Bills in the 2002–2003 Session, Senate.
Joseph F. Vitale
Sponsored
Became law8
Uses New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority reserves to fund hospital charity care.
Provides for instruction for elementary, middle, and high school students in the dynamics of domestic violence and child abuse.*
Exempts from the sales and use tax sales made at concession stands located in State-owned veterans' homes.
Establishes New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing. *
Establishes Advisory Committee on Alternatively Accredited Medical School Clinical Clerkships and provides for clinical clerkships for students from foreign medical schools. *
Requires medical malpractice insurers to provide certain information to DOBI concerning physicians, podiatrists and nurses they insure.
Increases membership of Drug Utilization Review Board to include two advanced practice nurses.
Requires DYFS to provide unified child care agencies evaluating homes of prospective approved home providers with results of child abuse record information checks.
Passed the Senate7
Proposes series of amendments to statutes governing SCI.
Authorizes counties, with voter approval, to impose special levy to fund water resources preservation and restoration projects.
Permits certain emergency management volunteers to display blue emergency warning lights on vehicles. *
Clarifies county responsibility for costs related to county prosecutor.
Limits school bus idle time to five minutes with certain exceptions.
"Statewide Immunization Registry Act."
"Patient Safety Act"; establishes medical error reporting system and provides "Good Samaritan" protections to certain health care professionals.
Out of committee24
Prohibits firearm possession by persons convicted of domestic violence crime or domestic violence disorderly persons offense, convicted of stalking, or subject to domestic violence restraining order. *
Prohibits smoking on school buses, even if students are not present.
Designates prison telephone revenues for VCCB claims.
Reduces blood alcohol level at which a person is considered to be guilty of drunk driving from 0.10% to 0.08%.
Requires that home care services providers give advance information to patients about their employees' training.
Permits charter schools to construct facilities with federal funds.
Restores Department of the Public Advocate as principal department in Executive Branch.*
Provides credit under gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Increases additional penalty assessment for drunk driving; dedicates revenue to VCCB.
Requires hepatitis B vaccinations for high school students and new full-time students at institutions of higher education. **
Provides certain reemployed PFRS retirees with choice concerning PFRS membership.
Provides that marriage license applications and marriage licenses shall not contain information on race.
Requires meningococcal vaccinations for new residential students at four-year institutions of higher education. *
Allows release of AOC records concerning domestic violence to surrogate in adoption proceedings. *
Expands duties performed by advanced practice nurses.
Establishes Domestic Violence Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board in Department of Community Affairs.
Prohibits insurers from discriminating against insureds on the basis of domestic violence.
Establishes "Autism Medical Research and Treatment Fund." *
Revises law concerning Council on Developmental Disabilities to conform with federal law.
Increases membership of the State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey.
"New Jersey Medical Care Access and Responsibility and Patients First Act." *
Requires Medicaid coverage of HIV drug resistance testing.
Establishes "Commission to Examine Strategies for Strengthening Familial Bond Between Children and Incarcerated Parents."
Establishes the New Jersey Film Production Assistance Program.
In committee46
Requires hospitals and nursing homes to compile and provide certain staffing and patient care information to the public.
Directs DHSS to adopt regulations establishing certain minimum nursing staff ratios for general hospitals and nursing facilities and sets limits on medical residents' hours.
Establishes the State Commission of Investigation as a permanent agency.
Allows gross income tax deduction for 50% of contributions of $100 or more to domestic violence shelters.
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility Act."
Makes clauses waiving right to sue in nursing home admission agreements void and unenforceable.
Appropriates $2.3 million to Rutgers College of Nursing to expand facilities in New Brunswick.
Eliminates statute of limitations for kidnapping and increases statute of limitations for other serious crimes to 10 years.
"Nursing Student Incentive Loan and Loan Redemption Program Act"; appropriates $5 million.
Requires health insurers to cover Hepatitis B vaccination costs.
Requires surcharge for passenger restraint violation; establishes Child Safety Seat Distribution Program Fund.
Incorporates regional water resource management considerations within county master planning, site plan and subdivision approval.
Concerns certain ticket broker practices.
Supplemental appropriation of $2,400,000 to fund Carteret building municipal repair costs.
Prohibits member of BPU from acting as legislative agent for one year after leaving office.
Modifies the Charitable Immunity Act.
Amends and supplements fiscal year 2002 State appropriations act to eliminate certain restrictions on the New Jersey FamilyCare Health Coverage Program and makes additional appropriations available for the program.
Establishes special license plates for World War II veterans.
Appropriates $2.5 million to DEP for Proprietary House restoration.
Permits sale of motor fuels on the Internet.
Establishes "Zero Lift Pilot Program" in DHSS; appropriates $300,000.
Prohibits black bear hunting for five years; requires development of plan for bear population control; and appropriates $95,000.
Provides that TPAF and PERS veterans' retirement with 35 years of service shall be based on highest benefit year rather than last year of service.
Provides additional safety measures for users of ATMs.
Establishes minimum accidental death benefit PFRS pension.
