Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Joseph F. Vitale
Sponsored
Became law8
Prohibits sale of certain flavored cigarettes.
Extends the term of office for members of NJ Collaborating Center for Nursing board and dedicates portion of nurse licensing fee to support center. *
Permits smoking ban on grounds of State psychiatric hospitals other Human Services facilities if smoking cessation program offered. *
Expands NJ FamilyCare, establishes mandate for health care coverage of children, makes various reforms to individual and small employer insurance markets and certain dependent coverage; appropriates $1 million. **
Establishes Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. *
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. **
Requires chain restaurants to provide calorie information for food or beverage items offered for sale. *
Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for family planning services.
Passed the Senate5
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information. *
Clarifies intent of Legislature to protect certain senior tenants; aligns housing age restrictions with federal law.
Designates September 11 each year "September 11 Remembrance Day" in New Jersey.
Directs DOBI to conduct study on development of Statewide insurance pool for vehicles engaged in transportation of passengers for hire.
Makes technical corrections to individual health coverage and small employer health benefits programs and to NJ FamilyCare.
Out of committee19
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.
Exempts senior homeowners from municipal building permit fees.
"Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program Act." **
Increases membership of Advisory Graduate Medical Education Council of NJ from 14 to 15 members.
Makes it a crime of the third degree to practice psychology without a license and prohibits certain unlicensed employees of certain entities from using title of psychologist.
Requires licensing of genetic counselors.
Imposes moratorium on harvest and possession of horseshoe crabs.
Requires encrypted counterfeit-resistant revenue stamps for cigarettes sold in the State.
"Self-Directed Support Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Rights Act."
Requires health benefits coverage for certain therapies for the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. *
Requires health insurers and SHBP to provide certain mental health benefits for eating disorders under same terms and conditions as for other illnesses and diseases.
Caps bids municipalities may require for certain hotel liquor licenses.*
"Health Care Stabilization Fund Act"; creates fund in DHSS to provide grants to health care facilities to maintain access to essential health care services.
Requires practitioners to disclose business relationship with out-of-State facilities when making patient referrals to those facilities.
Concerns hospital asset transformation program.
Makes technical correction to definition of "creditable coverage" in individual, small employer and larger group insurance laws.
"New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act."
Clarifies provisions of "Law Against Discrimination" concerning persons with an autism spectrum disorder.
Permits adult with an autism spectrum disorder to voluntarily register with the State registry of reported diagnoses in children.
In committee59
Increases additional penalty assessment for drunk driving; dedicates revenue to VCCB.
Defines "mobile home park" as "multiple dwelling" for inspection purposes.
Creates an integrated State medical examiner system by increasing the authority of the State Medical Examiner regarding forensic investigations, establishing regional medical examiner offices, and eliminating the county medical examiner system.
Regulates expiration dates and dormancy fees for certain prepaid bank cards, such as mall gift cards.
Incorporates regional water resource management considerations within county master planning, site plan and subdivision approval.
Establishes "New Jersey False Health Claims Act."
Regulates teen nights by requiring security provided by police officers, prohibiting persons under age 15 from attending, and disqualifying registered sex offenders from employment.
Extends exemption from charitable immunity for certain civil actions to persons of any age who are beneficiaries of the nonprofit corporation.
Creates presumption regarding disability pension and workers compensation eligibility for public employees and emergency personnel participating in World Trade Center operations; requires Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to develop health regis
Requires newly licensed registered professional nurse to attain baccalaureate degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure.
Extends, by three years, the collection of annual surcharges for the Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance Premium Assistance Fund.
Requires policy on use of alternative dispute resolution for State agencies; expands duties of Dispute Settlement Office of Department of Public Advocate.
Supplemental appropriation of $2 million for grants to certain nursing schools to address shortage of nursing faculty.
Permits water and sewerage service sub-metering in multi-family dwellings.
Establishes procedures for operation of air ambulance services.
Permits limited pharmacy sales of syringes and needles without a prescription.
Requires DHSS to apply for federal Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid waiver for certain early intervention services.
Requires certain off-track wagering licensees or assignees to pay 4% of net wagering revenues to host municipality.
Concerns contributions to special funds made through the gross income tax return.
Requires DHSS to make list of drugs with "black box" warnings accessible through its website.
