2018 Press Releases

December 17 - Ruiz, Turner Bill to Require Comprehenseive Eye Exams for Children Entering School Clears Senate

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate Education Chair M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley Turner, which would require children entering public schools or Head Start programs to receive a comprehensive eye exam, cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

December 6 - Ruiz, Turner Bill to Require Comprehenseive Eye Exams for Children Entering School Clears Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate Education Chair M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley Turner which would require children entering public schools or Head Start programs to receive a comprehensive eye exam cleared the Senate Education Committee today. [MORE]

December 3 - Turner, Ruiz Bills to Support Educational Needs of Deaf Students Clear Committee

TRENTON – Two bills sponsored by Senate Education Committee Vice Chair Shirley K. Turner and Chair M. Teresa Ruiz that would address the educational rights and needs of deaf students cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. [MORE]

October 30 - Senate Concurs With Conditional Veto of Turner, Cruz - Perez Bill to Help People on Disability Return to Work Sooner

TRENTON – The Senate concurred with the Governor’s conditional veto of legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez 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. [MORE]

October 29 - Turner Bill to Designate Thomas Edison as the State Inventor Clears Senate

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would designate Thomas Alva Edison as the State Inventor cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

October 18 - Turner Bill to Designate Thoman Edison as the State Inventor Clears Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner that would designate Thomas Alva Edison as the State Inventor cleared the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee today. [MORE]

October 18 - Turner Bill to Require Sunscreen and Protective Clothing Policies in Schools Clears Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner which would require school boards to adopt policies concerning students’ use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored events cleared the Senate Education Committee today. [MORE]

September 27 - Turner, Beach Bill to Require Cost Analysis Prior to State Departments Contracting Out Work Clears Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee Chair James Beach which would require state departments to carry out cost analysis in certain cases prior to contracting out work cleared the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee today. [MORE]

September 27 - Gopal, Turner Bill to Ensure State Workers are Paid for Time Lost During Budget Shutdown Advances

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senator Shirley K. Turner which would require state employees who could not attend work due to a budget shutdown receive their full salary or wages advanced from the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee today. [MORE]

September 24 - Turner Bill to Expand Medicaid to Cover Tobacco Cessation Clears Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner which would expand Medicaid coverage to include comprehensive tobacco cessation benefits cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today. [MORE]

September 5th - Convertido En Ley Proyecto Turner - Diegan Que Exige Que Los Distritos Escolares Proporcionen Un Receso Diario A Los Estudiantes De Jardin De Infants A 5to Grado

Trenton – La legislación del Senado patrocinada por los senadores Shirley K. Turner y Patrick Diegnan Jr., para exigir que los distritos escolares públicos proporcionen un período de recreo diario a los estudiantes de escuelas primarias fue convertida en ley por el gobernador Phil Murphy. [MORE]

September 5th - Turner - Diegan Bill Requiring School Districts to Provide Daily Recess for Students in Grade Kindergarten to 5 Signed Into Law

Trenton – Senate legislation, sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Patrick Diegnan Jr., to require public school districts to provide a daily recess period to elementary school students was signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy. [MORE]

August 27 - Cunningham, Turner, Gill Bill to Authorize Delta Sigma Theta License Platse Signed Into Law

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Nia H. Gill that will authorize the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special Delta Sigma Theta license plates was signed by Governor Phil Murphy on Friday. [MORE]

August 14 - Concertido En Ley Protecto Tuner - Diegnan Que Exige Que Los Distritos Escolares Proporcionen Un Receso Diaro A Los Estudieantes De Jardin De Infantes A 5to Grado

Turner, Ruiz Bill to Establish School Bus Aide/Special Needs Student Ratio Advances

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate Education Committee Vice Chair Shirley K. Turner and Chair M. Teresa Ruiz, to require a minimum of one school bus aide for every 15 special needs students on school buses advanced from the Senate Transportation Committee today. [MORE]

July 1 - Cunnigham, Turner, Gill Bill to Authorize Delta Sigma Theta License Plates Clears Senate

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Nia H. Gill that would authorize the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special Delta Sigma Theta license plates cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

