Bills in the 2018–2019 Session, General Assembly.
Craig J. Coughlin
Sponsored
Became law10
Raises, over time, hourly minimum wage to $15.00.
Automatically registers to vote and updates voter registration for eligible person when applying for motor vehicle driver's license, or non-driver identification card.*
Enhances enforcement and oversight of mental health condition and substance use disorder parity laws.**
"Out-of-network Consumer Protection, Transparency, Cost Containment and Accountability Act."
Establishes "Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Bond Financing Act," authorizing issuance of bonds secured by pledge of Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant proceeds, municipal liens, and special assessment; expands "Redevelopment Area Bond Financ
"Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act."
Requires NJ Historical Commission to establish program for commemorations and observances of 250th anniversary of United States; permits commission to enter into public-private partnership agreement in preparation of anniversary; appropriates $500,000.
Clarifies intent of existing statutory law in regard to nomination process for those seeking federal offices.
Establishes Gateway Development Commission with certain powers and responsibilities.
Concerns responsibility of contractors for wage claims against subcontractors.*
Passed the General Assembly2
Allows consumption of food on limited brewery premises.
Exempts cable television subscriber from notifying cable television company, Office of Cable Television, or other complaint officer of cable television service outage to receive credit or rebate.
Out of committee13
Modifies school funding law to eliminate adjustment aid and State aid growth limit; allows adjustment to tax levy growth limitation for certain school districts.
Allows certain State agencies to sell Internet advertisements on agencies' websites as pilot program.
Permits municipalities to hold certain inactive liquor licenses reserved for smart growth developments for an additional five years.
Requires creditor to provide mortgage payoff balance on home loan within five business days after notification of request.
Allows State-owned, municipally-managed Blue Acres lands to be used for freshwater wetlands mitigation projects.
Permits candidates for school board to circulate petitions jointly and be bracketed together on ballot; permits short nonpolitical designation of principles on petitions and ballots.
Prohibits application of fiduciary standard to insurance producers; specifies qualifications of persons providing affidavit of merit in lawsuits against insurance producers.
Increases annual salary of Governor's cabinet officers, judges, county prosecutors, and certain other public employees.
Increases financial resources provided through Medicaid program for certain hospitals; Establishes County Option Hospital Fee Pilot Program.
Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to create list of labor organizations that represent workers on public work projects.
Revises certain procedures for real estate foreclosure sales; alters adjournment of sale process.*
Establishes Gateway Development Commission.
Requires State to pay difference between federal allocation and total cost of reduced price breakfast or lunch; appropriates $4.5 million.
In committee23
Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain investment in manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation, modernization and expansion.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability.
Provides for transfer and sale of inactive liquor licenses for use in qualifying smart growth municipalities.
Authorizes development and operation of computer system which would allow electronic access to outstanding arrest warrant information.
Provides corporation business tax credit for certain investment in manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation, modernization, and expansion, or hiring and training of new employees for manufacturing purposes.
Establishes electronic lien and titling system for New Jersey motor vehicles.
Authorizes restricted breweries to annually sell up to 1,000 barrels of beer to in-State and out-of-state retailers.
Authorizes municipality to provide for imposition and collection of special assessment to secure developer's recovery of cost of certain improvements in connection with redevelopment project.
Creates integrated State medical examiner system by increasing authority of State Medical Examiner regarding forensic investigations, establishing regional medical examiner offices, and eliminating county medical examiner system.
Revises law concerning foreign country money-judgment recognition.
Provides procedure to cancel mortgage of record by affidavit of entitled person under certain circumstances.
Revises application deadline for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Permits water and sewerage service sub-metering in multi-family dwellings.
Excludes donations up to $15,000 when determining income eligibility for applicants to the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund program.
Requires MVC to allow submission of vehicle identification number to "Next-of-Kin Registry."
Regulates pharmacy benefits managers as organized delivery systems and limits use of prior authorization.
Concerns prescribing of certain controlled dangerous substances; requires practitioners to check prescription monitoring information before issuing certain prescriptions to emergency department patients; authorizes medical scribes and athletic trainers to
Provides for uniform testing and reporting of drug overdose deaths and consolidated service purchasing by medical examiners, and expands list of places where State Medical Examiner may be authorized to use lab facilities.
