be moved to a specialty care facility which is better equipped to handle the patients’ condition,” explained Muñoz, R-Union, Morris and Somerset. “Such patients require specialized medical intervention or monitoring that is beyond the capabilities of a basic life support ambulance and its crew. It is literally a matter of life and death. In such situations it’s imperative that an SCTU be dispatched immediately to ensure the timely and safe transport of the patient.”

Muñoz’ measure, A-792, would:

• ensure immediate dispatch, and timely patient pick-up from the sending hospital, and transport to the receiving hospital by an SCTU used for patient inter-facility transfers;

• establish contingency SCTU transport protocols in the event that a hospital’s SCTU is not immediately available for dispatch. A hospital that fails to comply shall be penalized.

Currently, there are 48 SCTU providers licensed by DHSS.

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz, R-Union, Morris and Somerset, that encourages the widespread use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by civilians was signed into law today by Governor Christie.

The current law, enacted in 1963, provides for civil immunity under the Good Samaritan Act to lay persons and health care professionals who render care at the scene of an accident or emergency. However, AEDs were not in existence at that time.

S-852/A-832 broadens civil immunity provisions with regard to the acquisition and use of AEDs.

“A person who acts in good faith in the effort to try and save someone’s life should not be held liable,” said Muñoz, who is one of the primary sponsors of the legislation. “We can improve the survival rates among those who suffer a cardiac episode by responding as quickly as possible. People want to help others in an emergency situation, but may be reluctant because they are afraid of a potential lawsuit if something goes amiss. The ‘Good Samaritans’ who act in good faith to revive someone deserve credit and thanks for their help. This law will help achieve that goal and save lives.”

The law provides immunity from civil liability to any lay person who uses an AED and fails, in good faith, to request emergency medical assistance as soon as practicable.

It also stipulates that a person who acquires a defibrillator is no longer responsible for ensuring that any one who uses the device be certified, but instead provides that any person anticipated to be using the AED in the performance of that person’s duties of employment or volunteer service be certified. The bill also eliminates current statutory language that prohibits persons from using an AED unless they hold a current certification in CPR.

      Assembly Republican sponsors of legislation that eliminates unused sick day payouts for public employees sent a letter to Assembly State Government Chair Linda Stender, D-Union, asking that their bill, A-2495, be posted for a committee hearing. The Assembly State Government Committee, which is where the bill was referred, is scheduled to hold its next hearing on May 14.

      In their letter, Republicans Caroline Casagrande, Nancy Muñoz, Donna Simon and Declan O’Scanlon cited the recent news reports of how the accumulation of unused sick time is a financial liability to taxpayers who want the system to be fixed.

      “Paying public workers who were fortunate enough to stay healthy infuriates taxpayers and is an abusive and wasteful practice that should have been ended years ago,” said Casagrande, R-Monmouth. “Any objection to our reform is just an excuse to delay real property tax relief. Anyone who thinks property taxes are too high must seriously question the ulterior motives of any legislator who blocks this common sense reform.”

      “No one, except perhaps the beneficiaries, can relate to the extravagant unused sick payouts public employees and officials are able to accumulate,” said Muñoz, R-Union, Morris and Somerset. “With the full Legislature returning to session next week, I hope that our colleagues across the aisle will agree that we’ve seen enough accounts about lucrative payouts and the law needs to be changed. This is another issue where the public sector must operate like the private sector and join the real world.”

      “Many of our towns are accruing a huge financial obligation to pay a benefit that few in the private sector receive,” said Simon, R-Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer and Middlesex. “Taxpayers’ interests must be our top priority. We need to go beyond talking about this issue – we need to end the gridlock and act.”

      “This bill represents the perfect compromise between the governor’s recommendations and what the Senate President has proposed,” said O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth. “Just as Assembly Republicans were among those leading the charge to reform the arbitration process and healthcare benefits, we know that this legislation addresses the main point of the issue – sick time should only be paid when someone is ill.”