Eliminates statute of limitations for kidnapping and increases statute of limitations for other serious crimes to 10 years.
Requires notification of rape care advocate under certain circumstances by law enforcement, prosecutors and medical providers.
Requires party bidding on, or performing, a State contract to provide employee health care benefits.
Allows gross income tax deduction for 50% of contributions of $100 or more to domestic violence shelters.
Allows disabled veteran's surviving spouse to claim property tax exemption when veteran's disability declaration is granted after death.
Requires "just compensation" for condemnation of single-family residence to be based on cost of comparable relocation properties within 20 mile radius.
Concerns eligibility for Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief fund assistance when more than one child in family has catastrophic illness.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Establishes health care quality improvement fund grant program funded from tax rate increase on small cigars.
Provides for commencement of short term tax exemptions and abatements as of date of completion of project.
Provides immunity from liability for persons who install or inspect child restraint systems.
Establishes Medication Management, Outreach and Support Program in DHS; appropriates $8 million.
"Community Health Service Pilot Initiative Act."
"Group Home Fire Safety Act."
Clarifies deadline to request absentee ballot application.
Requires all State firefighter training to be accredited.
Provides premium assistance to certain small employers who purchase health benefits plans; appropriates $10 million.
Directs certain recoveries of federal funds for services to persons with developmental disabilities be used for grants to support community infrastructure purposes.
Requires certification and establishes registry in DHS of community agency employees working with persons with developmental disabilities.
Establishes Office of the Advocate for Persons with Autism in Department of the Public Advocate.
Requires DHSS to establish "New Jersey Autism Website."
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to create identification card for use by persons with autism.
Extends Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance Premium Assistance Fund and collection of annual surcharges for 5 years.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
"Cardiac Service Access Protection Act"; requires hospitals to serve share of low-income persons as condition of certificate of need for certain cardiac services.
Prohibits substitution of prescribed epilepsy drugs by pharmacists without prior notification to and written consent of physician and patient.
Makes reforms to "Health Care Quality Act;" requires audits of provider networks.
Permits municipalities to recover certain costs and fees from alcoholic beverage licensees charged with violations.
Expands the means to obtain a protective order for a minor.
Permits person with developmental disability and legal guardian to audio record sessions of interdisciplinary team in which person or guardian participates.
Provides a plan to rebalance State resources to provide community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities.
Establishes decal system in place of special license plates.
Establishes decal system in place of special license plates.
Requires public utilities to set bill due date to no earlier than 20 days past postmarked date if mailed by regular mail, or 20 days past sent date if sent electronically.
Permits county, county college, or municipality to offer additional retirement benefits to certain employees; permits issuance of refunding bonds to fund benefits.
Concerns dispensation by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to a patient of drugs delivered to the eye through a contact lens.
"New Jersey Broadband and Electronic Health Information Network Authority Act."
Extends COBRA benefits to employees of workplaces that cease to exist.
Provides that the school district of residence for a child in a foster home shall be the present district of residence of the parent or guardian.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 12
Provides for gubernatorial appointment without requiring advice and consent of Senate for teenage members of Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
"New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act." *
"New Jersey Hero Act"; concerns organ and tissue donation.**
Authorizes municipalities operating under State fiscal year to revert to calendar fiscal year.
Allows UEZ municipalities to include certain homeland security expenses as eligible for funding from enterprise zone assistance fund.
Establishes New Jersey Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Task Force.
Requires training for all trustees of general hospitals.
Authorizes enhanced DHSS monitoring of hospital financial performance and intervention in management of identified distressed hospitals.
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Permits conversion of age-restricted housing units to non-age-restricted housing units and modifies laws concerning affordable housing. *
Makes emergency medical technician certification valid for five years.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Passed the Senate · 2
Upgrades penalties for drag racing.
Directs Medicaid to establish medical home demonstration project.
Out of committee · 26
Makes FY 2009 supplemental appropriations totaling $22,500,000 to provide food, energy and legal aid assistance to individuals and families under the "New Jersey Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan."
Provides for automatic enrollment in PAAD and Senior Gold programs under certain circumstances.
Exempts from realty transfer fees, sales of homes of certain New Jersey members of the military.
Removes appropriations for municipal library purposes from the four percent municipal property tax levy cap.
Provides for county welfare agency monitoring of welfare emergency assistance motel placements, annual inspection of hotels used for emergency assistance recipients and notice of mobile health van services.
