Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Bob Smith
Sponsored
Became law7
Authorizes enhancement of State Uniform Construction Code's energy subcode based on anticipated energy savings; provides down payment assistance to certain purchasers of homes meeting enhanced energy subcode requirements.
Establishes forest stewardship and forest certification programs in DEP; establishes Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund. *
Defines "inherently beneficial use" for purposes of zoning variance and specifically includes facilities and structures that supply electrical energy produced from wind, solar, or photovoltaic technologies. *
Concerns biomass, solar, and wind energy generation on farms. **
Authorizes Greenwood Lake Commission to charge fees. *
Establishes Criminal Sentencing Commission to study and review the criminal law and recommend revisions; repeals existing commissions.
Abolishes NJ Commerce Commission; establishes Division of Business Assistance, Marketing and International Trade in NJEDA; transfers functions, powers and duties of commission to division.
Out of committee22
Establishes temperature control guidelines and standards for school facilities. *
Provides tax exemption for portion of property value attributable to energy cost savings measures that reduce consumption of water or energy.
Increases cap for underground storage tank remediation grants to independent colleges.
Delays effective date of recycling tax and adjusts allocation of moneys in the State Recycling Fund. *
Permits developer to qualify for low-interest loan from NJEDA when building a high performance green building.
Creates Solar and Wind Energy Commission.
Authorizes creation and operation of stormwater utility systems.
Permits location of certain wind and solar facilities in industrial zones.
Authorizes public entities to implement energy savings improvement programs. *
Expands definition of "place of business" under Franchise Practices Act.
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. **
Establishes licensing program for site remediation professionals; changes laws concerning site remediation. *
Repeals "New Jersey-New York Clean Ocean and Shore Trust (COAST) Committee Act" and statute establishing Commission on Business Efficiency in the Public Schools. *
Revises "Electronic Waste Recycling Act."
Requires developers to offer solar energy systems in certain new home construction.
Establishes "Solar Roof Installation Warranty Program" in NJ EDA; appropriates $2 million from "Global Warming Solutions Fund." *
"The Solar Energy Advancement and Fair Competition Act."
Makes several changes to the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program.
Provides for regulation of small wind energy systems by municipalities.
Requires eligible applicants for innocent party grants from "Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund" to own subject property through application process.
Provides for covenant not to sue by operation of law upon issuance of no further action letter in certain circumstances relating to site remediations.
Authorizes increased grant funding to local governments for site remediation for redevelopment of contaminated property for renewable energy projects.
In committee51
Requires development and implementation of mitigation plans for radon contamination in certain child care centers; requires DOE to develop such plans for child care centers operating in public schools, request funding, and implement plans when funded.
"Stormwater Management and Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Bond Act of 2004," authorizes bonds for $50 million and appropriates $5,000.
Establishes New Jersey State Building Green Building Technology Task Force.
Establishes NJ Commission on Global Climate Change.
Authorizes provision of interest-free loans from new home warranty security fund for homeowners to replace polybutylene water piping.
Requires certain employers to plan and implement traffic reduction programs for employees.
Requires water purveyors to develop and implement a drought interconnection system.
Requires affordable housing be built to green building standards; requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to issue standards.
Permits water and sewerage service sub-metering in multi-family dwellings to promote water conservation.
Requires installation of automatic rain sensors on lawn sprinklers on commercial, retail and industrial property.
Requires municipal certification of installation of automatic rain sensors on lawn sprinklers as condition of transfer of residential property.
Requires licensed home inspector to report an energy rating for each home inspected for buyer in contemplation of purchase.
Requires DEP to conduct public hearing and provide opportunity for public comment at conclusion of feasibility study for shore protection projects.
Provides for submission to voters in each county a binding referendum on the establishment of a county administrative school district to govern and operate all public schools in the county.
Provides matching grant program for local governments to facilitate energy efficiency and conservation of resources in public buildings; appropriates $50 million.
Increases host community benefit for municipalities wherein solid waste transfer stations are located from fifty cents to one dollar per ton of solid waste processed at such facilities.
Requires Site Improvement Advisory Board to offer recommendations to encourage sustainable development.
Clarifies that "airsoft" guns are firearms.
Establishes crime of removing federally required orange tip from toy gun; establishes crime of disguising a firearm by adding an orange muzzle tip.
Establishes the Department of Higher Education.
"Reduce Plastic and Paper Bag Usage Act."
Requires DOLWD to adopt air quality standards for public school buildings and appropriates $250,000 to DOLWD to enforce those standards.
