Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, General Assembly.
Gerry Scharfenberger
Sponsored
Passed the General Assembly1
Increases penalty for "bombing" online meeting or teleconference under certain circumstances.
In committee21
Revises Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program; requires all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities.
Raises maximum eligibility age for exempt fireman certificates and membership in New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
Suspends running of timeframes for county planning board action during state of emergency.
Requires State agencies to develop and submit information technology strategic plan.
Requires DOLWD to develop and execute information technology stress test and emergency telework plan for employees.
Extends time frame for municipalities to adopt municipal stormwater plans and ordinances.
Revises law establishing individual transferable quota system for menhaden purse seine fishery.
Requires registered voters to present identification when voting at polling place.
Elevates the degree of desecration offense based upon the pecuniary loss; adds desecration to bias intimidation statute.
Prohibits government entity or school from requiring influenza vaccinations for persons who are 18 years of age or younger.
Restricts establishment of mandates to become vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); establishes reimbursement program to cover certain out-of-pocket costs incurred in obtaining COVID-19 vaccine.
Requires Secretary of State to establish voter list maintenance and crosscheck program and to include certain voter registration data in annual report to Governor and Legislature.
Requires electric public utility to reimburse cost of certain customer-owned electric service equipment if damage to equipment is due to weather event affecting electric public utility service.
Requires 11th grade students to complete civics course as part of high school graduation requirements.
Requires all elections in this State to provide ability of voters to vote in person at polling place.
Directs Secretary of State to establish election incident reporting and complaint database; requires certain telephone numbers be provided with voter instructions.
Establishes Commission on Administrative Costs of Public Institutions of Higher Education.
Prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received COVID-19 vaccine.
Permits special service charge for commercial purpose public records requests; increases time to respond to commercial requests; provides penalty for failure to certify commercial purpose request.
Establishes immunity relating to COVID-19 spread on the premises of local community organizations under certain circumstances.
Prohibits teaching of critical race theory in public schools; prohibits public school teachers from engaging in political, ideological, or religious advocacy in classroom.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 8
Revises provisions of State law concerning claiming and proper disposal of cremains of veterans and eligible spouses or dependents.
Establishes study commission to examine development of mutually beneficial relationships between institutions of higher education and municipalities.
Permits extension of deadlines for adoption of county and municipal budgets under certain circumstances.
Concerns delivery and sale of alcoholic beverages during declared state of emergency; requires ABC director to notify licensees of certain tax exemptions during emergency.**
Raises from 45 to 57 maximum eligibility age for exempt fireman certificates and membership in New Jersey State Fireman's Association.
Expands offenses eligible for expungement upon successful discharge from drug court.
Appropriates $11,777,499 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses.
Appropriates $37.16 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.
Passed the General Assembly · 4
Prohibits awarding of economic development subsidy to business if payment of principal and interest on previously awarded loan or loan guarantee is greater than 24 months overdue.
Provides for jurisdiction for prosecution for certain crimes against minors committed outside New Jersey.
Permits extension of certain deadlines applicable to local government units under emergency circumstances.
Restricts use of certain data collected for purposes of contact tracing related to COVID-19 pandemic.
Out of committee · 27
Requires SEHBP and eligible employers that do not participate in the SEHBP to provide certain plans for public education employees and certain public education retirees.
Establishes Task Force to Promote Employment by State Agencies of People with Disabilities.
Requires that certain realty transfer fee revenues be dedicated to Special Needs Housing Trust Fund.*
Establishes license to allow wineries that produce more than 250,000 gallons per year to directly ship wine to consumers.
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.
Creates office to encourage creation of federal jobs and federal infrastructure investment in the State.
Excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation.
Provides retirement allowance after 20 years of service regardless of age for members of PFRS.
Permits person diagnosed with autism or communication disability to voluntarily make notation on driver's license, identification card, and in MVC registry; establishes program to train law enforcement officers in interactions with persons with autism or
Establishes trunk fighting as animal cruelty offense and crime of the third degree.
