Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, General Assembly.
Cleopatra G. Tucker
Sponsored
Passed the General Assembly4
Makes consent to register with Selective Service part of driver's license application process for males under age 26.
Increases personal needs allowance to at least $50 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities.
Establishes public awareness campaign concerning the dangers of leaving children unattended in and around motor vehicles.
Protects right to privacy underneath clothing; establishes crime of "upskirting".
Out of committee8
Broadens municipal arson investigators' powers.
Grants certain leaves of absence for Vietnam Veterans of America conventions.
Requires Commissioner of Health to review impact of disabilities on persons in minority and underrepresented communities.
Requires chairs of certain ward political party committees to have same rights and responsibilities as chairs of municipal political party committees; specifies certain cities not required to have municipal chairs.
Requires minimum temperature in senior citizen housing projects to be maintained at 70 degrees from October 1 to May 1.
Designates State Highway Route No. 35 bridge between Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach as "Veterans of All Wars Memorial Bridge."
Enhances procedures for enforcement of visitation and parenting time when parents' access to child has been denied.
Concerns procedure applicable to applicants for professional or occupational licences who would otherwise be barred from licensure due to certain child support or related obligations.*
In committee18
Requires applicants for liquor licenses and license transfers to notify residents within 200 feet of licensed premises.
Prohibits certain sales of alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of schools or religious institutions.
Requires mandatory registration of family day care providers.
Establishes a 500 foot drug free zone around child care centers.
Requires parents who intend to home-school their children to inform the school district of that decision; requires school district to maintain record of each home-schooled child in the district.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Permits certain special law enforcement officers to carry firearms at all times when in State.
Creates Veterans Haven North Council; renames current Veterans Haven Council to Veterans Haven South Council.
Establishes Disparity in Treatment of Persons with Disabilities in Underrepresented Communities Commission in DCA.
Requires minimum level of police staffing based on municipal population and violent crime rate.
Establishes pilot program in DOE to recruit, select, and train veterans for school security positions in school districts.
Establishes judicial presumption in favor of 10 percent bail option in lieu of a bail bond issued by licensed surety for repeat criminal offenders.
Adds Sons of The American Legion to list of organizations whose representatives receive paid leaves of absence to attend State and national conventions.
Requires law enforcement officers to wear body cameras.
Requires various measures to address effects of low levels of lead exposure.
Expands eligibility to receive the veterans' property tax deduction and the veterans' property tax exemption.
Modifies laws regarding compensation and leaves of absence for certain public employees who served in the military; requires public employers follow certain policies and procedures for leaves of absence.
Concerns training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs.
Carried from the Senate
Became law2
Requires Commissioner of Health to review impact of disabilities on persons in minority and underrepresented communities.
Designates State Highway Route No. 35 bridge between Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach as "Veterans of All Wars Memorial Bridge."
Vetoed1
Requires chairs of certain ward political party committees to have same rights and responsibilities as chairs of municipal political party committees; specifies certain cities not required to have municipal chairs.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 32
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for development of Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Shortens waiting periods for expungement of criminal and other records and information; makes various changes to other expungement procedures and requirements.**
Authorizes municipalities to impose penalties on creditors that fail to timely remedy code violations of certain properties in foreclosure.*
Establishes durational limits and enumerates certain factors concerning modification and termination of alimony; establishes "open durational" alimony.*
Provides for electronic scanning of certain certificates for initiating court proceedings for involuntary commitment.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances.
Requires training program for school bus drivers and school bus aides on interacting with students with special needs, and requires development and use of student information cards.*
Requires hiring preference for veterans seeking position with State Police.
Extends protections of the new vehicle "lemon law" to new farm tractors purchased or leased in New Jersey.*
Authorizes special Alpha Kappa Alpha license plate.
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal record.*
Requires issuance of one free copy of a veteran's death certificate to certain authorized persons upon request.
Allows person to request voluntary exclusion from gaming activities without acknowledging being problem gambler.
Requires one-time application for requesting services for individuals with developmental disabilities from DCF and DHS.
"Military Dependents Scholarship Fund Act"; provides college scholarships to the spouses and children of those killed, missing in action or disabled in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.
