Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, General Assembly.
Raj Mukherji
Sponsored
Became law3
"Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act."
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." **
Raises maximum workers' compensation fees for evaluating physicians.*
Vetoed1
Authorizes municipalities to facilitate private financing of water conservation, storm shelter construction, and flood and hurricane resistance projects through use of voluntary special assessments.*
Passed the General Assembly4
Provides for priority consideration, by DCA, DEP, DOT, and municipalities, of permit applications for green building projects.
Requires OAL to maintain Internet database summarizing all State rule-making actions.
Requires certain sanitation procedures for mattresses and product labeling regarding such procedures.
Requires persons who transport, store, or sell secondhand mattresses to encase mattresses with protective materials.
Out of committee8
Enhances penalty for leaving the scene of boating accident.
Prohibits import, sale, purchase, barter, or possession of ivory or rhinoceros horn and items containing ivory or rhinoceros horn, with limited exceptions.
Clarifies that definition of mental illness in law governing involuntary commitment to treatment includes substance use disorder if dangerous standard met.
Appropriates $22,463,000 in 2003 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects.*
Confers title of Acting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on certain judges of the Superior Court, Appellate Division, temporarily assigned to the Supreme Court.
Designates U.S. Route 22 bridge, Easton-Phillipsburg Toll Bridge, as "Sergeant William John Cahir Memorial Bridge."
"Volunteers in Public Service Pension Reform Act," allows municipal elected officials in PERS to retire based on other PERS service and remain in office with no salary or health care benefits for that office.
Clarifies DHS authority to regulate sober living homes and halfway houses as residential substance abuse aftercare facilities; requires background checks and other protections for residents of residential substance abuse facilities.
In committee20
The "Save the Hudson River Palisades Act."
Establishes de minimus levels for regulation of air contaminants and hazardous air pollutants, and directs DEP to establish de minimus levels for regulation of hazardous substances.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Establishes Rail Passenger Bill of Rights and authorizes Division of Consumer Affairs to enforce provisions.
Requires nursing homes to permit use of electronic monitoring devices at request of resident.
Authorizes Judiciary to revise or supplement filing and other 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.
Requires electric public utilities to implement flood mitigation plans for electric distribution substations and transfer stations in certain flood zones.
Increases amount of notice driver must receive for license suspension in certain cases and permits driver to provide proof of electronic payment for certain fines and penalties.
Requires posting of signs warning of presence of, and potential danger caused by, duckweed on water bodies in public parks.
Sets criteria for online learning provided to public school students.
"Digital Currency Jobs Creation Act."
Establishes "Veterans Affordable Housing Section 8 Voucher Pilot Program."
"Nail Salon Worker Protection Act."
Permits dogs in outdoor seating areas of restaurants under certain circumstances; codifies current requirements concerning live animals in food establishments.
Provides that teacher who commits act of sexual penetration with student 18 years old or older and less than 20 years old is guilty of sexual assault under certain circumstances.
Appropriates $12 million in constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Jersey City Reservoir property for recreation and conservation and historic preservation purposes.
Requires hospitals to establish sepsis recognition and treatment protocols.
Permits homeless to receive certified copy of birth certificate without fee.
Exempts homeless from fee for non-driver identification cards.
Prohibits certain steering and marketing practices involving dispensing of prescription drugs and drug samples.
Carried from the Senate
Became law5
Enhances penalty for leaving the scene of boating accident.
Appropriates $22,463,000 in 2003 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects.*
Prohibits import, sale, purchase, barter, or possession of ivory or rhinoceros horn and items containing ivory or rhinoceros horn, with limited exceptions.*
Designates U.S. Route 22 bridge, Easton-Phillipsburg Toll Bridge, as "Sergeant William John Cahir Memorial Bridge."
Requires certain sanitary and protective procedures for used mattresses.*
Vetoed1
Confers title of Acting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on certain judges of the Superior Court, Appellate Division, temporarily assigned to the Supreme Court.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 25
Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by disabled veterans.
