Bills in the 2012–2013 Session, General Assembly.
Nancy F. Muñoz
Sponsored
Became law1
Directs hospitals to establish protocols for dispatch and patient transport by specialty care transportation units used for inter-facility transfers.
Passed the General Assembly4
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.*
Concerns sale of cemetery, grave, monument and historical markers. *
Restricts access to motor vehicle accident reports under certain circumstances.*
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act": imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances.**
Out of committee5
Prohibits first responders from photographing persons being assisted or disclosing photographs of such persons without their consent.
Revises penalties for animal cruelty, increasing degree of certain offenses; designated as Patrick's Law.
Provides exemption from 3-day cancellation provision of home improvement contract in case of bona fide emergency.
Increases penalties for harboring or concealing certain sex offender.*
Upgrades crime of soliciting or recruiting for criminal street gang while on school property.
In committee68
Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding.
Removes license suspension penalty for persons with only one outstanding parking fine; permits Motor Vehicle Commission to refuse registration to persons with outstanding parking fine.
Provides for mandatory forfeiture of retirement benefits of elected official convicted of crime involving office held.
Imposes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment and forfeiture of pension and retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of crimes involving or touching their office or employment.
Clarifies that permitting sexual abusers to reside with a child constitutes endangering welfare of a child.
"Judy and Nikki's Law"; provides for life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of murder of a child 16 years of age or younger.
Provides immunity from civil liability to anyone who in good faith uses an automated external defibrillator in an emergency.
"Highway Accident Property Tax Relief Act;" requires State to reimburse municipalities for costs of providing certain emergency services.
Exempts senior citizens, disabled persons, and veterans from E-ZPass account monthly service charge.
Exempts from sales tax certain sales by or to any senior citizens club organized for pleasure, recreation, or other nonprofitable purposes.
Expands eligibility under the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act by broadening certain municipal qualifier provisions.
Excludes certain federal employee Thrift Savings Fund contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Upgrades the disorderly persons offense of desecration of a venerated object to a crime of the third degree if the object desecrated is a military monument.
Provides that public employee pension benefits are calculated on base salary exclusive of various forms of extra compensation.
Allows judgment for restitution of stolen public funds to be levied against convicted employee's retirement allowance or pension contributions.
Requires sex offender's tier designation to be completed and reviewed by the court prior to release from incarceration.
Directs Attorney General to publicize information about human trafficking hotlines; mandates law enforcement training on responding to the needs of victims of the crime of human trafficking.
Increases and indexes maximum homestead property tax deduction under gross income tax.
Allocates nondedicated portion of State realty transfer fee collections to municipal property tax relief.
Permits eligible claimant who is proportionate owner paying entire property tax bill to collect entire homestead property tax reimbursement amount.
"One Strike, You're Ours;" adds use of Internet as aggravating factor in child sex crimes and requires lifetime electronic monitoring of offender.
Bars direct solicitation letters from attorneys to accident victims and other persons.
Requires breath or blood test in motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians.
Requires hospitals to maintain passive audio or visual mechanism for alerting emergency department staff to presence of non-ambulance vehicles containing patients.
Grants discretion to Parole Board in determining whether inmate should be released on parole.
Appropriates $5 million to Cranford Township for flood control projects.
Provides credit under corporation business tax and gross income tax for costs of electric power infrastructure for use by heavy duty vehicles to reduce idling times.
Prohibits service repair contractors from charging hourly rates for travel time.
Reduces period of time that member of Legislature may be absent, without excuse, before member's seat is deemed vacant.
Permits advanced practice nurses to certify person as handicapped for purposes of handicapped parking.
Requires DOT to create map showing refueling facilities where alternative fuel is dispensed.
Requires DOT to construct noise barriers on Interstate 78.
Establishes cross-acceptance of local master plans; intermunicipal review of certain development applications.
Creates housing purchase matching grant program for reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and the New Jersey National Guard who have served in certain military operations; appropriates $2,000,000.
