Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Robert W. Singer
Sponsored
Became law1
Creates new criminal offenses concerning endangering another person; repeals N.J.S.2C:12-2 and N.J.S.2C:24-7.
Passed the Senate3
Requires Commissioner of DHSS to convene a strategic planning summit to analyze the State's physician workforce supply.
Expands authority of certain schools to issue employment certificates to minors.
Requires DOH to establish pilot program to test feasibility of increasing number of contracted early intervention service providers in areas experiencing significant population growth.*
Out of committee8
Exempts sales of county property from certain requirements under certain circumstances.
Requires complaint for guardianship of a person receiving services from Division of Developmental Disabilities to include one of documents identified in bill.*
Requires Rutgers University to create a liberal studies program for students with intellectual disabilities; appropriates $500,000.*
Requires DCA to establish procedures for inspection and abatement of mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities, and certification programs for mold inspectors and mold hazard abatement workers.
Revises the "Self-Funded Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Regulation Act."
Establishes the Task Force on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in DOH.
Establishes Office of Tourism Research; requires specific measures concerning tourism advertising, marketing, research, and tourism-related business training.
Requires clinical laboratory that provides services for accountable care organization to establish clinical laboratory testing advisory board.
In committee38
Requires that victims of sex offense be informed of offender's risk of re-offense upon release.
Permits State aid to fund start-up costs for local shared services projects.
Provides loan redemption for certain physicians who work in State 10 years.
Expands the domestic violence statutes to encompass minors aged 16 and older.
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically modified material.
Requires HIV tests for certain convicted sex offenders.
Requires hospital to notify patient admitted for observation of possible increased prescription charges and allow patient to use patient's own medication.
"Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act."
Directs DEP and Monmouth County to form study commission to examine nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management issues in Wreck Pond Watershed.
Directs BPU to adopt best practices and standards for public utility disaster response.
Permits certain public and private entities to qualify for BPU grants or low interest loans for cost of alternative power generation devices.
Establishes penalty for failing to report unintentional discharge of firearm in private residence.
Authorizes disclosure by DCF of child abuse and neglect information to religious institutions.
Protects home addresses of law enforcement officers from being released by governmental entities.
Requires prescribers and pharmacists to check prescription monitoring program prior to prescribing and dispensing Schedule II drugs.
Requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education in grades preschool through 12 as part of Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
Eliminates standard waiting period for issuance of marriage or civil union license.
Appropriates $2 million in constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for hazardous substance discharge remediation to DEP for White Swan Cleaners/Sun Cleaners Superfund site cleanup in Monmouth County.
Upgrades theft to a crime of the first degree if amount involved is $500,000 or more.
Provides for dismissal of certain traffic summonses if repairs are made within 72 hours.
Prohibits administration of standardized assessments not required under State or federal law.
Allows siblings who share and equally co-own a primary residence to claim a joint homestead property tax reimbursement.
Raises income threshold for pension and retirement income exclusions under gross income tax for married couples filing jointly.
Raises maximum eligibility age for exempt fireman certificates and membership in New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
Freezes managed care reimbursement rates for out-of-network health care providers until January 1, 2016.
Creates the "Mold Safe Housing Act."
Provides certain emergency workers with certain parking privileges.
Imposes conditions on drivers approaching disabled vehicles displaying warning lights.
Changes State assistance to urban enterprise zones over seven years by increasing reduced sales tax in enterprise zones and dedicating increase to zone municipalities.
Regulates sale of arrowhead ammunition.
Prohibits sale or planting of certain invasive plant species.
Establishes technology transfer assistance program in EDA.
Permits EDA to designate institutions of higher education or other qualified entities as manufacturing and production business resource centers.
Requires school districts to provide transportation to public and nonpublic school pupils living along hazardous routes.
Requires immediate suspension of driver's license for allegedly driving while intoxicated.
Eliminates statute of limitations for mesothelioma actions.
Revises workers' compensation law concerning fraud and evaluating physicians.
Eliminates employment certificate requirement for minors to engage in gainful employment.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law3
Requires complaint for guardianship of person receiving services from Division of Developmental Disabilities to include one of the documents identified in bill.*
Establishes the Task Force on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in DOH.
Revises the "Self-Funded Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Regulation Act."
Vetoed1
Requires clinical laboratory that provides services for accountable care organization to establish clinical laboratory testing advisory board.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 7
Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program.
Designates Black Swallowtail butterfly as State Butterfly.
Establishes additional requirements, and penalties for failure to comply, concerning information to be provided to persons purchasing cats or dogs from pet shops. *
Extends "Overdose Prevention Act" immunity provisions to certain professionals and professional entities, and permits needle exchange programs to obtain standing order for opioid antidote.*
Establishes requirements for training programs for homemaker-home health aides in care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.*
Clarifies that Alzheimer's disease and related disorders may be listed as secondary cause of death on death certificate when appropriate.
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 · 6
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.*
Establishes time periods for adverse possession of certain property.
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.
Provides for licensure of ambulatory care facilities to provide integrated primary care services including behavioral health care.
Removes restrictions on convicted drug offenders receiving general assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program.
