Bills in the 2016–2017 Session, General Assembly.
Anthony M. Bucco
Sponsored
Became law1
Permits authorities and local units operating water supply or sewerage facilities to waive, reduce, or defer sewerage and water service fees for deployed military personnel.
Passed the General Assembly1
Permits retired corrections officer to be appointed Class Three special law enforcement officer.
Out of committee6
Expands acceptable military separation forms for county veteran identification card; allows issuance to National Guard veterans of other states.*
Establishes "New Jersey Business Advisory Council" in Business Action Center.
Establishes special motorcycle license plates for veterans.
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools and county colleges.
Guarantees full and equal access to all housing to disabled persons who retain their retired service or guide dog as a pet, and who also obtain a new service or guide dog.
Establishes Lake Hopatcong Fund and dedicates $500,000 annually from certain power vessel operator license fees to the fund.
In committee77
Makes various changes to civil service; permits institution of temporary layoffs; permits government entities to opt-out of civil service; requires civil service examinations be offered on continual basis.
Requires HIV testing for pregnant women and marriage license applicants.
Eliminates general purpose, supplemental and mansion realty transfer fees.
Allows for certain variances, exemptions, and waivers under "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Restores the death penalty for persons who commit certain murders.
Revises certain exemptions to "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Requires court to consider gang affiliation when making bail determinations.
Repeals the New Jersey estate tax.
Requires public school districts to provide instruction on "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act" as part of core curriculum content standards.
Allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against a taxpayer's delinquent local property taxes.
Individual's status as minor may not disqualify him from bone marrow donation if medical criteria and informed consent requirements are met.
Authorizes municipality to deliver property tax bills, construction permits, and receipts for payment via e-mail.
Provides tax credits to companies contributing to loan and loan redemption program for residents who attend institutions of higher education in the State and work at such a company upon graduation.
Repeals Highlands planning and environmental permitting provisions of "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," and amends various statutes to reflect repeal thereof.
Increases penalties for injuring school crossing guard or student pedestrian in crosswalk.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
The "New Jersey Parental Rights and Property Tax Reduction Act."
Revises procedures for securing a permit to carry a handgun.
Allows counties and municipalities to use open space trust funds for remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by county or municipality.
Increases amount of, and income limit for eligibility to receive, senior citizens' and disabled persons' property tax deduction.
Increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amount for the New Jersey estate tax to $5 million over period of five years.
Prohibits existing child care subsidy recipient from being treated as a new applicant for subsidy after moving to a new county of residence.
Limits number of bills member of Legislature may introduce; requires every bill to be heard in committee; requires estimate be prepared of cost of drafting and considering each bill.
Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed.
Provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of certain services performed to manufacturing equipment.
Requires MVC to accept death certificate as proof of name change.
Exempts transfers of property to Class C beneficiaries from transfer inheritance tax and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amount under estate tax to $5,000,000 over five-year period.
Allows municipalities to acquire and sell inactive plenary retail consumption licenses.
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools.
Establishes criminal penalties for unlawful control over weapons of any law enforcement officer and interference with equipment or duties of law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel.
Establishes Office of Economic Research in Department of State.
Requires local units to recover contributions under Emergency Services Length of Service Award Program paid in excess of statutory limit; requires annual audits.
Permits pharmacists to dispense certain drugs in emergency without prescription.
Requires annual evaluation reports by Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development on survey responses to be obtained from certain employers that end operations in this State.
Allows charitable contribution tax deductions under New Jersey gross income tax.
Reduces number of manufacturing jobs required to qualify for NJEDA financing and incentive programs.
Requires school districts to provide listing of bus stops near residence of sex offender to law enforcement.
Allows county sheriffs to issue firearms identification cards and permits to purchase handguns; authorizes county sheriffs to accept applications for permits to carry handguns.
Requires State to recognize permits to carry handguns issued to certain New Jersey residents by other states.
Requires DCA to provide accounting of monies remitted to the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund" by municipality and allows for municipal affordable housing credit for funds remitted.
Requires condemnor to acquire road access easement for property owner if condemnation eliminates road access.
Revises application and issuance procedures for employment certificates for minors.
Concerns workers' compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships.
Establishes public-private alternative fueling station pilot program.
Requires establishment of regulations for solar panel installation, maintenance, and education.
Prohibits residential development fees on reconstruction after natural disasters.
Exempts electric vehicle charging systems from real property taxation.
Requires State agencies, when developing and proposing rules, to utilize approaches that will accomplish objectives of statutory law while minimizing adverse economic impact on municipalities.
Permits municipalities to provide information on property tax bills concerning amount of local tax dollars saved through shared services.
