Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, Senate.
Ronald L. Rice
Sponsored
Became law2
Requires parent to provide completed financial aid application to Higher Education Student Assistance Authority if parent's dependent applies to State for student financial aid.
Requires hospitals to report COVID-19 demographic data.
Vetoed2
Establishes program allowing certain applicants to perform community service in lieu of paying motor vehicle surcharges.
Expands powers and duties of State Chief Diversity Officer to promote diversity in State government and public contracting.*
Passed the Senate3
Allows municipalities to adjust deadline to apply for short-term exemption or abatement for dwellings; requires provision of notice to purchasers of dwellings in areas in need of rehabilitation under certain circumstances.
Prohibits public schools from denying admittance to student due to tardiness or violation of dress code or school uniform policy.*
Requires certain residential developers to replace lead service lines.
Out of committee15
Clarifies and expands landlord registration procedures; creates certain rights for tenants; makes certain changes concerning tenant notifications and inspections in multiple dwellings; permits percentage of affordable housing obligation to be satisfied by
Establishes Energy and Manufacturing Workforce Development Program in DOLWD.
Establishes Disparity in Treatment of Persons with Disabilities in Underrepresented Communities Commission in DCA.
Establishes the Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth in DOE, and the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force.
Requires entities at every level of government to conduct periodic studies of racial and ethnic disparities in public contracting.
Establishes requirements for conducting health impact assessments of pending legislation; makes an appropriation.
Requires property condition disclosure statement to include questions concerning lead plumbing and lead service lines; requires lead service lines to be replaced upon sale of residential property. *
Qualifies certain assisted living facilities for certain EDA incentives.
Expands role of temporary guardian to include arranging placement of alleged incapacitated person in appropriate, less restrictive environment.
Establishes "2020 New Jersey Burial Assistance Program;" appropriates $20 million.
Concerns requirements for local purchasing agents.
Recognizes Howell House in Cape May as Harriet Tubman Museum in New Jersey.*
Enhances protections against fraudulent deed recordings.
Requires financial institutions to release records to adult protective services when suspecting fraud of vulnerable adult or senior customer; allows adult protective services to release same records to law enforcement agency if necessary.*
Establishes confidentiality of landlord-tenant court records.
In committee41
Requires notice of certain transportation-related infrastructure projects and activities to be published on Internet website, and directs State Comptroller to monitor publication of those notifications.
Establishes Clean Energy Technology Center and Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund for purposes of creating clean energy-related employment opportunities; allocates revenues from societal benefits charge to support its activities.
Authorizes certain municipalities to impose a tax on the storage of empty shipping containers to fund redevelopment plan activities.
Requires State agencies and local government units to report certain information concerning bids on public contracts by minority- and women-owned business enterprises; prohibits discrimination against such enterprises.
Requires Center for Occupational Employment Information to share labor market information with school districts and public institutions of higher education.
Requires successful applicants for employment and current staff members of child care centers to undergo drug testing as condition of employment.
Requires municipal accounting of abandoned properties before receiving certain State aid; establishes State database of abandoned properties; requires owners of abandoned properties to document rehabilitation efforts.
Decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, hashish, and marijuana-infused products; downgrades certain distribution crimes; requires expedited expungement of certain offenses.
Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs.
The "New Jersey Youth Justice Transformation Act;" annually appropriates $100 million to Juvenile Justice Commission.
Requires financial institution that has foreclosed on property to remove water service lines that contain lead.
Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."
Requires public agency receiving State funds to post on website use of State funds for public work contracts with minority, women, and veteran owned business.
Codifies establishment of Office of Diversity and Inclusion in Department of Treasury.
Decriminalizes possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana and personal-use amount of regulated marijuana-infused products; requires substance abuse treatment under certain circumstances.
Establishes "Senior Citizen Home Repair and Modification Program"; appropriates $10 million.
Requires health insurance consultants and carriers to provide certain information to certain local units, boards of education, and county colleges; requires local units, boards of education, and county colleges to review information.
Establishes Juvenile Offender Community Conservation and Improvement Services Program.
Establishes certain benefits for Class Two special law enforcement officers; allows arson investigators to carry a firearm at all times.
Establishes three-year pilot program for school-based mentoring in public schools located within 1,000 feet of gunfire.
Establishes certain requirements concerning search process for candidates for appointment to county college board of trustees and membership of trustee search committee.
Provides foreclosure stay of proceedings for certain residential borrowers and exempts certain lenders that offer sustainable mortgage modifications.
Prohibits disqualification of certain minority-owned and women-owned businesses for certification.
Requires business entity to file annual disclosure statement with ELEC if entity receives $50,000 or more in commissions or fees during calendar year for placing third parties into contractual relationships with public entities.
