[Njagdu] Good News As Dusty's Law Takes One Step Closer To Governor's Desk

[Ginger Kutsch]

Thanks Vinny, this is good news indeed! The time and effort you've put into
your messages to help us all better understand the legislative process is
very much appreciated. 

 

As background, we were scrambling a bit when Dusty's Law didn't get posted
for last Thursday's Senate session. We contacted Senator Bucco's office and
his aid assured us that the bill was on their list of bills to submit for
Monday's session. However, the final decision as to what bills would be
heard is up to the Senate president, Senator Sweeney. So Jim (president of
Seeing Eye) contacted Senator Sweeney's office on behalf of The Seeing Eye
to emphasize the importance of Dusty's Law and to request that it be
included in Monday's Senate  meeting. Roger Woodhour also put in a special
request to Senator Sweeney's office. Late Friday afternoon the bills were
posted on the Internet and thankfully Dusty's Law was on it! Jim later got a
call back from Senator Sweeney's office confirming that Dusty's Law would
indeed be heard in Monday's session. Whew!

 

BTW, Dusty's Law had to go back to the Senate for "concurrence" because when
they originally voted on the bill, they passed it   on the condition that
service animals be added to the text of the bill.  There was never any
question as to whether or not the Senate would pass the bill through, it was
just a bit disconcerting that it happened on the last possible day! (This
legislative session closes end of day on Tuesday, January 21. And all the
new legislators will take office the next day).

 

Anyway, now that this formality has been taken care of, the Governor  is
expected to sign Dusty's Law before the end of the week. There's no reason
he shouldn't but keep those fingers crossed please! 

 

Best,

Ginger

 

 

From: Njagdu [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vincent Chaney
Jr.
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2014 10:28 PM
To: New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Joe J Ruffalo
Subject: [Njagdu] Good News As Dusty's Law Takes One Step Closer To
Governor's Desk

 

Good News as Dusty's Law is one step closer.

 

The Assembly had passed Dusty's Law on Monday, January 6, 2014 but there was
one more step necessary before reaching Governor Christie's desk. As has
been noted throughout my communications since the Senate originally passed
S1907, Dusty's Law on December 20, 2012, they were expecting the bill to be
returned from the Assembly with amendments. When the S1907 was merged with
A4105 with the amendments on January 6, 2014, the bill had to return to the
Senate at the level of a Second Reading on Concurrence. That placed the bill
up for a vote today, Monday, January 13, 2014. The S1907 Dusty's Law Bill
unanimously passed with a 38-0 vote. The comment on the NJ Legislature
Website notes: 1/13/2014 Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (38-0).

Now that the same bill for Dusty's Law has passed both houses of the
legislature, I believe the next step is Governor Chris Christie's desk.

 

Vinny

Vincent G Chaney Jr

732-251-8650

President, NFBNJ New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users

President, NFBNJ Diabetes Division

Webmaster: nfbnj.org http://www.nfbnj.org <http://www.nfbnj.org/> 

 

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