Bills in the 2012–2013 Session, Senate.
M. Teresa Ruiz
Sponsored
Became law2
"Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act."
Allows certain students including undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria to qualify for in-State tuition at public institutions of higher education.***
Out of committee24
Allows municipalities to designate redevelopment entities and certain non-profits to act as land banks.
Permits a child who moves out of a school district due to a family crisis to remain enrolled in that district until the end of the school year.
Requires school districts to adopt policies concerning electronic communications between employees and students.
"Higher Education Citizenship Equality Act;" defines domicile for dependent students for the purpose of eligibility for State student loans, grants, or scholarships and in State tuition rate.
Establishes a pilot program in DOE to increase the length of the school day and school year and provides tax credits for corporate contributions to fund the program.
Clarifies that certain types of sewage and sewage sludge do not constitute hazardous substances under "Spill Compensation and Control Act."
Requires Department of Education to biannually distribute a letter to school districts reminding districts of requirement to enroll resident students regardless of immigration status.
Establishes Response to Intervention initiative in DOE to support and encourage school districts in implementation of Response to Intervention framework.
Requires DOE to train teachers and administrators and monitor districts on bias and discrimination in special education classification.
Directs DOE to make database of special education decisions available on website.
Requires emergency operations plans in certain senior occupied buildings.
Requires each school district to annually submit interscholastic athletic opportunity report to the Commissioner of Education.
Requires school districts provide pupil directory information to county vocational schools upon request.
Authorizes public schools to serve to students certain produce grown in community garden.
Requires that certain HIV testing be performed within 48 hours of request by victim.
Establishes Office of the Special Education Ombudsman in DOE.
"The New Jersey Social Innovation Act"; establishes social innovation loan pilot program and study commission within EDA.*
Directs DOH to develop plan to phase out use of latex gloves in health care facilities and food establishments.
Establishes task force to study issues related to the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
Extends the time line for performing certain budget-related tasks in school districts that have moved the annual school election to November.
Requires registration of certain vacant and abandoned properties with municipalities and provides enforcement tools related to maintenance of these properties.
Establishes pilot program in DOE to recruit disadvantaged or minority men to teach in certain failing schools under alternate route program.*
Establishes Innovation Grant Program; appropriates $5 million to DOE.
Prohibits inclusion of bonus in employment contract of school superintendent for reducing number of out-of-district placements of students with special education needs.
In committee21
Permits payments in subsidized adoption until child becomes 21 years of age under certain circumstances.
Creates program for installing standby emergency power generators in new senior housing.
Requires members of governing boards of public institutions of higher education to complete a training program developed by the Commission on Higher Education.
Provides for designation of new charter school authorizers.
Authorizes executive county superintendent of schools to require implementation of shared services arrangements.
Expands jurisdiction of municipal arson investigators.
"Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act."
Modifies various aspects of charter school program including student enrollment procedures, revocation of charter, monitoring of charter schools, and collaboration between school districts and charter schools.
Requires each public institution of higher education to post its budget on the institution's website.
Broadens municipal arson investigators' powers.
Allows certain undocumented aliens to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education.
Creates corporate business tax and gross income tax credits to fund education enrichment demonstration program.
Requires county prosecutor to apply for revocation of convicted person's firearms purchaser identification card or handgun permit.
Requires PANYNJ to conduct noise and land use compatibility survey.
Requires State Board of Education to adopt standards and benchmarks of performance for the improvement of teacher preparation programs and teacher certification candidates who complete the programs, and develop a program rating system.
Allows school districts to enter into school construction public-private partnership agreements with private entities.
Prohibits a person from charging a fee to stop publishing personal identifying information obtained through the criminal justice system.
Directs State Board of Education to develop autism spectrum disorder endorsement and requires all teacher preparation programs to include a special education component.
Establishes loan redemption program for teachers in certain fields to redeem loan amounts received under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program through employment in certain failing schools.
Establishes the four-year "New Jersey Early Innovation Inspiration School Grant Pilot Program" in DOE to fund non-traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs for students in grades K through 8.
Permits students made homeless by act of terrorism or natural disaster to attend tuition-free the school district in which they resided prior to being homeless for two school years after the event.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 41
Prohibits certain advertising on real property and related structures without prior permission of owner.