July 1 - Greenstein, Turner Bill to Permit Operation of Low-speed Electric Bicycles Approved

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Law and Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Linda R. Greenstein and Senator Shirley K. Turner that would permit the operation of low-speed electric bicycles was approved by the Senate today. [MORE]

June 25 - Ruiz, Turner Bill To Require Department of Agriclture to Promote School Meal Programs Advances

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley K. Turner that would require the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Department of Education, to develop promotional material for the “School Meal Program” and provide it to every school district in the state was approved today by the Senate. [MORE]

June 25 - Turner, Lagana School Bus Seat Belt Law Goes to Governor's Desk

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Joseph Lagana that would require all school buses manufactured on or after the 180th day following the bill’s enactment to be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder seat belts advanced from the Senate today. [MORE]

June 22 - Video - Turner's Initiative Puts 8,000 Books Into Young Reader's Hands For Summer

Senator Shirley Turner’s Fourth Annual Community Book Drive and Book Fair, held at Trenton’s Hedgepeth Williams Middle School and PJ Hill Elementary School, put more than 8,000 books into the eager hands of 1,542 schoolchildren. [MORE]

June 21 - Turner, Diegnan Bill to Require Certification for Health and Physical Education Teacher Advances

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. that would require individuals appointed by a board of education to teach health and physical education in grades kindergarten through six to possess a health and physical education endorsement to be certified in those fields passed the Senate today. [MORE]

June 21 - Cruz-Perez, Turner Bill to Require School Postings of Child Abuse Hotline Information Clears Senate

TRENTON –Today the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senators Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Shirley K. Turner requiring each local board of education to post information about the Department of Children and Families’ State Central Registry hotline for reporting child abuse, in each school of the district. [MORE]

June 14 - Turner Bill to Amend Open Public Records Act Advances

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would exempt certain personal information from the open public records law, and would bar entitlement to attorney fees in certain litigation related to the law passed the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee today. [MORE]

June 14 - Turner Bills to Support Educational Needs of Deaf Students Advance

TRENTON – Two bills sponsored by Senate Education Committee Vice Chair Shirley K. Turner that would address the educational rights and needs of deaf students were approved today by the Senate Education Committee. [MORE]

June 11 - Turner Initiative Puts 8000 Books Into Young Readers' Hands for Summer

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner’s Fourth Annual Community Book Drive and Book Fair, held today at Trenton’s Hedgepeth Williams Middle School and P.J. Hill Elementary School, put more than 8,000 books into the eager hands of 1,542 schoolchildren. This year’s event allows the children to select three books each for summer reading that will help them retain the literacy skills they acquired during the school year. [MORE]

June 11 - Greenstein, Turner Bill to Permit Operation of Low-Speed Electric Bicycles Advances

June 7 - Turner Resolution to Commemorate 14th Amendment Clears Senate

TRENTON – The Senate today adopted Senator Shirley K. Turner’s resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to United States Constitution. [MORE]

June 7 - Senate Clears Turner Bill to Improve Transparcy for Highter Education Tuition and Fees

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would require institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to improve transparency of tuition and fees was approved by the Senate today. [MORE]

May 30 - Turner Statement on Enactment of Law to Reestablish Urban Enterprise Zones

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner issued the following statement on Governor Phil Murphy’s enactment Wednesday of legislation she championed to reestablish expired Urban Enterprise Zones in Brighton, Camden, Newark, Plainfield and Trenton and preserve all New Jersey’s 27 UEZs until December 31, 2023: [MORE]

May 30 - Rice, Turner Resolution to Launch NJ Commission on Urban Violence Advances

TRENTON – A joint resolution sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice and Senator Shirley K. Turner that would establish the “New Jersey State Commission on Urban Violence” to study the sources and causes of violence in New Jersey’s urban areas advanced out of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee today. [MORE]

May 30 - Ruiz & Turner Bills to Reduce Child Hunger in NJ Signed by Governor

TRENTON – A package of bills sponsored by Senator M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley K. Turner to reduce child hunger in New Jersey – by ensuring that not only eligible students are able to access two meals a day at school, but that they also do not go hungry during the summer months – were signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy today. [MORE]

