Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, General Assembly.
William W. Spearman
Sponsored
Became law5
Concerns sign fabrication and prevailing wage requirements. *
Extends economic recovery term under "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act", bars appeal of certain property assessments by Garden State Growth Zone Development Entity.*
Establishes youthful age of defendant as mitigating factor in sentencing.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021; modifies terms and conditions for certain loan utilizing federal funds.
Revises requirements for provision of care to trauma patients.
Vetoed1
Requires reservation of portion of tenant-based vouchers under State rental assistance program for persons displaced due to redevelopment of an affodable housing development; provides displaced persons with affordable housing priority status.
Passed the General Assembly2
"New Jersey Works Act"; Permits businesses to create pre-employment training programs in partnership with nonprofit organizations or educational institutions; provides tax credit to businesses that provide financial assistance to pre-employment training p
Establishes Safe and Equitable Remote Learning Pilot Program in DOE to support provision of remote learning safe havens by certain school districts.*
Out of committee4
Requires health care facilities to report certain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data related to health care workers and certain first responders.
Requires Blue Acres projects and certain green infrastructure projects to include plantings of native species in accordance with DEP report, with certain exceptions.*
Permits exemption from civil service law enforcement examination requirement for entry level-law enforcement officers.
Authorizes municipalities to address certain unlawful operation of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes through seizure and, in some circumstances, destruction of vehicles. *
In committee27
Provides that application for voluntary discharge of personal representative for estate need not be consented to by parties in interest if governing document indicates successor representative; authorizes possible payment of commission.
Requires motorized scooters to be equipped with safety flags when operated on public roadway or bicycle path.
Permits license plate frames which do not obscure numbers or letters on motor vehicle license plates.
Requires use of common enrollment system in renaissance school districts.
Revises certain penalties for illegal operation of snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike.
Changes allocation of fines collected for motor vehicle violations in certain municipalities.
Requires appointee to be removed from civil service eligible list upon appointment to position.
Allows municipalities to revoke and reissue plenary retail consumption licenses that are inactive for five years.
Permits person operating bicycle approaching stop sign to reduce speed instead of stopping, unless required for safety, before entering intersection.
Prohibits person under 18 years of age from using tanning bed.
Exempts certain individuals from vehicle registration and driver's license fees.
Requires public water systems to replace customer lead service lines at expense of all public water system customers.
Imposes enhanced penalties for threat that is transmitted to kill or do harm on school property.
Directs NJ Department of Agriculture to request necessary waivers from US Department of Agriculture to provide food and meals during school closures due to COVID-19 public health emergency.
"Emergency Tenant and Landlord Assistance Act"; appropriates $300 million.
Requires public water systems to inventory lead service lines and replace lead service lines at expense of public water system customers.
Establishes standards for expiration of rental housing affordability controls.
Permits recruiting and pre-screening applicants for civil service county correctional officer title.
Prioritizes distribution of 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund monies; permits use of funds for certain expenses incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services.
Modifies membership of board of trustees of New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation; requires annual appropriation.
Provides for transfer between titles of sheriff's officer and sheriff's investigator without loss in seniority.
Increases, over three years, Medicaid per diem rate for certain assisted living residences, comprehensive care homes, and assisted living programs; makes appropriation.
Permits exemption from civil service examination requirement for entry-level county sheriff's officer.
Permits hiring police officers prior to taking training course.
Requires candidate for teacher certification to complete course or training on anti-racism in education.
Establishes NJ State Parks and Forests Foundation.
Requires motor vehicle rental companies to provide notice to customers of use of automatic vehicle locations systems and comply with certain law enforcement requests.
Carried from the Senate
Became law3
Requires health care facilities to report certain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data related to health care workers and certain first responders.
Permits exemption from civil service law enforcement examination requirement for entry level-law enforcement officers.
Authorizes municipalities to address certain unlawful operation of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes through seizure and, in some circumstances, destruction of vehicles.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 24
"New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020"; provides for administration of programs and policies related to jobs, property development, food deserts, community partnerships, small and early stage businesses, State procurement, wind energy, and film produc
Allows alcoholic beverages to be consumed outdoors in Atlantic City Tourism District.
Expands scope of law prohibiting age discrimination.
Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are at least 21 years of age to qualify.*
Requires AG to collect, record, analyze, and report certain prosecutorial and criminal justice data.
Provides for certain criminal and civil justice reforms, particularly addressing legal consequences associated with certain marijuana and hashish offenses as well as raising awareness of available expungement relief.**
Requires law enforcement agencies in this State to establish minority recruitment and selection programs; establishes reporting requirement.