Requires fire districts, school districts, and county governments to share in burden of property assessment appeal refunds.
Provides for life imprisonment without parole for killing an emergency responder.
Permits juveniles to be admitted to drug court program under certain circumstances.
Upgrades penalties for assaulting licensed bounty hunters.
Permits volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad licensed to conduct bingo games to use public building for operation of bingo games under certain circumstances.
Requires certain elected officials and appointed officers eligible for dual health benefits coverage to choose coverage by one public entity.
Requires certain employees and candidates for public school employment or service and youth camp employees to undergo child abuse record information check.
Clarifies that retired campus police officers are eligible for handgun carry permit.
Authorizes certain law enforcement officers and corrections officers to possess and use stun guns while on duty.
Requires impact statement for any proposed regulation affecting volunteer ambulance squads and fire companies.
Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax.
Increases exclusion amount under New Jersey estate tax; phases out estate tax over five years.
Requires sale of remaining unused State-owned portion of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital to Morris County.
Requires Attorney General provide active supervision of certain occupational and professional licensing boards.
Permits drawing of candidate names for primary election ballot to occur on day before 53rd day prior to primary if date falls on legal holiday.
Upgrades assault against servicemember to aggravated assault; expands crime of bias intimidation to encompass crimes and offenses committed against servicemembers.
Allows possession of bear spray under certain conditions.
Permits transfer of certain special license plates to immediate family member.
Waives certain inspection fees for municipally owned affordable housing developments.
Revises test for employment or independent contractor status under certain State labor laws.
Allows certain municipalities to establish lower property tax rate on improvements than land and eliminates urban enterprise zone program.
Increases penalties for providing controlled dangerous substances to inmates.
Clarifies that person who graduates from special probation drug court is ineligible for post-graduation records expungement if convicted of crime or offense, or if charges are pending, for act committed during term of drug court.
Permits certain former elected county officials to obtain special license plates.
Requires individuals appointed to serve as school anti-bullying specialist and district anti-bullying coordinator to serve in those capacities full-time.
"Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act."
Establishes crime of "sexual extortion": using explicit sexual images to extort victims.
Requires law enforcement to obtain blood sample for chemical testing from persons arrested for drug-impaired driving; expands implied consent to include blood testing.
Carried from the Senate
Became law5
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools and county colleges.*
Guarantees full and equal access to all housing to disabled persons who retain their retired service or guide dog as a pet, and who also obtain a new service or guide dog.
Expands acceptable military separation forms for county veteran identification card; allows issuance to National Guard veterans of other states.*
Establishes special motorcycle license plates for veterans.
Establishes Lake Hopatcong Fund and dedicates $500,000 annually from certain power vessel operator license fees to the fund.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 9
Prohibits MVC from imposing duplicate license or identification card fee and digitized picture fee if duplicate is requested to reflect change in organ donor status.
Allows gross income taxpayers to use returns to make voluntary contributions to the Boy Scouts of America Councils in New Jersey.
Authorizes counties to issue promotional labeling for county agricultural products.
Establishes Farm to School Coordinating Council.
Establishes new crime of strict liability vehicular homicide; renames existing vehicular homicide as reckless vehicular homicide; designated as Ralph and David's Law.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2017.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2017.
Appropriates $32.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants.
Appropriates $2,988,859 from 2009 Historic Preservation Fund and constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to provide capital preservation grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Vetoed · 1
Establishes an animal abuser registry.
Passed the General Assembly · 17
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice care services.
Grants immunity from civil liability to persons reporting information concerning crimes related to terrorism.
Protects home addresses of law enforcement officers from being released by governmental entities.
Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
Suspends fines for certain first-time paperwork violations committed by small 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 "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program."
Allows qualified school to be called "New Jersey Farm Fresh School."
Permits school participating in NJ "Farm to School" program to submit recipe for posting on Dept. of Agriculture website.
Increases penalties for energy "slamming" practices.
"The Smarter Lunchroom Act;" promotes healthy food choices in school cafeterias.
Establishes requirements for sale of home baked goods or cottage foods. *
Prohibits release of personal identifying information of violent crime victims and witnesses under State's open public records law.
Permits cosmetology and hairstyling school clinics to charge certain fees for services rendered to general public.
Permits municipal reorganization meetings to be held on alternative dates.
Concerns certain business requirements for motor vehicle dealers.
Exempts certain personal information from State's open public records law; bars attorney's fees award in denial of access proceeding in certain circumstances.
Out of committee · 29
The New Jersey Battlefield to Boardroom Act; Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for qualified wages of certain veterans.
Prohibits bad faith assertion of patent infringement.
