Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, General Assembly.
Joseph P. Cryan
Sponsored
Became law16
Regulates expiration dates and dormancy fees for gift certificates and cards. *
Requires DLPS to establish policy for State Police and local law enforcement in working with Safe Return Program to recover lost individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders. *
Establishes optional will registry.
Adds two members to Water Supply Advisory Council.
Concerns County Corrections Information System funding.
Authorizes $3 assessment on municipal court costs to upgrade Automated Traffic System.
Imposes "general purpose fee" on certain realty transfers and fee on purchase of residential property for over $1 million; generally clarifies realty transfer fee law.
Lowers the threshold for requiring that State taxpayers make State tax payments by electronic funds transfer.
Imposes 6% gross receipts tax on certain cosmetic medical procedures.
Appropriates $537,965 from the Jobs, Education and Competitiveness Fund to the Commission on Higher Education for Kean University.
Establishes an assessment funding mechanism for the support of Division of Banking and imposes certain additional fees and reports.
Provides for appointment of a BPU Business Ombudsman to assist businesses with energy issues. *
Concerns relationship between manufacturers and wholesalers of malt alcoholic beverages; authorizes certain alcoholic beverage trade practices. *
Decouples corporation business tax and gross income tax from federal deduction of certain qualified production activities income.
Converts special interim assessment on net written premiums of HMOs to annual assessment to support charity care.
Temporarily eliminates the suspension of builder contributions to the new home warranty security fund if moneys in the fund are used for non-fund purposes during fiscal year 2006.
Passed the General Assembly6
Authorizes a motion to dismiss in a cause of action (a "SLAPP" suit) arising from a defendant's valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech. *
Implements amendments to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.
Permits publication of legal notices by governments and individuals on official government website instead of newspaper.
Authorizes bars and restaurants to offer special discounts based on sex under certain circumstances. *
Revises school district budget cap adjustment for courtesy busing, makes permanent adjustment for insurance and domestic security, provides adjustment for utility costs and an appeal on administrative cost limits, and authorizes 3% surplus for 2006-2007
"Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act."
Out of committee17
Revises calculation of budget caps and reduces allowable surplus for public school districts.
Allows child support payor to petition court for accounting of recipient's disposition of child support funds under certain circumstances.
"New Jersey Identity Theft Prevention Act".
Establishes guidelines for proper discarding and disposal of certain business documents containing personal information and provides for civil liability.
Requires Office of Attorney General to provide annual gang education seminars for school administrators.
Directs Attorney General to include information on criminal street gang activities in annual "Uniform Crime Report."
Requires criminal background checks for employees of water providers.
Authorizes municipalities and fire districts to require physician's certificate as condition for service or continuing service by volunteer fire fighters.
"Patient Surgical Safety Act."
Requires disclosure of juvenile sex offenses in criminal background checks.
Establishes pilot program in DOC for removal of certain tattoos. *
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.
Requires the reporting of criminal offenses occurring on school property to law enforcement authorities.
Increases sheriffs' fees for executing arrest warrants in Special Civil Part.
Authorizes New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to establish the New Jersey Hall of Fame within the Meadowlands Complex. *
Converts special interim assessment on net written premiums of HMOs to annual assessment to support charity care.
Authorizes a multistate personal income tax refund set-off program.
In committee43
Authorizes a motion to dismiss in a cause of action arising from a defendant's valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for the redress of grievances.
Prohibits authorized agent of owner or operator of place of entertainment from selling tickets at certain prices.
Provides civil immunity under certain circumstances to individuals who speak out on public issues.
"New Jersey Water Supply Infrastructure Act."
Establishes disciplinary procedure for school board members when charged with certain crimes.
Authorizes county board of education to impose income tax surcharge upon county residents for purpose of reducing or offsetting county school property taxes.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Establishes training academy in DYFS.
Allows deduction from gross income for cash contributions to municipalities for open space and farmland preservation purposes.
Provides for awarding contract to one of three lowest bidders under "Local Public Contract Law."
Credits in Prosecutors Part at no cost prior regular PERS service of county first assistant prosecutors.
Permits certain motor vehicle offenders to apply for a restricted use license.
Provides for registration, certification and training of pharmacy technicians.
Establishes the Violence-Free Initiative Program in the Department of State.
