Bills in the 2012–2013 Session, Senate.
Joseph Pennacchio
Sponsored
Became law4
Revises statutes concerning dental hygienists and dentists.
Concerns dissolution of free public libraries.
Lieutenant Scott Jenkin's Law; creates certain new criminal offenses aimed at theft from cargo carriers; amends theft statute.*
Designates State Highway Route 53 as "Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway."
In committee43
Requires managed care plans to allow any clinical laboratory to participate in provider network.
Excludes from gross income the contributions that certain federal employees classified as criminal investigators make to the federal Thrift Savings Fund.
Directs State acquisition of Troy Meadows Natural Area, Morris County, for recreation and conservation purposes and designates it as natural area and wildlife sanctuary.
Decreases sales and use tax rate from 7% to 6%.
Provides for reduced sales tax imposition on certain sales in certain Highlands Region Preservation Area municipalities.
Directs NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to conduct feasibility study of Meadowlands convention center project.
Provides that committing a sex act with a minor constitutes sexual assault against the minor under certain circumstances.
Requires DHSS to study relationship between autism and ultrasounds and issue protocol for use of ultrasounds.
"The New Jersey Healthcare Choice Act"; permits health insurers licensed in other states to provide coverage in New Jersey under certain circumstances.
Requires sex offenders in satellite-based monitoring program to pay for certain equipment and monitoring costs.
Authorizes use of retail coupons for purchase of milk by consumers.
Requires immediate resumed qualification as dependent covered person under certain health benefits plans after active military duty under certain circumstances.
Adds aneutronic fusion to types of Class I renewable energies as defined for purposes of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act."
Concerns certain workers' compensation supplemental benefits for surviving dependents of public safety workers who die in the line of duty.
Permits ambulatory care facility to deduct Medicaid payments when calculating gross receipts assessments.
Permits ambulatory care facility to deduct up to $125,000 in Medicare reimbursements when calculating gross receipts assessment.
Forbids members of the State Investment Council from voting on transactions concerning investment with which a member has certain financial or familial conflicts and requires removal for violations thereof.
Permits board of chosen freeholders to change title to "board of county commissioners" and "freeholder" and "chosen freeholder" to "county commissioner"; requires county that changes terms to update website.
Clarifies right to access the judicial system in PIP benefit disputes.
Replaces TPAF, PERS, PFRS and SPRS accidental disability benefits with reduced work-related disability benefit; modifies JRS disability benefit.
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website; requires certain public entities receiving State funds to establish similar website; makes an appropriation.
"Flood Control, Mitigation, and Prevention Bond Act of 2012," authorizes bonds for up to $2 billion, and appropriates $5,000.
Exempts construction, expansion or renovation of public institutions of higher education, public schools, and police and fire academies from "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Requires notaries public to be U.S. citizens and mandates notaries public under certain circumstances to advertise information to public regarding limitations on their scope of authority.
Increases income eligibility limit for reduction or abatement of municipal or county utility authority fees.
Requires DOE to make certain determinations concerning the provision of educational services to a child residing in a domestic violence shelter and modifies calculation of tuition under certain circumstances.
Provides that expression of a political view or of a personal opinion on a school district budget by school board member does not constitute action that may form the basis of a school ethics complaint.
Revises method of determining reimbursement costs when a law enforcement entity hires a recently trained officer from another law enforcement entity.
Directs AG to enter into memorandum of understanding with U.S. Attorney General empowering certain corrections officers to investigate immigration status of inmates.
Prohibits retail mercantile establishments from requiring certain consumer identification for return of merchandise.
Reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three years.
"The Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act of 2012"; requires public utilities to file certain information concerning emergency preparedness with BPU and increases certain penalties.
"Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Cargo Facility Charge Act."
Provides businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy a corporation business tax or gross income tax credit for certain replacement and repair of business property.
Provides sales and use tax rebate for certain purchases made by businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Authorizes a school district that moves its annual school election to November to submit separate proposals for additional school spending for the budget year and the subsequent budget year.
Provides that EDA bond amounts authorized to finance school facilities projects in certain districts may be used to fund a school facility project in any district if project is necessary due to Hurricane Sandy.
Provides certain homestead exemption in medical malpractice judgments; prohibits insurers from raising medical malpractice liability insurance premiums under certain circumstances.
Requires municipal governing body approval of new municipal free public library capital projects.
Requires school districts to allow nonpublic school students to participate in interscholastic sports programs on resident district's sports teams.
Authorizes municipalities to regulate use of certain explosives.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for pediatric cancer research.
Restricts sale and use of remaining State-owned portion of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital property in Morris County.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 9
Revises penalties for animal cruelty, increasing degree of certain offenses; designated as Patrick's Law.
