How a Bill Becomes a Law: Cancer Pre-Screening for New Jersey's Firefighters - TAPinto.net
NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 18 - One of the many questions I am asked by constituents is how a law is created in the legislature and signed by the Governor. Growing up how many of you have watched Schoolhouse Rock in between cartoons on Saturday mornings? Those short 3 to 4-minute cartoons would teach us a lot. Anyone who has not, should watch them. One of my favorites is “I am just a Bill”.
A bill first starts as a topic a legislator feel passionate about, or a suggestion from a constituent, interest group, public official, student or the Governor. After hearing suggestions and recommendations about important concerns, a legislator sponsors a bill and begins the drafting process. The Office of Legislative Services (OLS), the non-partisan research arm of the State legislature, provides research and drafting assistance to aid legislators and ensure the bill is written technically and in proper, constitutional form. As the bill progresses and is finally written properly, it is sent to the Assembly Clerk before being printed and introduced to the public.
Upon introduction, the office of the Senate President or Assembly Speaker refers a bill to the appropriate committee for review. Legislative committees are responsible for considering bills at a meeting open to the public where members debate and discuss the measure, hear testimony from members of the public, and ultimately vote on the bill. If a bill is approved through a majority committee vote and does not require a second public hearing in a separate committee, it is sent to the Assembly Speaker who ultimately decides if the bill will be posted for a vote in the full New Jersey General Assembly. The same process is followed in the State Senate. Final Assembly and Senate versions of a bill must be identical. When a bill receives final passage and collects at least 41 votes in the Assembly and 21 votes in the Senate, it is sent to the Governor to be signed, conditionally vetoed (returning it for recommended changes), or vetoed absolutely. After every step is followed and the Governor signs a bill, it officially becomes State law.
The New Jersey Legislature website has more information on How Bill Becomes Law.
Back in June 2021, I attended a meeting for the PFANJ (Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey). At that meeting I was having a conversation with the wife of firefighter Glen Seaboldt who had recently been diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment to fight the disease. She wanted to see legislation passed to get some sort of cancer screening for the firefighters in order to detect any cancerous tumors at an early stage. Firefighters are at a higher risk for cancer due to all the carcinogenic elements that they are exposed to while fighting fires. As the evening progressed, I was engaged in conversation with several of the union delegates Anthony Tarantino, Matthew Caliente and others as to how we can get together and get this passed. We decided to meet later and discuss how to present this bill. After several meetings during the summer months with the Firefighters union reps, Sarah Seaboldt and my office staff, we started drafting legislation for the bill. The OLS staff helped research the bill and finally on November 15th it was introduced in the Assembly.
When a bill is introduced, the legislator that introduced the bill is known as the Prime Sponsor. The Prime Sponsor has control of the bill. Other legislators may sign on as second and third prime sponsors if they feel strong and passionate about the bill. In this case, Assemblyman Daniel Benson and Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake signed on as 2nd and 3rd Prime Sponsors.
Other legislators can co-sponsor a bill in support as well. On December 2nd, Senator Linda Greenstein introduced the bill in the Senate along with Senator Vin Gopal as 2nd Prime Sponsor. Below is a synopsis of the course the bill took before it was signed into law. You can also read the actual text of the bill on the State legislature website https://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2020/A6093
Assembly
11/15 - Introduced in the Assembly
12/9 - Passed Committee - Assembly State and Local Government
1/6 - Passed Committee - Assembly Appropriations
1/10 - Passed Assembly
Senate
12/2 - Introduced in the Senate
12/9 - Passed State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee
1/6 - Passed Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee
1/10 - Passed the Senate
1/18 - Signed by the Governor
During committee hearings the public can express their opinions in favor of or in opposition to any bill presented. This bill is now a law and starting January 1st, 2023 firefighters in New Jersey will be able to have cancer prescreening tests once in every 3 years for anyone on the State Health Benefits Plan.
I hope I was able to shed some light on the process. Some bills move fast, and others might take years depending on the support or nonsupport of the bill in question. Finally, I strongly urge you to visit our State website and contact your legislator if you have any ideas that might someday become a law in New Jersey. https://njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster
Until next time, stay safe everyone.
source: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-brunswick/sections/police-and-fire/articles/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law-cancer-pre-screening-for-new-jersey-s-firefighters
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