Bills in the 2018–2019 Session, General Assembly.
Anthony S. Verrelli
Sponsored
Became law3
Establishes "Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Violence Against Persons with Developmental Disabilities" in DHS.*
Directs NJ State Council on Arts to create and disseminate best practices guide for at-risk youth arts programs; requires council to assist government entities creating programs that adopt best practices.
Revises statute of limitations for residential mortgage foreclosures.
Passed the General Assembly4
Require business seeking to perform State contract to disclose certain labor and employment law violations.
Requires certain retailers to train employees on gift card fraud.*
Exempts discharge of student loan debt of certain veterans through the federal Total and Permanent Disability discharge process from taxation under the gross income tax.
Requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing.
Out of committee4
Establishes guidelines for creditworthiness determinations concerning affordable housing programs.
Directs Juvenile Justice Commission to establish arts education pilot program for juvenile offenders.
Authorizes political subdivisions to set aside 0.5 percent of public works funds to recruit and train women and minorities and promote local hiring.
Establishes local drug overdose fatality review teams in each county in State.
In committee16
Prohibits sale, distribution, or manufacture of children's products made with formaldehyde.
Establishes procedure to enforce certain visitation rights of incapacitated person and persons receiving care from caregiver.
Prohibits sale of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals.
Requires licensure of pain management clinics, establishes process to identify abnormal drug usage and prescribing practices, modifies requirements for opioid prescriptions and medication-assisted treatment, authorizes use of non-opioid advance directives
Requires use of clear polycarbonate boarding for securing vacant and abandoned property.
Permits applicant for expungement to file one, duly verified petition for multiple convictions.
Provide that driver's license may not be suspended on grounds of failure to pay child support unless obligor is given opportunity for court hearing.
Concerns skilled and trained workforce in work by contractors in certain industries.
Requires DOC to ensure inmates have opportunity to participate in Medicaid pre-enrollment and enrollment sessions at least 60 days prior to release; requires applicable inmates to receive Medicaid card at release.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that employ formerly incarcerated individuals.
Authorizes common law public nuisance suits regarding lead paint under State law; exempts Attorney General from certain aspects of public nuisance claims when pursuing lead paint actions.
Requires State and county correctional facilities to develop strategic plans to provide peer counseling and peer health navigator programs to support treatment of substance use disorders.
Establishes pilot program to create student mental health assistance programs in selected school districts.
Directs DOLWD to identify, and post on website, employment opportunities with minimal barriers to entry for persons returning to workforce after imprisonment.
Requires notice to be provided by municipal court to applicant for public defender of fees and process to waive fees for inability to pay.
Establishes prisoner reentry peer support hotline.
Carried from the Senate
Became law1
Authorizes political subdivisions to set aside 0.5 percent of public works funds to recruit and train women and minorities and promote local hiring.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 26
"Alyssa's Law"; requires public school buildings to be equipped with panic alarm linked to local law enforcement.**
Establishes training program to prevent suicide by law enforcement officer;requires reporting of law enforcement officer suicides to Attorney General.*
Prohibits employer inquiries about worker's wage and salary experience.*
Enhances enforcement and oversight of mental health condition and substance use disorder parity laws.**
Requires prescription opioid medications include warning sticker advising patients of risk of addiction and overdose.
Provides for designation of acute stroke ready hospitals, establishes Stroke Care Advisory Panel and Statewide stroke database, and requires development of emergency medical services stroke care protocols.
Requires AG and Commissioner of Health to establish suicide prevention training course and informational materials for firearm retail dealers.
Allows local government water system employees to reside in all municipalities served by water system.
Revises law concerning family leave, temporary disability and family temporary disability leave, and domestic or sexual violence safety leave.
Requires meeting between student and appropriate school personnel after multiple suspensions or proposed expulsion from public school to identify behavior or health difficulties.*
Requires DHS to establish electronic portal to promote surplus food donation collaboration among nonprofit organizations, gleaners, and food retailers.
Directs Department of Agriculture to establish food desert produce pilot program.
Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Force to make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey.
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish public awareness campaign for food waste.
Establishes Farm Liaison in Department of Agriculture.
Appropriates $1,190,349 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for historic site management grants to certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses.
Appropriates $1,591,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Requires DHS to ensure medication assisted treatment benefits under Medicaid program are provided without the imposition of prior authorization requirements.
Concerns property taxes due and owing on real property owned by certain federal employees or contractors under certain circumstances.
Permits county commissioner of registration and board of elections to use electronic poll books.
Authorizes State Treasurer to sell surplus real property located in City of Trenton, Mercer County.
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.
Revises certain penalties for illegal operation of snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike.**
Concerns responsibility of contractors for wage claims against subcontractors.*
Concerns penalties for misclassification of employees.
