May 13, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
As part of a collaborative effort with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove have introduced legislation that would strengthen current State law by allowing drug dealing offenses to be graded by “units,” rather than weight, of controlled dangerous substances, including heroin.
The intent of the 9th District Delegation’s anti-drug initiative would be to give prosecutors the option to grade the seriousness of a drug distribution offense by the number of dosage units involved, rather than the weight of the drugs. The “units” reflect how many people might have been injured by the drug dealer’s illicit conduct. Under the legislation, the charge by “units” would apply only to persons who distribute or possess illicit drugs with the intent to distribute. It would not be used to determine the seriousness of “simple possession” drug offenses.
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May 10, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove praised Governor Christie’s decision to veto S-1650/A-2463, a controversial measure which would revise requirements for emergency medical services delivery in New Jersey.
The legislation faced staunch opposition from local EMS volunteer squads and residents who feared that their communities would be negatively impacted in terms of the emergency services provided and increases in property taxes.
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May 10, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove announced that the 24 constituent municipalities of the 9th Legislative District received more than $614,000 in FY2013 Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Clean Communities Grants funding.
The 9th District Legislators issued the following statement regarding the Clean Communities Grants funding awarded to their constituent municipalities:
“Clean Communities Grants are essential to communities’ overall litter control efforts. As Coastal Legislators, we fully recognize the continuing need to prevent litter and harmful debris from entering our precious waterways, including Barnegat Bay, or building up on our pristine beaches. Effective uses of this funding authorized under State law, can include sponsorship of the ‘Adopt a Beach’ Program, the establishment of education programs to promote clean communities, graffiti abatement, and enforcement of local anti-littering laws.”
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May 9, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
Two legislative initiatives introduced by 9th District Legislative Representatives Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove, aimed at allowing local governments to operate more efficiently by removing statutory impediments, were signed into law today by Governor Christie.
The first measure, S-1536/A-2473, will permit a mayor or commissioner to appoint a municipal emergency management coordinator from among the residents of the contiguous municipalities that are subject to a shared services agreement pursuant to the “Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act.” The second measure, S-195/A-672, will expand the power of a municipality to cancel a delinquent charge or fee owed to the municipality, provided the amount of the fee is less than $10.
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April 30, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
Understanding that potential spikes in flood insurance premiums and substantial costs of rebuilding homes in the wake of Super Storm Sandy are among the most pressing concerns of their constituents, 9th District Legislative Representatives Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove attended the “STOP FEMA NOW” event held on April 25 at the Berkeley Township Elementary School.
Over the past several months, the 9th District Delegation has actively participated in more than a dozen meetings regarding Super Storm Sandy. The meetings have been attended by representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New Jersey Office of Recovery and Rebuilding as well as mayors and local officials.
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April 26, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
Senator Christopher J. Connors
Senator Christopher J. Connors of the 9th Legislative District was the recipient of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors “Legislator of the Year” award at an event held on April 25 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.
Mayor Gary B. Giberson of Port Republic City, who serves as President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, presented Senator Connors with the award.
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April 19, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
In a letter to the Chairmen of both the Senate and Assembly Judiciary Committees, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove have formally requested committee consideration of their legislation that would require the court to consider the results of a domestic violence assessment before dissolving a final restraining order when the defendant has two or more restraining orders against him.
The 9th District Delegation’s legislation, S-185/A-648, would establish a “domestic violence assessment” as an assessment performed by a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional counselor with the goal of determining the likelihood that the offender will commit future acts of violence, abuse, or other unacceptable behavior that could pose a threat to the victim, the victim’s family, the victim’s property, or other person identified as being at risk. The defendant would be responsible for the cost of the assessment, which would be considered confidential.
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March 26, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove today wrote to Governor Chris Christie strongly urging that he veto S-1650/A-2463, which would revise requirements for emergency medical services delivery in New Jersey.
In their letter, the 9th District Legislative Delegation outlined their deep concerns regarding the legislation, specifically its negative impact on volunteer emergency service personnel and the costs involved in implementing the bill’s provisions.
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March 19, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
Senator Christopher J. Connors
9th District Senator Christopher J. Connors received the 2013 Robert B. Meyner Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) on Monday, March 18, 2013 in a presentation at the New Jersey State House.
Senator Christopher J. Connors (center) was presented the New Jersey State Bar Association’s 2013 Robert B. Meyner Award by former NJSBA Legislative Committee Chair Gerald H. Baker (left) and NJSBA President Kevin P. McCann (right).
The award is named after the former governor, state senator and NJSBA Trustee Robert B. Meyner. It recognizes exceptional advocacy efforts of public officials to advance the NJSBA’s mission to serve, protect and promote the personal and professional interest of its attorney members and serve as the voice of New Jersey attorneys to government entities and the public with regard to the law, legal profession and legal system.
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March 18, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
The New Jersey Senate has approved a measure (SR-102) prime-sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors and supported by Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove which calls upon the Congress and President of the United States to take all appropriate legislative and regulatory action necessary to increase subsidies for premiums paid for flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, especially for property owners who have suffered frequent losses.
Senator Connors, Assemblyman Rumpf and Assemblywoman Gove have harshly criticized the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 enacted by Congress, which required the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to not only phase-out, and eventually eliminate, a variety of existing subsidies for flood insurance premiums but also to reevaluate the flood risk of certain flood zones.
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