It has long been a goal of the Third District Legislative team to ensure the protection and well-being of New Jersey’s senior community. To this end, Senator Sweeney, Assemblyman Burzichelli, and Assemblywoman Riley have introduced a number of measures in efforts to guarantee the protection of some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

• In 2010, Senator Sweeney introduced legislation (S-2345) that would exempt seniors whose total earnings fall under $100,000 from paying taxes on any income from a pension or deferred contribution plan. This would encourage seniors to stay in New Jersey for the long term, instead of taking their retirement savings elsewhere.
• Senator Sweeney also introduced legislation that would have increased the income tax on income exceeding $1,000,000, which would have provided necessary funding for property tax relief for over 600,000 of New Jersey’s senior citizens.
• Assemblywoman Riley also sponsored legislation that would have increased State support during State Fiscal Year 2011 for the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program, the Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program and the Homestead Property Tax Rebate/Credit program.
• Assemblywoman Riley has passed legislation that protects assisted living residents from eviction for using Medicaid, after reports from the state Office of the Public Advocate indicated that certain facilities were evicting patients after they exhausted their personal finances and were eligible for Medicaid, in favor of private-pay patients.