>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJN INSURANCE GROUP, ENSURING THE BUSINESS NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

AND NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, A VIOLENT INCIDENT LAST YEAR AT NEW JERSEY'S TROUBLED AETNA MAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FOR WOMEN HAS RESULTED IN INDICTMENTS AGAINST 14 CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, A GRAND JURY YESTERDAY VOTED TO INDICT THE OFFICERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACTIONS THAT OCCURRED IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JANUARY 12, 2021.

A WORD OF CAUTION THAT THIS FOOTAGE FROM THAT DAY IS GRAPHIC.

THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAYS ON THAT DATE, INMATES WERE FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM THEIR CELLS, SOME WERE BEATEN, TWO WOMEN WERE SEVERELY INJURED.

THE AG OFFICE SAYS THE OFFICERS TOOK THESE ACTIONS FOLLOWING ESCALATING TENSIONS WITH SOME INMATES.

REGARDLESS, GRAND JURORS RETURNED AN INDICTMENT AGAINST THE OFFICERS ON CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY, OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT, TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC RECORDS AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.

THIS EVENT IS JUST ONE IN A SERIES OF INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE AT THE HUNTINGTON FACILITY WHICH WAS INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATED AND THAT REPORTS FINDINGS HAS RESULTED IN GOVERNOR MURPHY'S CALL TO CLOSE THE FACILITY.

I SAT DOWN WITH NJ SPOTLIGHT COLLEEN O'DAY FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH ME.

>> YES, OF COURSE.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS SO-CALLED FORCED EXTRACTION INCIDENT THAT LED TO THE INDICTMENTS?

>> SO, IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PRECIPITATING EVENT, THERE WAS SOME OF THE WOMEN WHO WERE SPLASHING, IT IS CALLED, LIQUIDS OUTSIDE OF THEIR CELLS, SOME OF THE OFFICERS WERE HIT BY THE LIQUID, AND THAT THEN LED TO THIS WHOLE ESCALATION OF THE OFFICERS, WE DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE STORY UP BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A TRIAL BUT, THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TIME WAS AT LEAST GIVING APPROVAL ALLEGEDLY, FOR THIS SERIES OF EXTRACTIONS OF INMATES THAT THEN WOUND UP RESULTING IN SOME SERIOUS INJURIES IN A NUMBER OF WOMEN.

>> AS YOU KNOW FOR YEARS, INMATES COMPLAINED OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL ABUSE AT THIS PRISON.

WHY WASN'T THIS BEHAVIOR STOPPED?

HOW DID THINGS GO SOUR, SO OUT OF CONTROL?

>> WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A HUGE SHAKEUP AFTER THIS HAPPENED AND THAT WAS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED BY LEGISLATURES, THERE WAS A CORRECTIONS BONDSMAN OF THE TIME WHO HAD BEEN GIVEN STRONGER POWERS AND WAS NOT EXERCISING THEM BUT LAWMAKERS FOUND THAT HE HAD NOT EVEN VISITED THE PRISON AFTER THE INCIDENTS.

HE WOUND UP RESIGNING.

THERE WAS ANOTHER INVESTIGATION BY MATT BOXER THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD ORDERED AND THAT WAS VERY CRITICAL OF THE FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICER, MARCUS HICKS AND SAID HE DID NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT AT THE TIME THERE WAS NO PERMANENT ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITY, HE WAS ON THE NEXT DAY.

SO THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF SHAKEUPS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS JUST, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF OVERSIGHT OF THE TIME.

>> THIS PARTICULAR PRISON IS CLOSING BUT HOW DO WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT OTHER ABUSES WON'T HAPPEN IN THE PRISON SYSTEM IN NEW JERSEY?

>> SO, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A NEW BONDSMAN AND SHE HAS BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A FEW MONTHS.