Requires drug and alcohol testing of adult inmates within 72 hours prior to furlough, work release or similar programs under certain conditions.
Establishes lawn watering restrictions; authorizes DEP to adopt water conservation regulations and to reduce water supply application backlog; and requires installation of automatic rain sensor devices under certain circumstances.
Exempts fire department personnel and full-time police officers from jury duty.
Requires that certain information on school district expenditures and student achievement be printed on the ballot and sample ballot for the annual school election.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
Requires the Commissioner of Education to study the issue of school district consolidation and to develop a plan to eliminate local school districts and establish a county-based educational system.
Concerns arbitration of grievances of NJ Transit Corporation employees.
Requires criminal history record background checks on certain volunteer sports personnel.
Provides one year amnesty from penalties for environmental violations.
Waives ABC filing fee for retail consumption licensees that prohibit smoking.
The "Public School Employee Collective Bargaining Reform Act."
Concerns standards for the groundwater remediation of contaminated sites.
Authorizes creation of urban enterprise zone in Union Township, Union County.
Eliminates cap banking for public school districts.
Prohibits State Board of Education from authorizing use of special review assessment as an alternative for meeting graduation requirements.
Prohibits cellular telephone service providers from disclosing subscribers' cellular telephone numbers without consent.
Exempts sales of energy and utility service to manufacturing facilities from the sales and use tax and the transitional energy facility assessment (TEFA) unit rate surcharge.
Permits security alerts and freezes upon consumer credit reports.
Eliminates cosmetic dentistry from the cosmetic medical procedures gross receipts tax and subjects tattooing procedures to the tax.
Requires State budget to include funds for annual cost-of-living adjustment to certain contracted providers of services.
Limits punitive damages in certain cases involving two or more comparatively negligent defendants.
Permits municipalities to use auxiliary police in non-emergency situations.
Repeals certain requirements for certain prescription drug plans.
Requires newspapers publishing official advertising to publish views of certain candidates for office free of charge.
Prohibits free housing for cabinet members.
Ensures that the sales and use tax will not be imposed upon Internet access service.
Decreases certain public document copy fees to $0.10 per letter size page and $0.15 per legal size page.
Provides that Commissioner of Education may not approve an exemption for a separate budget question that includes funds associated with school district librarians and library services included in prior year budget.
Prohibits outside employment by presidents of State colleges.
Carried from the Senate
Became law3
Revises calculation of budget caps and reduces allowable surplus for public school districts.
Authorizes New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to establish the New Jersey Hall of Fame within the Meadowlands complex. *
Authorizes a multistate personal income tax refund set-off program.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Requires professional campaign fund raisers to register and file quarterly reports with ELEC.
Requires certain election committees and certain other persons to file report with ELEC within 48 hours of making certain expenditures in excess of $800 during certain periods.
Requires ELEC to conduct random audits of records kept by legislative agents.
Directs ELEC to collect $100 annual fee from legislative agents; dedicates moneys annually to ELEC. *
Prohibits legislative agents from accepting contingency fees to influence legislation or regulation.
Permits voter to declare party affiliation on voter registration form. *
Increases homestead rebates for certain homestead owners, folds NJ SAVER rebates into the Homestead Rebate program and increases gross income tax rate for taxpayers with taxable income over $500,000 and temporarily adjusts withholding tax.
Provides that information about location of a shelter for victims of domestic violence shall not be a public record.
Revises charity care distribution formula.
Revises 1% fee on transfer of residential property for more than $1 million, exempts certain transfers, and provides for refunds of certain fees paid. **
The "Identity Theft Prevention Act" *
Passed the General Assembly · 11
Makes supplemental appropriation of $95,000 for FY 2004 to Kean University to fund the Wynona M. Lipman Ethnic Studies Center. *
Establishes the New Jersey-Africa Commission.
"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.
Provides for civil action against person committing act of cruelty against domestic companion animal.
Creates "Task Force to Improve the Treatment of Offenders with Mental Illness."
Authorizes local board of health to declare as a nuisance premises in which there have been multiple arrests for illegal sale or possession of drugs.
Concerns penalties for passing a school bus.
Makes temporary insurance and temporary domestic security local cap exceptions permanent; exempts pre-July 7, 2004 contract obligations from current, lower cap. ***
Supplemental appropriation of $200,000 to DHSS for grant for Hemophilia Services.