Abigail's Law; requires that newly-manufactured school buses be equipped with sensors.
Permits child whose parent or guardian is ordered into active military service to remain enrolled in school district where child's parent or guardian resided prior to active military service.
Requires issuance of one free copy of a veteran's death certificate to certain authorized persons upon request.
Requires Division of Addiction Services to grant residential drug treatment program licenses to certain programs operating in State correctional facilities and county jails.
Prohibits sale, purchase, and possession of certain merchandise designed to conceal license plate to evade law enforcement.*
Concerns property taxes due and owing on real property damaged or destroyed during, or as the result of, a natural disaster when a state of emergency is declared by the Governor. *
Allows military personnel and veterans to present certain identifying documents in lieu of municipal beach tags to gain admission to certain beaches.
Revises the "Self-Funded Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Regulation Act."
"Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law"; permits minors to give consent for behavioral health care.
Amends definition of "Class II renewable energy."
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.*
Prohibits religious entities from engaging in certain practices involving cemeteries, funeral homes and mortuaries, memorials, mausoleums and burial vaults.
Requires development and maintenance of database to advise public about open bed availability in residential substance use disorders treatment facilities.
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.*
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.
Expands scope of law governing registration of security guards; designated as " Detective Vincent Santiago's Law." *
Permits holders of certain alcoholic beverage licenses to be issued amusement game license and updates definition of recognized amusement park.
Requires insurance producer licensing examination and registration materials to be offered in English and Spanish, and examination instructional materials to be available in Spanish.
Establishes task force to study issues related to sexual assault on college campuses.
"New Jersey Small Business Retirement Marketplace Act."*
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2016.
Extends use of stored driver's license picture for person undergoing chemotherapy or other treatment for certain medical illnesses.
Vetoed · 4
Requires each school district with middle school or high school to establish food services advisory committee to consider menu options that reflect students' cultural, traditional, and dietary preferences.*
Provides Medicaid coverage for advance care planning.
Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Extends by two months seasonal retail consumption alcoholic beverage license.
Passed the General Assembly · 17
Revises grades and sentencing determinations for certain controlled dangerous substances.**
Establishes "MarcAnthony's Law;" criminalizes use of defaced or stolen firearm to injure a police officer; enhances penalties for defacing a firearm.
Requires health benefits coverage for mammograms for women under 40 who lack access to family medical history due to their or their parent's adoption.
"Safe Motor Vehicle Rental Act"; prohibits rental companies from renting, leasing, or selling unrepaired motor vehicles which are subject to safety recall.*
Authorizes Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation for child in proceedings after parental rights have been terminated.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish a communication and incentive plan to encourage re-enrollment in college; requires Statewide reverse transfer agreement.
Requires teacher preparation program for instuctional certificate to include certain amount of instruction or clinical experience in special education and for students with disabilities endorsement to include credit hours in autism spectrum disorder.**
Directs Attorney General to establish a criminal firearms recovery clearing house.
Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act; Provides income tax credit to family caregivers of certain armed service members with physical disabilities.
Requires annual notice of assessment on property to contain bolded notice of filing deadline for appeal.
Clarifies that piercing or tattooing animals constitutes needless mutilation and animal cruelty.
Clarifies that corporate directors may approve actions without a meeting by electronic transmission.
"Disaster Victims Protection Act"; requires Governor to allocate federal and State disaster aid to municipalities in proportion to amount of catastrophic physical damage sustained within each municipality.
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice services.*
Extends post-military service protection against mortgage foreclosure.
Requires DMAVA to develop online historic tour identifying locations of war battles and places of significance to war efforts in State. *
Establishes Small Business Unit and Small Business Task Force within Business Action Center in Department of State.
Out of committee · 57
Authorizes hiring preference for veterans in non-civil service jurisdictions.
Provides protections for individuals with developmental disabilities through accountability and transparency; designated as "Stephen Komninos' Law."
Revises statutes regarding practice of physical therapy.