Exempts from sales tax cosmetic makeup services provided in conjunction with reconstructive breast surgery; designated as "Jen's Law." *
Authorizes local public contract set-aside program for business enterprises that are owned by or that employ veterans.
"New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act;" provides credits against corporation business and gross income taxes for investing in New Jersey emerging technology businesses.
"Tara's Law"; provides protections for individuals with developmental disabilities residing in community care residences and for investigations of abuse of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Establishes task force to study various issues related to improving special education programs and services for public school students.
Requires school buses transporting certain disabled persons to use flashing lights and establishes penalties for drivers who fail to yield.
Requires insurers to cover breast evaluations and other additional medically necessary testing under certain circumstances and requires certain mammogram reports to contain information on breast density.***
Permits affordable housing occupancy preferences for veterans through municipal agreements with developer.*
Revises the NJ STARS and NJ STARS II Programs.
Establishes "VETeach Pilot Program" in DOE to facilitate the teacher certification of veterans.
Concerns child custody and parenting time arrangements related to certain military absences.*
Prohibits State and local public contracts with persons or entities engaging in certain investment activities in energy or finance sectors of Iran. *
Establishes Helmets to Hardhats pilot program in New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Provides surviving spouses of certain fire and police personnel who die in line of duty with workers' compensation for entire period of survivorship.
Increases amount of tax credits authorized to be issued under Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program and extends application deadline.*
Establishes the "New Jersey Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act."
Concerns voluntary contributions through gross income tax returns to support New Jersey athletes participating in 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.
Designates portion of U.S. Route 206 bypass in Hillsborough Township as "Peter J. Biondi Bypass."
"Scholastic Student-Athlete Safety Act;" establishes measures to ensure health of student-athletes.
Concerns the escheat of stored value cards.*
Establishes "Veterans Higher Education Commission."
"The Anti-Big Brother Act."
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
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.
Eliminates requirement that a full-time student at an institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.**
"New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Provider Demonstration Project Act."
Declares violence a public health crisis. and establishes "Study Commission on Violence."*
Requires certain public school students to be screened for dyslexia and other reading disabilities.**
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."
"Building Our Future Bond Act"; authorizes the issuance of $750,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance higher educational capital projects for increasing of academic capacity; appropriates $5,000.
Establishes new public-private partnership agreement option for construction of State and county college facilities and changes reference from "Commission on Higher Education" to "Secretary of Higher Education" in higher education construction Educationa
Clarifies charitable contributions are not a factor in determining where person is domiciled under New Jersey gross income tax.
Requires DOE to prepare and distribute informational pamphlets on how parents can limit a child's exposure to media violence.
Enhances penalties for certain firearms offenses; designated as Anti-Gun Trafficking Act of 2013.*
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.
"Angelie's Law"; regulates the operation of certain autobuses.*
Vetoed · 19
Enacts the "Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act."
Requires Commissioner of Health to review impact of disabilities on persons in minority and underrepresented communities.*
Establishes the Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth in DOE, and the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force.
Provides loan redemption for certain physicians who work in State four years.*
Supplemental appropriation to DHSS for $7,453,000 for family planning services, and requires filing of State Plan Amendment to extend Medicaid coverage for family planning services to persons with incomes up to 200% of federal poverty level.
Requires DOC to transfer certain payments of restitution to Victims of Crime Compensation Office.
Requires SHBP and SHEBP to cover treatment for alcoholism, other substance-use disorders, and non biologically-based mental illnesses under same terms and conditions as for other diseases or illnesses.*
Establishes the "New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act"; provides expedited process for foreclosing abandoned residential properties.
Establishes State Transportation Infrastucture Bank and Energy Bank within New Jersey Enviromental Infrastructure Trust.
Establishes the "New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act."
Requires HMFA to expand participation in the NJ HomeKeeper Program.
The "New Jobs for New Jersey Act."
Requires newborn infant screening for tongue tie.
Establishes the "New Jersey Workforce Development and Education Commission."
Increases benefit amounts under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to 25 percent of federal earned income tax credit amounts beginning in Tax Year 2013.
Expands Medicaid eligibility pursuant to federal "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
Revises statutes concerning firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits; makes handgun purchase permit valid for four years.
Makes FY 2013 supplemental appropriation to DOH for $7,453,000 for family planning services.
