LEGISLATIVE AND ADVOCACY ROUND-UP
November 2020
Upcoming Events

* 12/5/2020: Council for the Head Injured Community Zoom call.

* 12/14/2020: Council for the Head Injured Community Zoom call. Guest speaker from Disability of Disability Services to discuss Traumatic Brain Injury Fund.

* 1/9/2021: Council for the Head Injured Community Zoom call.

* 3/2021: Virtual Brain Injury Awareness Day (Date to be determined.)

* TBD: Council for the Head Injured Community Zoom call on transportation issues. Guest attendees to be Senator Patrick Diegnan and Assemblyman Daniel Benson.

To learn more, contact Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs, at tgrady@bianj.org.
Assembly Advances Bipartisan Legislation to Create Long-term Care Advocate and Educational Training Program
Assembly Clears Legislation Requiring Regulations on Priority Restoration of
Power During Extended Outages  
Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Overhauling Paratransit Practices
Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (S-2517) establishing a program to adopt paratransit best practices, requiring greater coordination among paratransit service providers, and establishing regional paratransit coordinating councils.

"Streamlining our paratransit services will finally guarantee our seniors and those with disabilities the safety, ease, reliability, and affordability they have long expected from NJ TRANSIT," said Governor Murphy. "Seniors, and those living with disabilities deserve transportation services that accommodate their needs, and this program will be committed to doing exactly that."

Primary sponsors for S2517 include Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblymembers Daniel R. Benson, Carol A. Murphy, and Valerie Vainieri Huttle.
Assemblyman Daniel Benson
Assemblywoman Carol Murphy
Benson and Murphy Bill to Raise Awareness for Transportation Programs for Seniors, People with Disabilities Goes to Governor
Aiming to ensure more New Jersey senior citizens and residents with disabilities take advantage of special public transit programs, legislation to require the New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation to advertise certain programs received final legislative approval, passing the full Assembly 74-0. The measure previously passed the Senate in June 38-0, and now goes to the Governor's desk.

Under the bill (A-2450) sponsored by Assemblyman Daniel Benson and Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, the Commissioner would be required to advertise the availability of NJTRANSIT initiatives that provide reduced fares to seniors, as well as the cost and hours the reduced fares are in effect.
Legislation advanced

The New Jersey State Legislature advanced various legislative proposals. Legislation listed below has advanced through the legislative process. Please contact Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs if you would like more information on these bills at tgrady@bianj.org and/or whether you would like to contact your elected representatives to express your views about these bills.

·        S-1936: Requires DOT Commissioner to advertise availability of certain transportation programs and services.

·        A-1226: Requires electric public utilities to provide priority power restoration to certain medical facilities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes

Legislation signed into law

·        S-2517: Establishes program to adopt paratransit best practices, requires greater coordination among paratransit service providers, and establishes regional paratransit coordinating councils; appropriates $6 million.
Thank you to elected officials for supporting Alliance-backed legislation

The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey supports a broad range of legislation that relates to brain injury. We appreciate those members of the State Legislature that support bills by registering as a cosponsor or introduce legislation. We would like to publicly thank the following member(s) for sponsoring the following bills:

A-1226: Requires electric public utilities to provide priority power restoration to certain medical facilities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
o  Assemblymembers Eric Houghtaling, P. Christopher Tully, Lisa Swain, Pamela Lampitt, Joann Downey

A-2450: Requires DOT Commissioner to advertise availability of certain transportation programs and services.
o  Assemblymembers Carol A. Murphy, Roy Freiman, Valerie Huttle, Pamela Lampitt, Joann Downey, Annette Quijano, Yvonne Lopez, Lisa Swain.

AJR-54: Designates May of each year as “Stroke Awareness Month.”
o  Assemblyman Tom Giblin

Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey | [www.bianj.org]