By: centraljersey.com
The following items are taken from reports issued by legislators and other items of political concern.
Scratch-off prizes
Legislation Assembly members Paul D. Moriarty, John J. Burzichelli and Annette Quijano sponsored to prohibit the sale of lottery scratch-off tickets after the top prizes have been won was recently approved by the Assembly.
"It is patently unfair for a lottery game to have tickets available for sale with no chance of winning the top prizes because they already have been claimed," said Mr. Moriarty, D-Gloucester. "If the lottery were being run in this way by a private organization, it’s a fair bet that legal action would already have been pursued. The playing field needs to be leveled."
Under the Moriarty/Burzichelli/Quijano bill (A647), the state Lottery Commission would be required to notify lottery sellers when the top prize or prizes for a particular lottery scratch-off game have been claimed. At that point, the sellers would be required to stop selling the remainder of the tickets in their possession and would return the tickets to the state to be destroyed. The sponsors noted their legislation is codifying a practice already employed by the commission.
"Playing the lottery is always a gamble, doubly so when it comes to scratch-off tickets with a single big prize in the offering that may or may not be available," said Mr. Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, the panel’s chairman. "This would take the guesswork out of the equation and help ensure that anyone who chooses to play has a chance to play for the top prize."
"This legislation would restore a fundamental fairness to New Jersey’s lottery scratch-off games," said Ms. Quijano, D-Union, the committee’s vice chairperson. "Scratch-off players shouldn’t have to gamble on whether there’s even a top prize to win when they choose to play."
The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Oral health
Legislation Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. and Upendra Chivukula sponsored to promote a collaborative state effort to address oral health, especially among young children, has received final legislative approval.
The bill (A3404) establishes the New Jersey Center for Oral Health at the New Jersey Dental School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
It was recently passed the Assembly 75-0, giving it final legislative approval.
"Research suggests that oral health mirrors our overall health," said Ms. Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen. "Poor oral health can lead to so many other health problems so it’s important that we, as a state, join in a collaborative effort to combat this problem."
"Hopefully, these efforts will lead to better oral hygiene at a young age, putting our residents on a path to a lifetime of better overall health," said Dr. Conaway, D-Burlington/Camden.
"Health-care costs are the driving force behind so many of our economic problems, and if we can tackle one aspect of it with this effort, we’ll be better off as a state," said Mr. Chivukula, D-Middlesex/Somerset.
The bill provides the center would:
– Develop and facilitate model public and private partnerships for oral health awareness campaigns to improve the access, acceptability and use of oral health services in this state.
– Serve as an information and resource center for specific oral health information and data concerning oral health and disseminate such data to interested parties.
– In consultation with the commissioners of Education, Health and Senior Services and Human Services, review, recommend and develop appropriate oral health education materials and disseminate the materials to local school districts throughout the state.
– In collaboration with the commissioners of Education and Health and Senior Services, other state agencies and private organizations provide assistance to Early Head Start and Head Start programs and local school districts to develop programs in Head Start programs and elementary and secondary schools that stress good nutrition, sound oral hygiene, healthy lifestyles and the prevention of oral disease.
– Serve as an advocate for the adoption and implementation of effective measures to improve the oral health of this state and eliminate disparities among the various racial and ethnic populations of this state concerning access to high-quality oral health care, utilization of oral health care services and oral health status.
– Develop recommendations for the most effective means of providing outreach to communities throughout the state to ensure their maximum participation in publicly-funded oral health programs.
– Seek to establish a statewide alliance with community-based agencies and organizations, health-care facilities, oral health-care provider organizations and dental insurance companies to promote the objectives of the center.
– Evaluate oral health programs in other states to assess their efficacy and potential for replication in this state and make recommendations regarding the adoption of such programs, as appropriate.
– Report to the governor and Legislature annually on the work of the center and the status of oral health in the state.
"This would be an extensive effort to promote oral health throughout our state," Ms. Vainieri Huttle said. "Oral health is a window to our overall health so let’s work together to make this a major step toward a healthier New Jersey."