Implements constitutional amendment providing for pretrial detention of certain criminal defendants; establishes non-monetary bail alternatives for release; authorizes Judiciary to revise fees for certain legal programs and services.*
Stipulates that retail motor fuel dealers shall not be responsible for certain fees associated with credit, debit and rewards cards.
Designates New Jersey Big Data Alliance as State's advanced cyberinfrastructure consortium.
Establishes "College Affordability Study Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations to increase the affordability of higher education in New Jersey.
Concerns earned sick leave.
Directs the collection of recidivism data for adults sentenced to a period of probation.
Establishes one-year moratorium on replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with wireless telephone service; requires BPU to report to Governor and Legislature. *
"Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act"; enhances film and digital media tax credits, revises and expands tax credit eligibility requirements, and requires EDA to study development of film studio at North Jersey location.*
Directs State Board of Agriculture and Dept. of Agriculture to adopt regulations concerning confinement of pregnant sows during gestation.
Establishes publicly accessible domestic violence Internet registry.
Designates Black Swallowtail butterfly as State Butterfly.
Establishes crimes of dog fighting and leader of a dog fighting network, and updates crime of animal fighting; amends RICO concerning dog fighting.**
Revises certain provisions of New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program.***
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support autism programs.
Requires Commissioner of DCA to promulgate rules and regulations providing for veterans' affordable housing assistance preference.*
Requires disclosure of all fees and charges associated with prepaid debit cards on the package of such cards.
Requires certain information regarding Down syndrome be provided to certain parents and families.
Establishes additional requirements, and penalties for failure to comply, concerning information to be provided to persons purchasing cats or dogs from pet shops. *
Concerns attorney fees for workers' compensation awards.
Establishes a partial return to work TDI program.
Creates Task Force on Construction Industry Workplace Safety and Health.
Concerns UI benefits for claimants who leave work to accept other work and are laid off from subsequent work.
Eliminates consumer data collection requirements for certain gift cards.
Regulates pharmacy benefits managers and requires certain disclosures concerning multiple source generic drug pricing.
Provides for issuance of certificate of rehabilitation to certain offenders with substance abuse disorders.
Allows certain students including undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria to qualify for State student financial aid programs.
Partially repeals prohibitions, permits, licenses, and authorizations concerning wagers on professional, collegiate or amateur sport contests or athletic events.*
Requires review of Core Curriculum Content Standards to ensure guidence for substance abuse instruction provided to public school students incorporates most recent evidence-based standards and practices.*
Directs poison control and drug information program to establish clearinghouse of drug overdose information, report on trends, and provide education on safe storage and disposal of medications; appropriates $500,000.
Requires Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to annually prepare substance use treatment provider performance report, and make available to public.*
Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services; designated as the Mental Health Access Act.*
Directs certain four-year public institutions of higher education to establish substance abuse recovery housing program.
Requires establishment of processes to identify Medicaid eligible incarcerated individuals who are awaiting pre-trail release determinations, are being released following period of incarceration, or are undergoing inpatient hospital treatment. *
Requires DHS and DOC to formulate joint arrangement and plan to ensure provision of mental health and substance use disorder services to inmates. *
Permits successful completion of special probation drug court program notwithstading use of medication-assisted treatment.*
Requires certain DOC, county, and municipal prison physicians to acquire certain training.
Designates State Highway Route No. 35 bridge between Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach as "Veterans of All Wars Memorial Bridge."
Establishes insurance and safety requirements for companies that use digital network or software application to match passengers with drivers.*
Concerns expedited process for foreclosing vacant and abandoned residential properties in uncontested actions.*
Requires DOT to include certain tourist-oriented facilities in New Jersey Delaware Bayshore in Tourist Oriented Directional Sign Program.
Upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault if committed against certain law enforcement officers and employees because of job status.
Expands category of lists from which a single juror source list is compiled to include recipients of cash assistance or food stamps.
Regulates use of motor vehicle payment assurance devices.*
Prohibits certain possession, sale, offering for sale, trade or distribution of shark fins.
Permits group self-insurance plans for, and collective bargaining agreements improving the provision of, workers' compensation.