Modifies procedures for student enrollment in charter school to require use of lottery selection process; requires charter school admission policy to seek enrollment of student demographics of charter school district of residence.
Makes changes to funding provisions for financial assistance and grants from Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund.
Requires Director of Division of Taxation to establish State tax amnesty period that begins June 1, 2018 and ends August 1, 2018.
Reinstates prior property tax exemption for nonprofit hospitals with on-site for-profit medical providers; requires some of these hospitals to pay community service contributions; establishes Nonprofit Hospital Community Service Contribution Study Commiss
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
Filed2
Increases rate of realty transfer fee and related tax, from 1 percent to 2 percent, imposed on purchasers that acquire certain property for over $1 million.
Amends and supplements various appropriations and language provisions in Fiscal Year 2019 annual State appropriations act.
Carried from the Senate
Became law9
Modifies school funding law to eliminate adjustment aid and State aid growth limit; allows adjustment to tax levy growth limitation for certain school districts.
Permits candidates for school board to circulate petitions jointly and be bracketed together on ballot; permits short nonpolitical designation of principles on petitions and ballots.
Requires public school districts to provide instruction on "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act" as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
Increases annual salary of Governor's cabinet officers, judges, county prosecutors, and certain other public employees.*
Increases financial resources provided through Medicaid program for certain hospitals; Establishes County Option Hospital Fee Pilot Program.
Amends and supplements various appropriations and language provisions in Fiscal Year 2019 annual State appropriations act.
Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to create list of labor organizations that represent workers on public work projects.
Revises certain procedures for real estate foreclosure sales; alters adjournment of sale process.
Requires State to pay difference between federal allocation and total cost of reduced price breakfast or lunch; appropriates $4.5 million.
Vetoed1
Prohibits application of fiduciary standard to insurance producers; specifies qualifications of persons providing affidavit of merit in lawsuits against insurance producers. *
Co-sponsored
Became law · 18
Restricts use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities.
Allows for cancellation of certain service contracts without paying early termination fee if customer becomes deceased prior to end of service contract.
Revises law governing Class Three special law enforcement officer.*
Provides job security to certain organ and bone marrow donors.
Requires municipality to pay certain nonresidential property tax appeal refunds in equal installments over period of three years. *
"Healthy Small Food Retailer Act." *
Requires Legislature to adopt and distribute policy prohibiting sexual harassment; requires members, officers, and employees of Legislature to complete online training on policy once every two years.
Requires Director of the Division of Taxation to establish 90-day State tax amnesty period that ends no later than January 15, 2019.**
Re-establishes former NJ Commission on Science and Technology as NJ Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology.
"New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program Act"; establishes retirement savings program for certain workers; establishes standard contribution level of 3 percent.*
Requires DHS to establish electronic portal to promote surplus food donation collaboration among nonprofit organizations, gleaners, and food retailers.
"Hunger-Free Campus Act"; requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish grant program to address food insecurity among students enrolled in public institutions of higher education; appropriates $1 million.
Requires Chief Technology Officer to establish "Anti-Hunger Link" for all State websites, providing information on emergency food services.
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.
Permits self-administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinate by students for adrenal insufficiency and requires that school districts and nonpublic schools establish policy for emergency administration of medication.
Vetoed · 1
Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families; qualifies families to receive additional nutritional assistance.
Passed the General Assembly · 11
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.
Establishes certain requirements for domestic violence training for certain judges and judicial personnel.
Requires DCA to make information on homeless prevention programs and services available on its Internet website.
Requires dealership to notify buyers of recalls on used motor vehicles for sale.
Establishes offense of criminal mischief committed on historical sites.
Provides for special Bronze Star license plates.
Requires State parks, forests, and other natural and historic areas to remain open to public for seven days if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.
Establishes notification standards for certain service contracts with automatic renewal.
"New Voter Empowerment Act"; permits 17 year olds to vote in primary election if they turn 18 years old before next succeeding general election.
Suspends fines for certain first-time paperwork violations committed by small businesses.
"Food Desert Elimination Act"; provides incentives to supermarkets and grocery stores that locate in "food deserts."
Out of committee · 25
"Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act."
Prohibits awarding of economic development subsidy to business if payment of principal and interest on previously awarded loan or loan guarantee is greater than 24 months overdue.