Permits municipal board of library commissioners to reduce library tax rate when municipality acquires new ratables.
Mandates that gift cards and certificates be redeemable at full value in perpetuity; places requirements on establishments accepting store gift cards.
Prohibits DOT from entering into certain contracts concerning short-line freight rail services.
Requires that sexual abuse against a child be reported to law enforcement officials.
Requires sellers of used motor vehicles to complete and submit form.
Establishes right of way for funeral processions.
Creates housing purchase matching grant program for members of United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard who have served in certain military operations.
Imposes surcharge on motor vehicle offenses to fund upgraded electronic systems for police vehicles.
Requires persons under age 17 to wear helmets when operating non-motorized scooters.
Establishes guidelines for operating authorized emergency vehicles in emergency situations.
Requires all prison commissary profits be turned over to Victims of Crime Compensation Office.
Requires recalls on motor vehicles to be repaired prior to sale.
Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to develop online historic tour identifying locations of war battles and places of significance to war efforts in NJ.
Changes restrictions on certain county or municipal stream cleaning activities.
Establishes 24-hour hotline for information concerning the crime of human trafficking; appropriates $75,000.
Requires HMOs that contract with DHS to reimburse hospitals for emergency services based on cost of those services.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
Establishes "Prescription Drug Labeling Task Force."
Provides free tuition at public institutions of higher education for surviving spouses and dependent children of military personnel killed in performance of duties.
Bars certain employees of certain public agencies from participating in PERS; repeals law permitting PERS and TPAF members on leave who work for labor organization to purchase pension credit.
Provides that subcontractors who furnish non-specialty trade work shall not be named in local public bid documents.
Exempts homestead from attachment in medical malpractice judgment.
Prohibits insurers from raising medical malpractice liability insurance premiums under certain circumstances.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" imposes mandatory term of 25 years to life for aggravated sexual assault against a child under 13 and increases penalties for harboring certain sex offenders.
Establishes process for county colleges to offer baccalaureate degree nursing programs.
"Consumer Access to Health Care Act"; eliminates requirement of joint protocol with physician for advanced practice nurses to prescribe medication.
Requires assisted living residences and certain facilities under DCA, DCF, and DHS to be equipped with standby emergency power generators.
Requires suspension of member of Legislature indicted for certain crimes or offenses that, upon conviction, require forfeiture of office.
Requires emergency action plans for delivery of oxygen to patient residences during public health emergency.
Adds two nurse educators to the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
Creates commission to study effectiveness of county government; appropriates $95,000.
Prevents county park facility from having primary purpose of hosting private events.
Limits length of contracts for annual county and municipal audits to five years.
Provides for screening newborn infants for genetic mutations associated with hereditary hemochromatosis.
Carried from the Senate
Became law3
Prohibits first responders from photographing persons being assisted or disclosing photographs of such persons without their consent.*
Revises penalties for animal cruelty, increasing degree of certain offenses; designated as Patrick's Law.
Upgrades crime of soliciting or recruiting for criminal street gang while on school property.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 15
"Kulesh and Kubert's, and Bolis Law;" establishes violation of hands-free cell phone law as reckless under vehicular homicide and assault by auto statutes.*
Revises privileges of limited and restricted breweries.*
Extends expiration date of certain permits pursuant to the "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
"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.*
Alex DeCroce's Law; enhances crime victims' rights under the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights."
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2013.
The "Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act."
Requires development of a diabetes action plan by DOH.
Establishes School Security Task Force.*
Appropriates $38.5 million from "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants.
Codifies protections set forth in certain case law and limits use of eminent domain under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law."
"The New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013."**
Creates crime of cyber-harassment.
Appropriates $1,393,084 from 2009 Historic Preservation Fund to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Establishes "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" telephone helpline.
Passed the General Assembly · 10
Creates a civil "rape shield" law.
Dedesignates portions of Route 24.
Increases contribution limit by counties and municipalities to volunteer first aid, ambulance, and rescue squads.