Requires employers to post notice for employees on employee misclassification.
Vetoed · 2
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.
Requires reporting of opioid deaths.
Passed the General Assembly · 18
Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership.
Prohibits public utility from terminating service for nonpayment unless customer is provided certified letter at least 10 business days prior to scheduled termination date.
Concerns health insurance benefits for locked-out workers.
Requires health benefits coverage for adolescent depression screenings.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and county colleges. *
Permits DMVA to receive voluntary contributions for veteran suicide prevention public service announcements. *
Establishes one New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council in DOH.
Concerns arbitration for certain non-teaching school staff.
Amends language provision in Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations act to shift Transitional Aid for Paterson and Trenton to Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid.
Requires public community water systems to provide customers with certain information regarding lead in drinking water. *
Requires hospitals to include warning in patient discharge papers concerning risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications.
Requires DOH and DHS to identify and take appropriate steps to secure federal sources of funding to support maternal mental health.*
Requires registration of certain vacant and abandoned properties with municipalities and provides enforcement tools related to maintenance of these properties.
Prohibits certain substance use disorder treatment facilities from paying fees, commissions, or rebates to any person to refer patients to facility. *
Requires drugs involved in fatal overdoses to be identified.
Concerns continuing education requirements for certain health care providers concerning best practices and advances in care of pregnant women with respect to prescription opioids.
Requires public transportation employees to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking.
Requires cable television, direct broadcast satellite, and television streaming service companies to include certain fees and charges for service in advertised price to consumers.
Out of committee · 39
Concerns stop-work orders related to prevailing wage and construction worker employment.*
Requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines to encourage high school students to participate in apprenticeship training.
Codifies donated leave program for State employees in career, senior executive, and unclassified service.
Increases workers' compensation for loss of hand or foot.*
Requires lobby security for certain senior citizen high-rise buildings in areas with high violent crime rates.
Enters New Jersey in enhanced multistate Nurse Licensure Compact. *
Allows NJ gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions of food made from business inventory.
Concerns expansion of services provided by DHS mental health screening services.*
Concerns Early Intervention Support Services program in DOH and expansion of program to all counties.
Establishes public-private alternative fueling station pilot program and requires DOT to conduct study.
Prohibits use of certain technology for unauthorized electronic surveillance of cellular telephones.
Concerns law regarding failure to pay wages.
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.*
Requires disclosure of breach of security of online account.
Requires certain additional school district personnel to complete training program on suicide prevention.
Establishes Talent Network Program in DOLWD.
Requires institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to improve transparency of tuition and fees.
Extends statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims; expands categories of potential defendants in civil actions; creates two-year window for parties to bring previously time-barred actions based on sexual abuse.*
Prohibits person from contracting for public work if person is barred from receiving federal contract.
Establishes special probation drug court eligibility for persons with certain previous criminal convictions.*
Requires public schools to administer written screenings for depression for students in certain grades.
Requires young children entering public schools or Head Start Programs for first time to have comprehensive eye examination completed.
Requires NJ State Council on Arts to establish "Artist District" designation and select certain municipalities or areas within municipalities for such designation.
Requires health curriculum for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12 to include instruction on mental health.*
Requires State-chartered financial institutions to adhere to certain disclosure and consumer protection practices regarding automatic overdraft protection services.
"New Jersey Transit Corporation Employee Protection Act"; prohibits NJT from asserting sovereign immunity in certain situations and subjects NJT to certain federal statutes and regulations.*
Transfers authority over special nutrition assistance programs from DOH to DHS.
"New Townhouse Fire Safety Act"; requires automatic fire sprinkler systems in new townhomes.
Requires institutions of higher education to maintain supply of opioid antidotes and permits emergency administration of opioid antidote by campus medical professional or trained employee.
Authorizes DCA to establish flexible multiple dwelling inspection schedule; requires multiple dwelling owners to file certain registrations.
Establishes Task Force on Maximizing Employment for People with Disabilities.
Establishes Trenton Capital City Aid Program; appropriates $10 million.
Permits counties to establish a central municipal drug court.
Concerns local taxation of business personal property of local exchange telephone companies.
Revises definition of small employer under New Jersey Small Employer Health Benefits Program.
Makes Fiscal Year 2020 supplemental appropriation of $1,700,000 for Thomas Edison State University.
Permits Department of Labor and Workforce Development to post information of person who violates State wage, benefit and tax laws.
Appropriates $5,000,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $77,450,448 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
In committee · 65
Establishes Behavioral Mental Health Advisory Board in Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS.
Reinstates sick leave injury program for State corrections officers and juvenile justice officers under certain circumstances.
Provides family leave insurance for certain first responders.
Requires notification of local law enforcement prior to expungement of certain mental health records of prospective firearms purchasers.