Provides for appointment to board of directors of New Jersey Automobile Insurance Risk Exchange by Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.
Establishes task force to study issues related to the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
Bars persons under age 18 from marrying or entering into a civil union.
Limits forum of consumer contract disputes to New Jersey.
Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles; establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.
Provides governance, oversight, and accountability reforms at NJT.
Permits public-private partnership agreements for certain building and highway infrastructure projects; provides for EDA oversight.
Allows electric energy produced from biofuel to be eligible as Class II renewable energy.
Requires public school districts to provide instruction on "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act" as part of core curriculum content standards.
Requires depository institutions to provide paper account statements to elder adults.
Requires DCA to establish procedures for inspection and abatement of mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities, and certification programs for mold inspectors and mold hazard abatement workers.
Expands the Address Confidentiality Program to include victims of sexual assault and stalking; and reproductive health service patients and providers.*
Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Allows termination of motor vehicle lease in event of death; prohibits imposition of fee for early termination.
Limits certain payments for unused sick leave earned after effective date by public officers or employees; limits vacation leave carry-forward and requires suspension and forfeiture of certain supplemental compensation. *
Requires Division of Parole to offer parole services to certain defendants who have served their maximum sentence.
Provides for priority consideration, by DCA, DEP, DOT, and municipalities, of permit applications for green building projects.
Exempts certain health information contained in 9-1-1 calls from definition of government record.
Establishes a partial return to work TDI program.
Makes FY 2018 supplemental appropriation of $7,453,000 to DOH for family planning services.
Requires acceptance of universal dentist application for participation form by dental plan carriers.
Establishes Main Street Economic Growth Program to encourage business development in small, highly developed municipalities.
Permits recovery of uncompensated medical expenses in civil action for damages arising from automobile accident.
In committee · 88
Provides tax credit under corporation business tax and gross income tax for certain costs incurred in purchase and installation of certain environmentally responsible business equipment.
Establishes reward program in DOE for districts with high academic performance and low per pupil expenditures.
Requires Division of Rate Counsel to evaluate NJT fare increases and determine whether increases are necessary and fair to NJT customers.
Authorizes county colleges to establish and operate student dormitories.
"Transparency in Government Act"; provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Requires distribution of homestead benefits on or before October 31 of the State fiscal year during which an appropriation is made.
Creates white collar crime registry.
Requires restaurants to post DOH sign concerning food allergen awareness in kitchen or staff area.
"Garden State Manufacturing Jobs Act."
Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families.
Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms.
Adds to property tax levy cap exclusions increases in flood insurance premiums.
Creates exclusion from municipal property tax levy cap for amounts necessary to provide required matching funds to qualify for grants and other funds.
Requires school districts to take all steps to ensure adequate security for students when school is open as a polling place and provides that school district costs shall be deducted from the itemized list of expenses submitted by the county board of elect
Revises law concerning alarm business licensees.
Revises law concerning ticket sales.
Requires certain civil actions against certain licensed persons to be brought within two years.
Provides additional State school aid to county vocational school districts in which enrollment increases by more than 10%.
Provides State aid for certain adult education programs.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
Imposes temporary surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain cities to fund public safety services.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Provides one-third of motor vehicle fine moneys generated through State Police issued tickets go to municipality where violation occurred.
Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests.
Clarifies "knockout game" assault as third-degree aggravated assault; permits juvenile offender 14 years of age or older committing such assault to be tried as adult offender.
Establishes annual sales tax holiday for certain sales of personal computers and certain sales of school supplies and equipment during first full weekend of August.
Extends warranty for partial zero emission vehicles.
Provides that PFRS definitions of widow, widower and spouse will include domestic partners of all PFRS members.
Modifies various aspects of charter school program including student enrollment procedures, revocation of charter, monitoring of charter schools, and collaboration between school districts and charter schools.
Exempts from disclosure as public record information provided by individual to government agency under certain circumstances.
Establishes procedures for the approval of the closure of a public school.
Permits candidates for school board to circulate petitions jointly and be bracketed together on ballot; permits short nonpolitical designation of principles on petitions and ballots.
Requires health insurers to cover Lyme disease.