HE HAS BEEN GIVEN THESE BROADER POWERS OF HIS OFFICE, HE HAS BEEN DOING GREATER INVESTIGATIONS INTO CONDITIONS IN THE PRISON SO WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

THERE'S ALSO A NEW CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER.

SHE HAS GOTTEN SOME PRETTY GOOD REVIEWS FROM BOTH LEGISLATURES AND FROM ADVOCATES.

SO, THERE IS SOME HOPE THAT THINGS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK IN THE PRISON SYSTEM.

>> WORTH POINTING OUT THAT SOME OF THE LEGAL COSTS RELATED TO THESE INCIDENTS HAS ALSO RESULTED IN A HEFTY COST TO TAXPAYERS.

>> YES, THERE'S NO QUESTION, YOU'VE GOT 14 PEOPLE UNDER INDICTMENT, THEY HAUL ALL HAVE DIFFERENT LAWYERS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING TRIALS.

THERE MAY BE MORE AGAINST THE STATE FOR THE INJURIES THEY SUFFERED, SO THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO TRIAL, THERE MAY BE SETTLEMENTS OR CERTAINLY THE COSTS OF THE TRIAL.

SO YES, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, THANK YOU.

>>> FLORIDA IS BEING PELTED BY HEAVY RAIN AND DAMAGING WIND SINCE HURRICANE IAN BARRELED ASHORE.

IAN MADE LANDFALL MIDAFTERNOON AS A CATEGORY FOUR STORM WITH WINDS OF 155 MILES PER HOUR.

PARTS OF THE STATE WERE HIT WITH A MAJOR STORM SURGE, SOME ESTIMATING AS HIGH AS 18 FEET CAUSING SEVERE FLOODING.

IAN IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE MAJOR INLAND FLOODING AS WELL AS THE HURRICANE CONTINUES ITS TRACK ACROSS THE STATE.

MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION RESIDENTS WERE UNDER A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER AHEAD OF THE STORM.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WERE WITHOUT POWER, EVEN BEFORE IAN MADE LANDFALL.

UTILITY CREWS FROM NEW JERSEY WILL BE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO CREWS IN FLORIDA ONCE IT IS SAFE TO BEGIN WORK TO RESTORE POWER.

WHETHER WE HEAR IN NEW JERSEY WILL FEEL IAN'S WRATH, IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL.

MORE FEDERAL FUNDING IS HEADING TO NEW JERSEY TO HELP BOLSTER THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

THAT MONEY WILL BE USED FOR BOTH PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE OVERDOSING AND DYING HERE IN THE STATE.

AS JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS, THERE IS A PRESSING NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO RECOVERY PROGRAMS AND HARM REDUCTION CENTERS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE TO SAVE THEM.

>> WE ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE COME IN WITH OPIOID OVERDOSE IS COMPARED TO THE PAST, THAT IS PROBABLY LARGE TO DUE TO THE INCREASED PRESENCE OF FENTANYL IN THE DRUG SUPPLY.

>> DESPITE EFFORTS, THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC CONTINUES TO CLAIM THE LIVES OF SO MANY IN NEW JERSEY, HOSPITALS ARE SEEING INCREASES OF PEOPLE COMING IN OVERDOSING MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> WE ARE GETTING MORE PEOPLE COMING IN BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE PEOPLE DYING.

THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE AREN'T DYING IN THE ED ISN'T A GOOD THING, THAT MEANS THEY ARE DYING BEFORE THEY GET TO US.

THE DRUGS THEY ARE USING ARE JUST MORE DANGEROUS.

>> WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE, IN PARTICULAR IN A NUMBER OF THE LOCKS OWN REVERSED PATIENTS, THOSE ARE PATIENTS WHO SUFFERED A DRUG-RELATED OVERDOSE AND WAS REVERSED USING THE LOCKS OWN WHICH IS THE MEDICATION THAT REVERSES OVERDOSE.

>> EXPERTS SAY THAT IS PROOF THE STATE NEEDS TO PUT MORE MONEY BEHIND TREATMENTS AND OTHER HARM REDUCTION SERVICES.

