Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Stephen M. Sweeney
Sponsored
Became law12
Establishes "College Affordability Study Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations to increase the affordability of higher education in New Jersey.
Exempts certain temporary farm structures from permit and transition area requirements of "Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act."
Provides that school districts must ensure that students with disabilities have opportunities to participate in athletic activities equal to those of other students.
Removes presumption of nonimprisionment in certain assault cases involving domestic violence victims; expands criminal coercion statute; revises Pretrial Intervention procedures in certain criminal cases.*
Creates "Fishing Buddy License."
Reduces membership of Rutgers board of trustees and eliminates dual membership on Rutgers board of trustees and Rutgers board of governors.
Authorizes establishment of Achieving a Better Life Experience accounts for persons with certain disabilities.**
Establishes vocational training pilot program in DOC; provides for inmate compensation for education and workforce training participation.
Increases efficiency and transparency in distribution of Superstorm Sandy aid money.
Requires filing of financial agreement for long term tax exemption with county finance officer and counsel; requires quarterly payment of county share of payment in lieu of tax.
Limits increase in annual budget requests of certain county entities.
Establishes a process to integrate certain health data and other data from publicly supported programs for population health research.*
Vetoed12
Concerns certain workers' compensation supplemental benefits.
Establishes the "Superstorm Sandy Bill of Rights."
Gives priority in training programs to long-term unemployed.
Requires use of goods made in the United States for public contracts; requires disclosures by businesses that receive public contracts or development assistance.**
Revises certain laws governing police and fire interest arbitration; extends two-percent cap on base salary awards.
Requires Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to use certain products manufactured in U.S.
Requires Delaware River and Bay Authority to use certain products manufactured in U.S.
Requires PANYNJ to use certain products manufactured in US.
Requires DRPA to use certain products manufactured in U.S.
Permits public-private partnership agreements for certain building and highway infrastructure projects; provides for EDA oversight.
Makes FY 2015 supplemental State appropriations totaling $300,000,000 for prepayment of portion of FY 2016 employer contributions to State-administered public employee defined benefit retirement systems.
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 Senate5
Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ's required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
The "New Jobs for New Jersey Act."
Eliminates requirement that at least one of two licenses issued under small-scale and staged casino facility pilot program must be staged casino facility license; permits these facilities to be located in renovated buildings.
Increases the number of voting members of the board of governors of Rutgers University from 15 to19 members.
Disallows tax deduction under corporation business tax and gross income tax for punitive damages paid in connection with legal action; includes amount paid as punitive damages on behalf of taxpayer in income for tax purposes.
Out of committee28
Concerns rights of Delaware River and Bay Authority employees.
Requires State plan for expenditure of Superstorm Sandy federal aid contain certain provisions for equitable and transparent distribution of aid.
Makes membership in New Jersey Council of County Colleges optional.
Imposes a one-year fifteen percent surcharge on Corporation Business Tax liabilities.
Raises the gross income tax rate on taxable income exceeding $1,000,000 to 10.75 percent for a temporary three-year-period and restores the State earned income tax credit to 25 percent of the federal credit.
Adjusts and clarifies certain State tax compliance standards and restricts certain State tax benefits.
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.
Provides for licensure of chiropractic assistants.
Prohibits religious entities from engaging in certain practices involving cemeteries, funeral homes and mortuaries, memorials, mausoleums and burial vaults.
Establishes four-year pilot program in Ocean County for electronic monitoring of certain domestic violence offenders; designated as "Lisa's Law"; appropriates $2.5 million. *
Allows charitable assets set aside from the sale of a nonprofit hospital to a for-profit entity to be allocated to a successor nonprofit hospital acquiring the for-profit hospital.
"Casino Property Taxation Stabilization Act."
Requires holder of casino license to provide certain employees with certain health care and retirement benefits.
Authorizes supplemental State aid to school districts in municipality with significant decrease in commercial property valuation; makes appropriation.
Reallocates casino investment alternative tax to Atlantic City to pay debt service on municipal bonds issued.
Removes provisions of law relating to Atlantic City Alliance.
Establishes animal importer registration, and animal grooming facility and animal training facility licenses; establishes requirements for animal importers, animal grooming facilities, and animal training facilities and penalties for certain violations.
"New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program Act"; establishes retirement savings program for certain workers.
Clarifies and revises certain aspects of the "Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act."
Raises the gross income tax rate on taxable income exceeding $1,000,000 to 10.75 percent for a temporary four-year-period and restores the State earned income tax credit to 25 percent of the federal credit.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2016.
Extends by two months seasonal retail consumption alcoholic beverage license.**
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2016.
Requires DCPP to implement policies and procedures to ensure caseworker safety; "Leah's Law." *
Removes presumption of non-imprisonment when drunk drivers commit assault by auto resulting in serious bodily injury.
Establishes Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board and certification program for child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams; appropriates $10 million.
Clarifies stadiums and arenas owned by local government entities are exempt from property taxation.
Realigning the transfer inheritance tax payment due date to coincide with the payment due dates for State and federal estate taxes.
In committee13
Encourages sharing of services; makes appropriations.
Establishes the New Jersey Direct Property Tax Relief Program by providing a property tax relief credit under the gross income tax and increasing the current gross income tax credit for homestead property taxes.
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.
Requires executive county superintendent to designate a county special services school district, jointure commission, or educational services commission as the county education services agency to assist local school districts in sharing services.
Establishes county-based centers for transition for young adults with developmental disabilities.
Requires certain user fees for the provision of traditional municipal services to be included within the 2% municipal and county property tax levy cap.
Revises statutes concerning firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits; makes handgun purchase permit valid for four years.
"Protection for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Institutional and Community Settings Act."
Creates pilot program concerning domestic violence; creates additional Superior Court judgeships.
