Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, General Assembly.
Linda S. Carter
Sponsored
Became law1
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA send weekly reports to Commissioner of DOH on status of veterans' homes in State during every future public health emergency; requires such reports through December 31, 2021. *
Passed the General Assembly7
Establishes "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program" in Department of Education.
Requires Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to conduct study and issue report on impact of artificial intelligence on growth of State's economy.*
Enhances protections against fraudulent deed recordings.
Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $20 million from General Fund to DOE to support school facility cleaning and sanitization.
Permits retroactive modification of certain judgements of conviction, requires study of DOC's anticipated expenses to upgrade data infrastructure.***
Permits DOC and DCF to award contracts for medical and dental services to vendors.
Requires DEP to make certain information regarding water purveyors available on its Internet website.
Out of committee3
Makes $15 million in federal funds available to EDA and New Jersey Council on the Arts to support arts and culture organizations in need.**
Creates special education unit within the Office of Administrative Law; requires annual report.
Modifies lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2022.
In committee13
Prohibits sale and distribution of nail products containing dibutyl phthalates, toluene, or formaldehyde.
Eliminates statute of limitations for civil actions arising from sexual assault and other crimes and offenses of a sexual nature committed against a person 18 years of age or older.
Increases amount of credit for incarceration resulting from default of court-imposed financial obligation or motor vehicle penalty.
Requires disclosure of breach of security of geolocation data.
Requires registry of animal rescue organizations; requires animal rescue, pet shop, shelter, or pound notify person adopting or purchasing animal of animal's behavioral and medical history; designated as "Rocky's Law."
Expands availability of NJ Family Care Advantage program.
Establishes New Jersey Public Interest Technology Network.
Establishes School Connectivity Grant Program to expand access to online instruction for economically disadvantaged students; makes appropriation.
Imposes administrative fees on certain out-of State contractors.
Establishes registry of out-of-state contractors who are awarded public works contracts in this State.
Requires Division of Taxation conduct audits of out-of State contractors that have entered into State and private contracts.
Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety.
Prohibits landlords from requiring rent to be paid by certain means of payment or at any off-site location.
Carried from the Senate
Became law3
Creates special education unit within the Office of Administrative Law; requires annual report.
Makes $15 million in federal funds available to EDA and New Jersey Council on the Arts to support arts and culture organizations in need.*
Modifies lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2022.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 28
"New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020"; provides for administration of programs and policies related to jobs, property development, food deserts, community partnerships, small and early stage businesses, State procurement, wind energy, and film produc
Expands scope of law prohibiting age discrimination.
Prohibits municipal licensure of children operating temporary businesses.
Permits corporations to use blockchain technology for certain recordkeeping requirements.
Directs DOE to develop outreach program to encourage young women and minorities to pursue post-secondary degrees and careers in STEM.
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to streamline SNAP application process for senior citizens and conduct outreach regarding senior SNAP participation.
Establishes pilot program in DOE to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts.
Provides county clerks with additional week to mail ballots for 2020 primary election; requires ballot position draw to occur one day early if statutory date falls on holiday.*
Requires DLPS to incorporate implicit bias in cultural diversity training materials for law enforcement officers; makes mandatory cultural diversity and implicit bias training for law enforcement officers.
Requires school districts to provide school meals or meal vouchers to students eligible for free and reduced price school meals during school closures due to COVID-19 epidemic.
Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing of coronavirus disease 2019 and for telemedicine and telehealth during coronavirus disease 2019 state of emergency.
Allows public bodies to conduct meetings, and provide notice, by electronic means during periods of emergency.
Establishes certain requirements to use telemedicine and telehealth to respond to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Extends certain permits, approvals, and deadlines during COVID-19 emergency.*
Establishes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities.*
Establishes Community College Opportunity Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to provide last-dollar financial aid grants to county college students and Student Success Incentive funding to county colleges.