Authorizes property tax deferment for deployed military personnel.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for active duty members of United States Armed Forces, Reserve components thereof, and National Guard from New Jersey.
Establishes certain requirements for hospitals regarding patient-designated caregivers.
Requires sober living homes and other substance abuse aftercare treatment facilities to provide certain notifications to next-of-kin when patient is released from care; designated as "Nick Rohdes' Law." **
Allows gross income taxpayers to use their gross income tax returns to make voluntary contributions to ALS Association for services to New Jersey residents.
Allows military personnel and veterans to present certain identifying documents in lieu of municipal beach tags to gain admission to certain beaches.
Permits Newark to use rental car tax proceeds over three-year period to help reduce its "cash deficit for preceding year" appropriation and operational deficit.
Creates financial planning assistance program for disabled veterans and their caregivers.
Increases income eligibility cap to receive respite care for certain veterans.*
Establishes program to provide assistance to qualified veterans in in-patient and out-patient treatment programs to travel to medical counseling in State.*
Requires Adjutant General to create informational webpage for women veterans.*
Permits municipality to enact ordinance allowing voluntary registration of private outdoor video surveillance cameras.*
Requires DOC to make reports containing information concerning treatment and reentry initiative participation; requires AOC to establish program that collects recidivism data and make reports concerning adults sentenced to period of probation.*
Requires installation of carbon monoxide detectors in certain structures; designated as "Korman and Park's Law."
New Jersey Stolen Valor Act; makes unauthorized use of military uniforms, medals or insignias, and certain false statements regarding receipt of military awards with intent to obtain benefit crimes of third degree.
Permits holders of certain alcoholic beverage licenses to be issued amusement game license and updates definition of recognized amusement park.
Makes certain changes to Environmental Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.
Vetoed · 11
Requires school buildings to be equipped with emergency light and panic alarm linked to local law enforcement.
Establishes New Jersey Council on Responsible Fatherhood and Responsible Fatherhood Fund.
Enacts the "Reader Privacy Act."
Reduces maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds; exempts firearms with .22 caliber tubular magazines from 10 round limitation. *
Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families; qualifies families to receive additional nutritional assistance.
Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms.
Permits municipal, county, and regional police and fire forces to establish five-year residency requirement for police officers and firefighters; allows exceptions to requirement under certain circumstances.**
Requires lowest possible price not exceeding certain cap for inmate telephone calls.*
Requires DCPP to implement policies and procedures to ensure caseworker safety; "Leah's Law." *
Increases tax credit cap by $165 million for certain qualified residential projects under Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program and restricts increase to certain projects.**
Passed the General Assembly · 29
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA to issue State flag to resident enrolling in federal service academy.
Permits new cigar lounges to be opened under certain circumstances.*
Provides that strangulation of victim resulting in bodily injury during commission of act of domestic violence constitutes aggravated assault.*
Imposes moratorium on DHS transitions and transfers of certain individuals with developmental disabilities to new residential placements until certain conditions are met. *
Creates self-defense justification for victims of domestic violence.
Clarifies that certain types of sewage and sewage sludge do not constitute hazardous substances under "Spill Compensation and Control Act."
Creates "Expungement Study Commission."*
Establishes Medicaid Smart Card Pilot Program.
Requires public institutions of higher education to waive or reimburse application fees and transcript fees for veterans and members of the military.
Establishes "MVP Emergency Alert System" for missing persons with mental, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.*
Requires school districts and charter schools to annually provide to parents or guardians of enrolled students information on certain tests to be administered during the school year.
Creates Education Reform Review Task Force; delays implementation of certain assessments and certain changes to teacher evaluation system.
Expands military leave benefits for certain public officers and employees subject to proof of servive. *
Establishes central registry for sickle cell trait diagnoses; provides for informational outreach and genetic counseling.
Expands acts of animal cruelty to include theft or release of animal during burglary.
Prohibits purchase of certain items by scrap metal businesses.
Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act; Provides income tax credit to family caregivers of certain armed service members with physical disabilities.
Revises procedures for processing incomplete Medicaid applications; exempts asset transfers of up to $500 per month during look back period for determining eligibility for long-term care services.*
Provides for increase and annual adjustment in allowance paid to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities.