Revises law concerning ticket sales.
Establishes crimes of dog fighting and leader of a dog fighting network; amends RICO to add leader of a dog fighting network.
Requires schools to maintain supply of epinephrine and permit administration of epinephrine to any student having anaphylactic reaction.
Clarifies that first aid, ambulance or rescue squads, as entities, have immunity from civil damages in certain circumstances.
Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
Establishes compensation limits for licensed public adjusters during certain emergencies.
Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of a residence to a second degree crime under certain circumstances.
Out of committee · 25
Provides immunity from civil liability to certain individuals who acquire or use an automated external defibrillator.
Establishes and enhances certain insurance fraud prevention measures.
Increases fine and imposes license suspension for talking or texting on hand-held device while driving.
Permits attending advanced practice nurse to determine cause of death and execute death certificate of patient if nurse is patient's primary care giver.*
Provides loan redemption for certain physicians who work in State four years.*
Provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of services performed to certain prewritten computer software delivered electronically.*
"New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act."
Establishes standards of practice for providers of clinical nursing services for medically fragile students.*
Immunizes from civil liability first responders who forcibly enter property to provide emergency assistance.
Prohibits State and local public contracts with persons or entities engaging in certain investment activities in energy or finance sectors of Iran.*
Permits health care providers to report certain patient health problems to MVC.
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 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2013.
Criminalizes second or subsequent drunk driving offenses in certain cases.
The "Bio-based Heating Oil Act."
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.
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA to issue State flag to resident enrolling in federal service academy.
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." *
"Higher Education Epinephrine Emergency Treatment Act."
Designates State Highway Route 53 as "Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway."
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Concerns assessment of penalties for certain fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and requires recovered penalties deposited into unemployment compensation fund.
Allows practitioner with financial interest in health care service providing lithotripsy to refer patients to that health care service if certain conditions are met.
Provides for development and implementation of State trauma system.
In committee · 130
Requires suspension of local elected and appointed officers and employees indicted for certain offenses that, upon conviction, require forfeiture of office or position.
Prohibits sex offenders from entering school property.
Exempts volunteer fire companies from charitable registration fees.
Revises child pornography law.
Requires hiring preference for veterans in non-civil service jurisdictions.
Increases membership of PFRS board of trustees from 11 to 13 members.
Requires life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of the murder of a minor under the age of 18 in the course of the commission of a sex crime.
Amends Kyleigh's Law to remove requirement that holder of a special learner's permit, examination permit, and probationary driver's license display decal.
Establishes $100 to $500 fine for owner of animal which attacks, injures, or otherwise interferes with law enforcement animals, search and rescue dogs, or service dogs; designated as "Dusty's Law."
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.
Authorizes special plate for holders of "Combat Action Ribbon."
Excludes military compensation of military personnel serving outside of this State from gross income tax.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Denies custody and visitation rights to minor child by family members of individuals convicted of certain crimes.
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."
Prohibits sale of products containing dextromethorphan to minors under 18 years of age.
Makes various statutory changes to "Child Care Licensing Act."
Requires each hospital board of trustees to adopt a written policy governing conflicts of interest.
Establishes new crimes concerning service dogs and upgrades crimes against certain other animals.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Requires third-party disbursement service organization that contracts with local government unit or board of education to post bond against failure to meet obligations.
Requires newly licensed registered professional nurse to attain baccalaureate degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure.
Provides that 20% of fee charged for initial certified copy of birth certificate shall be used to support certain activities of NJ Cord Blood Bank.
Extends veterans' property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
Creates new offense of theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person.
Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
Requires prosecutor to determine risk of re-offense under Megan's Law prior to offender's release from incarceration.
Requires reduction in number of State employees to FY2000 level; establishes procedure to control creation of new State positions and filling of vacancies.
Ends the transitional energy facilities assessment, caps the State use portion of State energy tax revenues and ensures the balance of such State revenues are paid annually as municipal aid.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website.