The bill provides the center may apply for and accept any grant of money from the federal government, private foundations or other sources that may be available for programs related to oral health.
Also, the center, in collaboration with appropriate departments of state government, may serve as the designated state agency for receipt of federal funds specifically designated for oral health programs.
Consumer scams
Three Assembly Democratic lawmakers are sponsoring two measures aimed at protecting unsuspecting consumers by cracking down on a variety of scam activities.
The first bill (A2538), sponsored by Assemblymen Herb Conaway Jr. M.D. and Paul D. Moriarty would make it an unlawful practice for anyone to masquerade as a legitimate business entity via electronic means in an effort to obtain personal information such as usernames, passwords or credit card details.
"Communications pretending to be from places such as popular social web sites, auction sites and online payment processors are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public," said Dr. Conaway, D-Burlington/Camden. "Often times, a user is directed to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. It’s very easy for someone to be fooled so we need to send a clear message that these scams won’t be tolerated."
The bill recently was approved 74-0 by the Assembly and referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.
Anyone attempting to use a web page, e-mail or Internet means to induce another person to provide personal information by representing oneself, either directly or by implication, to be a business, without the authority or approval of that business, would be in violation of the state’s consumer fraud act. Anyone found in violation of the provisions of this bill would be liable to a penalty of up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $20,000 for the second and each subsequent offense.
"It has become so commonplace for Internet predators to use ‘phishing’ mechanisms to try and pry personal information from unsuspecting consumers," said Mr. Moriarty, D-Camden/Gloucester. "Some of these communications can look completely legitimate. We need to apply the weight of the law to protect the public from these unscrupulous activities."
The second bill (A2402), sponsored by Assemblyman Jack Conners, would regulate the operation of sweepstakes in New Jersey by establishing certain guidelines and restrictions on an industry that is currently unregulated. It recently was advanced by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.
The bill would require solicitation materials for sweepstakes to contain simple, clear, understandable and easily readable language, including several disclosures. The required disclosures would be required to include information about the value of the prizes; the odds and conditions necessary to receive a prize, including the number of prizes available and the fact that no purchase is necessary to win; the winners; the sponsor of the sweepstakes; specially selected entries; and the official rules.
The bill also prohibits, among other things, a sweepstakes sponsor from requiring individuals to pay money as a condition for winning a prize; giving an advantage to an entry accompanied by an order for goods or services; and charging any amount for shipping and handling.
The provisions of the bill would fall under the state’s consumer fraud act, and anyone found in violation would be liable to a penalty of up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $20,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. Additionally, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the attorney general, the assessment of punitive damages and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party.
Fire safety
Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Upendra Chivukula, Pamela R. Lampitt and Elease Evans to help improve fire safety has received final legislative approval.
The bill (A1570) would require every public and independent higher education institution in the state to disseminate fire safety information about their facilities to students upon enrollment or, if the student is a minor, to both the student and parent or guardian.
"The beginning of school is a time of chaos and excitement," said Mr. Chivukula, D-Middlesex/Somerset. "Students are deluged with information, which may go in one ear and out the other. It’s important to provide them with this life-saving information that they can refer to."
"It’s hard enough to watch a child go away to college for the first time," said Ms. Lampitt, D-Camden. "Under this bill, at least parents can go home with peace of mind, knowing their children are in good hands and equipped with the proper information to deal with emergencies."
The information must include, but is not limited to, information on sprinkler systems, evacuation plans and other fire safety measures.
The bill also would require New Jersey colleges and universities to disseminate this information to all employees upon initial employment.
The Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, would be responsible for developing guidelines to implement this bill, including the identification of other pertinent fire safety information to be disseminated and the appropriate means of disseminating the information to students, parents or guardians and employees.
The bill was approved 74-0 by the Assembly in September. It recently was approved 40-0 by the Senate and now heads to the governor.
The measure also was sponsored by Fred Scalera, D-Essex/Bergen/Passaic, before he retired from the Assembly in November.

