2017 Press Releases
December 18 -Turner-Cunningham Bill Improving Fee Transparency In Higher Education Clears Senate
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Sandra Bolden Cunningham aimed at improving transparency of tuition and fees charged by institutions of higher education cleared the Senate today. The legislation would address transparency issues cited in a comptroller report, showing how at least three New Jersey colleges are relying heavily on their mandatory fees. The fees account for a significant portion of the cost of attending the schools, the report said, and are being used for expenses such as employee salaries... [MORE]
December 13 - Senator Turner Lauds Murphy Selection of Muoio for State Treasurer
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer and Hunterdon) today issued the following statement on the selection by Governor-elect Phil Murphy of Elizabeth Muoio to serve as state Treasurer:.. [MORE]
Decemeber 7 - NJ Senate Votes In Opposition To Trump Tax Plan
TRENTON – The Senate today voted to endorse a resolution urging President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress not to follow through on their tax plan that would punish middle class families in New Jersey with provisions to curtail federal deductions for local taxes, among other actions... [MORE]
December 7 - Turner Bill Improving Contraceptive Health Coverage Goes to Governor
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring health insurance coverage for contraceptives to include prescriptions for six months cleared the full Senate today, sending it to the governor’s desk... [MORE]
December 7 - Turner Bill To Help People On Disability Return To Work Sooner Clears Full Senate
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner to establish a program for people who are on disability to be able to return to work sooner, while still receiving their Temporary Disability Insurance, cleared the Senate today... [MORE]
December 7 - Turner/Cruz-Perez Bill Cracking Down on Predatory Practice Clears Full Senate
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez to crack down on private companies that mislead unsuspecting homeowners by charging them inflated prices for a certified copy of their property deed, a service the county clerk provides to the public for a nominal fee, was approved by the full Senate today... [MORE]
December 7 - Rice - Turner Bill Providing Ethnic and Minority Impacts For Further Legislation Clears Senate
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice and Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring that a racial and ethnic impact statement be attached to certain types of legislation, cleared the Senate today... [MORE]
December 7 - Turner Bill Establishing Prescription Drug Donation Programs Clears Assembly
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner establishing a prescription drug donation program by pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and similar entities cleared the Assembly today... [MORE]
November 22 -Turner Encourages Residents To Observe 'Small Buisness Saturday'
TRENTON – In anticipation of the holiday shopping season, Senator Shirley K. Turner is urging residents to observe “Small Business Saturday” this weekend and to shop local throughout the holiday season... [MORE]
September 28 - New Jersey Steps Up to Help Puerto Rico
TRENTON - Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) provided an update to her constituents today about New Jersey’s role in the recovery and relief efforts in Puerto Rico. The update comes after Senator Turner wrote to Governor Christie to request more information...[MORE]
September 20 - Senator Turner Says NJ AG Must Investigate Equifax's Colossal Failure
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner today called on New Jersey’s Attorney General Christopher Porrino to join other states in investigating Equifax for an extensive security breach that was discovered July 29, but not announced until last week...[MORE]
September 1 - Turner Urges Consumers to be Wary of Spikes at the Pump
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) called on Governor Chris Christie and Attorney General Christopher Porrino to be on guard and protect New Jersey consumers against price gouging at the gas pump. Gas prices...[MORE]
August 2 - Senator Turner Requests Legislation to Prevent End to WWP Football Program
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) announced today that she has requested legislation that would allow high schools within the same school district to combine sports programs. The request comes after the...[MORE]
July 13 - Senator Turner: Don't Leave Our Employees in the Lurch
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon), a co-sponsor of the legislation to pay state workers for the time they lost during the shutdown, released the following statement today after the Senate passed the bill (S3422)...[MORE]
June 30 - Turner/Rice Bill to Create 'NJ State Commission on Urban Violence' Clears Senate
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Ronald L. Rice to create the New Jersey Commission on Urban Violence to study the sources and causes of urban violence and to recommend to the Governor and Legislature methods to address them was approved...[MORE]
June 22 - Turner Bill Improving Contraceptive Health Coverage Goes to Governor
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring health insurance coverage for contraceptives to include prescriptions for 12 months cleared the full Senate today...[MORE]
June 22 - Turner-Diegnan Bill Establishing Mandatory Sexual Assault Training Program for Police Officers Clears Senate
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Patrick Diegnan to ensure police officers are trained in how to handle sexual assault cases cleared the full Senate today...[MORE]
June 22 - Turner-Beach Legislation Expediting Unemployment Benefits Goes to Governor
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Jim Beach expediting unemployment benefits for residents who have filed a claim with the state cleared the full Senate today, sending it to the governor's desk...[MORE]
June 22 - Turner Bill Addressing the Practice of Telemedicine Clears Senate
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Joseph Vitale, Senator Jim Whelan, and Senator Shirley K. Turner authorizing health care providers in the State to engage in telehealth and telemedicine cleared the Senate today...[MORE]
June 19 - Ruiz & Turner Bill Requiring State to Develop Guidance for Identifying English Language Learners for Gifted and Talented Programs Goes to Governor
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator M. Teresa Ruiz and Shirley K. Turner to require the development of appropriate models and guidance for school districts to identify gifted and talented English Language Learner (ELL) students through their performance was approved...[MORE]
June 9 - Turner Bill Requiring Mandatory Background Checks for Certain Day Care Providers Now Law
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring the mandatory background checks of family day care providers was signed into law by the governor today...[MORE]
June 1 - Turner/Beach Bill to Move Fire District Election to November Advances
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Jim Beach to establish procedures for moving annual fire district elections from February to November to save tax dollars and increase voter interest in elections that decide how millions in taxpayer dollars...[MORE]