      A copy of the sponsors’ letter is attached.

      A-2495 was introduced on Feb. 21 and prohibits the payment by the State, local governments, and boards of education of supplemental compensation to any current or future public officer or employee for accumulated unused sick leave earned after the bill’s effective date.

      Supplemental compensation for any time earned prior to that date will be payable as under current law. In addition, the bill provides that the payment of supplemental compensation for unused sick leave will be suspended if an officer or employee is indicted for any of the crimes which under current law are grounds for pension forfeiture and that supplemental compensation will be forfeited upon conviction. The bill also requires all public officers and employees to provide medical documentation for absences of six or more consecutive days and imposes penalties for the failure to do so.

              The $4.1 million spent by NJ Transit last year on public employees who cashed in unused sick and vacation time is another reminder of why taxpayers deserve the real sick pay reform sponsored by several Assembly Republicans.

            “This is a simple problem: New Jersey cannot afford these payouts any more. Our strong solution is not complicated: Stop these payouts,” Casagrande said. “Trenton Democrats in the Assembly have been dragging their feet on this issue for too long and only offer half-baked solutions that contain loopholes large enough to drive a train though, such as allowing public employees to call out sick for an entire year at taxpayer expense.

            “It’s time for the legislators to do their jobs and end these payouts for beleaguered taxpayers throughoutNew Jersey,” Casagrande added.

            Eighteen Assembly Republicans including Casagrande, Nancy Muñoz, Donna Simon and Declan O’Scanlon, are sponsors of A-2495 that would end future payouts for unused sick time.

            “This is real reform that will take taxpayers off the hook for an expensive and wasteful practice,” Simon, R-Hunterdon,Somerset, Mercer and Middlesex, said. “If something is wrong, we should eliminate it once and for all. Preserving this waste, even at reduced amounts, is not the kind of leadership that taxpayers expect and deserve.”
            Trenton Democrats in the Assembly have refused to consider this reform, preferring their watered-down bill that merely reduces the amount an employee can receive to $7,500. Gannett New Jersey reported today that sick and vacation payouts cost NJ Transit $4.1 million last year.

        “It is time to put an end to this outrageous practice of paying people for not working.” Muñoz, R-Union, Morris andSomerset, said. “We have offered comprehensive legislation that reflects the practice of the private sector and is fiscally responsible.”

            O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, the Assembly Republican Budget Officer, noted that the sick pay issue mirrors other Republican-led reform initiatives that capped property taxes, limited the amount of raises awarded at arbitration and achieved $120 billion in taxpayer savings through pension and health reform.

            “Assembly Republicans have been leaders on issue after issue, even in the face of obstructionists, and this is another example,” O’Scanlon said. “Our sick pay reform is another logical, reasonable and comprehensive solution we have placed on the table with input from the administration and Senate with bipartisan compromise. We need the Trenton Democrats in the Assembly to join with us to end this wasteful and abusive practice.”

          Legislation sponsored by Republican Assemblywomen Nancy F. Muñoz and Caroline Casagrande that prohibits first responders from distributing photographs of accident victims to the public without their consent was unanimously approved by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee today.

          A-789, as amended, provides that a first responder who fails to obtain prior written consent from an accident victim, or the person’s next-of-kin if the victim cannot provide consent, is guilty of a disorderly person offense. The bill does permit a first responder to disseminate a photograph or video recording for legitimate law enforcement, public safety or insurance purposes.

          Muñoz and Casagrande originally sponsored similar legislation in 2010 after a fatal accident occurred in Ocean County the prior year where pictures of the victims were taken by a responder using a cell phone and posted on the internet before family members were notified of the accident or the status of those involved.

          “First responders play a critical role at the scene of an accident and are an invaluable resource in helping to save lives,” said Muñoz, R-Union, Morris and Somerset. “However, respecting the privacy of someone involved in a mishap, regardless of its severity, is of paramount importance. There is a clear distinction between taking photos at the scene of an accident for investigative purposes and posting them for public viewing.”

