Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, General Assembly.
Louis D. Greenwald
Sponsored
Became law12
Permits three year payoff of accumulated deficits of municipal health insurance funds.
Appropriates State and federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2008-2009.
"Health Care Stabilization Fund Act"; creates fund in DHSS to provide grants to health care facilities to maintain access to essential health care services.
The "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
Establishes Ellis Island Advisory Commission.
Revises sales and use tax to conform with Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.
Extends transmittal date of fiscal year 2009-2010 gubernatorial budget message to Legislature to March 12, 2009.
Requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a 45-day State tax amnesty period that ends no later than June 15, 2009.
Appropriates $28,990,484,000 in State funds and $13,859,752,122 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2009-2010. *
Makes FY 2009 supplemental appropriations totaling $20,768,000, reduces FY 2009 appropriations by $27,500,000, and amends and supplements various language provisions affecting appropriations in FY 2009.
Extends expiration date of certain permits pursuant to "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
Provides temporary PERS definition of contractual salary which includes deferred collectively negotiated wage increases currently applicable to Executive Branch employees will also apply to certain State and local public employees in PERS. *
Passed the General Assembly4
Allows cosmetologist-hairstylists to operate mobile facilities when providing services.
Requires DCF to provide information on shaken baby syndrome to parents of newborn infants. *
Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits.
Authorizes expenditures from open space trust funds to develop or maintain recreation and conservation land although the land was not acquired by the municipality.
Out of committee9
Creates "The 2009 New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project Act."
Revises calculation of Unemployment Trust Fund Reserve Ratio for experience rating year beginning July 1, 2008; appropriates $260,000,000 to unemployment compensation fund.
Authorizes DHSS to recover monies from certain charity care claims through contracted entity.
Provides for random drug testing and testing for cause of employees of State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and veterans homes and requires applicants for employment to undergo drug testing. *
Increases carryover period of net operating loss deduction under corporation business tax. *
Amends the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriation act to implement certain components of the Executive's plan to offset shortfalls in State revenues.
Permits conversion of age-restricted housing units to non-age-restricted housing units and modifies laws concerning affordable housing. *
Authorizes borrowing by public school districts between June 8 and June 30 of the school budget year in certain circumstances.
Extends transmittal date deadline for fiscal year 2010-2011 gubernatorial budget message to the Legislature from fourth Tuesday in February to March 16, 2010.
In committee44
Establishes a gross income tax credit for full time enrollment at four year institutions of higher education, county colleges and accredited post-secondary schools in New Jersey.
Increases annual income limitation to receive senior and disabled citizens' property tax deduction to $15,000.
Provides that, when candidacy for party nomination to public office or for political party office is uncontested, no primary election vote upon such nomination or party office shall be held.
Directs that one sample ballot shall be delivered to each residence address where at least one resident thereof is registered to vote.
Establishes Statewide allogeneic cord blood bank, requires certain health insurers to provide coverage for cord blood banking and appropriates $5 million to DHSS.
Provides that total annual out-of-state travel expenses of a board of education shall not exceed $3,000.
Authorizes appointment of part-time county tax administrator.
Prohibits toll-free passage for SJTA employees, officers, and members except while commuting or carrying out official duties.
Requires State aid for operating expenses of higher education institutions as a percentage of the State budget to equal national average.
Authorizes county surrogates to establish or expand programs to provide information to law enforcement officers, firefighters and first aid squad members concerning the preparation of wills, living wills and powers of attorney.
Allows a corporation business taxpayer recognizing income, gain or loss pursuant to a plan of complete liquidation to deduct its net operating loss carryovers notwithstanding the limitations on such deductions during the 2002-2005 tax years.
Exempts reimbursements from Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare and allows deduction for charity care in calculation of gross receipts for purposes of assessment on ambulatory care facilities.
Clarifies certain claims for homestead property tax reimbursements and allows for recovery of and penalties and interest on certain erroneous or fraudulent reimbursement claims.