Provides for receipts for applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Requires DHS to ensure that expedited benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are made available to certain households.
Requires DCA to make information on homeless prevention programs and services available on its Internet website.
Extends urban enterprise zone designation in all qualifying municipalities for additional 10 years. *
Imposes three-year moratorium on use of assessments developed by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers for certain purposes.
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.*
Authorizes transfer of excess medical marijuana inventory between alternative treatment centers.
Requires employees of private entity with access to student information under contract with DOE, school districts, or charter schools to undergo criminal background check.
Permits cosmetologist-hairstylists to operate mobile facilities to provide services.
Establishes Military and Defense Economic Ombudsman in Department of State.*
Out of committee · 45
Authorizes hiring preference for veterans in non-civil service jurisdictions.
Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard.
Increases minimum wage for tipped workers.
Concerns stalking and related restraining order protections for adoptive children and their adoptive parents victimized by persons whose parental rights to the adoptive children have been terminated.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income who are veterans or spouses of veterans and provides for annual cost-of-living increase in allowance.
Provides protections for individuals with developmental disabilities through accountability and transparency; designated as "Stephen Komninos' Law."
Permits adoptees and certain others to obtain adoptee's original birth certificate and other related information.
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically engineered material.*
Establishes procedures to prevent and eradicate bedbug infestations in certain residential property.
Requires insurance coverage in the individual and small employer markets and SHBP and SEHBP for "off-label" uses of certain drugs.
Establishes procedures for the approval of the closure of a public school.
Requires MVC to issue motor vehicle placard to certain veterans and waives meter fees.*
Prohibits employers from obtaining, requiring, or discriminating on the basis of credit reports.
"Unfair Wage Recovery Act"; provides that unlawful employment practice occurs each time individual is affected.
Establishes one-year moratorium on replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with wireless telephone service; requires BPU to report to Governor and Legislature. *
Revises procedure for issuance of amended birth certificate for person who has undergone change in sex.
Expands school breakfast program to all schools with 5% or more of students eligible for free or reduced price meals.
Requires DHS to develop timeline for use by individuals with developmental disabilities to gain benefit of State and federal programs; requires posting timeline on DHS, DCF, and DOE websites.
Requires DCA to post on its website information about inspection reports for residential health care facilities, boarding homes, and emergency shelters for the homeless, and requires notifications to DHS and counties.*
Requires Commissioner of DCA to promulgate rules and regulations providing for veterans' affordable housing assistance preference.*
Clarifies that definition of mental illness in law governing involuntary commitment to treatment includes substance use disorder if dangerous standard met.
Requires Office of Auditing in DHS to review books and receipts of provider of services to persons with mental illness or developmental disabilities before licensing.
Requires each casino licensee conducting Internet gaming in this State to prominently advertise name of its Atlantic City casino on its Internet gaming websites and advertisements.
Requires PANYNJ be subject to NY Freedom of Information Law and NJ open public records act.
Designates U.S. Route 22 bridge, Easton-Phillipsburg Toll Bridge, as "Sergeant William John Cahir Memorial Bridge."
Increases transparency and accountability at PANYNJ.
Requires reservation of portion of tenant vouchers under State rental assistance program for veterans.
Allows certain students including undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria to qualify for State student financial aid programs.
Requires health insurers, group health plans, SHBP, and SEHBP to share certain health benefits information with Medicaid and other State programs.
"Tyler Banuls' Law"; provides protections for children with developmental disabilities receiving services from DCF.
Requires Internet gaming affiliates to be licensed as casinos; prohibits waiver of licensing requirements.
Clarifies that Alzheimer's disease and related disorders may be listed as secondary cause of death on death certificate when appropriate.
Establishes "MVP Emergency Alert System" for missing persons with mental, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
Establishes program allowing certain applicants to perform community service in lieu of paying motor vehicle surcharges.
Establishes requirements for training programs for homemaker-home health aides in care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.*
Requires annual General Fund appropriation to DMVA for purposes of base realignment and closure.*
Establishes the "New Jersey Safe and Responsible Driver Act."*
"Out-of-network Consumer Protection, Transparency, Cost Containment and Accountability Act." *
Changes pejorative terminology referring to persons with certain disabilities.