Directs DHSS to prepare and disseminate informational materials about prescription drug programs for senior citizens and disabled persons.
Authorizes Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to reallocate pharmaceutical supplies among hospitals and nursing homes in public health emergency.
"Pharmacy Benefits Management Company Act."
Revises scope of practice of optometrists.
Establishes limits on resident's hours in hospitals.
Establishes "Governor's Advisory Council on Home and Community-Based Care."
Requires health insurers to cover well baby visits during the first two years of life.
Changes 2004 primary election date to first Tuesday in March.
Establishes Medication Management, Outreach and Support Programs in DHS; appropriates $8 million.
Reduces the maximum annual partnership information return filing fee to $150,000 for publicly traded partnerships.
Requires notification of rape care advocate under certain circumstances by law enforcement, prosecutors and medical providers.
Prohibits Internet and mail-order cigarette sales.
Establishes New Jersey Cardiac Services System.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Directs NJHMFA to transfer up to $25 million in unencumbered reserves to the State for housing and related purposes.
Expands membership and revises authority of Fish and Game Council.
Establishes Task Force on Child Welfare.
Defines routine foot care services under an insurance policy.
Permits physician assistants to prescribe controlled dangerous substances.
Requires insurers that provide prescription drug benefits and State Health Benefits Program to cover costs of prescription female contraceptives.
Revises laws limiting access to sterile syringes.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 21
Permits use of hands-free wireless phones in moving vehicles. *
"New Jersey Health Care Consumer Information Act." *
Imposes restrictions on future retail sales of handguns; mandates sales of personalized handguns when found available for retail sales purposes. *
Authorizes an increase in administrative penalties for prevailing wage violations.
Establishes lead-safe housing grant and loan program and registry plan; makes appropriations. *
Regulates certain entities as Health Care Service Firms. *
Terminates authority of counties to issue identification cards for purpose of purchasing alcoholic beverages. *
Appropriates $13,708,385 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," federal funds, and 1978 Green Acres bond fund, and appropriates or reappropriates certain other moneys, for "urban aid" and other local government open space acquistion and
Appropriates $11.105 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $56 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Permits municipalities to enact ordinance to hold DUI arrestees in protective custody. *
Requires DHSS to prepare booklet on MMR vaccine and availability of blood test to determine immunity prior to administration of second dose. *
Requires Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to use transported remains of victims of September 11, 2001 from World Trade Center in a memorial.
Permits human stem cell research in New Jersey.
Directs DYFS to fingerprint and photograph certain children under its supervision. *
Revises statutes regarding practice of physical therapy.
Requires installation of carbon monoxide detectors in single and two-family homes upon initial occupancy or change of occupancy.
Increases fine for parking in parking space restricted for handicapped persons.
Provides for the regulation of long-term care insurance.
Requires long-term care facilities to provide list of certain services related to care of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Requires certain long-term care facilities to provide training in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
Passed the Senate · 6
Authorizes municipalities to provide free day care services to children of volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members.
Permits local construction code official to inspect traveling carnival-amusement rides.
Requires removal of certain sites from contaminated site list within 90 days after completion of cleanup. *
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Establishes "New Jersey Task Force on Expanding Health Care Coverage."
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees. *
Out of committee · 24
Appropriates $27,242,400 in federal funds for bioterrorism preparedness.
Requires school districts to adopt harassment and bullying prevention policies. *
"New Jersey Home Ownership Security Act of 2002." *
Waives driver's license and motor vehicle registration fees for volunteer firefighters and volunteer members of first aid and rescue squads.
Permits local governments to restrict smoking in public places. *
Establishes Brownfields Redevelopment Grants Program; appropriates $150 million.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,500,000 to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Newark City's plane crash costs.
"Brain Injury Research Act."
Establishes "Police Officer, Firefighter and Public School Teacher Home-buyer Assistance Act."
Concerns public works contracts and project labor agreements with labor organizations. *
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to streamline food stamp application form.
Allows groups authorized to conduct bingo or raffles to use proceeds for capital improvements in certain instances.
Imposes penalties for violations of renewable energy standards by electricity providers.
Revises statutory mental health coverage requirements and requires all health insurers and SHBP to cover treatment for alcoholism and other substance-use disorders under same terms and conditions as for other diseases or illnesses. *
Makes various changes to tenant security deposit laws.
Requires parents to secure certain children in restraint system or booster seat when riding in limousines. *
Designated the "Clean Indoor Air Act."
Creates "Statewide Tuition Waiver Program" for certain students under care and custody of DYFS.
Authorizes municipalities to require conformity with traffic performance objectives as a condition of subdivision or site plan approval.
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses providing employment to qualified handicapped persons at sheltered workshops.
Increases criminal and civil penalties for certain animal cruelty offenses; and increases penalty for certain repeat offenders.
Concerns experience rating by certain dental service corporations.
"Danielle's Law"; requires certain staff working with persons with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury to call 911 emergency telephone service in life-threatening emergencies.
In committee · 65
Establishes lead-safe housing grant and loan program and registry plan; appropriates $2 million.
