OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Aiming to cut administrative costs and promote a uniform curriculum for students, Senator Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) introduced legislation last Thursday that would require the Commissioner of Education to study the most efficient and effective means of consolidating school districts, with the exception of Pre-K- or K-12 districts, into all-purpose regional school districts.

"Studies have shown that the consolidation of K-5 and K-8 schools into K-12 districts is one of the most powerful tools we have for cutting education costs and saving taxpayer dollars," Gopal said.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP – Senator Vin Gopal today called for New Jersey to explore ways to assist health care providers who may struggle to retain and recruit staff following increases in the state minimum wage. Senator Gopal’s concerns follow recent testimony by Department of Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson regarding the potential impact of New Jersey’s new minimum wage law on providers who offer mental health, disability support services, long-term nursing home and home health care for low-income residents.

“After hearing from members of New Jersey’s health care provider community, I believe strongly that we must help providers adjust to our rising minimum wage in order to retain and hire hire employees for these important jobs,” said Gopal (D-Long Branch).

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Legislation (AJR-114) introduced by Senator Vin Gopal designating the last full week of July as "Buy Local Week" was signed into law this Monday by Governor Phil Murphy.

“It’s important for farmers to develop relationships with their communities, and extremely rewarding for shoppers to do the reverse,” said Gopal (D-Long Branch).

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal which would require hospitals to provide breast cancers with information concerning reconstructive surgery was approved by the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee today..

“As the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in New Jersey, breast cancer must be one of our top priorities,” said Gopal (D-Long Branch).

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Paying tribute to one of the most famous privates of the Revolutionary War, Senator Vin Gopal released the following statement on his legislation (SJR-101) to designate March 15 of each year as “Peter Francisco Day” in New Jersey, which was signed into law Friday by Governor Phil Murphy.

“I'm proud to see the passage of this important legislation celebrating the valor of this American hero,” said Senator Gopal.

TRENTON - To spotlight products made in the Garden State, a bill sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal to create an official “NJ-Made” logo to be used by in-state manufacturers was signed into law Friday by Governor Phil Murphy.

"When you know that a product was made in New Jersey, you know to expect high quality,” said Senator Gopal.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal was signed this Tuesday, amending New Jersey law to provide the State with added flexibility in determining whether an abused dog able to be rehabilitated or one that attacks a criminal while defending its family must be euthanized.

“Unfortunately, some dog owners want to train their pets to be aggressive and dangerous creatures,” said Senator Vin Gopal. “That does not mean, however, that every dog bite, every incident, is the result of the dog being vicious.

OCEANPORT - Following Monmouth Park's Opening Day for 2019, Senator Vin Gopal and Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey are lauding an optimistic mood among the Park’s breeders, jockeys, and employees for the upcoming season, crediting their new $20 million subsidy to New Jersey racetracks for sunny forecasts on the track’s economic future.

“For a long time, we saw that New Jersey’s historic horse racing industry was struggling to make ends meet,” said Gopal (D-Long Branch).

Legislation sponsored by Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. and Senator Vin Gopal, which would require all school buses have a phone number or website displayed on the back of the bus so drivers can report bus driver misconduct if they witness anything concerning, was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy.

“All members of the public have a vested interest in making sure school bus drivers are driving safely and paying close attention to their surroundings,” said Senator Gopal.

EATONTOWN - Senator Vin Gopal will be hosting a community Town Hall event on Monday, April 8 from 6 to 8 PM. The Town Hall will take place in the Eatontown Community Center, located at 72 Broad Street.

“As a legislator, doing my job without the feedback of my constituents is like trying to ride a bicycle without handlebars,” said Senator Gopal.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal today introduced Senate Bill S3611, which would prohibit any individual under the age of 18 from being issued a trapping license. Senator Gopal issued the following statement regarding this legislation:

“Last December, I was shocked and angered by a disturbing and widely circulated video that showed two teenagers cruelly beating an innocent racoon whose leg had become caught in a trap. This is not an isolated incident, and its implications are troubling. 

OCEAN TOWNSHIP -  Senator Vin Gopal, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, and Assemblywoman Joann Downey issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe that the State of New Jersey had joined a motion in federal court seeking to block drilling-related seismic testing activity:

“No matter how you look at it, proposals for offshore drilling are more than unnecessary to New Jersey’s economy - they are potentially harmful,” said Senator Gopal.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senate Majority Conference Leader Vin Gopal issued the following statement in response to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s release of Senate Bill S477, which removes the statute of limitations in certain civil actions for sexual abuse and expands the categories of defendants liable in such actions.

“Sexual abuse ruins lives, but many child predators are able to go unpunished for their crime because of a loophole in our state's judicial system,” said Senator Gopal. “This is more than unacceptable - it is horrific.