Exempts certain real estate brokers, broker-salespersons and salespersons from continuing education requirement.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to change various voter registration and voting procedures.
Requires local units to recover contributions under Emergency Services Length of Service Award Program paid in excess of statutory limit; requires annual audits.
Imposes prevailing wage for public work on properties receiving tax abatements or exemptions.
Filed1
Revises "Casino Property Tax Stabilization Act."
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law7
Provides for licensure of chiropractic assistants.
Authorizes supplemental State aid to school districts in municipality with significant decrease in commercial property valuation; makes appropriation.
Clarifies and revises certain aspects of the "Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act."
"New Jersey Small Business Retirement Marketplace Act."*
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2016.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2016.
Increases State earned income tax credit from 20% to 30% of federal earned income tax credit for taxable years 2015 and thereafter.*
Vetoed10
Realigning the transfer inheritance tax payment due date to coincide with the payment due dates for State and federal estate taxes.
Establishes four-year pilot program in Ocean County for electronic monitoring of certain domestic violence offenders; designated as "Lisa's Law"; appropriates $2.5 million.
"Casino Property Taxation Stabilization Act."
Requires holder of casino license to provide certain employees with certain health care and retirement benefits.
Reallocates casino investment alternative tax to Atlantic City to pay debt service on municipal bonds issued.
Removes provisions of law relating to Atlantic City Alliance.
Extends by two months seasonal retail consumption alcoholic beverage license.
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.
Revises "Casino Property Tax Stabilization Act."
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Requires certain information regarding Down syndrome be provided to certain parents and families.
Establishes apprentice firearm hunting license and apprentice bow and arrow license.*
Requires nursing homes to offer form designating beneficiary of personal needs allowance accounts from incoming and current residents.*
Increases monetary amounts for transfer of estate assets without administration and for exemption from debts of the deceased.*
Permits municipal redevelopers to receive tax credits under Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program for certain mixed use parking projects.**
Creates new criminal offenses concerning endangering another person; repeals N.J.S.2C:12-2 and N.J.S.2C:24-7.
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.
Clarifies best interests of the child should be primary consideration in actions undertaken by State governmental entities and courts of law.
Expands Police Training Commission membership to include representative from National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.*
Vetoed · 3
Establishes procedures and standards regarding public service privatization contracts.
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.*
Requires State to pay its pension contributions quarterly on July 15, October 15, January 15 and April 15.
Passed the Senate · 5
Establishes certain requirements for use of restraint and seclusion on students with disabilities in school districts and approved private schools for students with disabilities.; requires DOE to collect and report data regarding restraint and inclusion.*
Makes retroactive current law requiring "palimony" agreements to be in writing; provides that pre-existing palimony agreements are unenforceable unless put into writing within one year of enactment of this bill.
Creates Clinical Trials Working Group.
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 · 11
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act"; imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances. *
"Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act"; permits qualified terminally ill patient to self-administer medication to end life in humane and dignified manner. *
Expands DNA database to include samples from disorderly persons who are fingerprinted and permits law enforcement officers to collect certain biological samples.
Requires Rutgers University to create a liberal studies program for students with intellectual disabilities; appropriates $500,000.*
Allows school districts and requires public colleges to enter into dual enrollment agreements to provide college-level instruction to high school students through courses offered on college or high school campuses.*
Provides that if a career and technical education program of a school district is taught in an industry setting, off-site location will be exempt from certain State regulations.*
Establishes four-year County Vocational School District Partnership Grant Program in DOE.
Provides additional State school aid to county vocational school districts in which enrollment increases by more than 10%.
Provides State aid for certain adult education programs.
Prohibits MVC from imposing duplicate license or identification card fee and digitized picture fee if duplicate is requested to reflect change in organ donor status.
Removes statutory limitation on number of permits that may be issued by Division of Fish and Wildlife for the taking of beaver.
In committee · 27
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Revises certain provisions of Megan's Law and imposes monthly penalty on sex offenders to fund their monitoring and supervision by the parole board.
Requires sex offenders in satellite-based monitoring program to pay for certain equipment and monitoring costs.
"Flood Control, Mitigation, and Prevention Bond Act of 2012," authorizes bonds for up to $2 billion, and appropriates $5,000.
Requires municipal governing body approval of new municipal free public library capital projects.
Increases penalties for certain motor vehicle right-of-way violations and requires attendance at Driver Improvement Program.
Authorizes South Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Association license plates with proceeds to veterans' and emergency management operations.
Prohibits use of certain fishing gear at artificial reef sites.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Prohibits use of public funds by employers for certain employee influence activities.
Regulates advertising of manufacturer’s rebates by retail mercantile establishments.
Creates special license plates supporting Autism Awareness.
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.
Permits counties to share county tax administrators.
Recognizes same-sex marriages entered into outside the State.
Increases penalty for harboring or concealing certain sex offenders.
Allows charitable contribution tax deductions under New Jersey gross income tax.
Establishes "New Jersey Gaming Industry Study Commission" to evaluate impact of enacted gaming and technological reforms and explore future prospects for casino gaming and horse racing in this State.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
Revises requirements for emergency medical services delivery.
Provides protections for individuals with developmental disabilities through accountability and transparency; designated as "Stephen Komninos' Law."
Allows certain students including undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria to qualify for State student financial aid programs.
Prohibits student's individualized education program or 504 plan to include use of physical restraints or seclusion.
Makes it a crime of the fourth degree for certain persons to willfully and knowingly fail to report child abuse if they know the child abuse has occurred.
Provides additional State aid to county colleges for students enrolled in postsecondary career and technical education certificate programs.
Regulates tethering of, and outdoor shelter for, dogs.
Clarifies that "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" covers elder abuse in domestic settings.
Filed · 1
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.