Allows for 75% of costs of energy audits undertaken for commercial buildings be paid for by societal benefits charge.
Permits electric public utilities, electric power suppliers and basic generation service providers to enter into certain agreements with building owners for use of solar energy systems for such buildings.
The "Green Building Tax Credit Act."
Establishes financial incentives for certain energy providers to conduct energy audits.
"New Jersey Transit Villages Act."
Imposes water consumption and diversion user fees to fund open space and farmland preservation projects.
Requires holding of binding Statewide referendum by county on whether responsibility for certain municipal functions should be assumed by county government; repeals various sections of law concerning transfer or termination of employees of terminated loc
"Property Assessment Reform Act"; appropriates $4,000,000.
Establishes "Comprehensive Geriatric Fall Prevention Pilot Program"; appropriates $20.4 million.
Concerns DEP government records requests.
"Ocean County Stormwater Management System Demonstration Act."
Requires electric power suppliers to pay retail power prices for purchase of certain renewable energy production.
Authorizes DOT, NJ Turnpike Authority, and South Jersey Transportation Authority to permit BPU-certified persons to install and maintain solar photovoltaic panels on noise barriers erected on roads and highways.
The "Second Unit Housing Authorization Act."
Establishes a Smart Grid Pilot Program and Smart Grid Technology Research Center at Rutgers The State University; appropriates funding for grants.
Provides exemption from tax on sales of certain energy saving products and services purchased from businesses located in UEZ.
Concerns net metering and authorizes licensing of local renewable energy collaboratives by the BPU.
Establishes "Solar Equipment Purchase and Installation Assistance Program" in NJ EDA.
Provides consumer protections under certain telecommunications service provider contracts.
Authorizes county regulation of fertilizer application.
Requires BPU to increase credit provided when issuing Solar Renewable Energy Certificates to owners using solar equipment manufactured in NJ.
Requires BPU to offer similar incentives to residents purchasing certain oil heating equipment as are offered to residents purchasing certain natural gas heating equipment.
Authorizes educational services commissions to purchase goods or services through nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreement.
Concerns regulation of paratransit vehicles and drivers transporting persons in wheelchairs.
Requires EDA to establish a "High Performance Green Building Demonstration Project."
Imposes certain conditions on NJPDES permit for energy generation facilities that withdraw water from, or discharge water to, a shallow lagoonal estuary.
Requires the State and local contracting units to purchase biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel manufactured in NJ.
Requires specific reduction of sulfur content in heating oil, and scheduled increase of blending biofuels therein after July 1, 2011, unless requirements are waived by Governor pursuant to Executive Order.
Requires State entities to purchase biofuels in place of fossil fuels when it is reasonable, prudent and cost effective to do so.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 6
Exempts certain renewable energy systems from real property taxation. **
"Grace's Law;" requires health insurers, State Health Benefits Program and NJ FamilyCare to provide coverage for hearing aids for covered persons 15 and younger.
Appropriates $7 million in 1992 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects.
Allows UEZ municipalities to include certain homeland security expenses as eligible for funding from enterprise zone assistance fund.
Makes emergency medical technician certification valid for five years.
Makes certain changes to the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.
Out of committee · 8
Requires facility where patient dies to provide medical examiner with contact information for next-of-kin so medical examiner may obtain additional information about death. *
Requires use of uniform silver flags to mark certain pesticide applications.
Requires BPU financial incentives for photovoltaic equipment for residences that are Energy Star compliant receive preferred treatment.
The Vote By Mail Law. **
Extends payment of accidental death benefit in PFRS, SPRS, PERS and TPAF to survivors of certain members of reserve component of Armed Forces and National Guard. *
Authorizes municipal planning boards to adopt green buildings and environmental sustainability municipal master plan element.
Allows in FY2009 up to $9 million from "Shore Protection Fund" to be used to help defray State park and forest operation and maintenance costs; requires DEP to study State park and forest fee structure and revenue sources, and modify fees accordingly. *
Permits counties to create County Homelessness Trust Funds.
In committee · 10
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Provides for sales tax exemption for advanced technology partial zero emission vehicles, imposes surcharge on certain automobiles.
Establishes pilot program in DEP for chemical cleanouts in schools.
Requires filing of annual financial reports by certain businesses when receiving more than $25 million from public entities for any redevelopment or environmental remediation project or projects.
Authorizes special Gold Star Family license plates.
Permits certain persons holding elective public office to remain eligible for enrollment in PERS.
Allows gross income tax deductions for contributions to the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program.