Establishes temporary mortgage relief programs for certain owners of real property impacted by "Superstorm Sandy."*
Prohibits tourist helicopter operations in New Jersey.
Establishes requirements for training programs for homemaker-home health aides in care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.*
Establishes the "New Jersey Safe and Responsible Driver Act."*
Makes fraudulent use of social security number to collect lottery winnings crime of fourth degree.
Establishes minimum certified nurse aide-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.*
Provides that criminal history record checks for employees of nonpublic schools are mandatory and requires staff if formerly-exempt child care centers to undergo child abuse and criminal backround checks.*
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
Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program.
In committee · 88
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.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Imposes restrictions concerning Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission commissioners, officers, and employees regarding employment, gifts, and compensation.
"New Jersey Venture Investment and Employment Program Act;" establishes program under NJ EDA to provide for qualified investments of capital in qualified businesses.
Establishes a cybersecurity investment incentive tax credit program.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Establishes a loan redemption program for public school teachers who meet certain academic requirements and teach Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subjects or special education.
Imposes time constraints on submission and analysis of rape kits.
Establishes pilot program to utilize value-based benefit design in SHBP to increase health benefits coverage for certain employees concerning chronic health conditions.
Regulates certain practices of pharmacy benefits management companies.
"Higher Education Citizenship Equality Act;" defines domicile for dependent students for the purpose of eligibility for State student loans, grants, or scholarships and resident tuition rate.
The "Green Building and Infrastructure Tax Credit Act"; provides tax credits for certain green buildings and wood utility poles.
Redirects vehicle surcharge revenues for Autism Medical Research and Treatment Fund to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental delays and disabilities enrolled in the Early Childhood Intervention Program.
Extends alternate route police training certification for military personnel for time deployed.
Requires MVC to provide Gold Star Family decals to certain family members of armed services members who died while on active duty.
Recognizes same-sex marriages entered into outside the State.
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.
Requires coverage of medication therapy management in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare.
Permits veteran's property tax deduction for tax year when veteran was previously qualified to receive deduction and became owner of real property after October 1 of pretax year.
Creates new offenses and penalties regarding animal fighting.
Requires Commissioner of Corrections to institute 15-minute shift overlap in State correctional facilities.
Requires retail pharmacies to stock and dispense emergency contraception.
Establishes compensation program for State and juvenile corrections officers and parole officers injured while performing official duties.
Reduces thresholds for certain heroin offenses.
Eliminates presumption of non-imprisonment for theft of a firearm.
Requires written residential leases to be provided in both English and Spanish in certain municipalities.
Allows firms, designated as qualified UEZ businesses, that experience economic hardship to lower employment levels without losing that designation.
Allows persons on parole and probation to vote; provides registration assistance to persons on probation, parolees, and persons completing sentences.
"Disaster Information Access Act"; requires utility service providers to report severe weather and emergency related service interruptions; directs utility service providers and State Office of Emergency Management to present reported information online a
Establishes approval process for proposed offshore wind energy projects and certain benefits to facilitate development of offshore wind energy.
Establishes "School Bus Safety and Child Protection Act;" requires periodic criminal background checks for certain school employees; and prohibits interference with school bus monitoring devices.
Eliminates restriction on placement of special education students in sectarian schools.
Establishes "Opioid Abuse Prevention Commission."
Permits creation of local hire programs for public work contracts of political subdivisions.
Categorizes "knockout game" assault as third-degree aggravated assault; eliminates presumption of nonimprisonment for such assault.
"Medicare Advantage Disclosure Act," requires health plans to notify subscribers of differences between plan benefits and original Medicare.
Revises exemption from "unemployment compensation law" for operators of certain motor vehicles.
Excludes certain Medicaid income from gross income tax.
Requires fire suppression systems in all elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger.
Requires every State contract to establish fixed price for purchase of goods or services under contract.
Authorizes the EDA to issue additional $50,000,000 in bonds to provide grants for certain county vocational school district facilities projects and increases debt service district aid percentage for such projects.