May 21 - Turner Bill to Require Medicaid Strategy to Improve Availability Of LARCs Advances

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would require the Department of Human Services to implement a state Medicaid payment strategy to optimize the availability of long acting reversible contraceptives was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. [MORE]

May 14 - Turner Resolution to Commemorate 14th Amendment Advances

TRENTON – The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee today adopted Senator Shirley K. Turner’s resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to United States Constitution. [MORE]

May 14 - Turner Bill to Ease Vehicle Surcharge Payment Advances

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would require the Motor Vehicle Commission to enter into a monthly installment plan for the payment of motor vehicle surcharges upon the written request of a driver with outstanding surcharges was today approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. [MORE]

May 14 - Turner Bill to Stimulate NJ High Tech Economic Growth Advances

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would establish an innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey’s research institutions was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today. It would allow certain technology businesses located in three innovation zones to receive tax credits under the Grow New Jersey assistance program. [MORE]

May 14 - Turner Bill To Improve Transparecy for Higher Education Tuition and Fee Advances

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would require institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to improve transparency of tuition and fees passed the Senate Higher Education Committee today. [MORE]

May 14 - Turner Bill to Create Restricted Use Licenses For Those Suspended or Revoked for Inability to Pay Fines Advances

TRENTON - The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee today approved a bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would establish a restricted use driver’s license endorsement to a basic driver’s license for drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked for failure to pay certain motor vehicle surcharges or for an accumulation of motor vehicle penalty points. [MORE]

May 10 - Turner, Pennacchio Bill To Allow Voluntary Medical Notification On Driver's Licenses Advances 

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Joseph Pennacchio to allow people with implanted medical devices to voluntarily make notifications on their driver’s licenses or identification cards was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee today. [MORE]

May 2 - Turner to Introduce Bill to Create Jail Diversion Program for Mentally Ill

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner will introduce legislation next week that would allow offenders suffering from mental illness to be diverted away from the mainstream criminal justice system and into a rehabilitation process that addresses criminal behavior in the context of mental disorders. [MORE]

April 12 - Turner-Vitale Bill to Restore SNAP Benefits for the Working Poor Clears Committee

TRENTON — Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Chair Joseph F. Vitale to restore nutritional benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for poor and working class families in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today. [MORE]

March 26 - Gill, Turner & Weinberg Bills to End Employment Discrimination Based on Credit History and Promoting Pay Equity Advances

TRENTON – A pair of bills sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill, Senator Shirley K. Turner, and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg that would end employment discrimination based on an individual’s credit history and promoting pay equity was approved by the Senate today. [MORE]

March 5 - Gill-Turner Bill to End Employment Discrimination Based on Credit History Advances

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill and Senator Shirley K. Turner that would end employment discrimination based on an individual’s credit history or financial status was approved by the Senate Labor Committee today. [MORE]

March 5 - Ruiz & Turner Bills to Reduce Child Hunger in Schools Advance

TRENTON – A pair of bills sponsored by Senate Education Chair M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley K. Turner to reduce child hunger in New Jersey – by ensuring that eligible students are able to access two meals a day at school, but also that they do not go hungry during the summer months – was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. [MORE]

March 5 - Turner/Greenstein Bills Require Prompt Notification of Boil Water Advisories Advances

TRENTON – Two pieces of legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Linda R. Greenstein that would improve the notification process when a boil water advisory goes into effect and protect customers when water is unsafe for consumption cleared the Senate Environment and Energy Committee today. [MORE]

February 26 - Turner-Diegnan Bill Requiring School Districts To Provide Daily Recess for Students in Grade Kindergarten to 5 Clears Senate

Trenton- Today, the Senate approved legislation, sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Patrick Diegnan Jr., to require public school districts to provide a daily recess period to elementary school students. [MORE]

February 26 - Turner Bill to Help People on Disability Return to Work Sooner Passed by the 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]

February 26 - Turner/Cruz-Perez Bill to Reestablish and Extend UEZ Designations Clears Senate

TRENTON – Today, legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Nilsa Cruz-Perez, extending the duration of five designated urban enterprise zones (UEZ)where the program has expired, was approved by the full Senate. [MORE]