Excludes charitable donations as a factor in determining resident taxpayer status for gross income tax purposes.
Exempts certain physician's offices operating magnetic resonance imaging or computerized axial tomography services from requirement to obtain license to operate those services.
Permits school districts to be reimbursed for certain unfunded State mandates.
Authorizes the issuance of $2,705,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance the construction and renovation of higher education facilities; appropriates $5,000.
Revises the structure, functions and authority of the State Investment Council and the Director of the State Division of Investment.
Removes two license limit on plenary retail distribution license holders.
Prohibits the use or possession of cellular picture phones to invade another person's privacy and prohibits camera or picture cell phones in schools.
Changes tobacco products wholesale sales tax on moist snuff to a weight-based tax.
Adds budget language specifying Medicaid reimbursement for various ambulance services provided to certain recipients.
Abolishes Landscape Architect Examination and Evaluation Committee; transfers powers to New Jersey State Board of Architects.
Adds two additional public members to NJ Transit board.
Requires the State Police to establish a recently relocated offenders section within the Megan's Law sex offender Internet registry.
Requires report and public hearing prior to DEP recommendation of site for inclusion on Superfund list.
Requires certain service extensions undertaken in municipally-designated areas in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation to receive same benefits as if located in smart growth area.
Requires DEP to submit annual financial report on status of certain fund balances.
Revises civil service status of certain county welfare agency management positions and requires county welfare agencies to adjust office hours.
Permits pharmacies subject to Medicaid new-provider moratorium to post surety bond or other security in order to participate in Medicaid program.
Exempts comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilitites from ambulatory care assessment.
Eliminates Lincoln's birthday as State holiday; adds day after Thanksgiving as State holiday; changes Washington's birthday holiday to Presidents Washington and Lincoln Day.
Requires DOE to submit an annual review to the Legislature assessing its performance of district oversight responsibilities.
The "New Jersey Health Insurance Reform Act."
Requires Treasurer and Division of Pensions and Benefits and Investment Directors to report on status of State-administered pension plans to Legislature by May 15 and November 15 each year.
Establishes a random selection process for PERC arbitrators.
Requires license suspension of certain health care professionals and medical waste facilities, generators, and transporters for willful improper medical waste disposal.
Allows health maintenance organizations to include charity care assessments for purposes of meeting certain loss ratio requirements.
Provides a plan to rebalance State resources to provide community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities.
Concerns calculation of certain HMO loss ratios; makes various changes to individual and small employer health benefits programs, charity care and NJ FamilyCare programs.
Expands permitted expenditures from Airport Safety Fund.
Provides single sales fraction for corporation business tax income allocation formula and establishes airline-specific sales fraction.
Requires public institution of higher education to include a link on its website to access information on educational benefits available to veterans.
Establishes a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program under the New Jersey gross income tax for home purchases during calendar year 2010.
Carried from the Senate
Became law7
Amends the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriation act to implement certain components of the Executive's plan to offset shortfalls in State revenues.
Revises calculation of Unemployment Trust Fund Reserve Ratio for experience rating year beginning July 1, 2008; appropriates $260,000,000 to unemployment compensation fund.
Increases carryover period of net operating loss deduction under corporation business tax.
Provides for random drug testing and testing for cause of employees of State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and veterans homes and requires applicants for employment to undergo drug testing. *
Permits conversion of age-restricted housing units to non-age-restricted housing units and modifies laws concerning affordable housing. *
Authorizes borrowing by public school districts between June 8 and June 30 of the school budget year in certain circumstances.
Extends transmittal date deadline for fiscal year 2010-2011 gubernatorial budget message to the Legislature from fourth Tuesday in February to March 16, 2010.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 21
Permits implementation of encrypted counterfeit-resistant revenue stamps for cigarettes sold in the State. *
Establishes New Jersey Reading Disabilities Task Force.
Amends stalking law to broaden protections for victims.
Permits parent of twins or higher order multiples enrolled in public school to select shared or separate classroom placement of their children.