Requires municipalities to share certain payments received in lieu of property taxes with school districts; informs counties and school districts of application for property tax exemption.*
Requires institutions of higher education to provide greater assistance to certain students with military obligations.
Provides PERS or PFRS member who continues to be volunteer firefighter or emergency services worker after retirement with employer from whom member retires has bona fide severance for compliance with State and federal law.*
Prohibits investment of pension and annuity funds by state in companies that boycott Isreal or Israeli businesses.*
Authorizes special license plates with proceeds to the families of NJ troops overseas.
Requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to compile and annually update list of all unfunded State and federal mandates on municipalities and counties.
Authorizes use of tracking dog to search for and recover wild deer during prescribed hunting season.
Requires interior light of motor vehicle be turned on when stopped by law enforcement under certain circumstances.
Directs State agencies to take certain actions to expedite permitting through use of general permits and permits-by-rule. *
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.
Concerns employment status of certain truck operators.*
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.
Establishes asset forfeiture reporting requirements.
Designates Killed in Action flag as an official State flag; mandates it be displayed at certain public buildings.
Requires prescribers to discuss addiction risk associated with certain drugs prior to issuing prescription to minor patient.
Clarifies that civilian public safety directors of municipal, county, and State police departments do not have police powers.
Includes students who participate in school intramural sports programs in the student-athlete head injury safety program.
Establishes pilot program appointing third party vendors to administer commercial driver license testing.
Requires certain local and State government entities to issue certain emergency and warning light permits.
Provides that driver's license and identification cards expire every four years on licensee cardholder's birthday.*
Provides free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel.
"Community Mental Health Safety Net Act"; requires DHS to provide cost-based reimbursement on quarterly basis for certain mental health and substance use disorder treatment services through June 2018; makes appropriation.
Establishes data reporting requirements for emergency medical services providers and dispatch centers.
Requires AG to conduct survey of untested sexual assault examination kits.*
Establishes standardized changed conditions clauses for local public construction contracts.
Increases membership of fire safety commission in DCA.
Appropriates $4,990,934 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects.
In committee · 106
Authorizes chiefs of part-time municipal police forces to issue firearms ID cards and handgun purchase permits.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Directs removal or enhancement of electric public utility infrastructure located in flood hazard area.
Authorizes free admission to State parks and forests for active and retired members of U.S. Armed Forces and their immediate family members.
Establishes a grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for pediatric cancer research.
Provides assistance to manufacturing businesses by having certain State agencies promote economic development and identify credentials needed for careers in modern manufacturing.
Expands scope of New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act dealing with economic impact of rules on small businesses.
Gives priority to applicants for firearms purchaser identification card and permits to purchase handguns when domestic violence restraining order is in effect.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under gross income tax, eliminates income cap on exclusion.
Dedicates $140,000 of revenue from motor vehicle violations to DHS for brain injury services.
Requires that certain information be redacted from motor vehicle accident reports submitted to the public.
Revises requirements and training standards for first responders under New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Act of 1987.
"New Jersey Jobs Protection Act;" requires verification of employment.
Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain seasonal workers.
Eliminates transfer inheritance tax on Class C beneficiaries and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amount for New Jersey estate tax to $1,500,000.
Requires beneficiary photo to be included on State-issued benefit debit cards.
Amends and repeals certain parts of New Jersey firearm statutes.
Prohibits payment to public employees at retirement for certain unused sick leave, provides for forfeiture of payment for unused sick leave for certain criminal convictions, and requires documentation for use of sick leave.
Requires bail agencies to collect at least 10 percent of bail bond amount.
Requires third-party disbursement service organization that contracts with local government unit or board of education to post bond against failure to meet obligations.
Provides one-third of motor vehicle fine moneys generated through State Police issued tickets go to municipality where violation occurred.
Excludes gains on sales of certain real estate purchases from taxation under corporation business tax and gross income tax.
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.
Concerns credit card interchange fees and consumer protection.
Extends veterans' property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
Makes desecration of a military monument a crime of the third degree.
Phases out estate tax over five-year period.
Reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three years.
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.
Bars companies which hire illegal aliens from public contracts, grants, loans, or tax incentives for seven years.
Revises criteria to establish base year for homestead property tax reimbursement after relocation.
Exempts military personnel receiving combat zone pay from the gross income tax.
Restores the death penalty for certain murders.
Provides gross income tax exclusion for capital gains from sale of certain employer securities by qualified business that result in net positive benefit to the State.
Establishes "Right to Try Act" permitting terminally ill patients to access investigational drugs and treatment.
Requires municipalities comprised within regional school districts to share certain payments received in lieu of taxes with counties and regional school districts.
Provides for establishment of publicly-funded education savings accounts for use at educational institutions other than public elementary and secondary schools.