Maintains property tax exemption for certain nonprofit hospitals with on-site for-profit medical providers; requires these hospitals to pay community service contributions to host municipalities; establishes Nonprofit Hospital Community Service Contributi
Passed the Senate · 6
"Economic Opportunity Act of 2014, Part 1."
Requires debt collectors, in certain circumstances, to cease debt collections against certain victims of identity theft.
Requires health care practitioners to inform patients of addiction potential of controlled dangerous substances prior to issuing prescription.
Establishes "Atlantic City Growth Tax Credit Program" to grant tax credits to promote the development of non-rental housing in Atlantic City.
Requires hospital patient's medical record to include notation if patient has Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools.
Out of committee · 22
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.
Requires BPU to issue written decision concerning utility rate increase approvals to public via its website.
Establishes durational limits and enumerates certain factors concerning modification and termination of alimony; establishes "open durational" alimony."*
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction and veterans' property tax exemption to residents of continuing care retirement communities.*
Requires Division on Civil Rights and DCA to post information regarding disability accommodation rights for owners and occupants of condominiums, cooperatives, and other common interest communities.
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.*
Exempts veterans' organizations from nonprofit corporation annual report filing fee.
Establishes requirements for pharmacists to dispense biological products.*
Makes construction work on public utilities subject to "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act."
Establishes certain requirements for hospitals regarding patient-designated caregivers.
Requires BPU to provide links to pricing information to customers from electric and gas public utilities, and third-party electric power and gas suppliers.*
Requires BPU to establish procedures allowing electric power and gas supplier customers to switch energy suppliers.
Imposes contract standards between customers and third-party electric power and gas suppliers.
Dedicates 30 percent of all UEZ sales tax revenues to respective UEZ account and 70 percent of UEZ sales tax revenues to General Fund.
Revises certain provisions of dental service corporation law.
Prohibits administration of standardized assessments in kindergarten through second grade.
"New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program Act"; establishes retirement savings program for certain workers.
Permits candidates for school board to circulate petitions jointly and be bracketed together on ballot; permits short nonpolitical designation of principles on petitions and ballots; provides for study of impact of changes.
Requires DCPP to implement policies and procedures to ensure caseworker safety; "Leah's Law." *
Clarifies stadiums and arenas owned by local government entities are exempt from property taxation.
In committee · 54
Prohibits retail mercantile establishments from imposing surcharges on consumer credit card purchases.
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.
Revises requirements related to public hearings on proposed public utility rate increases.
Requires public utilities to provide customers notice of request for increase in rates; revises requirements related to hearings on proposed rate increases.
Requires public utilities to mail customers detailed explanation of rate settlement agreements prior to final BPU vote.
Phases out estate tax over five-year period.
"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.
Allows application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Requires proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain certain benefits.
Revises law concerning ticket sales.
"Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to taxpayers contributing to scholarships for low-income children.
Requires certain commissions to maintain meeting minutes; establishes Governor's authority to approve or veto the minutes of those commissions.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office.
Revises "Contractors Registration Act" to include water remediation services.
Repeals the New Jersey estate tax.
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."
Allows gross income tax deduction for 50% of contributions of $100 or more to domestic violence shelters.
Removes statutory authority of DOH and Board of Medical Examiners over medical standards governing declarations of death upon the basis of neurological criteria.
Expands definition of "public building" for purposes of the CDS distribution laws.
Eliminates transfer inheritance taxes on brothers and sisters of a decedent.
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.
Allows adopted person or other authorized requester access to original birth certificate under certain circumstances.
Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding.
Requires school districts to employ a certain number of student assistance coordinators based on district enrollment.
Restores the death penalty for certain murders.
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.
Eliminates restriction on placement of special education students in sectarian schools.
Permits change in case manager for persons with developmental disabilities under certain circumstances.
Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and higher education institutions.
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."
Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.
Prohibits law enforcement agencies from considering number of arrests made and citations issued when evaluating police officer's professional performance.
Prohibits plea bargain if sex offender who committed Megan's Law offense would not be required to register.
Increases mandatory retirement age for Administrative Law Judges, Workers' Compensation Judges and county prosecutors from 70 to 75.
Requires health insurance carriers to reimburse network providers of diagnostic radiologic services at the same rate.
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.
Allows parent or guardian to exclude student from administration of certain assessments.
Imposes three-year moratorium on use of assessments developed by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers for certain purposes.
Implements certain governance and transparency reforms at PANYNJ.
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice services.
Establishes defense against exclusionary zoning litigation seeking builder's remedy.
Establishes procedures for boards of fire commissioners to move annual fire district elections to November, eliminates vote on fire district budgets, except for proposals to raise revenue above the permissible levy cap.
Provides governance, transparency, and accountability reforms at PANYNJ.
Regulates tethering of, and outdoor shelter for, dogs.
Refines five-month window established by Supreme Court begins after trial court establishes standards.
"Holocaust Reparations Tax Exemption Act"; exempts value of certain payments to Holocaust survivors and their eligible descendants from transfer inheritance and estate taxes.