BOB MENENDEZ AND CORY BOOKER ANNOUNCED NEARLY $67 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP THE STATE EXPAND THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

>> THE FUNDING IS A CONTINUATION OF THE FUNDING THAT NEW JERSEY HAS ALREADY BEEN RECEIVING SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE HARM REDUCTION CENTER, MANY OF THE CURRENT INITIATIVES WE HAVE GOING.

>> THE COALITION HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN 18,000 DOSES OF LOCKS OWN THIS YEAR ALONE, SAVING HUNDREDS OF LIVES, PROOF THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT THE WAY TO RECOVERY.

>> PUNISHMENT DOESN'T WORK.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HARM REDUCTION SERVICES, THEY ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CONNECT TO A DRUG TREATMENT.

THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO STOP SUBSTANCE USE THAT IS CAUSING ISSUES IN THEIR LIVES, AND HALF AS LIKELY TO ACQUIRE HIV OR HEPATITIS C. >> BUT ACCESS TO THE SERVICES REMAINS A CHALLENGE.

>> RIGHT NOW IN NEW JERSEY, MOST RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HARM REDUCTION SERVICES, WE ONLY HAVE SEVEN PROGRAMS SERVING A STATE OF OVER 9 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS FUNDING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRAMATICALLY SCALE ACCESS OF HARM REDUCTION IN OUR STATE.

>> BUT THERE IS ANOTHER DISTURBING TREND THAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE DISCOVERING AS THOSE PROGRAMS ARE ALLOWED.

>> WE ARE SEEING DECREASES AMONGST THE WHITE POPULATION IN NEW JERSEY, BUT SEEING DRAMATIC INCREASES IN THE BLACK AND HISPANIC POPULATIONS WHICH IS REALLY CONCERNING FOR US, WHY ARE SOME ETHNIC AND RACIAL GROUPS WITHIN THE STATE EXPERIENCING FAR MORE OVERDOSES THAN BEFORE?

ARE THE PROGRAMS NOT WORKING FOR THOSE POPULATIONS?

DO WE HAVE ACCESS ISSUES FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS?

WE ARE REALLY DIGGING IN TO SEE WHY THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE.

>> AND IF THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS HAS TAUGHT US NOTHING, SOCIETY NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS VIEW OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.

>> WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE STATE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND TRY TO ADDRESS IT AS A MEDICAL PROBLEM, WHICH IS THESE DRUGS HIJACK YOUR BRAIN AND WE SEEM TO APPROACH THEM AS IF THEY WERE MORE WEAKNESSES OR SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

IT'S NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM DIABETES OR HYPERTENSION IN A WAY.

>> IF THERE'S ANY SILVER LINING FOR OPIOID USERS, THERE ARE PROVEN TREATMENTS FOR HELP THOSE IN RECOVERY, COGNITION MEDICATION TREATMENT, ANOTHER AREA OF THE STATE COULD EXPAND WITH THESE FUNDS.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>> FOR MORE ON HOW THIS MIGHT BE UTILIZED, READ BOBBY BREYER'S STORY AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL SUPPORT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES RECENTLY RECEIVED CANNABIS WORKPLACE GUIDELINES, ON HOW TO HANDLE WORKERS WHO ARE IMPAIRED ON THE JOB.

THESE GUIDELINES ARE ESSENTIALLY A STOPGAP MEASURE, THE COMMISSION IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP MORE PERMANENT REGULATIONS.

BUT, THE CURRENT ROADMAP HAS LEFT SOME EMPLOYERS CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO WHEN IT COMES TO MARIJUANA USE AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON HOW COMPANIES ARE HANDLING THE UNCERTAINTY.

>> Reporter: IF YOU LIGHT UP A JOINT RIGHT BEFORE GOING TO WORK, BUT THEN DO A LOUSY JOB, WHAT RECOURSE DOES YOUR BOSS HAVE?