Requires DMVA assist and mentor veterans through criminal justice system.
Establishes minimum certified nurse aide-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.*
Establishes New Jersey Military Skills Council.
Provides preference to certain employers applying for workforce development grants.
Facilitates coordination of land use planning between civilian and military interests to preserve viability of federal military installations within State.
Permits local units of government to enter into shared services agreements with federal military installations located in the State.
In committee · 102
Imposes criminal penalties for illegally obtaining or disclosing personally identifiable health information.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Decriminalizes possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana, imposes civil penalties, and establishes fund for drug education.
Revises definition of "necessary care" in the State's animal cruelty law to include more specific requirements.
Creates Voluntary Registry for Individuals with a Mental Illness or Developmental Disability.
Permits exemption from mandatory immunization for students in writing for any reason.
Permits State Lottery Commission to authorize video lottery terminals at Meadowlands horse racetrack, subject to voter approval.
Permits State Lottery Commission to authorize video lottery terminals at Meadowlands racetrack, upon voter approval; dedicates 1/3 net proceeds to General Fund, 1/3 to State education aid, and 1/3 to horse racing industry.
Establishes the Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth in DOE, and the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force.
Requires certain entities to be equipped with generators and allows those entities to qualify for NJEDA loans for cost of generators.
"Corporate Disinvestment Property Tax Relief Act"; appropriates $13.5 million.
Establishes a grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students.
Allows adoptees access to nonidentifying family medical history information.
Requires insurers to provide coverage for medications and dose-intensive chemotherapy/bone marrow transplants and umbilical cord blood transplants for treatment of sickle cell anemia.
Provides for notification to law enforcement authorities of discharge of certain persons brought to screening services for evaluation and assessment for mental health services.
Concerns urban enterprise zones.
Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
Provides employers with various tax incentives for hiring persons with disabilities under insurance premiums tax, corporation business tax and gross income tax.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests.
Directs the Division on Women to conduct an audit of the coordination of community responses to domestic violence.
Requires firearms to be unloaded and securely locked or stored within home.
Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues.
Creates new offense of theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person.
Establishes gross income tax credit for cost of certain postage for sending goods to members of United States Armed Forces and National Guard who are serving their country away from home.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability.
Prohibits smoking in automobiles when children are present.
Provides for termination of child support obligation upon certain conditions.
Allows direct deposit of adoption subsidy payments.
Requires school district hiring preference for veterans for school security positions.
Requires State to reimburse municipalities for portion of foregone property tax revenue resulting from veterans' property tax exemption.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Concerns special needs trusts for persons with developmental disabilities.
"Protection for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Institutional and Community Settings Act."
"PANYNJ Transparency and Accountability Act."
Requires at least one State developmental center in each region of State; requires certain factors to be considered for transfer of residents between developmental centers.
Requires reporting of suspected abuse of institutionalized elderly to police and that facility employees receive notice of reporting requirement annually; designated as "Peggy's Law."
Establishes "Victim-Witness Scholarship Fund;" establishes "Witness Protection Fund;" and concerns State forfeiture funds.
Permits payment of only one co-payment or deductible for follow-up care or treatment after surgery or illness under certain health benefits plans.
Requires screening of certain high-risk pregnancies and reporting of fetal deaths.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for pediatric cancer research.
Creates exemption from certain MVC fees for prisoners of war.
Prohibits false or secret compartments in motor vehicles under certain circumstances.
Establishes permanent sterile syringe access program; appropriates $95,000.
Dedicates sales and use tax collections from sales of medical marijuana to the "Medical Marijuana for a Cure Fund" for medical research grants on certain debilitating medical conditions.
Permits developer to qualify for low-interest loan from NJEDA when building a high performance green building.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
Provides supplemental appropriation of $2,700,000 to DCA for Neighborhood Preservation Program.
Increase gross income tax rate on income exceeding $1,000,000 for taxable years 2011 and 2012 and expands gross income tax exclusion for pensions, annuities and other retirement income for certain taxpayers beginning in 2011.
Permits municipalities to establish weapons free zones around schools and public facilities.