Establishes "College Affordability Study Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations to increase the affordability of higher education in New Jersey.*
Passed the Senate · 12
Concerns special needs trusts for persons with developmental disabilities.*
Authorizes public institutions of higher education to establish textbook rental programs.
Establishes loan redemption program for certain teachers under which they are permitted to redeem loan amounts received under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program through employment in public or nonpublic schools.*
Authorizes municipalities to impose penalties on creditors that fail to timely remedy code violations of certain properties in forclosure.*
Concerns grant funding for Community Health Law Project; appropriates $100,000.
Establishes "Commission on College Tuition."
Makes FY 2013 supplemental Grants-in-Aid appropriation of $10 million to Department of Community Affairs for Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide to prospective students certain cost, loan, and debt information in financial aid shopping sheet.
Requires constitutionally dedicated moneys be used to provide grants toward the replacement of certain diesel vehicles and diesel equipment with lower emission vehicles and equipment.**
Establishes small business loan guarantee program in EDA to support capital purchases and operating expenses and permits certain qualified businesses in regional centers to qualify for certain EDA loans.*
Prohibits retail mercantile establishments from imposing surcharges on consumer credit card purchases.
Permits adoptees and certain others to obtain adoptee's original birth certificate and other related information.
Out of committee · 67
Increases minimum wage to $8.50, then makes annual adjustments based on CPI increases.
Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless.
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.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
"Janet's Law"; requires public and nonpublic schools to have automated external defibrillators and to establish emergency action plans for responding to sudden cardiac events.*
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses providing employment to certain National Guard or reservists.
Permits institutions of higher education to make supplemental contributions to ABP.
Requires State Treasurer to disseminate information about organ and tissue donation; designates April each year as "Donate Life Month."
Requires municipalities to submit economic growth plans to DCA for approval of continued participation in the urban enterprise zone program.
Establishes loan redemption program for teachers to redeem loan amounts received under the New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program through employment in public or nonpublic schools in New Jersey.*
Provides partial sales tax exemption for energy and utility service to certain manufacturers.
Authorizes the court to credit a person in default of a court-imposed financial obligation under certain circumstances.*
Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old.
Requires private entity primarily engaged in business of providing transportation for passengers in wheelchairs to secure passengers in wheelchairs using four-point securement system and to secure unoccupied wheelchairs.
Provides for indication of veteran status on driver's licenses and identification cards issued by MVC.*
"Tabitha's Law"; requires parent or guardian to notify school administrators if pupil will be absent; requires school to notify parent in event of unexcused pupil absence.
Authorizes county colleges and county vocational school districts to establish aviation related job certification, training, and internship programs and provides a corporation business tax credit for funds donated to support such programs.
Increases benefit amounts under New Jersey earned income credit program to 25 percent of federal earned income tax credit amounts beginning in Tax Year 2012.*
Directs the Division on Women to conduct an audit of the coordination of community responses to domestic violence.
Recognizes American Sign Language as a world language for meeting high school graduation requirements.
"New Jersey Homeless Veterans Grant Program Act;" establishes New Jersey Homeless Veterans Grant Program and allows voluntary contributions on gross income tax returns to support homeless veterans.**
Establishes crime of entering into certain restricted airport areas.
Establishes program in DOE to address State's shortage of mathematics and science teachers.
Requires certain parents and caretakers to be enrolled in NJ Family Care if they meet income eligibility criteria.*
Provides that a school district may implement bullying prevention programs and anti-bullying training programs at no cost through various entities; and appropriates $1 million.
Concerns adding names of certain veterans to certain civil service eligibility lists.
Directs State Board of Education to promulgate regulations requiring school districts to develop a plan to establish stability in special education programming.
Requires DCA to establish training and certification program and arbitration standards for new home warranty arbitrators and publish a "New Home Buyer's Bill of Rights."
Establishes telemarketing fraud investigation unit.
Directs Board of Nursing to encourage nursing schools to give academic credit to students for training received in US military as corpsmen and medics.
Designates the "Honor and Remember Flag" as an official State flag.
Extends time municipalities have to commit fees and payments-in-lieu of constructing affordable units to six years.
Revises State designation of "Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month" from February to September.