JERSEYS CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION EARLIER THIS MONTH ISSUED TEMPORARY GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH WORKPLACE IMPAIRMENT.

BUT, MANY WANT MORE SPECIFICS.

>> IT IS VERY HAZY, IT IS VERY AMBIGUOUS.

I THINK A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE DECIDING TO TAKE A HANDS-OFF APPROACH UNTIL MORE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS COME FROM THE STATE AND EMPLOYERS WHO DO CERTAINLY WANT TO TAKE ACTION NOW, REALLY NEED TO BE BUTTONED UP WITH THE PROCEDURE.

>> THIS ATTORNEY SAID GUIDELINES TO EMPHASIZE THAT EMPLOYERS CANNOT FIRE, DEMOTE OR EVEN DISCIPLINE WORKERS JUST FOR TESTING POSITIVE FOR CANNABIS WHICH CAN LINGER IN THE BODY FOR DAYS, SOMETIMES WEEKS.

THEY ARE ALSO DEVELOPING A PROGRAM FOR SPECIALLY TRAINED EXPERTS WHO COULD ASSESS EMPLOYEES BEHAVIOR BUT WITHOUT TREADING ON EMPLOYEE RIGHTS.

BUT, BUSINESSES ARE TIRED OF WAITING FOR CLARITY.

>> THEY WANT SOMETHING MORE DEFINITIVE.

>> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> BUT THE COMMISSION CHAIRWOMAN SAYS SYMPATHY ONLY GO SO FAR.

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO OF COURSE WEIGH THEIR OPTIONS UNDER THE DEFINITIONS THAT EXIST UNDER CURRENT LAW.

AND ADVISE ACCORDINGLY.

UNFORTUNATELY THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION CANNOT GIVE ADVICE TO OTHER EMPLOYERS.

>> THE CRC IS ASKING NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE TO CREATE TRAINING PROTOCOLS FOR EXPERTS TO DETECT IMPAIRED EMPLOYEES, THAT REMAINS A WORK IN PROGRESS, SO THEY OFFER A TEMPORARY SUBSTITUTE, THE STANDARDIZED REASONABLE OBSESSION TO HELP GAUGE IMPAIRMENT, IT HELPS LIST SYMPTOMS LIKE BLOODSHOT EYES, SHAKY HANDS, FREQUENT SNIFFING, ODOR OF MARIJUANA, RAMBLING SPEECH, USE OF PROFANITY, LOST INHIBITION AND INAPPROPRIATE WEARING OF SUNGLASSES.

>> THOSE ARE NOT CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY EVIDENCE- BASED FOR DETERMINING WHETHER ONE IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CANNABIS.

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TRAINED AS DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT ALREADY USE SEVERAL BEHAVIORAL TESTS INCLUDING ONE WHICH ASKS A PERSON TO ESTIMATE WHEN 30 SECONDS HAVE PASSED.

>> BECAUSE THAT IS A SCIENTIFICALLY VALIDATED METHOD FOR DETERMINING IF SOMEBODY IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE, FOR INSTANCE PEOPLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CANNABIS TEND TO UNDERESTIMATE THE PASSAGE OF TIME.

PEOPLE IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL TEND TO OVERESTIMATE THE PASSAGE OF TIME.

>> THE GUIDANCE IS MEANT TO CAPTURE WHAT MANY EMPLOYERS ARE ALREADY DOING.

BUT, THE FORM IS PURELY MEANT TO BE A TEMPLATE AND IT IS NOT SPECIFIC TO CANNABIS.

>> WHILE THIS IS SORTED OUT, THE UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES TO WEIGH ON EMPLOYEES WHO WANT TO ENJOY CANNABIS ON SATURDAY NIGHT WITHOUT RISKING A DRUG TEST OR BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT MONDAY AT WORK.

THERE IS NO FOOL PROVES CHEMICAL TEST FOR CANNABIS IMPAIRMENT >> WHEN IT COMES TO THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF, ARE YOU HIGH?