Requires Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to facilitate establishment of four new recovery community centers.
Increases minimum wage for tipped workers.
Permits State employment on temporary basis of workers with certain skills to perform routine maintenance in State facilities.
Invalidates consumer contracts which require a waiver of right to file a consumer complaint.
Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services; designated as the Mental Health Access Act.
Prohibits telecommunications, utility or cable television companies from charging certain customers prior to actual billing due date.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and higher education institutions.
Creates "Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund" in Dept. of Agriculture to help pay for child food and nutrition programs.
Establishes New Jersey Commission on Construction Industry Independent Contractor Reform.
"Prescription Drug Consumer Transparency Act."
"The Smarter Lunchroom Act;" promotes healthy food choices in school cafeterias.
Makes $10.5 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Requires certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline.
Requires State and local public contracts for food services to require compliance with federal food service guidelines.
Designates drug court program as the "special probation recovery court program" in statutes.
Requires certain standards for professional and occupational boards considering applicants with criminal history records.
Concerns registration of contractors and sets criteria for responsible bidders in public work.
Establishes green infrastructure financing program.
Requires telecommunications service providers to warn residential customers of potential scams or other frauds committed through use of these services.
Concerns debarment for prevailing wage violations.
Delays when medical debt may be sent to collection agency and provides for income-based repayments; provides for deferment and discharge of outstanding medical debt under certain circumstances.
Revises health care levy adjustment for school districts; makes various changes for health care benefits for school employees; requires certain information in school budgets; imposes cap on contributions by public employees for health care benefits.
Requires municipal accounting of abandoned properties before receiving certain State aid; establishes State database of abandoned properties; requires owners of abandoned properties to document rehabilitation efforts.
Concerns stop construction orders.
Establishes the "Safe and Sanitary Rental Housing Act."
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.
Requires public high school students to receive instruction concerning opioid abuse and opioid abuse prevention.
Requires release of bid list prior to bid date under "Local Public Contracts Law."
Requires health curriculum for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12 to include instruction on mental health.
Provides for restricted use driver's license as alternatives for license suspension in municipal court.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to New Jersey Library Network for continuation of services.
Concerns job order contracts for public work.
Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program.
Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to provide information to Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system regarding the location of safe disposal sites for hypodermic syringes and needles and prescription drugs.
Establishes Energy and Manufacturing Workforce Development Program in DOLWD.
Concerns automobile insurance practices.
Allows follow up calls from operators of NJ Suicide Hopeline to minors at risk of committing suicide.
Establishes Office of Labor Law Enforcement.
Requires public utilities and local units to provide notice prior to initiating certain infrastructure projects.
Makes FY 2020 supplemental appropriation of $4.5 million for St. Francis Medical Center.
Prohibits persons under 21 years of age from possessing electronic smoking devices.
Raises pay for election workers to $300 per day.
Establishes "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities."
Requires carriers to pass prescription drug savings to consumers.
Permits school districts to define excused absences from school to include illness based on student's mental or behavioral health and requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for defining excused absence for this reason.
Requires Department of Labor and Workforce Development to apply smart labor force data to direct veterans to in-demand fields.
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Crisis Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed.
Requires certain health care plans to be offered by SEHBP and local boards of education; requires SEHBP commission to establish employee contribution rates for certain plans; requires local boards of education provide certain information on health care be
Requires NJT to equip trains with defibrillators.
Establishes the "Planning for an Aging Population Task Force."
Clarifies that residents with mental illness or substance use disorders may be included on public safety special assistance municipal lists.
Requires contracts for sales of residential property to address lead service lines.
Requires Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to create Statewide database of certified payroll information for public works projects.
Requires Commissioner of Education to develop and distribute heat stroke pamphlet for athletes at public and nonpublic schools; requires school districts and public institutions of higher education to establish heat illness policy for athletes.
Requires DOC and county correctional facilities to provide certain inmates with medication-assisted treatment.
Establishes "County Jail Rehabilitation and Re-Entry Program" to evaluate county inmate needs; assigns certain county caseworkers to assist inmates in accessing appropriate benefits, treatment, and services.
Authorizes use of county inmate welfare funds for certain reentry services.
Requires DOC and DHS to pre-enroll inmates in Medicaid; establishes Medicaid enrollment course for inmates within DOC.
Requires each county to establish inmate reentry services committee.
Requires entities at every level of government to conduct periodic studies of racial and ethnic disparities in public contracting.
Permits retention of vacation leave benefits by State-employee service members on federal active duty and military spouses upon return to State employment within two years of resignation in good standing.
Filed · 1
Requires certain voters who filed vote by mail applications from 2016 to 2018 to receive mail-in ballot for all future elections, unless voter requests otherwise; appropriates $2 million.