February 16 - Turner/Cruz-Perez Bill to Reestablish and Extend UEZ Designations Clears Committee

TRENTON – Yesterday, legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Nilsa Cruz-Perez, extending the duration of five designated urban enterprise zones (UEZ) where the program has expired, was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. [MORE]

February 6 - Turner Statement on Governor Murphy's Net Neutrality Executive Order, Attorney General Action

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner issued the following statement on actions taken today by the Murphy Administration to combat the rollback of net neutrality rules. Governor Phil Murphy today signed an executive order directing state contracting authorities to require that all future contracts for internet, data, and telecommunications be awarded only to Internet Service Providers that adhere to net. [MORE]

February 5 - Turner Bill to Help People on Disability Return to Work Sooner Advances

February 1 - College Affordability Bills Gain Senate Approval

TRENTON – A wide-ranging plan to make college more affordable and to reduce student debt was approved by the Senate today. The 10 bills, sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Sandra Cunningham, the chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, Senator Shirley K. Turner. [MORE]

February 1 - Senate Approves Measure Urging Congress to Restore Net Neutrality

TRENTON – The Senate today approved a resolution sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Jeff Van Drew urging Congress and the President of the United States to restore the principle of “net neutrality” in federal law. [MORE]

January 25 - Turner-Diegnan Bill Requiring School Districts To Provide Daily Recess for Students in Grade Kindergarten to 5 Clears Committee

TRENTON- Today, the Senate Education Committee approved legislation, sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Patrick Diegnan Jr., to require public school districts to provide a daily recess period to elementary school students. [MORE]

January 25 - Turner/Ruiz Bill Requiring Full-Day Kindergarten in New Jersey Advances

TRENTON – Today, legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator M. Teresa Ruiz requiring full-day kindergarten in all school districts and establishing a uniform age requirement for enrollment in kindergarten cleared the Senate Education Committee. [MORE]

January 25 - Turner Bill to Reestablish and Extend UEZ Designations Clears Committee

TRENTON – Today, legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner extending the urban enterprise zone designation in 37 municipalities in the state was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee. [MORE]

January 25 - Turner Legislation to Require Random Drug Testing in Halfway Houses, Other Residential Facilities Approved by Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner to require random drug tests for inmates who are receiving treatment in a residential community release program was approved today by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. [MORE]

January 19 - Responding to Trenton Water Debacle, Turner To Introduce Bills Requiring Prompt Notification of Boil Water Advisories

TRENTON – Responding to the water contamination issue that occurred in the City of Trenton this week, Senator Shirley K. Turner announced today that she will be introducing two bills on Monday to improve the notification process and protect Trenton Water Works’ customers when the water is unsafe for drinking. [MORE]

January 16 - Rice-Turner Bill Providing Ethnic and Minority Impacts of Legislation Now Law

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, is now law. [MORE]

January 16 - Ruiz-Turner Bill to Reduce Hunger in New Jersey Schools Now Law

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley K. Turner aiming to reduce hunger in New Jersey schools was signed into law. [MORE]

January 8 - Turner/Greenstein Bill Allowing Public Schools in Same District to Enter Into Cooperative Sports Program Clears Senate

TRENTON – Today, the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Linda Greenstein that would allow high schools that have sports programs that are struggling with participation or are facing budgetary constraints that are forced to eliminate certain sports to enter a cooperative sports program. [MORE]

January 8 - Turner-Ruiz Bill to Permit Restricted License Use For Certain Drivers Clears Assembly

TRENTON – Today, legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and M. Teresa Ruiz to establish a restricted driver’s license for certain motor vehicle offenders with suspended licenses was approved by the Assembly. [MORE]

January 8 - Turner-Ruiz Bill to Permit Restricted License Use For Certain Drivers Clears Assembly

January 8 - Rice-Turner Bill Providing Ethnic and Minority Impacts for Future Legislation Clears Assembly

January 8 - Turner Bill Establishing Prescription Drug Donation Programs Now Law

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner establishing a prescription drug donation program by pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and similar entities was signed into law today by the Governor. [MORE]

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