Requires a State tax expenditure report be included in the Governor's annual budget message.
"Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program Act." *
Broadens small qualified business exception under UEZ sales tax rebate program. *
Eliminates throwout of receipts in allocation of entire net income under the corporation business tax; eliminates "regular place of business" requirement to allocate less than 100% of income to New Jersey. *
Requires DHS to report physical assaults and deaths at State psychiatric hospitals on its website and report deaths to Public Advocate. *
Revises cosmetology and hairstyling statutes. *
Establishes the InvestNJ Business Grant Program in NJEDA to stimulate certain capital investment and job creation in New Jersey during a limited period, makes appropriations. *
Makes FY 2009 supplemental appropriations totaling $22,500,000 to provide food, energy and legal aid assistance to individuals and families under the "New Jersey Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan."
Establishes the "Main Street Business Assistance Program;" appropriates $50 million.
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Appropriates $3.043 million from 1996 Economic Development Site Fund for projects in Camden City on economic development sites.
Requires confirmation of financial assistance for eligible homeowners voluntarily closing or replacing petroleum underground storage tanks, and expands eligibility for financial assistance. *
The "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," authorizes bonds for $400 million; appropriates $5,000. **
Authorizes State Treasurer to sell surplus real property in City of Trenton and Township of Ewing, Mercer County, to winning auction bidder.
Requires member of New Jersey National Guard to apply for tuition benefits under Post-911 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at public institutions of higher education. *
Requires additional information on State's long-term liabilities be presented in State annual debt report.
Revises provisions of "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act" concerning the economic recovery term.
Passed the General Assembly · 13
Requires certain school districts to reduce per pupil administrative expenditures by 10% over three-year period, certain reporting by executive county superintendents of schools, and schedule for appointment of such superintendents.
Creates offense of impairing communications, which would constitute domestic violence in certain circumstances. *
Prohibits local government agency from employing person on paid leave from local government agency of another county or municipality.
Allows State agencies, counties and municipalities to comply with certain publication requirements by means of Internet. *
The "Consumer Telephone Records Protection Act of 2008." *
Prohibits sending unsolicited advertising by text messaging, and requires companies offering text messaging services to allow their customers to block all incoming and outgoing text messages. *
Requires and permits preference in awarding certain contracts. *
Permits in-person wagering at casinos on results of professional sports events, subject to voter approval.
Requires DHS to establish training, educational assessment, and remedial instruction programs, and minimum educational standards for staff at State psychiatric hospitals.
Requires license suspension of certain health care professionals and medical waste facilities, generators, and transporters for willful illegal or improper medical waste disposal. *
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Establishes registry of offenders of individuals with developmental disabilities in DHS.
Provides for appointment to board of directors of New Jersey Automobile Insurance Risk Exchange by Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.
Out of committee · 11
Requires alternative testing arrangements be provided to certain students unable to attend tests at their regular administration due to religious observance.
Provides for allocation of $25 million from available balances from societal benefits charge revenues for utility assistance grants for qualified households. **
Requires lighting and security cameras at sexually oriented businesses; imposes civil penalty for permitting access to minors; permits negative secondary effects study; permits tax on sexually oriented business. *
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Creates a credit card do-not-solicit list. *
Allows gross income tax deductions for contributions to the "NJBEST college savings program."
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. *
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive senior and disabled homestead property tax reimbursement.
Expands NJ FamilyCare, establishes mandate for health care coverage of children, makes various reforms to individual and small employer insurance markets and certain dependent coverage; appropriates $1 million. *
Establishes Long Term Obligation and Capital Expenditure Fund and makes various appropriations to pay-down debt and provide for certain capital improvements.
"New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act."
In committee · 58
Provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations.
Allows gross income tax credit for unreimbursed hearing aid expenses.
Requires school board member and local elective office candidates to file financial disclosure statements; requires criminal background disclosure for school officials and school board member candidates.
Eliminates awards of punitive damages against municipalities and boards of education, and against employees of municipalities and boards of education acting within the scope or under color of their office, employment or agency.