Establishes New Jersey Task Force on Coordinating and Funding Programs for the Homeless.
"Janet's Law"; requires public and nonpublic schools, recreational fields and youth camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events, and public school to train pupils in use thereof and in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. *
Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits.
Permits use of overseas absentee ballots for all elections; authorizes transmission of ballots by electronic means.
Prohibits sending unsolicited advertising by text messaging, and requires companies offering text messaging services to allow their customers to block all incoming and outgoing text messages.
Provides veterans' organizations right to receive unclaimed veterans' cremains after one year. *
Requires each general hospital and State psychiatric hospital to annually conduct public meeting for community it serves. *
Prohibits hospitals from charging certain uninsured persons more than 15% greater than applicable Medicare rate.
Denies public access to extinguished psychiatric liens.
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. **
"Ricci's Law;" revises ignition interlock device requirements for certain drunk driving offenses. *
Permits payments in subsidized adoption until child becomes 21 years of age under certain circumstances.
Makes revisions to personal assistance services program in DHS.
Permits counties to create County Homelessness Trust Funds.
"Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act."
Requires confirmation of financial assistance for eligible homeowners voluntarily closing or replacing petroleum underground storage tanks, and expands eligibility for financial assistance. *
Imposes temporary fee on plaintiffs at certain residential mortgage foreclosure sales to provide funding for Legal Services of New Jersey. *
Revises approval process for rate changes applicable to medical malpractice liability insurance.
Provides "Patriots Corner" tribute in State House to New Jersey residents serving in US Armed Forces, reserve components and New Jersey National Guard.
Requires health care service firms to file annual cost report with DHS as condition of Medicaid reimbursement. *
Prohibits use of electronic smoking devices in indoor public places and sale to minors. *
In committee · 44
Mandates testing for lead toxicity as condition for certain school, nursery school, or child care attendance.
Provides in-network benefits to patient with disability for services provided by out-of-network provider under certain circumstance.
Requires dissemination of organ and tissue donation by State Treasurer, Personnel Commissioner, State contractors, and preparers of advanced health care directives; designates April of each year as Donate Life Month.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for hearing aids.
Establishes the "New Jersey False Claims Act."
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability.
Prohibits use of education and occupation as rating factors in automobile insurance underwriting.
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."
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Provides for the election of school board members at November general election and eliminates vote on school budgets except for separate proposals to spend above cap which will also occur at general election.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Prohibits motor fuel wholesaler from increasing price more than once in 24-hour period.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.
Repeals cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
Requires mandatory sexual violence training for law enforcement, judicial and prosecutorial personnel.
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Requires DMVA to send Servicemembers' Advisory Notice to members of National Guard called to active duty.
Confers civil service status on police officers employed by UMDNJ and Rutgers University.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Sets States mileage reimbursement rate at IRS rate for business use of automobile.
Requires cost analysis in certain cases when State department contracts out work.
Increases annual funding of Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund.
"Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
Requires county board of elections to notify voters about procedure for changing political party affiliation before any primary election; changes date for publication of notice.
Enters New Jersey in Nurse Multistate Licensure Compact.
Requires Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare and SHBP to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Requires State to contract with pharmaceutical companies to purchase influenza vaccine for high-risk persons and their care providers.
"New Jersey G.I. Bill"; provides higher education benefits to New Jersey veterans.
Establishes "Comprehensive Geriatric Fall Prevention Pilot Program"; appropriates $20.4 million.
Excludes certain federal employee Thrift Savings Fund contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Requires DHSS to make available on its website a New Jersey Report Card for Pediatric Emergency Room Services.
Authorizes special Gold Star Family license plates.
Revises conditions when posted price of motor fuel may be changed after a 24-hour period.
Requires MVC to offer driver's license knowledge test in Italian.
Provides State aid for adult high school education and adult postsecondary education programs.
Enhances PFRS accidental death pension benefit for survivors of member serving in nonsupervisory rank.
Requires insurers, Medicaid, and NJ FamilyCare to reimburse for childhood immunizations at levels specified by regulation.
Makes Housing Assistance and Recovery Program effective immediately.
Permits a student to participate in a voluntary survey if the district sends prior written notification to the student's parents.
Prohibits sale of electronic smoking devices to minors.