          “The work of a first responder is critical in saving lives” said Casagrande, R-Monmouth. “But we must ensure that we respect the privacy of all persons, especially those injured. We must always maintain a high level of sensitivity in dealing with a victim’s physical pain and mental anguish of their families.”

          A first responder is defined as a law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, or other paid or volunteer person who has been trained to provide emergency medical services.

TRENTON- Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr., Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, and Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, all R-Union, Morris andSomerset, announced today that Governor Christie’s proposed budget would increase state aid for classrooms in the 21st District by more than $6 million.

“While I recognize that more still needs to be done to create a school funding formula that is more equitable and accountable with its education dollars, I am pleased to see that the high-achieving District 21 schools will see an increase in state aid, which will not only benefit our District 21 students, but also our hard-working taxpayers,” said Kean.

Bramnick added, “Increased state aid for our local schools will help ease the property tax burden on our residents and will provide our students with more of the resources they need in the classroom. Our district has some of the best schools in the state, and I know this funding will help them continue to achieve the outstanding results we see each year.”

“I am pleased that the budget proposed by Governor Christie has increased funding for education in our district,” said Muñoz. “While money alone is not the answer, this budget provides strong support for K-12 education.”

The Governor’s proposed budget increases state aid to school districts in the 21st Legislative District by an average of 16.6 percent.  For the complete breakdown of aid to District 21 municipalities please call (908) 918-0414 or e-mail your request to aswmunoz@njleg.org

            Legislation requiring the fluoridation of all public community water systems in New Jersey, sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz, R-Union, Morris and Somerset, was approved today by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.

            The bill, A-1811, known as the “New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act,” provides that the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Environmental Protection work together in establishing regulations that address controlling the amount of fluoride in water; the means of testing fluoride content; and a record-keeping process related to fluoridation.

            “Establishing the proper level of fluoride in our water system puts a focus on a public health issue which is oftentimes overlooked,” said Muñoz, who is a committee member. “Making sure people get the proper amount of fluoride is important for adults, and especially young children. The aim of community water fluoridation is to keep the tooth enamel strong and reduce decay. Fluoridating our water is a cost-effective and efficient way to help people avoid the physical and financial pain of dealing with dental problems.”

            According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), community water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay as fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the tooth decay process. It keeps the tooth enamel strong and solid by preventing the loss of important minerals from the tooth enamel. Fluoride also helps decrease the risk of cavities at the root surface as well as the enamel on the crown of the tooth.

            Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz that requires health insurance carriers to cover oral anti-cancer medications on a no less favorable basis than intravenous anti-cancer medications was signed into law on Tuesday by Governor Christie.

            “A cancer patient and their family face many emotional, physical and financial challenges when dealing with this disease. They shouldn’t have to be concerned with the additional burden of worrying if the best form of medication for them is affordable,” explained Muñoz, R-Union, who is a registered nurse and clinical nurse specialist.

            “Chemotherapy has progressed to the point where intravenous treatment is not the only option available. Science and medicine have reached the point where oral anti-cancer medications have become more widely available,” she continued. “Unfortunately, they can be very expensive and the difference in out of pocket costs that patients pay in New Jersey for oral chemotherapy versus intravenous chemotherapy can be staggering, making access to oral anti-cancer drugs for some patients unaffordable.”

            The bill, S-1834/A-2666, requires health insurance carriers (hospital, medical and health service corporations, individual, small employer, and larger group commercial insurers, and health maintenance organizations), the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) to provide coverage of expenses for prescribed, orally administered anti-cancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis no less favorable than the policy or contract provides for intravenously administered or injected anti-cancer medications.

            Muñoz’ bill passed the General Assembly on January 9, 2012 and the Senate on December 15, 2011.