Phases out the transfer inheritance tax over two years.
Clarifies that first aid, ambulance or rescue squads, as entities, have immunity from civil damages in certain circumstances.
"Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act in New Jersey."
Provides civil immunity to licensed health care professionals who provide care at health care facilities for no compensation.
Restricts sale and use of remaining State-owned portion of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital property in Morris County.
Requires condominium and homeowners' associations to provide information to federal home loan insurance providers at no cost to potential buyers.
Enhances consideration of fire safety issues during review of development applications.
Revises law concerning ticket sales.
Decreases membership of county boards of taxation to 2004 level.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA to issue State flag to resident enrolling in federal service academy.
Expands definitions of "abused child" or "abused or neglected child" to include prenatal exposure of child to controlled substances.
Repeals all prevailing wage laws.
Makes various changes to interest arbitration procedures; repeals sunset provision.
Prohibits law enforcement agencies from considering number of arrests made and citations issued when evaluating police officer's professional performance.
Increases penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl.
Creates special license plates supporting Autism Awareness.
Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding.
Authorizes Sunday bow hunting on federal military installations and William J. Hughes Technical Center.
Requires breath or blood test in motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians.
"Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act"; bans abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization.
Requires disclosure by independent expenditure groups; limits contributions to certain groups and committees performing public contracts; increases limits on contributions to political parties and candidates.
Establishes reasonableness standard for persons lawfully transporting firearm who deviate from course of travel.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations.
Clarifies scope of affordable housing obligations.
Requires Motor Vehicle Commission to issue exempt certificates for motor vehicles not required to be inspected.
Expands crime of bias intimidation to include law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel.
Prohibits hospice from charging patient for days on which patient is not present.
Permits appointment as municipal police officers of certain veterans who are over age 35.
Concerns long term tax exemptions on certain age-restricted low-income housing.
Establishes forest firefighter death benefit.
Provides that driver's license and identification card expire on applicant's birthday.
Increases protections for domestic violence victims as part of driver's license application or renewal.
Establishes housing expense reimbursements for families of certain public safety officers killed in line of duty.
Permits local units and authorities to defer, reduce, or waive solid waste and recycling service fees for deployed military personnel.
Dedicates unencumbered revenue collected from motor vehicle fees and surcharges to Transportation Trust Fund.
"Consumer Freedom From Unwanted Expense in Health Insurance Coverage Act."
Exempts honorably discharged United States military veterans from initial insurance producer licensing fee.
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
Exempts sales of certain materials used in industrial sand casting processes from sales and use tax.
Authorizes Commissioner of Transportation to allow painting of blue line between double yellow centerline marking on public roads.
Allows veterans of the United States Armed Forces or National Guard with 20 or more years of service to carry handgun.
Imposes moratorium on affordable housing litigation through December 31, 2017.
Establishes "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission."
Requires NJT to provide free rail tickets to rail passengers delayed more than one hour due to rail car or light rail vehicle mechanical failure.
Requires MVC to offer driver's license knowledge test in Italian.
Dedicates $140,000 from NJ Brain Injury Research Fund for community based services provided by Statewide alliance dedicated to assisting persons with brain injury through advocacy, education, information and resources, outreach, and support services.
Establishes disabled veteran tenant gross income tax credit.
Permits certain firefighter training courses to be taken online.
Establishes Red Tape Review Commission.
Revises gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and designated as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act.
Provides gross income tax deductions for contributions by certain taxpayers to the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program.
Excludes under gross income tax certain contributions to qualified pension plans, deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings.
Authorizes State Auditor to conduct cost-benefit analyses of certain programs and initiatives.
Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions.
Allows gross income tax deduction for functional improvements and home repairs made to taxpayer's primary residence.
Requires COAH to administer affordable housing obligations of municipalities based on statewide obligation.
Authorizes municipal challenge to non-redevlopment housing projects ordered by COAH unless order is based on exclusionary zoning; excludes flood-prone land from affordable housing vacant land analysis; provides housing obligation cap.
Requires COAH to calculate affordable housing obligations on Statewide basis.
Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations.
Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities.
Prohibits imposition of builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation.
"Voluntary Employment for Taxpayers Act"; permits certain local governments to recruit residents to perform services in return for property tax credits.
Revises certain Class Three special law enforcement officer appointment qualifications.
Concerns baked goods sold at farm markets.
Requires workers' compensation eligibility determination and notification to be made within six months following death of certain volunteers.
Decreases Alcoholic Beverage Tax rate paid on certain liquors.
Permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes paid on principal residence from gross income tax obligation.
Filed · 3
Appropriates $8,992,898 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $71,700,224 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Appropriates $12.3 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.