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Restricts bail options for second and subsequent offenses occurring while released.
Requires licensure of hospital in Union County to provide adult cardiac surgery services.
Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard.
"The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative."
Prohibits supplemental compensation for unused sick leave for public school and municipal employees with annual compensation of $100,000 or more.
Dedicates CATV company franchise fee payments to property tax reduction, and to municipal utility and law enforcement costs.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement for claimants affected by eminent domain.
Increases firearm permit and license fees.
Requires hang tag for holders of provisional driver's license and windshield sticker for holders of special learner's permit and examination permit.
Requires schools and youth baseball leagues to have defibrillators on site during baseball games and practices.
The "Najeeb Green-Lewis Law," requires motor vehicle rental companies to confirm driving status of driver as condition of renting certain vehicles.
Requires sexually oriented businesses to notify property owners within 3,000 feet and obtain variance prior to operation.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
Permits municipalities to make retroactive property tax deduction payments to veterans up to a maximum of $1,000 per veteran.
Increases maximum LOSAP contributions and prospectively changes certain vesting requirements.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Provides mandatory fines and community service for theft of headstones, headstone markers, flags or flag holders from grave sites.
"Electronic Waste Recycling Act."
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a gross income tax payment system by credit card or debit card.
Prohibits use of unmarked police vehicles for routine traffic stops.
Requires automobile insurers to maintain sales representation in urban rating territories.
Prohibits sale of tobacco products in vending machines and establishes requirements for retail sales of tobacco.
Supplemental appropriation of $2 million to DHSS to expand the Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Adult Day Care Center Program.
Provides for State aid payment to certain municipalities for loss of ratables due to an overburden of tax-exempt property; approriates $50 million.
Requires emergency first aid and first responder retraining for local law enforcement officers; establishes a "duty to act" in emergency situations for on-duty local law enforcement officers.
Affords emergency services peer counselors confidentiality privileges.
Establishes a pilot program in DOE for the organization of a county administrative school district.
Establishes lawn watering restrictions; authorizes DEP to adopt water conservation regulations and to reduce water supply application backlog; and requires installation of automatic rain sensor devices under certain circumstances.
Repeals cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
Requires reporting of public high school, district and Statewide drop-out and graduation rates.
Authorizes special license emblems for Fraternal Order of Police members.
Establishes annual sales tax holiday for certain sales of personal computers and certain sales of school supplies and equipment during first full weekend of August.
Provides PFRS members in federal or State military service who is injured or killed with disability or death benefits.
Establishes the "New Jersey False Claims Act."
"New Jersey Health Information Technology Act"; establishes New Jersey Health Information Technology Commission and Office for e-HIT, and provides for Statewide health information technology plan.
Authorizes civil action for certain economic damages against owner or keeper of pet animal that injures or kills another person's pet animal.
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Authorizes special license plate for distinguished service medal recipients.
Requires that automated external defibrillators be located on every floor of State House and State House Annex; requires training for State Police.
Requires prospectively that public employees, appointees and elected officials work 35 or more hours per week with annual compensation equivalent to 1820 times State minimum wage for health care benefits.
Requires certain arbitrators to file financial disclosure statements.
Permits advertising on exterior of school buses.
Requires practitioners to disclose business relationship with out-of-State facilities when making patient referrals to those facilities.
Increases various fees charged by the sheriff's office and dedicates additional revenue to transportation costs of the sheriff's office.
Prohibits hospital from charging patient or third party payer for costs associated with certain hospital-acquired conditions.
Permits municipality, fire district or authority to approve transfer of certain firefighters from PERS to PFRS.
Disqualifies member of board of education for conviction of certain crimes and requires member to undergo criminal history background investigation.
Requires correctional facilities to provide inmates with prescription medication that was prescribed for chronic conditions existing prior to incarceration.
Provides for spend-down eligibility category for Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program.
Requires certain DOC, county and municipal prison physicians to acquire certain training.