Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Joseph Pennacchio
Sponsored
Passed the Senate1
Authorizes municipalities to regulate use of certain explosives.
Out of committee2
Establishes home elevation fund and dedicates up to $5 million of realty transfer fee revenue annually for this purpose.
Establishes "Small Business Bonding Readiness Assistance Program" in EDA to assist certain small businesses meet State or federal contract surety bond requirements; transfers $250,000 annually from enterprise zone assistance fund to program.
In committee46
Requires managed care plans to allow any clinical laboratory to participate in provider network.
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.
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.
Concerns certain workers' compensation supplemental benefits for surviving dependents of public safety workers who die in the line of duty.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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."
Revises method of determining reimbursement costs when a law enforcement entity hires a recently trained officer from another law enforcement entity.
Directs NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to conduct feasibility study of Meadowlands convention center project.
Excludes from gross income the contributions that certain federal employees classified as criminal investigators make to the federal Thrift Savings Fund.
Provides certain homestead exemption in medical malpractice judgments; prohibits insurers from raising medical malpractice liability insurance premiums 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.
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.
Adds aneutronic fusion to types of Class I renewable energies as defined for purposes of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act."
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.
Increases income eligibility limit for reduction or abatement of municipal or county utility authority fees.
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.
Requires DHSS to study relationship between autism and ultrasounds and issue protocol for use of ultrasounds.
Permits ambulatory care facility to deduct Medicaid payments when calculating gross receipts assessment.
Permits ambulatory care facility to deduct up to $125,000 in Medicare reimbursements when calculating gross receipts assessment.
Provides that committing a sex act with a minor constitutes sexual assault against the minor under certain circumstances.
Eliminates power of DRPA to finance economic development; changes composition of board; imposes restrictions regarding financing, contract procedures, conflicts of interest, and review audits; creates commuter's council.
Revises exemption from "unemployment compensation law" for operators of certain motor vehicles.
Allows State residents who are outside of New Jersey to place wagers on horse races using account wagering system.
Requires release of bid list prior to bid date under "Local Public Contracts Law."
Allows public contractors paying benefits under collective bargaining agreements to count benefit costs toward compliance with local "living wage" ordinances.
Makes revisions to the "Contractors' Registration Act."
Eliminates demand side management programs from cost recovery through societal benefits charge.
Reduces the gross income tax's top marginal rate to 7.97% from 8.97%.
Prohibits any reimbursement for donation of cadaveric fetal tissue and prohibits use of cadaveric fetal tissue in research for cosmetic treatment.
Encourages wearing blue to honor law enforcement officers on Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Permits certain applicants to submit personal statement of veteran status, in lieu of determination of veteran status, prior to issuance of civil service eligible list; requires submission of determination of status prior to employment.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 8
Designates Black Swallowtail butterfly as State Butterfly.
Establishes DOT roadside memorial program for fallen police officers, sheriff's officers, EMS workers, and firefighters; designated as "Patrolman Joseph Wargo's Law."*
Permits school district to request and receive from MVC name and address of student's parent or guardian to verify student's eligibility for enrollment in school district. *
Requires PANYNJ be subject to NY Freedom of Information Law and NJ open public records act.
Designates State Highway Route 17 in Waldwick Borough as "Christopher Goodell Memorial Highway."
Authorizes optometrists to continue prescribing medications containing hydrocodone.
Designates State Highway Route 15 in Sussex County as "Senator Robert E. Littell Memorial Highway."
Prohibits Division of Developmental Disabilities from compelling transfers of individuals with developmental disabilities from out-of-State to in-State facilities unless certain exceptions apply.
Vetoed · 2
Establishes Office of State Dental Director and New Jersey Oral Health Commission.**
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.
Passed the Senate · 4
Establishes Response to Intervention initiative in DOE to support and encourage school districts in implementation of Response to Intervention framework.
Requires MVC to accept death certificate as proof of name change.
Requires family day care providers and certain household members to undergo criminal history record background checks.
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools.
Out of committee · 15
Requires certain bidders for prevailing wage public work to provide proof that the prevailing wage will be paid.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act"; imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances. *
Establishes State Transportation Infrastructure Bank within New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.
Concerns importation and delivery of motor fuel during certain emergencies.
Requires DOT Commissioner to develop public awareness programs and use variable message signs to inform motorists about State's "move over" law.*
Authorizes Office of Emergency Management to order lowering of reservoir levels prior to certain severe weather events.
Establishes special motorcycle license plates for veterans.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction and veterans' property tax exemption to residents of continuing care retirement communities.*
Authorizes rural electric cooperative and certain municipalities to establish municipal shared services authority.*
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.*
Makes construction work on public utilities subject to "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act."
Prohibits notaries public from falsely representing themselves as attorneys in advertisments.
Prohibits existing child care subsidy recipient from being treated as a new applicant for subsidy after moving to a new county of residence.
Exempts certain vehicles owned or leased by certain health care facilities and other facilities licensed by Department of Human Services or Department of Health from "Angelie's Law."*
"New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program Act"; establishes retirement savings program for certain workers.
In committee · 40
"Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act."
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans.
Establishes one-year moratorium on replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with non-copper-based landline or wireless telephone service; requires BPU to report to Governor and Legislature.
Provides "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" exemption for artificial turf field construction by local government units.
"New Jersey Jobs Protection Act;" requires verification of employment.
Allows application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership.
"Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors, 65 years and older.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools.
Requires public referendum prior to issuance of general obligation bonds by local units.
Establishes a formula for the distribution of State aid to school districts.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Increases filing threshold for the New Jersey estate tax to $1,000,000.
Allows military member to qualify for resident tuition rate at county college.
Creates crime of home invasion; makes crime subject to No Early Release Act.
"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.
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.
Requires certain commissions to maintain meeting minutes; establishes Governor's authority to approve or veto the minutes of those commissions.
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.
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Revises "Contractors Registration Act" to include water remediation services.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under gross income tax, eliminates income cap on exclusion.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
Eliminates transfer inheritance tax and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amounts under New Jersey estate tax in accordance with provisions of federal tax law.
Establishes licensing program in Department of Agriculture for farmed deer and other cervids.
Creates Education Reform Review Task Force; delays certain uses of certain assessments and certain changes to teacher evaluation system.
Directs MVC to establish permit and safety requirements for companies that use online application program to match passengers with drivers.
Dedicates $140,000 of revenue from motor vehicle violations to DHS for brain injury services.
Reforms procedures concerning provision of affordable housing; reinstates moratorium on Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Establishes insurance and safety requirements for companies that use digital network or software application to match passengers with drivers.
Allows parent or guardian to exclude student from administration of certain assessments.
Provides exception to "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act" authorizing establishment of hookah lounges under certain circumstances.
Implements certain governance and transparency reforms at PANYNJ.
Establishes State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force.
Provides governance, transparency, and accountability reforms at PANYNJ.
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.
Requires local governments to purchase excess insurance for certain renewable energy projects financed by bonds.
Establishes appraisal method for taxation of watershed lands.