Bills in the 2016–2017 Session, General Assembly.
Joe Danielsen
Sponsored
Passed the General Assembly3
Establishes offense of criminal mischief committed on historical sites.
Immunizes from civil liability first responders who forcibly enter property to provide emergency assistance.
Requires financial institutions to cash payroll checks under certain circumstances.*
Out of committee2
Establishes position of State Oceanographer.
Prohibits public utility from terminating service for nonpayment unless customer is provided certified letter at least 10 business days prior to scheduled termination date.
In committee11
Enhances penalties for false incrimination and making fictitious reports.
Designated Kevin Apuzzio's Law; allows municipalities to provide increased survivor pensions for certain volunteer emergency workers and requires municipalities to provide health and life insurance coverage to volunteer firefighters.
Establishes the New Jersey School Counts County College Scholarship Program.
Requires development of longitudinal data system that maintains individuals' data from preschool through entry into workforce.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish performance-based funding plans for public institutions of higher education.
Exempts experienced firefighters from certain requirements.
Provides adjustment to school district tax levy cap for expenditures associated with opening of new school facility during budget year.
Modifies various aspects of charter school program including approval, student admissions and enrollment procedures, and board of trustee membership.
Establishes position of Ombudsman of Student Discipline to serve within Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
Prohibits sale or lease of access to certain health care provider networks.
Designates "New Jersey State Song" as State song.
Carried from the Senate
Became law1
Establishes position of State Oceanographer.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 28
"New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act"; authorizes issuance of $125,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance capital projects at public libraries; appropriates $5,000.
"New Jersey Housing Assistance for Veterans Act," establishes pilot program to assist certain veterans with housing modification and rehabilitation; appropriates $5 million.
Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act; Provides income tax credit to family caregivers of certain armed service members with physical disabilities.
Requires annual notice of assessment on property to contain bolded notice of filing deadline for appeal.
Establishes crimes of operating school bus with suspended or revoked driving privileges and being involved in accident causing bodily injury; permanently prohibits passenger and school bus CDL endorsements for persons convicted of those crimes.
Allows certain National Guard and United States Reserve members to temporarily defer mortgage loan payments and suspend property tax payments.*
Requires school bus transporting students using wheelchairs to be equipped with four-point securement system; requires school bus operator to secure students using wheelchairs.**
Permits increase in municipal free public library tax upon voter approval.
Expands eligibility of inmates for medical parole and requires inmate's enrollment in Medicaid under certain circumstances.
Requires DLPS to establish and make available to law enforcement agencies cultural diversity training materials and online tutorial.*
Establishes Chief Diversity Officer to monitor participation by minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State contracting.*
Allows installment payments for senior and disabled property taxpayers to repay overpayments of homestead credits and homestead property tax reimbursements.
Establishes "Veterans Affordable Housing Section 8 Voucher Pilot Program."
Directs institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to provide Higher Education Student Assistance Authority with graduation and transfer rates of State tuition aid grant recipients.
Allows NJ STARS and NJ STARS II scholarship recipients to maintain program eligibility in the event that medical condition or recent death of parent or spouse prevents enrollment as full-time student.
Authorizes municipal governing body to create and maintain list of municipal residents in need of special assistance in case of emergency for public safety purposes.
Authorizes veterans property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans who did not serve in theater of war.
Permits charging late fee for rental payments due on self-service storage units and authorizes sale of property via website.
Dedicates one percent of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues to anti-smoking initiatives.*
Authorizes municipal volunteer programs for free removal of snow from certain residential properties occupied by seniors or disabled persons.*
Requires initial determination of unemployment benefits to be made within three weeks of filing of claim.
Requires Internet-connected baby monitors to include security features.
Allows "100 percent Disabled Veterans" to receive parking privileges reserved for persons with disability.
Permits eligible students who are members of United States Armed Forces to wear military uniform at high school graduation.
"Charlie's Law"; Establishes civil penalties for persons who interfere with or deny persons with disabilities accompanied by service or guide dogs access to places of public accommodation.
Establishes "High School to College Readiness Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations to enhance student preparation for postsecondary education.
Establishes Gold Star Family Counseling Program in DMVA; creates tax credit for certain health care professionals.
Authorizes certain benefits for certain family members of military personnel who died while on active duty.
Vetoed · 4
Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families; qualifies families to receive additional nutritional assistance.