Designates portion of U.S. Route 206 bypass in Hillsborough Township as "Peter J. Biondi Bypass."
Appropriates $55 million from "2009 Green Acres Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects, and approves $2,400,800 from 1995 bond act for coastal blue acres projects.
Appropriates $8,930,975 from "2009 Green Acres Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $45 million from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and $12 million from "2009 Blue Acres Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects.
Revises statutes and enhances penalties for offenses involving child pornography; makes crime of causing a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act subject to "No Early Release Act."
Clarifies charitable contributions are not a factor in determining where person is domiciled under New Jersey gross income tax.
Concerns closure of, and other activities at, certain landfills.
"Angelie's Law"; regulates the operation of certain autobuses.*
Passed the Senate · 2
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" imposes mandatory term of 25 years to life for aggravated sexual assault against a child under 13 and increases penalties for harboring certain sex offenders.**
"The Truth In Tolling Act"; requires New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to display toll amount paid when EZ-Pass user passes through toll collection point.*
Out of committee · 18
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Requires State Comptroller to review, and make recommendations for improvement of, the procurement process of the State, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government, and boards of education.
Waives commercial driver's license requirements for certain Office of Emergency Management drivers.
Establishes Lake Hopatcong Fund, dedicates $400,000 annually from certain power vessel operator license fees to the fund, and appropriates $400,000 for FY2012.*
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
Alex DeCroce's Law, enhances crime victims' rights under the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights." *
Prohibits imposition of corporation business tax on certain foreign corporations carrying passengers into and out of State in motor vehicle or motorbus.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools.*
Revises law concerning meetings of public bodies to provide public with greater access to meetings and information about meetings. *
Makes certain changes to open public records act; establishes State public finance website and creates program for development of local websites.*
Requires Commissioner of Transportation to publish notice of certain transportation-related infrastructure projects and activities on Internet website, and directs State Comptroller to monitor publication of those notifications.
Requires MVC to accept death certificate as proof of name change.
Reappropriates $3 million from "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003" to fund State flood control projects.
Revises "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act."*
Establishes Response to Intervention initiative in DOE to support and encourage school districts in implementation of Response to Intervention framework.
Makes various revisions to laws concerning disabled person identification cards and placards related to parking privileges.
Appropriates $24,290,379 from "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes.
Exempt certain persons from all-terrain vehicle use restrictions.
In committee · 33
Prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens and requires employers to use E-Verify program.
Restores the death penalty for certain murders.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
"Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors, 65 years and older.
"New Jersey Jobs Protection Act;" requires verification of employment.
Requires public referendum prior to issuance of general obligation bonds by local units.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Repeals "Global Warming Response Act" and related sections of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative implementing law.
Establishes a formula for the distribution of State aid to school districts.
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain State, county and municipal elective and appointive positions.
Provides for mandatory imprisonment and forfeiture of retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes.
Amends Kyleigh's Law to remove requirement that holder of a special learner's permit, examination permit, and probationary driver's license display decal.
Requires certain commissions to maintain meeting minutes; establishes Governor's authority to approve or veto the minutes of those commissions.
Establishes Governor's authority over approval of minutes of certain regional commissions.
Increases filing threshold for the New Jersey estate tax to $1,000,000.
Allows public contractors paying benefits to count benefit costs toward compliance with local "living wage" ordinances.
Authorizes certain municipalities and rural electric cooperatives to establish a municipal shared services energy authority.
Renames the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights" act the "Alex DeCroce Crime Victim's Bill of Rights" act.
Requires DEP and owners of reservoirs to implement certain flood control measures, and authorizes Office of Emergency Management to order lowering of reservoirs in response to severe weather events.
Phases out the transfer inheritance tax over two years.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under gross income tax, eliminates income cap on exclusion.
Allows application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership.
Establishes DOT roadside memorial program for fallen police officers, EMS workers, and firefighters.
Establishes licensing program in Department of Agriculture for farmed deer and other cervids.
Specifies conditions under which State, county, municipality, independent authority, school district, or higher education institution can grant unpaid or paid leave of absence to public employee to perform work for labor organization.
Provides "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" exemption for artificial turf field construction by local government units.
Prohibits retail mercantile establishments from imposing certain surcharges on consumers.
Concerns closure of Fenimore Landfill in Roxbury Twp., Morris County.
Allows military member to qualify for resident tuition rate at county college.
Permits Office of Emergency Management to order reduction in reservoir levels prior to weather emergency; requires DEP to adopt regulations concerning reservoir levels.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
Creates crime of home invasion; makes crime subject to No Early Release Act.
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Filed · 2
Makes various changes to law addressing meetings of public bodies to provide public with greater access to meetings and information about meetings.
Makes certain access changes to open public records act; establishes State public finance website and creates program for development of local websites; makes appropriation.