Excludes amount of certain early withdrawals from qualified retirement plans in determination by Higher Education Student Assistance Authority of applicant's eligibility for and amount of State tuition aid grant.
"Consumer Access to Health Care Act"; eliminates requirement of joint protocol with physician for advanced practice nurses to prescribe medication.
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
Requires each school district to offer a summer payment plan for school district employees.
Includes e-mail addresses in list of confidential items to be redacted from public records under OPRA.
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 public utility requesting rate increase to hold public hearings in every county.
Transfers probation employees from Judiciary to State Parole Board.
Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
Upgrades domestic violence-related assault under certain circumstances.
Excludes paraffin used in manufacture of candles from petroleum products gross receipts tax.
Authorizes attorney-at-law who validates an affidavit, acknowledgment, proof, oath, or affirmation to affix a seal indicating that he is an attorney-at-law.
Revises "Fair Foreclosure Act."
Requires Attorney General to establish victims of identity theft database.
Expands Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Programs to include assistance for water utility bill.
Clarifies procedures for restoration of driver's license after suspension; authorizes the court to waive imprisonment under certain circumstances.
Requires safeguards for anonymity and confidentiality with respect to communications presented through phone lines, electronic communication systems, or websites dedicated to accepting anonymous tips for use by law enforcement in criminal investigations.
Authorizes State and local law enforcement entities to contract for bulk purchasing of heroin antidote.
Provides gross income tax credit for certain contributions to New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) program.
Provides supplemental appropriation of $2,700,000 to DCA for Neighborhood Preservation Program.
Clarifies that certain types of sewage and sewage sludge do not constitute hazardous substances under "Spill Compensation and Control Act."
Requires Attorney General to establish Statewide gun buyback program.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Increases personal needs allowance to at least $50 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities.
Provides loan redemption for certain physicians who work in State 10 years.
Requires DEP to submit annual financial report on status of certain fund balances.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Revises definition of "necessary care" in the State's animal cruelty law to include more specific requirements.
Extends duration of urban enterprise zones for 10 additional years; specifies permissable use of funds.
Creates restricted distillery license; permits holder therof to operate restaurant on licensed premises in Garden State Growth Zone.
Requires State agencies to vacate certain property in Trenton; allows EDA to offer incentives to private entities to locate to that property.
Creates grant program for business accelerator and incubator networks; transfers $1 million in societal benefits charge revenues to EDA to administer program.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to defendant at sentencing.
Guarantees each municipality, at a minimum, Fiscal Year 2010 distribution of Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid in State Fiscal Year 2012.
Requires certain energy tax receipts to be paid directly to municipalities.
Revises homestead property tax reimbursement eligibility requirements for certain claimants relocating homesteads within the same municipality.
Allows tax credits for development of qualified wind energy facilities in certain portfield sites.
Upgrades assault on victims who are elderly or disabled.
Allows domestic violence victims to cancel television and telephone service contracts without paying early termination fee.
Establishes central registry of residents with special needs for use during emergencies.
Requires electronic health records systems to meet requirements to accept, process, and transmit prescriptions for Schedule II controlled dangerous substance.
Requires interior light of motor vehicle be turned on when stopped by law enforcement under certain circumstances.
Establishes "Art in Storefronts" initiative within the Main Street New Jersey program.
Directs Governor to withdraw from compact establishing Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor; dissolves compact and commission; transfers commission's NJ operations to State Police.
Concerns equal pay for women and employment discrimination.
Establishes "Veterans Affordable Housing Section 8 Voucher Pilot Program."
Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of a residence to a second degree crime under certain circumstances.
Requires DHS to give priority to temporary rental assistance over use of hotels or motels in emergency assistance to Work First New Jersey recipients.
Allows modernization for the form of disbursement for certain State government and local unit payments to individuals and business entities.
Makes FY 2016 supplemental Grants-in-Aid appropriation of $10.5 million to DCA for State Rental Assistance Program.
Establishes the "New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act."
Extends time municipalities have to commit fees and payments-in-lieu of constructing affordable units to six years.
Requires dealerships to notify buyers of recalls on used motor vehicles for sales; limits attorneys' fees in certain consumer actions.
Requires election by certain public employees of certain health care benefit plans; prohibits payments by public employers for waiver of such plans.