Directs certain recoveries of federal funds for services to persons with developmental disabilities be used for grants to support community infrastructure purposes.
Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits.
Limits settings where certain surgeries may be performed.
Establishes bill of rights for authorized family members of persons with developmental disabilities.
Exempts mugshots of arrestees who have not been convicted of the underlying offense from State's open public records law.
The New Jersey Battlefield to Boardroom Act; Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for qualified wages of certain veterans.
"New Jersey Housing Assistance for Veterans Act," establishes pilot program to assist certain veterans with housing modification and rehabilitation; appropriates $5 million.
Concerns organ and tissue donation.
Enhances penalties for committing improper behavior in place of public accommodation.
Requires pawnbrokers to retain purchased property for not less than 20 days and record and report certain information.
Exempts certain surviving spouses and surviving civil union partners of certain disabled veterans from components of the realty transfer fee.
Increases benefit amounts under New Jersey earned income credit program to 25 percent of federal earned income tax credit amounts beginning in Tax Year 2014.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
Establishes voluntary program to provide caregivers of children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities with GPS tracking devices; designated as "Avonte's Law."
Requires that if a school district satisfies 80% or more of the required NJ Quality Single Accountability Continuum standards in an area of district effectiveness under State intervention, the State must return that area to local control.
Revises exemption from "unemployment compensation law" for operators of certain motor vehicles.
Regulates certain activities of religious corporations operating cemeteries.
Allows persons affected by certain plant closings, transfers and mass layoffs to receive one year suspension of payment of interest on mortgage loan.
Designates cheerleading as interscholastic sport; requires safety harness at health clubs with members who are cheerleaders.
Establishes "Government Crowdfunding Act" to allow government entities to conduct fundraising for certain government projects.
Provides for involuntary commitment to treatment for substance use disorders.
Dedicates $140,000 of revenue from motor vehicle violations to DHS for brain injury services.
Requires regulation of autocabs in certain cities.
Establishes veterans' preference for affordable housing in certain housing projects.
The "Full Marriage Recognition for Civil Union Couples Act"; recognizes certain civil unions as marriages dating back to inception of such civil unions.
Provides for increase in allowance paid to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities.
Requires nonpublic school buildings to be equipped with emergency light and panic alarm linked to a local law enforcement.
Requires prosecutorial or law enforcement review of fatal incidents involving police officers or State Police.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide greater assistance to certain students with military obligations.
Creates civil service preference for peacetime veterans.
Requires Office of Information Technology to review Consolidated Assistance Support System development project and issue recommendations.
Requires DHS to use funds awarded from performance bonuses to increase staffing for processing certain applications and providing certain services.
Establishes Children's Health Promotion Fund.
Establishes special veteran motorcycle license plates.
Directs the Department of Corrections to advise new inmates of child support obligations and modification procedures.
Clarifies that law enforcement officer who knowingly chokes another person engages in use of deadly force.
Requires hospital patient's medical record to include notation if patient has Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
Requires casino licensee to apply every five years for casino license renewal.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on interacting with law enforcement as part of Core Curriculum Content Standards in Social Studies.
Establishes Division of Minority and Women Business Development and State Chief Disparity Officer to monitor efforts to promote participation by minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State contracting.
Requires Attorney General to appoint special prosecutor when criminal complaint is filed against law enforcement officer.
Requires Division of Purchase and Property to provide additional notification of contracting opportunities to vendors or potential vendors providing or interested in providing home health care services to State agencies.
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.
Allows NJ gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions of food made from business inventory.
Establishes "gun-free" and "weapon free" zones around certain school and public properties.
Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old.
"Responsible Dog Ownership Act."
Applies local public contract bid threshold amounts to local pay to play and prevailing wage laws.
Permits up to 10 children to be cared for by a registered family day care provider.
Provides incentives for certain businesses associated with military installations.
Prohibits sale of certain toy guns and imitation firearms.
Establishes "Police Body Camera Implementation Task Force" to study and make recommendations concerning use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies in this State.
Filed · 1
Requires comparable level of services and supports to be provided to former residents of developmental centers transitioning to community placements and for placements to be located within 30 miles of closed centers.