Establishes Office of Student Loan Ombudsman; regulates student loan servicers.
"Healthy Small Food Retailer Act"; provides funding to small food retailers to sell fresh and nutritious food.
Bars persons under age 18 from marrying or entering into a civil union.
Passed the General Assembly · 21
Increases personal needs allowance to at least $50 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities.
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice care services.
Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
"Transparency in Government Act"; provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Allows person on police officer or firefighter eligible list who is unable to complete requirements for employment due to certain military service to have name placed on subsequent eligible list.
"HOPE Initiative Act;" requires establishment of public awareness campaign to educate citizens about dangers and causes of, and appropriate responses to, heroin and opioid addiction.
Allows tax credits for development of qualified wind energy facilities in certain portfield sites.
Requires managed care plans, SHBP, and SEHBP to provide for reasonable accommodation in accessing providers for persons with physical disabilities.
Establishes "Police Officer, Firefighter, Public School Teacher, Corrections Officer, and Sanitation Worker Home-buyer Assistance Act"; appropriates $5 million.
Expands the Tuition Aid Grant program to part-time undergraduates.
Prohibits firearm possession by persons convicted of certain offenses.*
"Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act"; permits qualified terminally ill patient to self-administer medication to end life in humane and dignified manner.
Extends post-military service protection against mortgage foreclosure.
Allows termination of motor vehicle lease in event of death; prohibits imposition of fee for early termination.
Prohibits permanent change of child custody during period of active military service; provides that absence due to active military duty, by itself, is insufficient justification to modify a child custody or visitation order.
Prohibits employment discrimination based on applicant employment status.
Establishes "Succeed in New Jersey" student loan reimbursement program for certain New Jersey residents employed in designated fields.
Requires DOT to compensate local government entities for contractual delay damages resulting from shutdown of transportation projects funded by Transportation Trust Fund; authorizes local government entities to use certain funds for transportation project
Expands health insurance coverage for behavioral health services and autism and enhances enforcement and oversight of mental health parity laws. *
Exempts certain personal information from State's open public records law; bars attorney's fees award in denial of access proceeding in certain circumstances.
Creates grant program for business accelerator and incubator networks; transfers $1 million in societal benefits charge revenues to EDA to administer program.
Out of committee · 49
Authorizes special Combat Action Badge license plate program.
Provides civil service preference to military service members who did not serve in theater of operation but received campaign or expedition medal.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide greater assistance to certain students with military obligations.
Permits county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages to create Gold Star Parent identification card.
Expands eligibility for veterans civil service preference.
Prohibits use of smokeless tobacco in public schools.
Provides PERS or PFRS member who continues to be volunteer firefighter or emergency services worker after retirement with employer from whom member retires has bona fide severance for compliance with State and federal law.*
Prohibits public institutions of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees by more than 4% over the prior academic year.
Excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation.
Establishes certain network adequacy and standard application requirements for health insurance carriers; requires determination of hospital diversity for tiered networks.
Requires carriers to disclose selection standards for, and establishes certain requirements regarding, placement of health care providers in tiered health benefits plan network. *
Requires electric, gas, and water public utilities to provide bill credits to volunteer fire companies, first aid, rescue, and emergency squads, and nonprofit homeless and domestic violence assistance organizations.
Requires hospital patient's medical record to include notation if patient is at increased risk of confusion, agitation, behavioral problems, and wandering due to dementia related disorder.*
Authorizes special license plates with proceeds to the families of NJ troops overseas.
Requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to compile and annually update list of all unfunded State and federal mandates on municipalities and counties.
Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms.
Expands infertility coverage under certain health insurance plans.
Increases reporting requirements for the NJ Basic Skills Training Program for Economic Growth.
Establishes New Jersey Caregiver Task Force to evaluate and provide recommendations on caregiver support services.
"Madison Holleran Suicide Prevention Act"; requires institutions of higher education to have individuals who focus on reducing student suicides and attempted suicides available 24 hours a day.*
Provides post-traumatic stress disorder from military service during combat may be mitigating factor during sentencing.
Requires blood sample to be obtained from driver involved in motor vehicle accident resulting in death; designated as "Michelle Sous' Law."
Requires Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to develop standard prior authorization form for prescription drug benefits for use by network providers.
"Out-of-network Consumer Protection, Transparency, Cost Containment and Accountability Act."
