Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Christopher J. Connors
Sponsored
Became law3
Requires certification by purchaser or grantee that federal law will not be violated by sale in age-restricted community.
Revises laws restricting operation of personal watercraft and permits local police enforcement.
Requires scrap metal dealers to maintain certain records regarding purchases.
Passed the Senate2
Allows municipalities to provide free or reduced fee beach badges to active military and NJ National Guard personnel.
Requires reservation of portion of tenant vouchers under State rental assistance program for veterans.
Out of committee5
Establishes the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in the DEP and appropriates $200,000.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers. *
Extends payment of homestead property tax reimbursement to non-eligible surviving spouse for portion of tax year during which deceased spouse lived.
Changes membership requirements of the Veterans' Services Council.
Dedicates up to $400,000 annually of fees collected at Island Beach and Liberty State Parks to special funds to be used to support certain park programs, and makes appropriations from the funds.
In committee85
Establishes a New Jersey Coordinating Council on the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Generating Facilities.
Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
Repeals State and local hotel and motel occupancy taxes and voids existing municipal implementing ordinances.
Prevents use of condemnation to acquire residential and other private property under redevelopment laws.
Requires prosecutors to determine risk of re-offense under Megan's Law prior to offender's release from incarceration.
Excludes certain illegal aliens from workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits.
Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens.
Establishes special dredging account; directs $5,000,000 of sales tax collected annually be deposited therein; directs DEP to administer account and dredging program with certain requirements.
Requires DEP assume responsibility for dredging of waterways providing boat access to lagoon communities; appropriates $6,000,000.
Establishes "Internet Predator Investigation and Prosecution Fund" with $200 assessment on persons convicted of certain offenses.
Allows judgment for restitution of stolen public funds to be levied against convicted employee's retirement allowance or pension contributions.
Requires reduction in number of State employees to FY2000 level; establishes procedure to control creation of new State positions and filling of vacancies.
Bars companies which hire illegal aliens from public contracts, grants, loans, or tax incentives for seven years.
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.
Concerns awarding of professional services contracts by public agencies and requires certain disclosures by State and local government officials and candidates for elective public office.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
Regulates power vessels in certain environmentally sensitive areas.
Requires court to consider results of domestic violence assessment before dissolving certain domestic violence restraining orders.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Eliminates certificate of need requirement for home health care services provided by a hospital.
Prohibits permanent change of child custody during period of active military duty; provides that absence due to active military duty, by itself, is not sufficient to justify modification of a child custody or visitation order.
Supplemental appropriation of $150 million to DOT for repair or construction of bridges on Route 72 connecting Long Beach Island to the mainland.
Requires State reimbursement to municipalities of cost of disabled veterans' total property tax exemption.
Revises law concerning sexually oriented businesses.
Authorizes counties to reduce greenhead fly populations; appropriates $50,000.
Extends veteran's property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
Requires public hearings on proposed off-track wagering facilities to be held in municipalities contiguous to site where proposed facilities will be located.
Requires State to reimburse counties and municipalities for salary and fringe benefit costs of employee on official leave of absence for military service in war on terror; makes an appropriation.
Converts loan awarded to Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum from loan to grant.
Establishes the Public School Educational Funding Commission.
Requires additional fines for certain crimes against minors to fund Amber Alert system.
Clarifies that harassment made anonymously or otherwise through electronic communication devices constitutes a petty disorderly offense.
Reestablishes senior citizen supplemental stabilization aid.
Permits conversion of fines for violation of certain municipal ordinances into tax liens.
Imposes mandatory minimum terms of incarceration on juveniles who use guns to commit acts which, if committed by adults, would constitute serious crimes.
Establishes civil action for damages against organizations that support terrorism.
Clarifies that punitive damages may not be awarded against public entities or public employees acting within the scope of their employment in any action.
Excludes the value of certain manufacturer's rebates from the sales price of motor vehicles taxable under the sales and use tax.
Requires assessment of bay scallop resource, and authorizes DEP to establish a bay scallop fishery.
Creates new penalty for convictions or juvenile adjudications of arson; establishes Arson Investigation Fund.
Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly.
Makes annual compensation paid to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans payable from date of veteran's death.
Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens.
Allows judgment for restitution of stolen public funds to be levied against convicted employee's pension contributions.
Creates requirement and grant program for power-assisted door openers on certain public buildings; appropriates $600,000.
Extends penalties for driving under the influence to include any substance that impairs driving ability; deems driver's consent to non-invasive drug tests.
Criminalizes fifth or subsequent drunk driving offenses.
Permits waivers from window tinting standards.
Increases prison time for certain persons convicted of a motor vehicle offense when license suspended for DUI.
Permits waiving of illegal parking charges in certain cases.
Authorizes municipalities to adopt ordinances requiring maintenance and repair of certain wharves, piers, docks and bulkheads.
Prevents intoxicated employees from receiving workers' compensation.
Provides temporary period for making certain estate tax refund claims and directs notice be given to certain affected parties.
Supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to DLPS to assist local police departments in paying for new National Crime Information Center terminals.
Authorizes "100 percent Disabled Veteran" license plates for qualified veterans; entitles holders to handicapped parking privileges.
Requires account numbers to be truncated on certain sales receipts.
Requires health insurers to cover Lyme disease.
Requires account numbers to be truncated on merchants' copies of sales receipts.
Imposes mandatory term of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole on persons who commit particularly brutal sexual assaults.
Allows lawsuits by home improvement contractors against homeowners to be brought in county in which residential or non-commercial property is located.
Requires account numbers to be truncated on certain sales receipts.
Allows PERS ordinary disability retiree to earn up to $3,000 in PERS-covered employment annually before cancellation of disability benefit and reenrollment in PERS.
Requires Department of the Treasury to calculate State motor vehicle fleet miles per gallon average and to increase it over four years.
Prohibits nonrenewal of homeowners insurance policies based on proximity to water or risk of windstorm related claims.
Revises "Radiologic Technologist Act" to include additional specialty designation of radiology practitioner assistant.
Establishes NJ Task Force on Heating Oil and Propane Reserves.
Directs DOT and NJT to study and report on transportation infrastructure needs in coastal counties.
Authorizes, at the discretion of the bidder, irrevocable letter of credit as performance guarantee under the "Local Public Contracts Law."
Establishes, in the Division of Fish and Wildlife in DEP, a program to encourage school children to avoid drug use and appropriates $200,000 therefor from Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund.
Appropriates $26,140,000 for dredging projects and dredged material disposal projects related to navigational waterways.
" 'Invest in New Jersey First' Act;" requires preference in awarding certain contracts for critical infrastructure projects.
Authorizes mechanism for independent determination of legal sufficiency of initiated ordinances and referendum petitions.
Requires fast food packaging to be made from recyclable or compostable materials.
Expands the provisions of Operation Recognition to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Provides for immediate driver's license suspension under certain circumstances.
"Breann's Law" requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program and NJ FamilyCare to provide "out of network" coverage for children with catastrophic illnesses.
Requires newly hired State employees be New Jersey residents.
Establishes NJ Alzheimer's Disease Study Commission.
Allows corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credit for certain unreimbursed psychiatric treatment of veterans.
Requires BPU to provide funding for purchase and installation of photovoltaic technologies for age-restricted community clubhouse facilities from societal benefits charge.
Requires DEP rejection of new solid waste facility registration if affected municipality disapproves proposed facility location.
Increases penalties for identity theft when victim is a senior citizen or veteran.
Requires use of electronic mail for community notification under Megan's law.
Permits certain portion of municipal development trust funds to be spent on housing affordability assistance to veterans.
Clarifies that non-credit courses are eligible courses under the volunteer tuition credit program.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 6
Appropriates $8,430,250 from various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
"Public Access and Marina Safety Task Force Act." *
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. **
Makes emergency medical technician certification valid for five years.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Passed the Senate · 1
Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues.
Out of committee · 9
Creates "Real Property Revaluation Review Commission."
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Exempts from realty transfer fees, sales of homes of certain New Jersey members of the military.
Requires bittering agent to be added to certain engine coolants and antifreeze to render it unpalatable.
Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits.
Establishes a "Silver Alert System." *
"Ricci's Law;" revises ignition interlock device requirements for certain drunk driving offenses. *
Requires MVC to provide information concerning Selective Service registration requirements. *
Authorizes municipalities and fire districts to require physician's certificate as condition for service or continuing service by volunteer fire fighters; requires municipalities and fire districts to reimburse them for out-of-pocket costs. *
In committee · 30
"Jessica Lunsford Act;" concerns sentencing of sex offenders and persons who harbor them; requires electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders and creates child protection zones.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Requires DHSS to make reported information about certain adverse events publicly available.
Provides additional mandatory fines and restitution for theft of flags or flag-holders from grave sites.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
Excludes military compensation of military personnel serving outside of this State from gross income tax.
Grandfathers use of certain dry cleaning equipment and machinery and perchloroethylene by dry cleaners.
Abolishes Department of the Public Advocate.
Provides for special Bronze Star license plates.
Requires all public officers and employees to reside in State.
Requires home health agencies and health care service firms to place certified homemaker-home health aides to perform certain home-based services.
Restricts gifts to certified homemaker-home health aides from patients.
Allows counties to establish emergency management registry for individuals with special needs.
Requires State and county offices of emergency management to designate critical infrastructure in need of emergency power generators.
Expands emergency operations plans to include care for domestic animals.
Establishes commission authorized to identify and locate emergency shelters.
Prohibits towing and transportation of boats during emergency evacuations.
Requires State and local emergency operations plans include provisions to address needs of families of emergency responders serving during a disaster or emergency.
Requires the State Police to implement reverse lane strategy on certain roads.
Provides for Statewide evacuation strategy for hospitals and other health care facilities.
Directs Office of Emergency Management to develop and undertake annual public awareness campaign concerning State's emergency coastal evacuation plan.
Establishes coastal operations team to review county evacuation plans.
Requires that newly built schools be constructed to serve as emergency shelters.
Revises Special Municipal Aid program.
Authorizes veterans property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans who did not serve in theater of war.
Provides alternative handgun purchase permit application procedures for municipal police officers and members of State Police.
Implements recommendations of the Assembly Coastal New Jersey Evacuation Task Force.
Permits county board of chosen freeholders to appoint interim member of county tax board under certain circumstances.
Provides for discounted resident trapping license fees for senior citizens.