Provides gross income tax deduction for costs of certain green home improvements that increase building systems resiliency.
Allows gross income tax credit for contributions to nonprofit public school support organizations.
Prohibits submission of New Jersey license plate information to national photo ticketing system or other states for certain purposes.
Requires school districts, nonpublic schools, and institutions of higher education to report allegations of sexual assault to law enforcement.
Permits municipalities to set amount of developer contribution to affordable housing trust funds in exchange for certain tax abatements.
Requires call box installations along certain waterfronts, funded by red light camera surcharges.
Directs MVC to establish permit and safety requirements for companies that use online application program to match passengers with drivers.
Permits municipalities to adopt ordinances to require certain owners to pay for continuous police patrol of residential rental multiple dwellings located in high-crime areas.
Establishes crimes of dog fighting and leader of a dog fighting network; amends RICO to add leader of a dog fighting network.
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 distribution of homestead benefits on or before October 31 of the State fiscal year during which an appropriation is made.
Requires health care practitioners to inform patients of addiction potential of controlled dangerous substances prior to issuing prescription.
Makes FY 2015 supplemental appropriation to DHS for $5 million for substance abuse prevention, and requires substance abuse prevention programs to be evidence-based.
Establishes remote medical consultation assistance grant program in DOH.
Concerns medical imaging technology licensure; provides licensing of magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
Prohibits certain credit card issuers from reporting student credit card holders to credit reporting agencies for 90 days following missing payment.
Assesses additional fee for traffic control device violations and dedicates those funds to "Careless Aggressive Reckless (C.A.R.) Driver Awareness Campaign Fund."
Requires newly-constructed multiple dwellings with six or more residential units to install standby generators to provide electricity in case of emergency.
Authorizes grandparents to obtain certified copies of death certificates of grandchildren.
Subjects county and municipal sewerage authority service rate increases to approval by Board of Public Utilities.
Requires Secretary of State to provide online voter registration up to 48 hours before election; authorizes use of digitized signatures from New Jersey MVC's database.
"Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act."
Establishes "Delaware River Port Authority and Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Consolidation Commission."
Permits Governor to notify local governments to fly United States and State flags at half-staff upon death of member of Armed Forces of United States or National Guard who was State resident.
Authorizes executive county superintendent of schools to require implementation of shared services arrangements.
Permits certain school districts to be monitored by DOE under the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum every six years; requires development of electronic reporting system.
Directs the Department of Corrections to advise new inmates of child support obligations and modification procedures.
Requires use of bear-resistant containers, dumpsters, or food boxes in certain areas located in black bear habitat under certain circumstances, including garbage collection, and prohibits certain actions that would result in feeding of black bears.
Limits authority of court to order one or both parents to pay post-high school education expenses on behalf of a child if both parents agree that they will not pay such expenses.
Requires fire suppression and alarm systems in certain group homes.
Establishes "Hazardous Drug Safe Handling Act;" requires DOLWD to promulgate standards and regulations concerning safe handling of hazardous drugs by health care personnel.
Imposes certain registration and reporting requirements to prevent illegal trade of tigers.
Requires public agency responding to record request to redact information contained in accident report, except for drivers' names and diagram of accident.
Allows NJ gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions of food made from business inventory.
Reduces helicopter operations at certain aviation facilities licensed by State.
Regulates pharmacy benefits management companies.
Allows businesses due to receive grant under Business Employment Incentive Program to elect to receive corporate or gross income tax credit if grant funds are not available.
Concerns rights of Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission employees.
"Drama therapists and Dance/Movement Therapists Licensing Act."
Dedicates five percent of cigarette tax revenue to anti-smoking initiatives.
Imposes prevailing wage for public work on properties receiving tax abatements or exemptions.
Provides dedicated funding for promotion of apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs from Workforce Development Partnership Fund.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses which employ eligible apprentices.
Filed · 1
Partially repeals prohibitions against sports wagering at racetracks and casinos in New Jersey.