ARE YOU DRUNK?

IT CAN ALSO BE CHALLENGED.

AND YOU HATE TO SEE PEOPLE PUNISHED FOR HAVING HAYFEVER AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO PREVENT.

>> UNTIL SCIENCE CATCHES UP WITH US, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A GRAY AREA HERE, EVEN MORE SO THAN OTHER REGULATIONS, SO THIS WILL BE FOUGHT IN COURT 100%.

>>> IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WILL TRANSITION TO CASHLESS TOLL COLLECTION, ACCEPTING EASY PASSES ONLY.

THE BOARD OF THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AUTHORITY VOTED TO AWARD A $913 MILLION CONTRACT TO A NASHVILLE COMPANY TO DESIGN AND RUN AN ALL ELECTRONIC CASHLESS TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM ON THE PARKWAY.

THERE IS NO FIRM ROLLOUT DATE, IT WILL BE A FEW YEARS AWAY ACCORDING TO THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY.

THE COMPANY SELECTED IS ALSO BUILDING A CASHLESS TOLL SYSTEM FOR THE ATLANTIC CITY EXPRESSWAY WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GO CASH FOR YOU BY MEMORIAL DAY 2025.

OFFICIALS STILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE WILL MOVE TO ALL ELECTRONIC OR CONTINUE TO ACCEPT MONEY.

DITCHING THE CASH SHOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM, MOST DRIVERS AREN'T PAYING WITH COINS ANYWAY.

ACCORDING TO TURNPIKE AUTHORITY STATISTICS, AROUND 90% OF PARKWAY AND TURNPIKE DRIVERS USED EASY PASS LAST MONTH.

NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WILL SOON BE A STEP CLOSER TO SOME TAX RELIEF AS LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO VOTE ON A NEW CHILD TAX CREDIT.

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER, JOHN REITMEYER, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> TOMORROW'S EXPECTED VOTE ESSENTIALLY FIXES THE CHILD TAX CREDIT BILL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PASSED.

EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BACK IN JUNE, WHEN THE NEW STATE BUDGET WAS COMING TOGETHER, THERE WERE ALSO A LOT OF BILLS GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, THIS WAS STANDARD PRACTICE FOR TRENTON, IT JUST MAY NOT BE BEST PRACTICE BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AND ONE OF THE BILLS THAT WAS PASSED ALONG WITH THE NEW BUDGET ESTABLISHED THIS NEW CHILD TAX CREDIT OR A HOUSEHOLD IN NEW JERSEY MAKING UP TO $80,000 ANNUALLY WHO HAVE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX.

THE PROBLEM IS, THEY INTENDED TO MAKES THIS TAX CREDIT APPLICABLE TO THE CURRENT TAX YEAR, 2022, SO PEOPLE COULD GET IT WHEN THEY FILE TAXES NEXT YEAR BUT INSTEAD, THEY WROTE THE LANGUAGE OF THE LEGISLATION MAKING IT APPLICABLE TO THE 2023 TAX YEAR WHICH WOULD MEAN PEOPLE WOULDN'T GET IT UNTIL THEY FILED IN 2024.

SO WHAT IS GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE NOW BEGINNING TOMORROW IS THE BILL THAT FIXES THIS START DATE FOR THIS TAX CREDIT, MAKING CLEAR THAT IT IS APPLICABLE TO THE 2022 TAX YEAR.

>> DO THE TAX CREDITS CONTINUE FROM YEAR TO YEAR?

>> YES.

WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, LIKE ANYTHING WITH THE STATE BUDGET AND TAX POLICY, IT CAN BE SUBJECT TO REVENUE COLLECTIONS, BUT IN THIS CASE, THE WAY THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION WAS DRAFTED AND THE WAY THEY INTEND TO KEEP IT GOING, IT WOULD BE A PROGRAM THAT BEGINS IN THE CURRENT TAX YEAR BUT SOMETHING THAT THOSE WHO QUALIFY COULD CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR IN THE FUTURE TAX YEARS.