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Suspends pension of any retired public employee who resumes public employment with compensation more than $15,000.
Revises New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act and other laws relating thereto.
"The New Jersey Healthcare Choice Act"; permits health insurers licensed in other states to provide coverage in New Jersey under certain circumstances.
Authorizes the establishment of probationary periods for nontenured faculty members at State colleges.
Authorizes special "We Support the Arts" license plates with proceeds to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Requires health insurers to cover oral anticancer medications on no less favorable basis than intravenous anticancer medications.
"Revised State Medical Examiner Act"; establishes Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner in DHSS.
Authorizes "Proud to Be an American" license plate with proceeds to veterans' and emergency management organizations.
Expands DNA database to include samples from certain arrestees; designated "Katie's Law."
Requires the State Police to establish a recently relocated offenders section within the Megan's Law sex offender Internet registry.
Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits.
Provides a plan to rebalance State resources to provide community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities.
Provides credit against ambulatory care facility assessment liability for value of unreimbursed care provided to hospital charity care patients.
Exempts military personnel receiving combat zone pay from the gross income tax.
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Allows planning and zoning board members to satisfy training requirements on Internet.
Criminalizes participation in criminal street gang.
Revises law concerning meetings of public bodies.
Provides public servant is guilty of official misconduct if he knowingly obtains, arranges or provides "no-show" job for himself or another.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Allows pension calculation to be based on compensation increase in excess of actuarially assumed experience only if employer pays unfunded liability.
Repeals State inheritance taxes.
Permits historic motor vehicles to be used for pleasure driving one day per week.
Permits board of education to accept donations for purpose of providing property tax relief.
Permits municipal police officers to make arrests for any disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense outside the territorial limits of their municipality.
Establishes crime of participation in criminal street gang initiation ritual.
Expands duties of State Auditor to include performance audits at request of legislator; establishes Performance Audit Committee, consisting of eight public members, to help conduct performance audits.
Requires employers to provide time off from work for members of certain volunteer organizations to respond to fires under certain conditions.
Grants immunity from civil liability to persons reporting information concerning crimes related to terrorism.
Phases out estate tax over five-year period.
Requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes.
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Requires health care facilities to report certain information about their health care staff to their respective professional boards or DHSS.
Prohibits use of emergency warning lights or other insignia to impersonate law enforcement officer; prohibits sale of these lights to unauthorized persons and increases penalties for unauthorized use.
Enters New Jersey in Nurse Multistate Licensure Compact.
Prohibits posting of certain personal information on the Internet or misrepresentation of identity on the Internet for the purpose of harassment of a minor child.
Prohibits payment of temporary disability benefits to incarcerated individuals.
Limits unused sick leave pay and vacation leave carry-forward for school and local employees; permits local unit to pay certain benefits over 10 years; limits sick leave use by public employee before retirement.
Limits certain unused sick leave pay and vacation leave carry-forward for school and local employees; limits sick leave use by new public employees before retirement.
Permits water supply service and sewerage service sub-metering in multi-family dwellings to promote water conservation.
Prohibits good faith allegations of child abuse from being used against the accuser in a child custody proceeding; makes it a disorderly persons offense to file a false allegation of child abuse.
Permits high performing school districts to be monitored by the DOE under the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJ QSAC) every seven years rather than every three years.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Permits boards of education to convey certain school property to nonprofit senior citizen organizations for nominal consideration.
Requires DHS to establish training, educational assessment, and remedial instruction programs, and minimum educational standards for staff at State psychiatric hospitals.
Prohibits dual elective office holding and holding of elective office and public office or position.
Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain seasonal workers.
'"Invest in New Jersey First' Act;" requires preference in awarding certain contracts for critical infrastructure projects.
Prohibits payment to public employees at retirement for certain unused sick leave, provides for forfeiture of payment for unused sick leave for certain criminal convictions, and requires documentation for use of sick leave.