Provides individual cause of action for unfair practices in the settlement of insurance claims and makes unfair practices subject to consumer fraud law.
Authorizes and directs DEP to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle program in the State beginning in calendar year 2006.
Requires designated employees trained in the use of defibrillators to be available for high school athletic events; appropriates $1.2 million.
Directs DEP to acquire Oak Tree Pond tract in Middlesex County for new State park; and appropriates $6.8 million.
Allows adopted person access to his original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
Establishes "The Project Exile and Operation Ceasefire Enforcement Act of 2000" to strengthen prosecution of firearms crimes; appropriates $5 million.
Appropriates $25,000 to DMVA for women veterans' memorial at the NJ veterans' cemetery at Arneytown.
Eliminates automatic liens and removes financial liability for certain family members of patients in psychiatric facilities, developmental centers or receiving other residential functional service.
Establishes "New Jersey Anti-Hunger Initiative"; appropriates $500,000.
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Creates continuing education and nurse recruitment pilot program in DMVA and provides funding to existing nurse education program in DHS; appropriates $498,000.
Requires the Governor's annual budget recommendations to establish the State share of public school costs at 50 percent by dedicating growth in certain State revenues.
Concerns the purchase of apparel by public bodies.
Modifies definition of Abbott districts to include urban districts within DOE's district factor groupings A or B.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Prohibits imposition of death penalty on mentally retarded defendants.
The "New Jersey Academically Gifted and Talented Student Education Act"; appropriates $5 million.
Provides for public access to government records; protects certain government records from public disclosure; establishes Privacy Study Commission and appropriates $95,000 to commission.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $50,000 for an endowment to the Wynona Moore Lipman Ethnic Studies Center to be established at Kean University.
"Dignity in Home Care Act"; provides for increases in Medicaid reimbursements to home health agencies for direct care worker salaries; appropriates $10 million in State and $10 million in federal funds.
Provides for annual appropriation of certain State realty transfer fee revenues and General Fund monies for improvements to, and maintenance of, parks.
Removes prosecution of domestic violence-related criminal cases from jurisdiction of the municipal court; places these cases with the Superior Court.
Establishes additional criterion for BPU approval of certain regulatory petitions by local exchange telecommunication companies.
Requires that NJ FamilyCare Program cover pediatric medical day care services for all children covered by program.
Establishes ovarian cancer public awareness campaign in DHSS; appropriates $75,000.
"Nurse Retention Stipend Program Act"; appropriates $1 million.
Extends tax on litter-generating products; makes available recycling grants to counties and municipalities.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for hearing aids.
Imposes restrictions on future retail sales of handguns; mandates sales of personalized handguns when found available for retail sales purposes.
Abolishes Health Service Corporation Conversion Temporary Advisory Commission.
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Directs DEP to conduct feasibility study of assessing air pollution sources in and around certain airports and military bases.
Establishes special license plates for veterans of the Korean conflict.
Requires child support to continue past the age of majority if the child has a mental or physical disability which causes the child to be financially dependent on a parent.
The "Home Loan Protection Act."
Increases annual funding of Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund.
Permits local governments to restrict smoking in public places.
Expands the Tuition Aid Grant program to part-time undergraduates.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Permits medical malpractice liability insurance purchasing alliances among physicians.
Prohibits penalizing pharmacist for dispensing fraudulent prescription approved by Medicaid, PAAD or Senior Gold.
Prohibits marine transfer stations and intermodal container facilities from accepting solid waste that is not containerized.
Requires fee-for-service prescription drug benefits for SSI recipients under Medicaid.
Revises statutes regarding physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.
Revises health wellness insurance benefits.
Requires Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to use transported remains of victims of September 11, 2001 from World Trade Center in a memorial.
Establishes "Pledge for Life and Health" program for elementary school students.
Exempts certain investment clubs from partnership filing fee and payment requirements.
Requires carbon monoxide detectors in single- and two-family dwelling units.
Allows adopted person access to his original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
Provides penalties for leaving individual with disability unattended in a motor vehicle.
Prohibits writing of online prescriptions for persons who have not been examined by prescriber.
Requires Director of DYFS to provide employees with access to motor vehicles, cellular telephones and computers.
Restricts political contributions by certain entities doing business with State and units of local government.
Designated the "Clean Indoor Air Act."
Protects law enforcement officers' addresses from being released by governmental entities.
Regulates long-term care insurance.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $135,000 for FY2004 to the Department of Education to restore funding to FY2003 level for the Commission on Italian American Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs.
Requires employer notifications to workers regarding temporary disability benefits.
Establishes ten-member "New Jersey Clean Elections and Campaign Finance Study Commission."
Requires DHSS to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures for physicians and facilities concerning women with bleeding disorders.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Appropriates $25,000,000 to restore funding to statutory level for Homestead Property Tax Reimbursement program.
Revises current laws concerning ethics in State, county and municipal governments; requires greater disclosure by legislative agents and lobbyists; limits certain campaign contributions; prohibits nepotism; requires ethics training for legislators.