Requires school districts to include instruction on diversity and inclusion as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards.*
Limits police presence at polling places and ballot drop boxes; prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of ballot drop box.**
Modifies process for obtaining working certificates for minors.
Provides for postponement of New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum review for certain school districts.*
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding for FY2021 to include new projects and modify estimated loan amounts for certain projects; modifies terms and conditions for certain loans utilizing federal funds.
Prohibits State and local entities and private detention facilities from entering into agreement to detain noncitizens.*
Requires law enforcement to provide written notificaion to parent or guardian of person under age 18 who commits first offense of unlawfully possessing or consuming alcoholic beverage, cannabis, marijuana, or hashish.**
Revises modified basic training program for certain county correctional police officers to be certified as county prosecutor's detectives or investigators or county or municipal police officers.*
Establishes Startup Business and Nonprofit Assistance Program in EDA to support new businesses and nonprofit organizations following COVID-19 pandemic; appropriates $25 million.
Expands State corrections officers training to include topics contributing to their core mission of treating inmates with dignity, fairness, and respect.
Provides project grants under "Securing Our Children's Fund" for career and technical education expansion in county vocational school districts; appropriates $222,904,769.
Appropriates $49.932 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs.
Vetoed · 4
Automatically extends time to file gross income tax or corporation business tax return if federal government extends filing or payment due date for federal returns.
Establishes Bridging the Digital Divide in Schools Grant Program in DOE to provide and expand access to technology and equipment for students in certain school districts.
Creates "Temporary Lost Wage Unemployment Program;" allows persons to claim for lost wages due to coronavirus disease 2019, and employers to pay wages to workers ordered under quarantine by licensed healthcare practitioner; appropriates $20,000,000.
Postpones New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) review for certain school districts to accommodate disruption due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Passed the General Assembly · 14
Prohibits disqualification of certain minority-owned and women-owned businesses for certification.
Requires DHS to develop outreach plan to inform certain students about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Allows county and municipal police departments to establish designated safe areas for Internet purchase transactions; establishes public awareness campaign.
Establishes "Innovation Partnership"; provides funding for certain nonprofit partnerships to promote certain emerging technology businesses.*
Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed.
Establishes standard medical expense deduction under SNAP for certain senior citizens.
Requires institutions of higher education to implement suicide prevention programs and raise awareness of mental health services.
Requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain firearm purchaser identification card and register firearms acquired out-of-State.
Clarifies that law enforcement officer who knowingly chokes another person engages in use of deadly force.
Implements sentencing recommendations of the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission to eliminate certain mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment; eliminates mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for crime of official misconduct.*
Provides for resentencing of certain inmates.
Establishes Safe and Equitable Remote Learning Pilot Program in DOE to support provision of remote learning safe havens by certain school districts.*
Establishes office in EDA to assist in provision and expansion of broadband Internet service in State to address inequities in accessing broadband service.*
Allows mail-in voter to cure mail-in ballot due to missing certificate.
Out of committee · 51
Requires SEHBP and eligible employers that do not participate in the SEHBP to provide certain plans for public education employees and certain public education retirees.
Concerns speech rights of student journalists at public schools and public institutions of higher education.
Requires Department of Treasury to review and approve digital payment platform.*
Concerns arbitration for certain non-teaching school staff.
Limits patient information behavioral health care providers may disclose to health insurance carriers.
Provides that New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program scholarship may be awarded in any semester of attendance or enrollment at institution of higher education in State.
Establishes two-generational school readiness and workforce development pilot program for certain low-income households.
Revises definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
Regulates sale of handgun ammunition and develops system for electronic reporting of firearm information.
Requires Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to establish apprenticeship mentoring program for women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Revises provisions required in school district's anti-bullying policy; provides for civil liability of parent of minor adjudicated delinquent for cyber-harassment or harassment; and increases certain fines against parents.*
Creates "Community Wealth Preservation Program"; expands access for certain buyers to purchase property from sheriff's sales.
"Fair Chance in Housing Act"; establishes certain housing rights of persons with criminal records.