Prohibits retail sales establishment from storing certain magnetic-stripe data; requires reimbursement for costs incurred by financial institution due to breach of security.
Concerns membership and management of homeowners associations.
Revises "Electronic Waste Management Act."
Requires certain undergraduate students to file degree plan and requires public institutions of higher education to develop pathway systems to graduation.
Permits certain health care professionals to waive health insurance copayments for members of military serving on active duty. *
Concerns victim's right to rape care advocate under certain circumstances.
Requires testing for infectious disease for certain persons who have been administered opioid antidote by first responder.
Provides fair standards for elections and recall of officers for homeowners' associations.
Establishes compensation program for law enforcement officers and certain other employees injured while performing official duties. *
Requires EDA to establish program offering low-interest loan to certain financial institutions and personal data businesses to protect business's information technology system from customer personal information disclosure.
Upgrades assault on victims who are elderly or disabled.
Permits holding companies of eligible New Jersey emerging technology companies to receive investments under "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act."
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research institutions; allows certain technology businesses located in certain innovation zones to receive certain tax credits under Grow New Jersey Assistan
Concerns unemployment compensation and labor disputes.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to establish income-driven repayment option and loan rehabilitation program for borrowers under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.
Enhances resident voting participation rights in common interest communities.
Extends senior freeze benefits to certain disabled persons.
Establishes special license plate for family members of fallen police officers and firefighters.
Allows certain joint insurance funds to make certain investments and to form certain investment programs; authorizes school districts and local units of government to deposit public funds into multiple FDIC-insured accounts.*
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding for FY 2017 to include new projects and revise allowable loan amounts for already approved projects.
Requires DMVA to notify county veterans' affairs office of death of certain military service members; requires office to have Gold Star liaison.
Requires Adjutant General to create informational webpage for Gold Star families.
Establishes pre-loan counseling requirements and borrower right of rescission for reverse mortgage loans.
Clarifies prohibition on preexisting condition exclusions in health insurance policies.
Commits $3 million from Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skill to NJ Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.
In committee · 74
Clarifies application of business personal property tax on local exchange telephone companies that were subject to tax as of April 1, 1997.
Requires retirement subdivision and retirement community to install electrical generator to provide electricity to common use area to be used as shelter in case of emergency.
Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly.
Provides credits under corporation business tax and gross income tax for qualified wages of certain disabled veterans.
Establishes "New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission."
Requires New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority to annually prepare report on debt held by public institutions of higher education.
"New Jersey Sexual Assault Violence in Education Act"; requires institutions of higher education to adopt anti-sexual assault theater program, report allegations of sexual assault to county prosecutor, and provide students with information on sexual assau
Eliminates eligibility time limit on tuition benefits for spouses of certain public safety workers killed in performance of their duties.
Establishes pilot project to permit voters in military service on active duty overseas, and their eligible family members, to vote in certain elections using the Internet; makes appropriation.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Establishes Prescription Drug Review Commission; requires production costs be reported for certain prescription drugs.
Establishes a gross income tax credit for certain firefighter training graduates.
Provides tuition benefits at public institutions of higher education for dependents of certain veterans.
Requires four-year public institutions of higher education to have one veteran coordinator for every 200 veteran students; requires veteran coordinator to work with DMVA to ensure veterans have access to all available services.
Creates Task Force on Distracted Driving.
Establishes the "New Jersey Safe and Responsible Driver Act."
Imposes time constraints on submission and analysis of rape kits.
Establishes Medicaid demonstration project to cover room and board services for certain terminally ill patients in the home or other non-institutional setting.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish common course numbering system for public institutions of higher education.
Allows military member to qualify for resident tuition rate at county college.
Requires Adjutant General to consider need for inpatient hospice care for admission to veterans' facilities; permits waiver of State residency requirement.
Requires institution of higher education to annually report total number of sexual assault and domestic violence allegations made by or against student to Attorney General and Secretary of Higher Education.
Requires all new State buildings to have solar or geothermal energy systems, where feasible.
Allows law enforcement agencies to utilize electronic signatures on police reports; requires Attorney General to adopt uniform guidelines.
Requires notification of local law enforcement prior to expungement of certain mental health records of prospective firearms purchasers.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide students with access to mental health care programs and services and to establish a hotline to provide information concerning the availability of those services.
"Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act"; requires institutions of higher education to post information on student suicides and attempted suicides on website.
Prohibits use of light frame construction in certain municipalities; establishes fire safety protocols for light frame construction projects.
Establishes renewable energy portfolio standards.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
Requires county colleges to develop plan to achieve three-year graduation rate of at least 33 percent for full-time degree-program students by 2019-2020 academic year.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to study prevalence, cost, and quality of certain on-line courses compared to traditional classroom courses offered by institutions of higher education.
Requires Commissioner of Transportation to publish notice of certain transportation-related infrastructure projects and activities on Internet website, and directs State Comptroller to monitor publication of those notifications.
Enhances consideration of fire safety issues during review of development applications.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability.
"Jade and Michael's Law"; establishes additional protections and enforcement related to child abduction by a parent.
Provides additional State aid to county colleges for students enrolled in certain postsecondary career and technical education certificate programs.
Adds two student representatives to board of governors of Rutgers University.
Requires each county to establish and maintain veterans' service office.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Requires institutions of higher education to adopt affirmative consent standard and other policies regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Requires State Auditor to report on finances of public institutions of higher education.
Concerns the delivery and oversight of coverage under certain health benefits plans; establishes Health Care Patient Ombudsperson in the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Requires certain health benefits plans to provide treatment for behavioral health care services when determined medically necessary.
Requires public institutions of higher education to submit proposed tuition and fees for upcoming academic year to Secretary of Higher Education for review.
Authorizes public institution of higher education to establish in-municipality tuition rate for students who graduate from public high schools located in the same municipality as the institution.
Concerns reviews of State's economic development incentives.
Requires high school students to be assessed using college placement cut scores to determine readiness for college-level course work, and Commissioner of Education to develop plan to improve college and career counseling for students.
Requires independent colleges report certain consumer information on their websites; requires information on remedial instruction to be provided by certain colleges; directs how remedial education is delivered at four-year public and independent colleges.
Prohibits four-year public and independent institutions of higher education from requiring students to purchase meal plans and permits the institutions to only offer meal plans in the form of a spending allowance.
Requires institutions of higher education to develop open textbooks available to students at no charge and requires buyback of used textbooks at 50 percent of purchase price.
Prohibits four-year public and independent institutions of higher education from increasing New Jersey resident undergraduate tuition and fees for nine continuous semesters following student's initial enrollment.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to revoke proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if school fails to achieve certain minimum graduation rates.
Requires closure of a four-year public institution of higher education that fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish a communication and incentive plan to encourage re-enrollment in college; requires Statewide reverse transfer agreement.
Requires tuition bills of public institutions of higher education to include details on student fees and opt-out provision for student-managed entertainment fees, and requires certain institutions' websites to include student fee information.
Increases campus security by allowing institutions of higher education to offer partial tuition credit to police officers enrolled at the institution who agree to be on duty while attending classes.
Allows gross income tax deduction for certain student loan interest.
Requires State Board of Education high school graduation requirements include instruction on tuition assistance programs and student loan debt; requires high school students to meet with guidance counselor to discuss tuition assistance and dual enrollment
Requires institutions of higher education to send out annual student debt letters; requires students enrolled in public institutions of higher education to complete course on student loan debt repayment.
Establishes "Einstein Scholars Program."
Revises and renames NJSTARS; repeals NJSTARS II; establishes NJ HonorScholars Program.
Requires public institutions of higher education to grant academic credit to certain veterans.
Requires fire suppression systems in new single and two family homes.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $122,200,000 from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE to provide additional State school aid to school districts with equalized school tax rate greater than specified threshold.
Establishes reasonableness standard for persons lawfully transporting firearm who deviate from course of travel.
Establishes program to provide free tuition under State Tuition Aid Grant Program to certain students who are accepted to public four-year institutions of higher education and elect to attend county college for first two years.
Limits time continuing care retirement communities may retain refundable entrance fee after resident vacates facility to no more than one year.
Provides gross income tax credits for certain taxpayers who donate organs.
Provides gross income tax credits for certain taxpayers who provide blood donations.
Requires Internet service providers to keep confidential subscriber's personally identifiable information unless subscriber authorizes Internet service provider in writing to disclose information.
Permits certain firefighter training courses to be taken online.
Establishes compensation program for certain county corrections officers injured while performing official duties.
Expands Medicare health care coverage to all New Jersey residents.