>> WHAT WAS THE ARGUMENT THAT ADVOCATES MADE IN SEEKING TO GET THIS LEGISLATION PASSED?

>> I THINK BROADLY, NEW JERSEY IS A VERY HIGH-COST STATE AND WE HAVE RISING INFLATION, WE HAVE RISING TAXES, SO I THINK THE BROAD INSPIRATION WAS TO HELP MAKE NEW JERSEY MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE INCOMES UNDER $80,000.

BUT ALSO, WE HEARD THE SPONSORS TALK ABOUT A TAX CREDIT THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FUNDED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT THAT ENHANCED FEDERAL JOB TAX CREDITS AND THEY HAD A BIG IMPACT IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING CHILD POVERTY.

SOME OF THE INSPIRATION SIMPLY HELPING TO MAKE NEW JERSEY MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT ALSO MODELING A STATE-LEVEL TAX POLICY OF SOMETHING THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, FOR WHATEVER REASON IN WASHINGTON DC NOT GETTING RENEWED.

>> AND OF COURSE WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THESE TAX CREDITS WOULD COME ON TOP OF THE NEW ANCHOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM.

DO YOU EXPECT THIS WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK THE TAX CREDIT CAN BE AS LARGE AS $500 PER CHILD, AT THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME SCALE, GOING UP TO $100 AS YOU GET UP TO THAT $80,000 INCOME CEILING.

SO YES, ON TOP OF THE MORE GENEROUS POVERTY TAX RELIEF CREDIT, IT'S PART OF EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THESE AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS AGAIN IN A HIGH-COST STATE LIKE NEW JERSEY WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE IN THE LOWER INCOME LEVELS.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU.

>>> ON WALL STREET, STOCKS BOUNCING BACK FROM THE RECENT SELLOFF, HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CLOSING NUMBERS.

>>> FOR CANDIDATES IN THIS FALL'S MIDTERM ELECTION IN NEW JERSEY, THERE ARE NEW VOTERS TO COURT, THE GARDEN STATE IS HOME TO MORE THAN 170,000 NEWLY NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

THEY ARE YOUNGER AND MORE DIVERSE WITH MANY OF THEM FROM SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ LOOKS AT WHICH PARTY MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THE BALLOTS THEY CAST AND WHETHER ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO ENGAGE THEM.

>> TO HEAR SOME PEOPLE TELL YOU, NEW JERSEY IS HEMORRHAGING ITS POPULATION.

THE 2020 CENSUS TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.

THE STATE ACTUALLY GAINED OVER HALF 1 MILLION NEW RESIDENTS OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> WE HAVE HEARD FOR YEARS AND YEARS OF RANDOM SURVEYS WITHOUT ANY BASIS OF REALITY TALKING ABOUT HOW ALL PEOPLE ARE LEAVING NEW JERSEY.

THE 2020 CENSUS PROVED THAT WRONG.

>> THE TRUTH IS THAT WHILE THE NUMBER OF OLDER RESIDENTS HAS DECREASED, THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY YOUNGER, BROWNER IMMIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA LARGELY, AND A NEW REPORT FROM A COALITION OF IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND LABOR UNIONS, SAYS THAT MORE THAN 170,000 OF THESE NEW RESIDENTS ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE UPCOMING MIDTERMS AND OTHER STATE RACES THAT WILL FOLLOW.

BUT IF YOU ARE THINKING THAT THIS IS A MONOLITHIC BLOB THAT WOULD FAVOR ONE PARTY OVER THE OTHER, NEIGHBOR AND POLITICAL ADVOCATES TO SAY IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE OF AN EQUATION AS YOU MIGHT BE THINKING.

>> I THINK THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH, FOR BOTH THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE NONE OF THOSE BUILDING BLOCKS ARE ALIGNED TO JUST THE LATINO VOTE.