Establishes license to allow wineries that produce more than 250,000 gallons per year to directly ship wine to consumers.
Prohibits provision or sale of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, and polystyrene foam food service products; limits provision of single-use plastic straws; appropriates moneys from Clean Communities Program Fund for public
Requires developers to offer electric vehicle charging stations as option in certain new home construction.
"Healthy Terminals Act"; requires certain airport and train station workers to be paid certain wage rates and benefits.
Revises definition of "public works projects" to permit project labor agreements for more projects.
Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. *
Concerns online marketing of affordable housing units.
"Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act"; requires institutions of higher education to implement mental health programs and services.
"Laura Wooten's Law"; Requires civics instruction in middle school; authorizes New Jersey Center for Civic Education to provide curricula, professional development and technical assistance for middle and high school civics.*
Renames "board of chosen freeholders" to "board of county commissioners" and "freeholder" and "chosen freeholder" to "county commissioner"; requires counties to update materials to reflect this title change.
Imposes moratorium on collection of biometric identifiers by public entities and requires AG to recommend appropriate uses; restricts private use of biometric information.
Requires institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to provide transparency of tuition and fees to prospective and current students.
Concerns employment benefits and coronavirus disease 2019 infections contracted by essential employees.
Authorizes Governor to permit mortgage forbearance and rent payment Provides mortgage payment relief, consumer reporting protection, and eviction protection for resident property owners, tenants and other consumers, economically impacted during time of co
Prohibits law enforcement agencies from considering number of arrests made and citations issued when evaluating police officer's professional performance.
Requires public health emergency credits to be awarded to certain inmates and parolees during public health emergency; prohibits contact with victim upon release of inmate awarded credits.***
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021.
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.
Allows long-term care facility employees to accrue paid sick leave.
Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service law enforcement applicants.*
Requires Civil Services Commission to undertake various initiatives to increase diversity and inclusivity within law enforcement agencies.
Establishes database to aid in civil service hiring process for law enforcement officers; requires Statewide diversity analysis of law enforcement.*
Authorizes creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct; appropriates $800,000.*
Creates two-year "Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program" in Juvenile Justice Commission; appropriates $4.2 million in FY 2022 and FY 2023.*
Requires school report card to include information concerning number of mental health professionals and school safety specialists employed by each school district. *
Directs Secretary of State to develop national marketing campaign promoting State's innovation economy.
Provides that firearms purchaser identification card is valid for four years; requires training prior to issuance of firearms cards and handgun purchase permits; revises procedures for passing of firearms to heir or legatee.
Permits exemption from civil service law enforcement examination requirement for entry level-law enforcement officers.
Requires boards of education to provide special education and related services to certain students exceeding age of eligibility for special education and related services.
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Eliminates mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment determined by Legislature to be of non-violent nature.
Eliminates mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment determined by Legislature to be of non-violent nature.
Establishes Kean University as public urban research university.
Requires State and county hazard mitigation plans to include climate change-related threat assessments and hazard prevention and mitigation strategies.
Expands bonding authority of New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority to permit financing for general funding needs of New Jersey's institutions of higher education.
Allows alternative evaluation in place of basic skills testing requirements for certain teacher certification.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.
Extends period of time for filing special education due process petitions related to COVID-19 school closures and periods of virtual, remote, hybrid, or in-person instruction.
In committee · 56
Broadens municipal arson investigators' powers.
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.
Criminalizes owner or landlord knowingly renting dwelling to tenant that is illegal occupancy which causes serious bodily injury to or death of another person.
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.
Requires suspension of certification of homemaker-home health aides under certain circumstances; designated as "Maria's Law."
The "New Jersey Youth Justice Transformation Act;" annually appropriates $100 million to Juvenile Justice Commission.
Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."
Provides Medicaid coverage for certain home visitation program services under certain circumstances.
Permits youth-serving patriotic societies to speak with public school students during regular school hours.
