Short docket for the state Senate today, with just two 10 a.m. meetings and a quorum call cancelled.
But the agendas do have some notable highlights. The health committee will take testimony about the compensation paid to executives at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, plus has a vote scheduled on a resolution urging Gov. Chris Christie not to join a multistate legal effort to block recently enacted federal health care reform. And the environment committee takes up a bill -- sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr., so you can figure the bill's got some juice -- seeking to promote offshore wind development through state tax credits.
Full preview below, and streaming audio begins around 10 a.m. ...
Senate Environment & Energy Committee
- S466 (Smith/Kyrillos) Requires BPU to offer similar incentives to residents purchasing certain oil heating equipment as are offered to residents purchasing certain natural gas heating equipment.
- S1503 (Scutari) Requires use of uniform silver flags to mark certain pesticide applications.
- S2006 (Smith/Bateman) Prohibits municipal zoning ordinances from barring solar panels under certain circumstances.
- S2036 (Sweeney/T.Kean) The "Offshore Wind Economic Development Act"; establishes offshore wind renewable energy certificate program, and authorizes EDA to provide tax credits for qualified wind energy facilities in wind energy zones.
Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee
- Testimony from invited guests regarding executive compensation at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and the company's mission as a nonprofit health service corporation.
- Testimony from invited guests regarding implementation of P.L.2005, c.83, the "Health Care Professional Responsibility and Reporting Enhancement Act."
- S2020 (Stack/O'Toole) Requires each general hospital that accepts public funds to hold monthly board meetings that include time for public participation.
- SCR108 (Lesniak/Vitale) Urges Governor not to join lawsuit against enforcement of new federal health reforms.
- SR64 (Beach/Vitale) Declares May 9 through May 15, 2010 "Tinnitus Awareness Week."