Requires school districts to provide school meals or meal vouchers to students eligible for free and reduced price school meals during school closures due to COVID-19 epidemic.
Authorizes EDA to make grants during periods of emergency declared by Governor and for duration of economic disruptions due to emergency; allows EDA to grant certain business documentation submission deadline extensions.
Concerns time off from work in connection with infectious disease.
Modifies deadline by which public agency is required to respond to request for government record during period of emergency.
Concerns prohibition of residential tenant eviction and eviction due to residential foreclosure during certain emergency circumstances.
Extends certain permits, approvals, and deadlines during COVID-19 emergency.*
Requires hospital to permit individual to accompany woman during childbirth.
Extends eligibility for accidental disability and accidental death benefits to certain PFRS, SPRS and PERS members who contract COVID-19 and test positive for SARS-CoV-2.**
Concerns delivery and sale of alcoholic beverages during declared state of emergency; requires ABC director to notify licensees of certain tax exemptions during emergency.**
Authorizes the issuance of "coronavirus relief bonds" by municipalities and counties.
Permits modification of scope of work or terms and conditions of contract between non-profit organizations and State agencies for failure to perform due to COVID-19 pandemic.*
Establishes Community College Opportunity Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to provide last-dollar financial aid grants to county college students and Student Success Incentive funding to county colleges.
Reduces or delays increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.
Makes FY 2021 supplemental appropriation of $3,000,000 to DHS for temporary 25 percent increase to certain assisted living resident provider in Medicaid.*
Requires public community water systems to inventory and replace lead service lines within 10 years; provides for recoupment of costs by investor-owned public water systems.*
Restores and revises Urban Enterprise Zone program; appropriates $42,500,000.*
Appropriates $18 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes.
Vetoed · 8
Eliminates one percent tax on purchasers of Class 4A commercial property transferred for consideration in excess of $1 million.
Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
Establishes Bridging the Digital Divide in Schools Grant Program in DOE to provide and expand access to technology and equipment for students in certain school districts.
Makes FY 2020 supplemental appropriations of $15 million for grants to food banks.
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to issue supplemental cash assistance payments to Work First New Jersey recipients under certain circumstances; makes appropriation.
Establishes NJ Hospitality Emergency Loan Program in EDA to provide no-interest loans to qualified small hospitality businesses; makes $100 million appropriation to EDA from federal funds for qualified small business assistance.***
Expands existing EDA loan program to include certain small producers and retailers of alcoholic beverages.*
Concerns approval process for personal protective equipment and State stockpiles of personal protective equipment.*
Passed the General Assembly · 8
Requires each county to establish inmate reentry services committee.
Establishes the "New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act."
Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $20 million from General Fund to DOE to support school facility cleaning and sanitization.
Concerns participation in certain meetings by means of remote communication during state of emergency declared by the Governor.
Implements sentencing recommendations of the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission to eliminate certain mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment; eliminates mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for crime of official misconduct.*
Requires Division of Travel and Tourism establish Black Heritage Trail; establishes NJ Black Cultural Heritage Commission.
Expands indoor capacity for food or beverage establishments and banquet and wedding venues under certain circumstances during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.*
Requires DOC report certain information annually.
Out of committee · 28
Permits municipalities having population under 2,500 to withdraw from civil service by ordinance.
"Fair Chance in Housing Act"; establishes certain housing rights of persons with criminal records.
Establishes license to allow wineries that produce more than 250,000 gallons per year to directly ship wine to consumers.
Restricts use of neonicotinoid pesticides.*
Establishes Prescription Drug Affordability Board; appropriates $1,000,000. *
"Healthy Terminals Act"; requires certain airport and train station workers to be paid certain wage rates and benefits.
Concerns hospitality franchise agreements.
Criminalizes certain actions of individuals who offer rental of residential property that they do not own or legally possess.
"New Jersey Ticket Consumer Choice Act."
Establishes Commission on Asian American Heritage in DOE. *
Provides relief to students receiving State financial aid to address special circumstances due to 2020 health state of emergency.
Requires Medicaid and health insurance coverage for certain refills of prescription drugs during state of emergency.
Requires Commissioner of Education to establish three-year "Bridge Year Pilot Program" for certain students who were impacted by public health state of emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019.*
Revises requirements for health insurance providers and Medicaid to cover services provided using telemedicine and telehealth; appropriates $5 million. *
Permits certain entertainment and retail activity during current public health emergency and state of emergency.
Requires public health emergency credits to be awarded to certain inmates and parolees during public health emergency; prohibits contact with victim upon release of inmate awarded credits.***
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.
Addresses certain landlord expenses in response to COVID-19 pandemic; appropriates $300 million.