Concerns tax preparation services for certain clients.
Requires candidates indorsed by county committee of political party to be placed in first column or row on primary ballot.
Out of committee · 32
Extends certain financial disclosure requirements to lobbying conducted through advertisements and direct mail to general public.
Requires certain campaign and organizational treasurers to be trained by ELEC. *
Establishes professional standards for county sheriffs and their employees.
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Establishes "Commission to Examine Strategies for Strengthening Familial Bond Between Children and Incarcerated Parents."
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. *
Provides for establishment of county offices for the disabled; making an appropriation.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to Community Food Pantry Fund.
Raises minimum age for sale and purchase of tobacco products from 18 to 19. *
Provides for re-enrollment right or refund of fees for students who are called to active duty for certain military operations. *
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Excludes housing and subsistence allowances of members of active and reserve components of U.S. Armed Forces, and of National Guard members on State active duty, from taxable gross income. *
Requires health care facilities to report certain information about their health care staff to their respective professional boards or DHSS.
Revises pilotage laws.
Requires services under State contracts to be performed in the United States. *
Eliminates direct shipping for New Jersey wineries.
Creates credit card do-not-solicit list for certain persons.
Clarifies test for determining when personal property is not a taxable fixture attached to real property.
Appropriates $18.3 million in FY 2005 to the Department of Education to fully fund extraordinary special education costs.
Provides procedure to cancel mortgage of record by affidavit under certain conditions.
"Hospital Infection Reporting Act."
Requires gated community guards to allow sheriffs and constables to serve process.
Establishes procedures for placement of individuals in Division of Developmental Disabilities Moderate Security Unit. *
Permits unemployment benefits for workers "locked-out" by their employers.
"New Jersey Advance Directives for Mental Health Care Act."
Lowers the minimum full-time jobs requirement for business relocation and retention tax credits.
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. *
Provides additional State school aid to school districts which are bordered by at least three Abbott districts.
Provides for creation of special permits to serve alcoholic beverages in certain smart growth development projects.
Changes project listing requirements for certain farmland preservation programs; appropriates $44 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for State farmland acquisitions; and appropriates $1,009,225 in bond funds for soil and water c
Appropriates $27,919,888,000 in State funds and $9,795,662,570 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2005-2006.*
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $400 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund for homestead rebates to homeowners and tenants.
In committee · 80
Establishes procedures for court and DYFS to determine safety of minor child whose child's caretaker is incarcerated.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize State services.
Concerns errors in estimating income for certain programs for aged and disabled persons.
Establishes lead-safe housing grant and loan program and registry plan; makes appropriations.
Establishes ten-member "New Jersey Clean Elections and Campaign Finance Study Commission."
Creates the Medical Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Commission.
Requires emergency first aid and first responder retraining for local law enforcement officers; establishes a "duty to act" in emergency situations for on-duty local law enforcement officers.
Establishes the "Veterans Home Health Care Demonstration Program"; appropriates $1 million.
Establishes corporation business tax credit for certain remediation costs.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Establishes low interest mortgage program in HMFA for volunteer fire and rescue squad members.
Provides PFRS members in federal or State military service who is injured or killed with disability or death benefits.
Modifies various laws in regard to medical malpractice liability.
Requires fee-for-service prescription drug benefits for SSI recipients under Medicaid.
Creates the "September 11, 2001 Victims Compensation Act."
Authorizes assessment of development impact fees by municipalities.
Revises laws limiting access to sterile syringes and hypodermic needles to prevent spread of blood-borne diseases.
Provides relief to certain NJ Transit retirees.
"Pharmacy Benefits Management Company Act."
Protects certain compliant municipalities from builder's remedy under "Fair Housing Act" pending readoption of methodologies, criteria and guidelines.
Provides that the State shall pay health insurance premiums for survivors of certain police officers in PERS.
Increases motor vehicle property damage reporting threshold to over $1,000.
Increases cost of living adjustment in pension allowances and survivor benefits payable to certain former public safety officers and their survivors.
Permits persons convicted of certain third degree offenses to be employed by a school district or a DOE supervised entity after proving rehabilitation.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
Provides early childhood program aid to certain school districts contiguous to Abbott districts.
Provides increased demonstrably effective program aid to school districts contiguous to Abbott districts.