BUT AS TO WHO WANTS TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, ONE KEY THING THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, NEW VOTERS OF COLOR, THEY WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM RUN FOR OFFICE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> WHILE THE NEW JERSEY ALLIANCE FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE WHICH WAS A PART IN CREATING THIS REPORT, SAYS THAT IT CONFIRMS WHAT THE CENSUS HAS SUGGESTED, THAT THESE NEW VOTERS ARE MORE DIVERSE AND YOUNGER THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE SEEING THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY THE MOST DIVERSE, THEY ARE ALSO THE YOUNGEST.

THE REPORT FOUND THAT 59% ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 45 YEARS OLD, AND MORE THAN 55% ARE WOMEN.

SO THAT TELLS US THAT WE SAW THAT IN 2020, NEW JERSEY HAD THE HIGHEST IN VOTING HISTORY, SO THIS NEW CITIZEN VOTERS ARE THE YOUNGEST, THEY ARE YOUNG, THEY ARE DIVERSE AND ALSO HERE TO STAY AND THEY WILL BE A PART OF THE ELECTORATE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

>> SO IT BEHOOVES THE GOVERNMENT HERE TO ENGAGE THESE POTENTIAL VOTERS AND MAKE VOTING EASIER.

IF NOT FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THEIR OWN PARTIES, THEN FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRACY.

>> WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM GETS RENEWED EVERY TIME A NEW AMERICAN CITIZEN COMES NATURALIZED IN THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE.

TO THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO ENGAGE THESE NEW CITIZENS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT MAKES US A DEMOCRACY, AND IT RENEWS THE HOPE THAT WHAT WE WANT IS A MORE ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BECOME NATURALIZED CITIZENS AFTER THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE BUT BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

HOW DISEMPOWERING IS THAT?

HOW SPECIFICALLY ENGAGED ARE WE EXPECTING PEOPLE TO BE AND THEY BECOME A CITIZEN AND SAY, CAN I VOTE?

AND YOU SAY NO, MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT MEANS THE SAME THING FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, AND BALLOTS REFLECTING LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY OF THESE AND OTHER IMMIGRANT VOTERS BECAUSE AFTER ALL, A PROUD NATION OF IMMIGRANTS DESERVES A DEMOCRACY WORTHY OF THEIR PATRIOTISM.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> FOR ALL OF YOUR ELECTION VOTING NEEDS, HEAD TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG, THEN CLICK ON THE NJ DECIDES 2022 TAB TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE RACES WE ARE WATCHING.

CANDIDATE PROFILES AND MORE DETAILS ON YOUR DISTRICT, AND WHERE AND HOW TO VOTE.

AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ, THIS WEEK DAVID WILL DISCUSS THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF NEW JERSEY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY, WITH CONSERVATIVE PHIL RIZZO AND MODERATE REPUBLICAN SENATOR, JOHN BRENNAN NICK, AS WELL AS WHO THEY FAVOR FOR GOVERNOR IN 2025, THAT IS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CHANNEL OR WHEREVER YOU STREAM.

THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT, I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> AND THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR.

TO BE MY BEST FOR THEM, AND FOR ME.

IN BODY AND IN MIND, I NEED A HEALTH INSURANCE THAT HELPS ME GET THE CARE I NEED FOR BOTH, THAT HAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT I TALK TO WHEN I NEED TO BECAUSE WHEN I FEEL STRONG AND SECURE, SO DO THEY.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

AND THIS IS HOW HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.

>> FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, NEW JERSEY REALTORS HAVE BEEN HELPING THEIR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS, NEW JERSEY REALTORS LIVE AND WORK IN CITIES, SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES JUST LIKE HERE, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS ARE, THERE IS A NEW JERSEY REALTOR FOR YOU, FIND YOUR REALTOR AT NJ.REALESTATE/FIND.