May 25 - Turner Bill Eliminating Special Elections for Congressional Vacancies Clears Senate
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would reduce the fiscal impact on taxpayers by merging future special elections with regularly scheduled general elections cleared the full Senate today...[MORE]
May 25 - Turner/Ruiz Bill to Protect Children on School Buses Clears Senate
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator M. Teresa Ruiz requiring a minimum of one school bus aide for every 15 special needs students on a school bus cleared the full Senate today...[MORE]
May 17 - Turner Bill to Protect Children on School Buses Advances
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring a minimum of one school bus aide for every 15 special needs students on a school bus cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today...[MORE]
May 1 - Turner Bill to Increase Efficiency of Temporary Disability Claims Processing Clears Committee
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner establishing new standards for timely payments of temporary disability insurance and family temporary disability benefits cleared the Senate Labor Committee today....[MORE]
May 1 - Turner Bill Setting New Regulations on Route 29 Traffic Clears Committee
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner prohibiting certain trucks from operating on certain portions of State Highway Route 29 cleared the Senate Transportation Committee today...[MORE]
May 1 - Senator Turner Legislation to Help Those in Need of Housing Assistance Now Law
TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring housing authorities to advertise online when applications are being accepted for their housing assistance waiting list was signed into law today by the governor...[MORE]
March 23 - Turner Bill Requiring Mandatory Background Checks for Certain Day Care Providers Clears Assembly
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring the mandatory background checks of family day care providers cleared the Assembly today...[MORE]
March 16 - Senator Turner Legislation to Help Those in Need of Housing Assistance Goes to Governor
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring housing authorities to advertise online when applications are being accepted for their housing assistance waiting list, cleared the Assembly today and heads to the governor’s desk...[MORE]
March 13 - Senate Approves Bill Requiring Presidential & Vice Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns in Order to be Placed on NJ Ballot
TRENTON – The Senate today approved legislation to restore the tradition of transparency typically honored by presidential candidates by requiring any future presidential and vice presidential candidates to submit their tax returns to the State Division of Elections in order to run on New Jersey’s ballot...[MORE]
March 6 - Turner Bill Requiring Mandatory Background Checks for Certain Day Care Providers Clears Senate
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring the mandatory background checks of family day care providers cleared the full Senate today...[MORE]
February 27 - Rice & Turner-Sponsored Bill Creating ‘Women’s Vocational Training Pilot Program’ Advances
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Ronald L. Rice and Shirley K. Turner that would create a pilot program to provide training to women for high-wage, high-demand occupations was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The bill is aimed at promoting economic self-sufficiency of low-income women through increased participation in these fields...[MORE]
February 10 - Beach-Turner Bill Helping to End Veteran Homelessness Signed Into Law
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator James Beach and Senator Shirley K. Turner that would establish rules and regulations to provide veterans preference for affordable housing in certain housing projects was signed into law today...[MORE]
February 10 - Turner Bill to Establish Self-Employment Counseling & Training Program Now Law
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would expand employment options for New Jersey residents by establishing counseling and job training programs for those who own or are starting a microenterprise business was signed into law today. A microenterprise business is a small business of less than five employees, requiring less than $35,000 in startup capital...[MORE]
February 6 - Rice, Vitale, Turner Bill Requiring State to Adopt CDC Standards for Responsive Action to Lead Levels in Children Now Law
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Ronald L. Rice, Joseph F. Vitale and Shirley K. Turner requiring the state to adopt the federal U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards used as the benchmark for responsive action to lead levels in children’s blood is now law...[MORE]
February 6 - Turner Bill to Protect Children on School Buses Clears Committee
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator M. Teresa Ruiz requiring a minimum of one school bus aide for every 15 special needs students on a school bus cleared the Senate Education Committee today...[MORE]
January 23 - Turner Bill Cracking Down on Predatory Practice Clears Full Senate
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner to crack down on private companies that mislead unsuspecting homeowners by charging them inflated prices for a certified copy of their property deed, a service county clerk provides to the public for a nominal fee, was approved by the full Senate today...[MORE]
January 23 - Greenstein-Turner Bill to Encourage Use of Green Cars on NJ Toll Roads Clears Senate
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Linda R. Greenstein and Senator Shirley K. Turner that directs the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to solicit proposals and install electric vehicle charging stations at service areas on the state’s toll roads cleared the Senate today...[MORE]
January 12 - Codey-Turner Legislation Strengtening Efforts to Combat Steriod Use Among Student Athletes Advances
TRENTON — Legislation sponsored by Senator Richard J. Codey and Senator Shirley K. Turner that would strengthen New Jersey’s efforts to combat steroid use by student athletes cleared the Senate Education Committee today. The bill codifies elements of the executive order Codey signed as governor in 2005 — such as random testing — and expands on recommendations by a task force formed during the same year to include greater emphasis on education and on the role of coaches...[MORE]
January 12 - Turner Bill Eliminating Special Elections for Congressional Vacancies Advances
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would reduce the fiscal impact on taxpayers by merging future special elections with regularly scheduled general elections was approved today by the Senate State Government Wagering and Tourism Committee...[MORE]
January 9 - Turner Bill Cracking Down on Predatory Practice Approved by Senate Committee
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Ronald L. Rice, Joseph F. Vitale and Shirley K. Turner requiring the state to adopt the federal U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards used as the benchmark for responsive action to lead levels in children’s blood is now law...[MORE]
