Bill Text: NJ SJR93 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates first full week following Labor Day each year as "Lifeline Awareness Week" in NJ.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-10-19 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [SJR93 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SJR93-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Designates first full week following Labor Day each year as "Lifeline Awareness Week" in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the first full week following Labor Day each year as "Lifeline Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey.
Whereas, In today's highly interconnected world, telephones provide a lifeline to emergency help and a vital link to government services, community resources, employment opportunities, friends, and family; and
Whereas, Not everyone can afford the cost of a telephone, leaving many households without telephone service; and
Whereas, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities have joined in a collaborative effort with telecommunications companies to make telephone service more affordable through the Lifeline Assistance program, which provides a discount to eligible customers on their monthly telephone bill based on their income or participation in other assistance programs; and
Whereas, The Lifeline Assistance program offers benefits to eligible customers, who include low-income households, senior citizens, and adults with disabilities; and
Whereas, In recent years, the FCC has taken steps to improve the Lifeline Assistance program, such as establishing Link-Up, a benefit program for telephone subscribers living on Tribal lands, and allowing eligible consumers in some areas a choice between home telephone service and wireless telephone service; and
Whereas, To ensure that only those eligible for the Lifeline Assistance program are receiving the benefits, the FCC has updated the rules governing program eligibility to prevent the duplication of program assistance, to encourage program efficiency, and to combat waste, fraud, and abuse; and
Whereas, The FCC, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), other state and federal agencies, community organizations, and telecommunications companies are increasing awareness about the availability of the Lifeline Assistance program by encouraging eligible citizens to sign up for the program; and
Whereas, The FCC, NARUC, and NASUCA have joined together to implement a comprehensive outreach plan to promote Lifeline Assistance program subscribership through "Lifeline Awareness Week," which takes place the first full week of September following Labor Day; and
Whereas, The promotion of the Lifeline Assistance program through "Lifeline Awareness Week" is imperative to ensure that all New Jersey residents have access to affordable local telephone service and not be without basic telephone service based on their inability to afford it; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The first full week following Labor Day each year shall be designated as "Lifeline Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey to encourage enrollment in the Lifeline Assistance program by informing consumers, public officials, community-based organizations, governmental agencies, and businesses about the Lifeline Assistance program, including the program's eligibility criteria, rules, and annual recertification requirements.
2. The Governor is required to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "Lifeline Awareness Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates the first full week following Labor Day each year as "Lifeline Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey.
In today's highly interconnected world, telephones provide a lifeline to emergency help and a vital link to government services, community resources, employment opportunities, friends, and family. However, not everyone can afford the cost of a telephone, leaving many households without telephone service.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities have joined in a collaborative effort with telecommunications companies to make telephone service more affordable through the Lifeline Assistance program, which provides a discount to eligible customers on their monthly telephone bill. In recent years, the FCC has taken steps to improve the Lifeline Assistance program and to update the rules governing program eligibility.
The FCC, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), other state and federal agencies, community organizations, and telecommunications companies are increasing awareness about the availability of the Lifeline Assistance program by encouraging eligible citizens to sign up for the program and by implementing "Lifeline Awareness Week," which takes place the first full week of September following Labor Day. The promotion of the Lifeline Assistance program through "Lifeline Awareness Week" is imperative to ensure that all New Jersey residents have access to affordable local telephone service and not be without basic telephone service based on their inability to afford it.
