Bills in the 2010–2011 Session, General Assembly.
Daniel R. Benson
Sponsored
Became law1
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2012.
Passed the General Assembly3
Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of certain electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. *
Prohibits automatic renewal of service contracts.
Establishes real property assessment demonstration program.
Out of committee8
Requires DCA to establish standards concerning mold hazards in residential building interiors, and certification programs for mold inspectors and mold hazard abatement workers.*
Provides for nursing reimbursement adjustment for cost of energy improvements.
Provides totally disabled persons with discount on hunting license fees.
Establishes ovarian cancer public awareness campaign in DHSS.
Requires that Board of Pharmacy compile and publish list of certain tamper-resistant opioid drugs and that certain conditions be met for pharmacist to substitute for tamper-resistant opioid drug. *
Appropriates $14,818,787 from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Creates "New Jersey Life Science Internship Challenge" program.
Establishes Small Business Loan Program in EDA allowing certain small businesses to be eligible for low interest rate loans of up to $250,000 to expand their businesses.
In committee11
Requires governmental affairs agents retained by government entities to file certain reports with ELEC; requires certain government entities retaining governmental affairs agents to file annual reports with ELEC.
Provides tax credit against gross income tax for costs of certain property that conserves energy or promotes energy efficiency and for other energy efficiency measures.
Creates the "Mold Safe Housing Act."
Requires surgical practices to be licensed by DHSS as ambulatory care facilities.
Requires DCA to provide information regarding "Lead Hazard Control Assistance Act" to certain dwelling units approved for Weatherization Assistance Program.
Lowers age of eligibility for surviving spouse under homestead property tax reimbursement program; extends payment of homestead property tax reimbursement to non-eligible surviving spouse for portion of tax year during which deceased spouse lived.
Prohibits public colleges from charging tuition to students who are parents, spouses or children of those killed, missing in action or disabled in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Authorizes issuance of special emergency notes to finance special emergency appropriations for payment of current year property assessment appeal refunds over three years.
Guarantees each municipality, at a minimum, Fiscal Year 2010 distribution of Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid in State Fiscal Year 2012.
Designates Pine Barrens treefrog as New Jersey State Amphibian.
Requires high school driver education course, certain new driver brochures, and driver's license written exam to include aggressive driving information.
Carried from the Senate
Became law3
Establishes ovarian cancer public awareness campaign in DHSS.
Appropriates $14,818,787 from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Establishes Small Business Loan Program in EDA allowing certain small businesses to be eligible for low interest rate loans of up to $250,000 to expand their businesses.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 9
Authorizes the court to include provisions for animals in domestic violence restraining orders.*
Requires Department of State to create uniform application form for use by small businesses to apply for certain State financial assistance programs.*
Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by veterans.
Requires DCF to develop and adopt Statewide youth suicide prevention plan.
Requires birthing facilities to screen newborns for congenital heart defects prior to discharge.
Requires State, regional, and local authorities, boards,and commissions to establish an Internet website and post information related to each entity's mission, finances, meetings, and employees.*
Authorizes Commissioner of NJDOT to procure revenue-generating sponsors for, and permit sponsorship acknowledgment and advertising on, safety and emergency service patrol vehicles and equipment.
Prohibits municipal library trustees from transferring donated funds to municipality.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support the Girl Scouts councils in New Jersey.
Vetoed · 5
Requires plans, specifications, and bid proposal documents for certain local public contracts to address soil contamination.
Permits institutions of higher education to make supplemental contributions to ABP.
Requires health care facilities to offer influenza vaccination to their health care workers.
Establishes "Back to Work NJ Program"; makes an appropriation.
Creates New Jersey Business Action Center; requires center to provide competitive intelligence information to certain businesses.
Passed the General Assembly · 4
Jessica Rogers' Law: upgrades assault by auto or vessel in situations of road rage.
Requires DOT Commissioner to erect signs informing motorists of State's "move over" law.
Requires State to provide recipients of State tax refunds, unemployment insurance benefits and State employee compensation certain payment options.
Revises exemption from license requirement for raffles for door prizes of donated or purchased merchandise; increases total retail value from $50 to $200 or higher if permitted.
Out of committee · 37
Requires breath or blood sample to be obtained from certain drivers involved in motor vehicle accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury.*
Limits electric public utility cost recovery to equipment or software that is compatible with, and capable of interoperating with, a smart grid system.
Authorizes creation of local renewable energy collaboratives and central renewable energy generation systems, and provides for sale of renewable power generation. **
Authorizes public institutions of higher education to establish textbook rental programs.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" increases sentences for sex offenders and persons who harbor them.
Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed. *
Establishes "New Jersey Property Assessment Clean Energy (NJ PACE) Municipal Financing Program."
Enhances crime victims' rights under the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights."
Establishes "Veteran to Veteran Peer Support Program" telephone helpline. *
"Emma's Law"; provides for screening newborn infants for lysosomal storage disorders.
Provides for development of searchable "Bulletin NJ" local public bidding and employment database.
Authorizes central municipal court to hear cases brought by county office of consumer affairs.
Allows corporation business tax credits as incentives for redevelopment of distressed shopping centers.
Expands gross income tax exclusion for pensions, annuities and other retirement income for certain taxpayers.
Allows for unemployment insurance beneficiaries to file, reopen, cancel or close claims online.
Requires Governor 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.*
Prohibits drilling technique of hydraulic fracturing.*
Requires NJ Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program to give additional weight in ranking system to projects including green or blue roofs.
Establishes program to provide financial assistance towards installation of blue roofs and green roofs, authorizes use of Global Warming Solutions Fund for certain such purposes.
Provides totally disabled persons with discount on fishing license fees.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers, and certain schools, playgrounds, and recreational fields.*
Changes the trigger for extended unemployment benefits.
Repeals obsolete statutes concerning the status of women.
Appropriates $45 million from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and $12 million from "2009 Blue Acres Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects.
Appropriates $84,495,199 from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Appropriates $39 million from "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund," "2007 Farmland Preservation Fund," and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants.
Requires surgical practices to be licensed by DHSS as ambulatory care facilities.
Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ's required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Authorizes marriage and entry into a civil union by proxy for certain persons serving overseas in the Armed Forces or National Guard.
Decreases the minimum corporation business tax on certain New Jersey subchapter S corporations by 25%.
Makes changes to solar renewable energy programs and requirements, concerns energy efficiency and renewable energy requirements.*
Provides gross income tax credit for interest paid on certain student loans.
Revises renewable energy requirements under "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act."*
Revises the NJ STARS and NJ STARS II Programs.
Directs New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Commission on Higher Education to promote the establishment of higher education and business partnerships.
Restores eligibility of New Jersey Health ACCESS recipients for NJ FamilyCare effective August 1, 2011.
Concerns basic skills training provided by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.
In committee · 33
Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning socio-economic impact statements for proposed rule-making.
Requires State Treasurer to follow usual procurement process prior to entering into cooperative purchasing agreements.
Permits elected officials and legislators with simultaneous PERS-covered elected office or employment to choose only one position for receipt of PERS credit.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
"Janet's Law"; requires public schools, recreational fields and youth camps to have automated external defibrillators for youth athletic events, and public schools to include pupil training in use thereof and in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
Makes No Early Release Act applicable to persons convicted of child pornography crimes.
Increases mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain repeat sex offenders.
Requires annual review of all released sex offenders to determine if they were registered and tiered.
Establishes a Smart Grid Pilot Program and Smart Grid Technology Research Center at Rutgers The State University; appropriates funding for grants.
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Requires written security plan when school is polling place and open to students; provides that schools may be used as polling places only under certain circumstances; makes an appropriation.
Prohibits sale of food and beverage packaging and containers made with bisphenol A.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Changes "board of chosen freeholders" to "board of county commissioners" and "freeholder" and "chosen freeholder" to "county commissioner" in new sections of law and revisions to current law; requires counties to change terms on website.
Requires all personal audio players distributed in New Jersey to contain warning about volume and hearing loss.
Provides grants to eligible businesses equal to 5% of annual base salary of new employees hired under employment grant component of Invest in New Jersey Business Grant Program.
Provides tax credit under corporation business tax and gross income tax for certain costs incurred in purchase and installation of certain environmentally responsible business equipment.
Eliminates DOT approval of municipal traffic calming measures in business districts.
Requires municipal agency under MLUL to notify prospective applicant of potential need for additional governmental approvals.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance regulating where sex offenders may reside; restricts locations of certain child care centers and school bus stops.
"Government Reality Check Act"; prohibits public employers from providing certain benefits to public employees; restricts gifts to public employees; restricts travel by public employees; imposes post-employment restriction on public contracting employees
Modifies current law regarding regulation and restrictions on business entities who are public contractors and make campaign contributions to certain office holders, candidates and political organizations.
Amends law concerning conversion of age-restricted communities to define substantial detriment and makes other clarifications.
Provides corporation business tax credit for certain New Jersey news, weather, and sports content production expenses.
Provides workers' compensation coverage for participants of "Back to Work NJ Program."
Designates portion of U.S. Route 1 in South Brunswick Township as "Pleasant T. Macon Highway."
Requires institutions of higher education to provide students with access to mental health care programs and services and to establish a hotline to provide information concerning the availability of those services.
Requires assisted living residences and comprehensive personal care homes to ensure connection of emergency cords in residential units to facility staff.
Establishes Sex Offender Management Commission; amends Megan's Law in response to federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
Concerns repayment of unemployment compensation overpayments.
Permits municipalities to use up to 15% of affordable housing trust fund monies to provide financial assistance grants to the owners of real property that sustained certain weather-related damage.
Requires hearing and approval of premium changes for individual and small employer health benefits plans; expands jurisdiction of Division of Rate Counsel.
Supplemental appropriation of $400,000 to DOT for installation of a traffic signal on Route 130 at the Shoppes at Hamilton in Hamilton Township, Mercer County.