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
Allows taxpayers to deduct cost of certain depreciable assets under corporation business and gross income taxes.
Requires DOE to establish comprehensive searchable website concerning educational programs and resources available to special education students.
Revises health care levy adjustment for school districts; makes various changes for health care benefits for school employees; requires certain information in school budgets; imposes cap on contributions by all public employees for health care benefits.
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.
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing services.
Concerns prescriptions of certain schedule II controlled dangerous substances and opioids.
Transfers authority over special nutrition assistance programs from DOH to DHS.
Permits chair or booth rentals for the purpose of providing cosmetology and hairstyling services or ancillary services.
Establishes presumption of joint legal and physical custody in child custody matters.
Directs certain unclaimed electric and gas utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund and societal charge revenues to be paid to Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria.
Establishes that payment plan for motor vehicle surcharges is mandatory upon request; extends payment period.
Establishes School Security Task Force.
Prohibits certain demolitions without inspection for pest infestation.
Requires certain corporations to appoint women to board of directors.
"New Jersey Respect for Physicians Act;" requires prompt response by insurers to requests for prior authorization of health care services.
"Emma's Law"; requires school buses that transport students with special needs to be equipped with certain safety features.
Authorizes Secretary of Higher Education to impose a fine against an institution of higher education that fails to appropriately respond to a student's allegation of sexual assault by another student.
Requires institution of higher education to report allegation of sexual misconduct by health care professional to licensing board for investigation.
Establishes "Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, and Protection Pilot Program" in certain counties and cities of first class; makes an appropriation.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Requires gubernatorial and legislative candidate and joint candidates committees to adopt anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy.
Creates alternative option to earn barbering license through 1250 hours of training at licensed shop.
Quinn Wilson's Law; provides a gross income tax credit for birth resulting in stillbirth.
Prohibits the restraint of prisoners during and immediately after childbirth.
Requires cosmetology and hairstyling licensees to complete domestic violence sensitivity and response training.
Requires school district to report to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses.
Requires OIT to establish Statewide wireless network through public-private partnership agreement.
Prohibits retail motor fuel dealer from charging a credit card customer in excess of four percent above the purchase price for same fuel sold to customer paying by cash.
Authorizes grants to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes for homeless veterans.
Concerns mortgage and loan forbearance, rent suspension, and consumer reporting during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Establishes COVID-19 Transitional Assistance Local Grant Program in DHS.
Establishes one-time payment program in Department of Treasury for aid for certain eligible taxpayers; appropriates $35 million.
Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy and energy efficiency programs for overburdened communities.
"Emergency Tenant and Landlord Assistance Act"; appropriates $300 million.
Authorizes any member of the Legislature to perform all functions of notary public.
Requires subsistence vouchers issued to county inmates upon release be accepted in every county.
Requires reporting and investigation of alleged incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence at institutions of higher education and requires institutions to provide employee training on such reports.
Establishes assistance program to assist landlord of one- and two-family dwellings during COVID-19 pandemic; appropriates $50 million.
Requires school districts to include instruction on conflict resolution as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
Provides for accidental death benefit if death of TPAF member is caused by COVID-19.
Requires access to law enforcement disciplinary records as government records; requires such records to be retained for certain period of time.
Establishes criminal penalties for production, sale, and use of false COVID-19 vaccination verification card; requires AG to establish COVID-19 vaccination fraud prevention program.
Authorizes creation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. license plates.
Prohibits twice exceptional students from being denied special education and related services due to average academic performance.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas.
Increases amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research to $10 million; establishes dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund.
Filed · 4
Concerns family leave benefits during epidemic-related emergencies.
Prohibits cancellation or nonrenewal of certain insurance policies and insurance premium finance agreements for a period of at least 60 days under certain circumstances after declaration of public health emergency, or state of emergency, or both.*
Authorizes Governor to permit emergency rent suspension for certain small business tenants during COVID-19 pandemic.
Affords employment protection to certain emergency medical responders.