Turner

CODEY, TURNER CALL FOR TASKFORCE TO CURB UNDERAGE DRINKING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

After Lengthy Senate Hearing Today, Top Lawmakers Look to Future

            TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) and Senate Education Chairwoman Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) today said they will introduce legislation to form a taskforce to examine best practices to curb underage and binge drinking on college campuses.  The announcement came after a lengthy hearing on the issue before the Senate Education Committee, which heard testimony from both Senators, several college presidents and administrators, law enforcement officials, and representatives from the state Department of Law and Public Safety and the Commission on Higher Education.

SENATE APPROVES CODEY/TURNER BILL CRACKING DOWN ON “DIPLOMA MILL” ABUSE

            TRENTON – The full Senate today approved a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) and Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer) that would provide a decisive end to the controversial practice of school administrators and teachers using so-called “diploma mills” to obtain an advanced degree when the institution is not recognized by an official accreditation agency.  Earlier this month, the Senate Education Committee approved the bill after a lengthy hearing on the issue, in which Sen. Codey railed against the practice as nothing short of fraud.

DIPLOMA MILL HEARING LEADS TO APPROVAL OF CODEY/TURNER BILL CRACKING DOWN ON UNACCREDITED DEGREES 

            TRENTON – The Senate Education Committee today approved a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) and Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer) that would provide a decisive end to the controversial practice of school administrators and teachers using so-called “diploma mills” to obtain an advanced degree when the institution is not recognized by an official accreditation agency. The vote came after a lengthy hearing in which Sen. Codey railed against the practice as nothing short of fraud. 

Committee to Vote on Codey/Turner Legislation Banning School Employees

From Using Unaccredited Degrees

            TRENTON – The New Jersey Senate Education Committee will hold hearings tomorrow, October 2, to examine the controversy surrounding school employees’ use of “diploma mills” to obtain advanced degrees and subsequent salary perks.  The hearing comes amidst a number of recent reports that top school administrators have received advanced degrees from unaccredited online universities, or diploma mills, and then received tuition reimbursement and salary increases for these unrecognized degrees.

CODEY ANNOUNCES SENATE HEARINGS ON UNDERAGE & BINGE DRINKING

 Senate President Requests Copy of Colleges’ Policies on Underage Drinking for Review and Analysis 

            TRENTON – In response to a national movement by a group of college presidents to lower the legal drinking age, Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) is tackling the problem head on, announcing Senate hearings on the issue of underage drinking on college campuses.  In doing so, Codey also sent a letter yesterday to the presidents of New Jersey’s colleges and universities requesting a copy of their alcohol policies, as well as details on local law enforcement’s involvement in enforcing laws on campuses.

CODEY ANNOUNCES NEW DEM LEADERSHIP POSTS;

SWEENEY, TURNER TO HEAD UP MAJORITY CAUCUS

            TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today announced the new leadership posts for the Senate Democratic Majority Caucus that will take effect when the 213th Legislature is sworn in on January 8.  Senator Stephen M. Sweeney will serve as both Democratic Majority Leader and Conference Chair, while Senator Shirley K. Turner will continue to lead as Senate President Pro-Tempore.

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) announced today that the State Senate has scheduled a floor vote for Monday, December 10, to consider a bill that would eliminate the death penalty in New Jersey and replace it with life in prison without parole.

CODEY STATEMENT ON SCI HIGHER ED REPORT           

            TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today issued the following statement on the State Commission of Investigation’s (SCI) report on New Jersey’s public higher education system:

           “The SCI should be commended for its thorough and nuanced study of New Jersey’s public higher education climate.  We share the SCI’s concern for being proactive to protect the integrity of our learning institutions and to ward off any potential problems in the future.

TURNER CLEAN ELECTIONS MEASURE APPROVED IN THE SENATE

TRENTON - "The 2007 New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project Act," sponsored in the Senate by Senator Shirley K. Turner, was approved today in the Senate, and is pending final legislative approval in the Assembly later today.