Authorizes Judiciary to revise or supplement fees, subject to limitations, to fund e-court information system and Legal Services of New Jersey; provides for review of such fees by Judiciary.
Requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to develop and distribute a document containing student loan repayment information for school districts and nonpublic high schools to disseminate to students.
Requires health benefits coverage for refills of prescription eye drops under certain conditions.
Changes pejorative terminology referring to mental capacity of individuals.
The "Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act."
Requires president of public institution of higher education to regularly report on-campus criminal and fire events to the institution's governing board.
Expands neighborhood revitalization State tax credit to include gross income taxpayers; increases annual total amount of tax credits allowable from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000.
Requires correctional facilities to submit voting rights information packets to inmates.
Protects minors by prohibiting counseling attempts to change sexual orientation.
Requires development of a diabetes action plan by DOH.
Permits person with developmental disability and legal guardian to audio record sessions of interdisciplinary team in which person or guardian participates.
Allows person with diabetes to voluntarily make notation on driver's license.
Requires Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to develop career exploration report for students in grades 7 through 12.**
Directs State Board of Education to incorporate the International Dyslexia Association's definition of dyslexia into special education regulations.
Requires DOE provide professional development opportunities related to reading disabilities; mandates certain school district personnel annually complete two hours of professional development related to reading disabilities.*
Prohibits service and sale in schools of food and beverage items labeled as not intended or recommended for children.
"Local Hospital Fee Pilot Program Act."*
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in companies manufacturing, importing, and selling assault firearms for civilian use.**
Provides for temporary approval of WIC vendor applications if the applicant currently operates another approved program.
Establishes the four-year "New Jersey Innovation Inspiration School Grant Pilot Program" in DOE to fund non-traditional STEM programs.*
"New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013."**
Revises permitted amount of surcharge on admission charges at major places of amusement.
Establishes supervised community reintegration program for certain victims of domestic abuse.
Establishes a School Security Task Force.
Revises procedure for issuance of amended birth certificate for person who has undergone change in sex.
Appropriates $1,393,084 from 2009 Historic Preservation Fund to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Eliminates requirement that every full-time student at an institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.
Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on responsible use of social media for middle school students as part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Technology.
Establishes "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" telephone helpline.
Permits charter school to limit admission to students with a substance abuse or dependence disorder.
Authorizes Judiciary to revise or supplement fees, subject to limitations, to fund Legal Services of New Jersey and e-court information system; requires review and reporting on fees and expenditures of such fees.
"New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act II of 2013."
Requires school buildings to be equipped with emergency light and panic alarm linked to local law enforcement.
In committee · 24
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Authorizes certain municipalities to impose a tax on the storage of empty shipping containers to fund redevelopment plan activities.
Permits appointment of certain EMTs laid off for reasons of economy to vacant paid positions.
Establishes New Jersey Food Access Initiative; funds initiative with certain sales tax revenue from urban enterprise zones for five years.
Prohibits new employees of certain organizations from enrolling in State-administered retirement system or health care plan of public employer.
Requires each general hospital that accepts public funds to hold quarterly board meetings that include time for public participation.
Enacts "Truth in Caller Identification Act"; prohibits manipulation of certain telephone caller identification information.
Phases out cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
Replaces term "mentally defective" with "mentally incapable" in Criminal Code.
Requires additional public participation and health impact study as conditions of conversion of health service corporation to domestic stock insurer; dissolves the Health Service Corporation Conversion Temporary Advisory Commission.
Permits adoptees and certain others access to adoptee's original birth certificate and other related information.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
Reduces drug free school and public property zones to 200 feet.
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically modified material.
Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service.
Provides that a school district may be placed under full or partial State intervention pursuant to the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) for no longer than five years.
Requires gas stations to install generators.
Requires 20 hours of professional development requirement for public school teachers to be devoted to reading disabilities.
Prohibits retail mercantile establishments from imposing certain surcharges on consumers.
"The Opportunity to Compete Act"; establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal histories.
Eliminates requirement that every full-time student at a four-year institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.
Prohibits gender based rating of certain long-term care insurance policies.
Provides gross income tax credits to support development of New Jersey-based small business start-ups.
Establishes the "Mortgage Assistance Pilot Program."
Filed · 1
Requires State pay educational costs of students who reside in domestic violence shelter or transitional living facility outside district of residence for more than one year.