Authorizes creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct; appropriates $800,000.*
Creates two-year "Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program" in Juvenile Justice Commission; appropriates $4.2 million in FY 2022 and FY 2023.*
Establishes immunity relating to COVID-19 spread in planned real estate developments.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide certain student loan information.
Modifies certain procedures pertaining to school district regionalization; establishes grant program for cost reimbursement of conducting regionalization feasibility studies; and provides financial incentives for regionalization.
Concerns liability of certain non-profit and governmental employers for unemployment benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency. *
Requires DEP to prepare report on confined aquifers.
Establishes "Rental Assistance Navigation Program" in DCA; makes appropriation.
Makes changes to film and digital media content production tax credit program.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.
In committee · 50
Increases amount of credit for incarceration resulting from default of court-imposed financial obligation or motor vehicle penalty.
Requires disclosure of breach of security of geolocation data.
Creates rebuttable presumption in workers' compensation cases of respiratory disease of casino employees working in smoking areas.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.
The "New Jersey Youth Justice Transformation Act;" annually appropriates $100 million to Juvenile Justice Commission.
Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."
Permits persons participating in Drug Court and other programs to earn credit against amount owed on certain court-imposed financial obligations.
Permits counties to establish a central municipal drug court.
"Mary's Law"; requires Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund to provide direct payments for purchases of specialized, modified motor vehicles.
Amends Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations act to increase appropriation from "Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund" to DOH for certain grant purposes.
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing services.
Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for certain children, youth and family services organizations.
Prohibits use of education, occupation, and credit score as rating factors in automobile insurance underwriting.
Establishes three-year pilot program for school-based mentoring in public schools located within 1,000 feet of gunfire.
Requires Attorney General to develop program to assist schools in identifying at-risk youths.
"Consumer Access to Health Care Act"; eliminates requirement of joint protocol with physician for advanced practice nurses to prescribe medication.
Establishes presumption of joint legal and physical custody in child custody matters.
Directs certain unclaimed electric and gas utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund and societal charge revenues to be paid to Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria.
Establishes School Security Task Force.
Requires AG to establish program to detect fentanyl in State's illegal drug supply and make information related to presence of fentanyl available in database accessible by law enforcement.
The "Liberty State Park Protection Act"; establishes Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and requirements concerning DEP actions related to Liberty State Park.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Provides emergency State school aid to certain school districts located in historic communities.
"New Jersey Intergenerational Poverty Reduction Act."
Creates alternative option to earn barbering license through 1250 hours of training at licensed shop.
Creates program for installing standby emergency power generators in new senior housing.
Permits exterior-based property reassessments within eight years of last municipal-wide revaluation.
Grants credit against business income taxes to developer of rental housing reserved for occupancy by veterans.
Designated the Equitable Disclosure Act of 2010, modifies provisions of MLUL concerning objectors to applications for development.
Establishes task force to examine school discipline practices including racial disparities and effectiveness.
Encourages sharing of services; makes appropriations.
Prohibits retail motor fuel dealer from charging a credit card customer in excess of four percent above the purchase price for same fuel sold to customer paying by cash.
Requires inspection for pest infestation prior to certain demolition.
Requires annual reporting related to economic development and redevelopment activities in federal opportunity zones.
Establishes one-time payment program in Department of Treasury for aid for certain eligible taxpayers; appropriates $35 million.
Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy and energy efficiency programs for overburdened communities.
Provides for certain criminal and civil justice reforms, particularly with respect to legal consequences associated with certain marijuana and hashish offenses as well as broadening awareness of available expungement relief.
Establishes general immunity for businesses, including non-profits, and public and private colleges and universities, and their officers, employees, and agents, against actions relating to Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic or related viral strain in subse
Expands NJ FamilyCare to ensure healthcare benefits are available to all uninsured children under 19 years of age who live in New Jersey; appropriates $3 million for outreach, enrollment, and retention regarding NJ FamilyCare.
Requires certain solid waste incinerator facilities to install baghouse filters when making certain modifications to facility.
Reduces standard voter registration deadline to eight days before election; allows voter registration at polling place on election day and at offices where mail-in ballots are issued within 45 days before election.
"Reproductive Freedom Act."
Makes FY 2021 supplemental appropriation of $180 million to DCF and DHS for increased rates for social service providers in financial distress due to coronavirus disease 2019 public health crisis.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability.
Requires induction loop listening system installation in certain buildings open to public upon new construction or substantial renovation.
Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $90,000 to Department of State to erect statue of "Jersey" Joe Walcott.
Requires candidate for teacher certification to complete course or training on anti-racism in education.
Permits municipalities to establish affordable housing preference for first responders.