Allows qualifying counties and municipalities to become "agriculture development counties" and "agriculture development municipalities" and provides certain associated resulting benefits therefrom to encourage, protect, and preserve agriculture and relat
Requires condominium and homeowners' associations to provide information to federal home loan insurance providers at no cost to potential buyers.
Establishes criminal penalties for killing, injuring or interfering with a guide dog; designated as "Dusty's Law."
"Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to taxpayers contributing to scholarships for low-income children.
"Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to entities contributing to scholarships for low-income children; appropriates $1,500,000 to Treasury.
Requires assisted living residences to have standby emergency power generators.
Requires certain user fees for the provision of traditional municipal services to be included within the 2% municipal and county property tax levy cap.
Repeals traffic control signal monitoring system pilot program; prohibits future use of red light cameras in State.
Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests.
Makes all persons convicted of sexual assault subject to the No Early Release Act; specifies that any use of force elevates sexual assault to aggravated sexual assault.
Specifies failure to restrain a cat, dog, or other domestic companion animal while the animal is riding in a motor vehicle is not cruel or inhumane transport.
Prohibits information from certain medical malpractice claims from being used by employers or medical malpractice insurers.
Reduces gross income tax rates by 10 percent over three years.
"The Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act of 2012"; requires public utilities to file certain information concerning emergency preparedness with BPU and increases certain penalties.
Lengthens amber light at traffic signal with red light camera; sets penalty for failing to stop before turning right on red when detected by red light camera; implements half-second delay for red light camera violations.
Adjusts the business employment incentive program to allow certain small medical practices to qualify for program participation.
Establishes threats of violence against prosecutors, law enforcement officers and their family members as a second degree crime, subject to the No Early Release Act sentencing.
Requires eligibility checklist and audit for enrollment in PERS of certain public employees who provide professional services; imposes fine on certifying officer or supervisor for ineligible enrollments.
Requires retail motor fuel dealer to use generator during power outage.
Upgrades penalties for certain crimes committed during a state of emergency.
Prohibits multiple coverage for public employer health care benefits as employee, dependent, or retiree.
Makes certain access changes to open public records act; establishes State public finance website and creates program for development of local websites; makes appropriation.
Includes payday lending as a violation of the consumer fraud act.
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."
Provides that Good Samaritans are not required to pay for ambulance service if injured while rendering emergency care.
Increases penalties for contractors who victimize clients during states of emergency.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for development of Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Provides that crime victims do not have to pay fees to obtain government records and that requests for records are not public information.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures.
Enacts the "NJ Family First Employer Act"; establishes award for certain employers.
Requires public utility requesting rate increase to hold public hearings in every county.
"Direct Tax Relief for New Jersey Families Act"; Establishes the New Jersey Direct Property Tax Relief Program; increases the renter's gross income tax credit for property taxes; and increases the earned income tax credit.
Revises various provisions of Megan's Law and enhances penalties for certain violations.
Establishes special license plates supporting American Red Cross.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
Prohibits improper release of photographs or videos captured by public entities.
Prohibits governmental collection of biometric identifiers without consent.
Imposes criminal penalties for illegally obtaining or disclosing personally identifiable health information.
Increases penalties for the unlawful disclosure or use of taxpayer information by State tax officials.
Requires court to deny defendant's right to copy or reproduce images of child pornography as part of discovery.
Provides for disclosure of person's medical records related to AIDS or HIV infection for investigations or prosecutions of crime of diseased person committing act of sexual penetration; makes crime ineligible for expungment.
Establishes pilot project to install global positioning system (GPS) devices on certain State vehicles.
Establishes best practices for procurement and payment of legal services by local governments and school districts.
Establishes Park Prescription Program authorizing medical practitioners to prescribe free State park access passes to patients with obesity-related conditions.
Requires driver's license to display license holder's blood type.
Requires driver's license examination to include questions on distracted driving; makes it a violation for motorists to talk or text on hand-held wireless devices while vehicle is temporarily stopped.
Clarifies "knockout game" assault as third-degree aggravated assault; provides mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for such assault.