Reduces polling place hours for certain elections.
Specifies policy governing provision by State registrar of certified copies and certifications of vital records to applicants.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 to DHSS for grant to North Jersey Community Research Initiative.
Permits a person eligible to vote to register on certain election days.
Increases membership of PFRS board of trustees.
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits.
Requires the Commission on Higher Education to develop an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree program for foreign medical school graduates.
Establishes special license plates to fund diabetes research and education.
Requires DOT to sell portions of certain railroad right-of-ways to Union County for recreation and conservation purposes and to interested municipalities for senior citizen housing; and provides nonmatching grant from "Garden State Green Acres Preservati
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
Makes certain reforms in the process of estimating and certifying State revenues for the annual State budget.
Extends certain benefits to members of U.S. Reserves and State organized militia who serve at least 180 continuous days.
Authorizes municipalities to require conformity with traffic performance objectives as a condition of subdivision or site plan approval.
Authorizes adoption of timed-growth ordinances by municipalities.
Exempts certain persons enrolled in public institutions of higher education from payment of undergraduate tuition at nonresident rates.
Provides for review of State agency regulations by State Planning Commission for their consistency with State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
Extends State veterans' benefits eligibility to those New Jerseyans who served on active duty missions related to the war on terror since September 11, 2001.
Requires fee-for-service prescription drug benefits for NJ FamilyCare.
Establishes New Jersey Borough Enterprise Zone Program to encourage business development in small, highly developed municipalities.
Exempts commercial requests for geographic information systems maps from OPRA access.
Requires boards of education to permit public participation at board meetings.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,500,000 to DMVA for World War II Memorial.
Permits public school districts to publish on internet certain notices which they are currently required to publish in newspaper.
Requires prequalification by State officials of prospective bidders for local public works contracts in same manner as prequalification of prospective bidders for State contracts.
Creates requirement and grant program for power-assisted door openers on certain public buildings; appropriates $600,000.
Provides certain benefits to New Jersey Transit police officers.
Provides that repayment of liquid assets by certain former constituent districts of dissolved limited purpose regional district be made over ten-year period.
Provides that children under care, custody or supervision of DYFS may not be home-schooled.
Requires all cats and dogs released from pounds and shelters be sterilized with certain exceptions; establishes special fund for sterilizations; increases certain dog-related fees and dedicates increases to the fund.
Makes employment matters not exempted by statute mandatory subjects of public employment collective bargaining.
"The Development Subsidy Job Goals Accountability Act."
Clarifies certain warranties issued for vehicle protection products are not insurance policies.
Revises school district budget cap adjustments for special education and courtesy busing, makes permanent adjustment for insurance and domestic security, and provides adjustment for utility costs.
Provides for the licensure of tree experts and the registration of their employers.
Increases penalties for fraudulently obtaining, possessing or displaying certain motor vehicle inspection stickers.
Establishes outreach procedures for NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid through school lunch application forms in public schools.
Redefines role and qualifications of purchasing agent in "Local Public Contracts Law."
Creates the offense of fetal homicide.
Limits expenditure of State funds on State advertisements or promotions that feature the Governor.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for New Jersey National Guard members and their families in need of assistance.
Revises the eligibility criteria under the State earned income tax credit to equal the eligibility criteria of the federal earned income tax credit.
"New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act"; prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces, provides temporary reduced sales tax rate for certain retail liquor licensees.
Excludes from PAAD income eligibility withdrawals from an IRA.
Redefines role and qualifications of purchasing agent in "Local Public Contracts Law."
Establishes a direct taxpayer property tax relief subaccount to ensure that revenue from the "millionaire's" tax increase is dedicated for real property tax relief directly for taxpayers.
Provides gross income tax credit for certain campaign contributions.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in financial institutions located in Delaware if that state does not amend its permitting laws to conform to the Compact of 1905.
Establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury to provide tax credits for contributions to entities which provide tuition scholarships to children residing in Camden, Newark, Orange and Trenton or fund innovative public school programs.
Provides additional State aid to certain public school districts.
Makes it a crime of the third degree to practice psychology without a license and prohibits certain unlicensed employees of nonprofit community agencies from using title of psychologist.
Makes unauthorized use of military medals or insignias a crime of the fourth degree.