Establishes "Pediatric Cancer Research Fund" and establishes requirements for disbursement of monies deposited in fund; provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for pediatric research. *
Establishes annual grant program to recognize institutions of higher education that offer comprehensive array of veteran programs and services.
Revises DEP's regulation of certain seasonal structures including cabanas under CAFRA.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021.
Appropriates $30 million to EDA from federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund" to assist food establishments impacted by Executive Order No. 158.
Establishes right of victims to be notified of county prosecutor's charging decision in sexual assault cases.
Requires AG issue annual report concerning sexual assault cases.*
Establishes sexual violence liaison officer in Division of State Police and local police departments.
Requires sexual assault training for prosecutors.
Incorporates boardwalks into transportation local aid program and provides for Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants to boardwalk projects.
Establishes immunity relating to COVID-19 spread in planned real estate developments.
Appropriates $30.387 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects.
Requires Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman submit annual report to veterans' facility oversight boards.
Establishes criminal offenses and civil penalties concerning inhumane confinement of breeding pigs and calves raised for veal.
Requires boards of education to provide special education and related services to certain students exceeding age of eligibility for special education and related services.
Appropriates $5 million to New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Fund.
In committee · 36
Broadens municipal arson investigators' powers.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations.
Makes it a crime of the first degree to coerce a patient to request medication pursuant to the "Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act" or to forge a patient's request for such medication.
Requires proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain certain benefits.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain State-based charitable organizations.
Permits place of worship to establish security plan to select one person to carry handgun during religious services.
Establishes Good Samaritan Law to provide immunity from civil liability for veterinarians or emergency responders who assist animals at accident scene or emergency.
Requires board of education to provide civics instruction in middle schools and requires DOE to provide funding to NJ Center for Civic Education at Rutgers to help prepare civics teachers.
"Marissa's Law"; provides for mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for leaving scene of accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury, except if operator reports accident; increases mandatory minimum term for reckless vehicular homicide.
The "School Safety and Security Act"; establishes penalties for certain criminal acts committed on school property.
Provides that public school parent who objects to learning material or activity that parent considers harmful may receive voucher from school district to enroll student in nonpublic school.
Concerns repayment of unemployment insurance benefits obtained fraudulently.
Authorizes municipality to deliver property tax bills, construction permits, and receipts for payment via e-mail.
Gradually reduces CBT rate.
Requires State to recognize permits to carry handguns issued to certain New Jersey residents by other states.
Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations.
"Murphy's Law"; nullifies Governor's order, rule, or regulation to address declared emergency, or relevant portion thereof, when Governor violates same; creates affirmative defense to prosecution for same violation committed by Governor.
Establishes general immunity for entities, including non-profits and governments, and institutions of higher education, and their officers, employees, and agents, against actions relating to Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic or related viral strain in sub
Requires in-person early voting for 2020 election; raises pay for election workers for 2020 general election; requires county boards to consider appointing certain residents as election workers.
Clarifies spitting in law enforcement officer's food or drink constitutes aggravated assault; requires certain sanctions on restaurant employees who commit this crime.
Authorizes any member of the Legislature to perform all functions of notary public.
Requires electric public utilities to obtain written consent and provide written disclosure prior to installing smart meters.
Limits "tobacco and vapor products tax" on cigars to up to $0.50 per cigar.
Eliminates Treasurer's authority to annually adjust petroleum products gross receipts tax.
Appropriates $300 million to EDA for small business and not-for-profit organization assistance.
Establishes New Jersey Veteran Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Increases from $750 to $3,000 annual State payment made to certain veterans and their surviving spouses.
Establishes "Bring Veterans to New Jersey Program."
Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to qualified veterans purchasing franchises.
Exempts qualified veterans from paying certain firearm related fees.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability.
Prohibits four-year public institution of higher education from charging tuition to student who is spouse or dependent child of disabled veteran.
Provides employer and employee protections pursuant to the use of legalized cannabis items.
"Fairness in Women's Sport Act."
Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses.