Bills in the 2016–2017 Session, General Assembly.
BettyLou DeCroce
Sponsored
In committee41
Establishes a grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students.
Increases threshold amount at which MLUL escrow deposits must be deposited in interest bearing accounts.
Requires genetic testing to determine paternity in non-dissolution cases.
Requires in public schools instruction on the contributions of United States veterans and the observance of patriotic exercises on certain holidays.
Directs State acquisition of Troy Meadows Natural Area, Morris County, for recreation and conservation purposes and designates it as natural area and wildlife sanctuary.
Establishes New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center and authorizes establishment of Foundation for the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center.
Requires State Office of Emergency Management to study and recommend evacuation routes in Trenton for inclement weather conditions or other emergency situations.
Requires electric utility bills to separately list the amount of State sales tax, societal benefits charge and transitional energy facility unit rate assessment surcharge.
Provides that certain permits and approvals for critical infrastructure projects must be acted upon within 45 days.
Permits board of chosen freeholders to change title to "board of county commissioners" and "freeholder" and "chosen freeholder" to "county commissioner"; requires county that changes terms to update website.
Authorizes development of public-private transportation demonstration projects.
Adds child molestation and endangerment to crimes that subject public school employee offender to pension and retirement benefit forfeiture.
Provides school district tax levy cap adjustment for certain special education costs; limits sending district per pupil tuition increase to 2%; and provides increased representation on receiving board of education for certain sending districts.
"New Jersey Residents' Power Protection Act"; requires use of emergency power generators by various facilities and businesses; provides related tax incentives.
Provides gross income tax deduction for costs of purchasing and installing battery backups for certain home solar electrical generators.
Requires screening of certain high-risk pregnancies and reporting of fetal deaths.
"Transparency in Government Legal Billing Act;" requires that bill for legal services rendered for public entity contain certain information as condition of payment.
Requires certain energy drinks to be labeled with warning for young consumers.
Requires each school district to offer a summer payment plan for school district employees.
Makes it unlawful for a private citizen to record a communication unless all parties to the communication have previously consented.
Prohibits employees of revaluation firms from employment by companies that may appeal assessed value of real property following municipal-wide revaluation.
Establishes Park Prescription Program authorizing medical practitioners to prescribe free State park access passes to patients with obesity-related conditions.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for pediatric cancer research.
Establishes "Government Crowdfunding Act" to allow government entities to conduct fundraising for certain government projects.
Provides "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" exemption for synthetic turf field construction by local government units.
Excludes portion of Bloomingdale Borough in Passaic County from Highlands preservation area.
Requires 10 percent bail; prohibits installment payments.
Eliminates transfer inheritance tax for step-grandchildren.
Provides assistance to manufacturing businesses by having certain State agencies promote economic development and identify credentials needed for careers in modern manufacturing.
Establishes appraisal method for taxation of watershed lands.
Provides that Secretary of State, as leader of tourism and economic development, will have authority to designate and prepare special commemorative day, week, month, or year for the State.
The Revitalizing the New Jersey Real Estate Market and Economy Act; Allows gross income tax deductions for a measure of inflation and growth in the value of certain property dispositions for a five-year period.
Revises current review and approval process for certain state information technology-related spending requests; designated as the Spurring Technological Innovation Act.
Caps attorney fee awards in actions against public entities.
Provides tax credits for performing certain repairs on primary residences of senior citizens or persons with disabilities.
Authorizes hunters to wear hunter's hot pink caps and outer garments as alternative to hunter's orange.
Eliminates age restriction for issuing special permits to carry handgun to retired law enforcement officers.
Provides personal exemption under gross income tax for certain members of volunteer fire departments and first aid squads.
Requires presidential electors to award one electoral vote to popular vote winner in each congressional district and two electoral votes to statewide winners, and removes State from National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Requires psychological examination when parent loses custody of child and wants to regain custody of child who is in care or custody of grandparent.
Requires consumer reporting agencies to provide a consumer with a free credit report three times during any 12-month period upon request.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 16
"New Jersey Housing Assistance for Veterans Act," establishes pilot program to assist certain veterans with housing modification and rehabilitation; appropriates $5 million.
Concerns temporary registration certificates for automobiles.
Authorizes counties to issue promotional labeling for county agricultural products.
Establishes Farm to School Coordinating Council.
Permits charging late fee for rental payments due on self-service storage units and authorizes sale of property via website.
Regulates transportation network companies.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2017.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2017.
Permits eligible students who are members of United States Armed Forces to wear military uniform at high school graduation.
Provides civil immunity to persons who forcibly enter motor vehicles to remove unattended and unsupervised children.
Requires public employers to implement certain policies for handling and responding to reports of domestic violence.
Requires driver education course, certain new driver brochures, and driver's license written exam to include cyclist and pedestrian safety information. *
Provides for emergency assistance to individuals or families that are homeless or in temporary living arrangement due to domestic violence.
Designates portion of State Highway Route 55 as "State Trooper Frankie L. Williams Memorial Highway." *
Appropriates $32.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants.
Appropriates $2,988,859 from 2009 Historic Preservation Fund and constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to provide capital preservation grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Vetoed · 1
Bars persons under age 18 from marrying or entering into a civil union.
Passed the General Assembly · 11
Establishes task force to study issues related to the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed.
Establishes "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program."
Allows qualified school to be called "New Jersey Farm Fresh School."
Permits school participating in NJ "Farm to School" program to submit recipe for posting on Dept. of Agriculture website.
Increases penalties for energy "slamming" practices.
"The Smarter Lunchroom Act;" promotes healthy food choices in school cafeterias.
Establishes requirements for sale of home baked goods or cottage foods. *
Establishes pilot program to allow certain counties and municipalities to use single firm for design and inspection services on certain transportation projects.
Permits retired corrections officer to be appointed Class Three special law enforcement officer.
Requires publication of certain information related to toll discounts on E-ZPass website.
Out of committee · 33
The New Jersey Battlefield to Boardroom Act; Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for qualified wages of certain veterans.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide greater assistance to certain students with military obligations.
Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests.
Requires hospital patient's medical record to include notation if patient is at increased risk of confusion, agitation, behavioral problems, and wandering due to dementia related disorder.*
Requires professional boards to provide for online processing of application for licensure or renewal.
The "Green Building and Infrastructure Tax Credit Act"; provides tax credits for certain green buildings.* .
Prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring students who have children to purchase meal plans, live in on-campus housing, or pay gym fees.
Provides for priority consideration, by State, of permit applications by counties and municipalities with 10 or more shared services.
Requires safeguards for anonymity and confidentiality with respect to communications presented through phone lines, electronic communication systems, or websites dedicated to accepting anonymous tips for use by law enforcement in criminal investigations.
Directs Governor to withdraw from compact establishing Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor; dissolves compact and commission; transfers commission's NJ operations to State Police.
Establishes Main Street Economic Growth Program to encourage business development in small, highly developed municipalities.
Requires health insurers to limit patient cost-sharing and provide appeal process concerning certain prescription drug coverage.
Establishes "New Jersey Business Advisory Council" in Business Action Center.
Establishes special motorcycle license plates for veterans.
Establishes "Small Business Bonding Readiness Assistance Program" in EDA to assist certain small businesses meet State or federal contract surety bond requirements.*
Revises law governing testifying via closed circuit television in certain criminal cases.*
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools and county colleges.
Permits installation of GPS navigation devices which do not obstruct motor vehicle operator's vision.
Includes students who participate in school intramural sports programs in the student-athlete head injury safety program.
Provides for time period during which complaints may be filed for certain motor vehicle violations.
Enables collection of voluntary contributions for Jersey Fresh Program through gross income tax returns.
Prohibits sale of expanded polystyrene food containers by public schools and public institutions of higher education.
Establishes Lake Hopatcong Fund and dedicates $500,000 annually from certain power vessel operator license fees to the fund.
Designates portion of Interstate Highway Route 195 in Upper Freehold Township as "State Trooper Anthony A. Raspa Memorial Highway."
Establishes grant program for school districts and charter schools to develop dual language immersion programs.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2017.
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding for FY 2017 to include new projects and revise allowable loan amounts for already approved projects.
"Antwan's Law"; allows counties and municipalities to establish, or request DOT to establish, reduced speed limits near schools.*
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction and disabled verterans' property tax exemption to members of the United States Armed Forces assigned to the rescue and recovery mission at the World Trade Center between September 11, 2001 and May 3
Requires AG to conduct survey of untested sexual assault examination kits.*
Increases membership of fire safety commission in DCA.
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding for FY2018 to include new projects and revise allowable loan amounts for already approved projects.
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2018; allocates funds from Local Aid Infrastructure Fund for operating and administrative expenses for transportation
In committee · 124
Provides that no more than four of the seven public members appointed to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council may be of the same political party.
Permits municipalities to enter into shared service agreement for tax assessment.
Repeals Kyleigh's Law decal requirement; requires MVC to provide parents of graduated driver license applicants detailed information about program's conditions and restrictions; imposes penalties on parents when licensees fail to comply.
Gives priority to applicants for firearms purchaser identification card and permits to purchase handguns when domestic violence restraining order is in effect.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under gross income tax, eliminates income cap on exclusion.
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Revises requirements and training standards for first responders under New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Act of 1987.
Establishes publicly accessible Internet registry of offenders who cause bodily harm, or property theft or damage, against disabled persons, senior citizens, or veterans.
Establishes insurance and safety requirements for companies that use digital network or software application to match passengers with drivers.
Requires beneficiary photo to be included on State-issued benefit debit cards.
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.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to provide information on life insurance plans to borrowers of student loans and requires authority to contract with life insurance company to offer policies to borrowers.
Provides discounted hunting and trapping license, permit, and stamp fees for senior citizens.
Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school and summer programs; appropriates $60,000.
Permits municipalities to enact ordinance prohibiting operation of drones under certain circumstances.
Modifies school funding law to incorporate recommendations of DOE's Education Funding Report.
Requires public body to publish notice of public meeting on official Internet website.
Establishes "Seniors Helping Seniors Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Demonstration Program" in DHS; appropriates $360,000.
Creates new offense of theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person.
Requires school districts and charter schools to annually provide to parents or guardians of enrolled students information on certain tests to be administered during the school year.
Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs.
Provides that limitation on lawsuit option does not apply in accident caused by drunk driver.
Phases out estate tax over five-year period.
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.
Tax Relief for New Jersey Families Act; provides income tax credits for property tax relief, quadruples the homestead property tax credit and increases the earned income tax credit.
Prohibits awarding alimony to domestic violence offenders; permits termination of alimony based on conviction for crime or offense involving domestic violence.
Allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against a taxpayer's delinquent local property taxes.
Repeals Highlands planning and environmental permitting provisions of "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," and amends various statutes to reflect repeal thereof.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
The "New Jersey Parental Rights and Property Tax Reduction Act."
Revises procedures for securing a permit to carry a handgun.
Increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amount for the New Jersey estate tax to $5 million over period of five years.
Exempts transfers of property to Class C beneficiaries from transfer inheritance tax and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amount under estate tax to $5,000,000 over five-year period.
Establishes criminal penalties for unlawful control over weapons of any law enforcement officer and interference with equipment or duties of law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Amends "Law Against Discrimination" to include crime victims as protected status.
Expands rights of crime victims.
Provides $3,000 gross income tax deduction for certain taxpayers providing home care for an elderly relative.
"The New Jersey Healthcare Choice Act"; permits health insurers licensed in other states to provide coverage in New Jersey under certain circumstances.
Prohibits terminal leave compensation for local government employees.
Authorizes Office of Emergency Management to order lowering of reservoir levels prior to certain severe weather events.
Allows courts to issue restraining orders prohibiting persons charged with firearms and gang related offenses from entering premises, locations, or areas where the offense occurred.
Stipulates that retail motor fuel dealers, when paying interchange fees, shall not be charged for costs associated with certain taxes.
Prohibits sale of certain mobile telecommunications devices unless device includes technology to remotely render device inoperable.
Revises law concerning ticket sales.
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA to issue State flag to resident enrolling in federal service academy.
Makes various changes to interest arbitration procedures; repeals sunset provision.
Provides for implementation of full-day preschool programs in additional school districts; appropriates $110,000,000 from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide advocates for victims of sexual assault.
Prohibits local units of government from adopting increased minimum wage and mandatory paid sick leave for private employers.
Requires insurers that sell flood insurance to provide certain policyholders with certain information.
Requires fire suppression systems in all elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger.
Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.
Permits county correctional facilities to seek reimbursement from inmate welfare fund for certain medical services provided in county jails.
Excludes from gross income tax value of prizes or awards won in athletic competition in Olympic Games.
Revises application and issuance procedures for employment certificates for minors.
Concerns workers' compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships.
Exempts electric vehicle charging systems from real property taxation.
Requires certain employees and candidates for public school employment or service and youth camp employees to undergo child abuse record information check.
Restores the death penalty for certain murders.
"Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act"; bans abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization.
Dedicates one percent of cigarette tax revenue to anti-smoking initiatives.
Increases exclusion amount under New Jersey estate tax; phases out estate tax over five years.
Allows law enforcement officers to scan drivers' cell phones under certain circumstances; imposes penalties for refusal.
Requires public and nonpublic school to provide student with more information about NJ STARS Program and improve notification of potenial eligibilty.
Prohibits payment of temporary disability benefits to incarcerated individuals.
Requires MVC to immediately suspend driver's license of alleged drunk drivers who cause a death.
Establishes annual grant program to recognize public institutions of higher education that offer comprehensive array of veteran programs and services.
Prohibits hospice from charging patient for days on which patient is not present.
Exempts construction, expansion, or renovation of building or structure owned and used by municipality or volunteer fire department from "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Permits attorney fees awards in frivolous land use litigation.
Concerns long term tax exemptions on certain age-restricted low-income housing.
Provides that driver's license and identification card expire on applicant's birthday.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction and veterans' property tax exemption to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
Dedicates unencumbered revenue collected from vehicle size and weight enforcement to Transportation Trust Fund.
Allows Dept. of Agriculture to sell Internet advertisements on its website as pilot program.
Clarifies that municipality may authorize municipal prosecutor in another municipality in the county to act as substitute municipal prosecutor on occasion.
Requires board of education to post information about child abuse hotline in each school.
Allows counties and municipalities to establish, or request DOT to establish, reduced speed limits near schools.
Increases penalty for speeding in school zone.
Removes requirement that limited brewery licensees provide tour when selling beer to consumers.
Requires school districts, charter schools, and contracted service providers to review employment history of prospective employees to ascertain allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct and includes penalties for certain willful violations.
Upgrades assault on victims who are disabled.
Requires institution of higher education to have automatic external defibrillator on premises of each athletic facility and student center.
Requires MVC to accept emergency medical technician and paramedic certification cards as two points of documentation for purposes of MVC identification verification program.
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
Clarifies that compensation may be paid for expenses related to service animals required due to injuries resulting from crime against victim.
Upgrades assault against servicemember to aggravated assault; expands crime of bias intimidation to encompass crimes and offenses committed against servicemembers.
Imposes moratorium on affordable housing litigation through December 31, 2017.
Establishes "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission."
Requires NJT to provide free rail tickets to rail passengers delayed more than one hour due to rail car or light rail vehicle mechanical failure.
Requires NJT to adopt plan to evacuate passengers when rail passenger vehicle becomes immobilized in tunnel.
Requires prescriptions for animals to be issued in name of animal owner; prohibits unnamed persons from possessing prescribed drugs; and requires Prescription Monitoring Program to include information about controlled substances prescribed by veterinarian
Concerns State-administered retirement savings plan; establishes "Garden State MEP."
Dedicates $140,000 from NJ Brain Injury Research Fund for community based services provided by Statewide alliance dedicated to assisting persons with brain injury through advocacy, education, information and resources, outreach, and support services.
Permits transfer of certain special license plates to immediate family member.
Waives certain inspection fees for municipally owned affordable housing developments.
Provides reimbursement to volunteer emergency service organizations for expenses incurred in response to certain false alarms; makes appropriations.
Requires defendants charged with certain crimes to be placed in home confinement prior to trial.
Permits certain firefighter training courses to be taken online.
Revises test for employment or independent contractor status under certain State labor laws.
Establishes Red Tape Review Commission.
Revises gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and designated as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act.
Provides gross income tax deductions for contributions by certain taxpayers to the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program.
Excludes under gross income tax certain contributions to qualified pension plans, deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings.
Authorizes State Auditor to conduct cost-benefit analyses of certain programs and initiatives.
Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions.
Allows gross income tax deduction for functional improvements and home repairs made to taxpayer's primary residence.
Requires COAH to administer affordable housing obligations of municipalities based on statewide obligation.
Authorizes municipal challenge to non-redevlopment housing projects ordered by COAH unless order is based on exclusionary zoning; excludes flood-prone land from affordable housing vacant land analysis; provides housing obligation cap.
Requires COAH to calculate affordable housing obligations on Statewide basis.
Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations.
Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities.
Prohibits imposition of builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation.
Revises certain Class Three special law enforcement officer appointment qualifications.
Authorizes woman veteran license plates.
Increases penalties for providing controlled dangerous substances to inmates.
Clarifies that person who graduates from special probation drug court is ineligible for post-graduation records expungement if convicted of crime or offense, or if charges are pending, for act committed during term of drug court.
Makes persons with New Jersey National Guard service and NGB 22 form eligible for certain veterans benefits.
Designates High Point State Park as High Point Veterans' State Park.
Bars custody of and visitation rights to child for person convicted of aggravated sexual assault of child under age 13.
Requires Dept. of Agriculture to publish information on its website about how to assist farmers impacted by agricultural natural disasters.
Mandates additional requirements for anti-bullying policies for public schools, expands information provided in DOE guidance document on bullying, and requires parents be provided clear explanation of student rights in school bullying investigations.
Filed · 3
Appropriates $8,992,898 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $71,700,224 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Appropriates $12.3 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.