Requires automobile insurers to issue credits reflecting reduced driving due to "stay at home" order during COVID-19 pandemic and reduce rates in consideration of financial hardships related thereto.
Consolidates ethics training for members of Legislature.
Requires spouse of public officer or employee forfeit pension upon conviction of certain crimes against public officer or employee.
Requires public body to provide advance written notice to employees when employment status is to be considered at meeting.
Establishes division in Department of Treasury to oversee and enforce equal employment opportunity requirements with regard to public works contracts.
Authorizes creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct; appropriates $600,000.
Establishes minimum and maximum sentences and penalties for election officers and employees convicted of fraud.
Changes expiration date of "New Jersey Complete Count Commission" to January 2021.
Eliminates partial and full State intervention under New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum.
Establishes right to record law enforcement activity under certain circumstances.
Requires life insurance benefits offered by PERS to be fully assignable and promptly paid.
Increases size of Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission; broadens reporting duties.
Increases membership and number of members permitted from same political party in BPU.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $35 million to "Urban and Rural Centers Unsafe Buildings Demolition Revolving Loan Fund."
Establishes New Jersey-Africa Commission.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas; stipulates uses of, and eligibility criteria for, funds.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law1
Recognizes Howell House in Cape May as Harriet Tubman Museum in New Jersey.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 10
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.*
"Laura Wooten's Law"; Requires civics instruction in middle school; authorizes New Jersey Center for Civic Education to provide curricula, professional development and technical assistance for middle and high school civics.*
Repeals family cap in Work First New Jersey program.
Requires Civil Services Commission to undertake various initiatives to increase diversity and inclusivity within law enforcement agencies.
Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service law enforcement applicants. *
Establishes database to aid in civil service hiring process for certain law enforcement officers; requires Statewide diversity analysis of law enforcement. *
Directs NJT to erect statue in honor of A. Philip Randolph, appropriates $90,000.
Establishes Amistad Commission Exemplary Award Program; appropriates $10,000.*
Provides financial relief to certain landlords and tenants in response to COVID-19 pandemic, adjusts certain court fees; and makes appropriations. *
"Responsible Collective Negotiations Act."
Vetoed · 1
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Passed the Senate · 3
Requires NJHMFA to allocate certain portion of federal low-income housing tax credits to certain high-opportunity areas.
Revises definition of "landlord" to include rooming and boarding house owners and operators with regard to ordinances holding landlords to certain standards of responsibility.
Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program.**
Out of committee · 9
"New Jersey American Dream Act"; appropriates $25 million to provide down payment and home repair assistance to low and moderate income first-time homebuyers.
Requires law enforcement agencies in this State to establish minority recruitment and selection programs; establishes reporting requirement.
Requires notice of development applications be given to residential tenants on that property.
Permits municipal, county, and regional police and fire forces to establish five-year residency requirement for police officers and firefighters; allows exceptions to requirement under certain circumstances.
Provides for certain criminal and civil justice reforms, particularly with respect to legal consequences associated with certain marijuana and hashish offences as well as broadening awareness of available expungement relief.*
Establishes New Jersey Task Force on Long-Term Care Quality and Safety.
Expands offenses eligible for expungement upon successful discharge from drug court.
Removes restrictions on special assessments and bond issuances for replacement of residential lead service lines; revises budgetary requirements for operators of certain water systems.*
Creates "New Jersey Online Foreclosure Sale Act."
In committee · 14
Requires DOH to create best practices manual for maternity care; appropriates $950,000.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
"Consumer Freedom From Unwanted Expense in Health Insurance Coverage Act."
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Permits four-year institution of higher education to award associate degrees.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Requires certain health care plans to be offered by SEHBP and local boards of education; requires SEHBP commission to establish employee contribution rates for certain plans; requires local boards of education provide certain information on health care be
Requires public utilities to set bill due date to no earlier than 28 days past postmarked date if mailed by regular mail or 28 days past sent date if sent electronically.
Codifies and enhances use of breach of implied warranty of habitability as defense to certain eviction actions.
Establishes confidentiality of landlord-tenant court records; addresses adverse actions on rental applications.
Establishes Office of the Advocate for Private Commuter Bus Service Customers and bill of rights for customers of private carriers operating motorbus regular route services.
Establishes one-time payment program in Department of Treasury for aid for certain eligible taxpayers; appropriates $35 million.
Requires certain group homes to install electronic monitoring devices in common areas, upon request and with uniform resident consent, and to permit consensual use of such devices in private rooms.
Provides employer and employee protections pursuant to the use of legalized cannabis items.
Filed · 6
Appropriates $20 million from General Fund to EDA to support food and beverage establishments impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $50 million from General Fund to EDA to support businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $10 million from General Fund to EDA to support Sustain and Serve NJ Program.
Establishes Startup Business and Nonprofit Assistance Program in EDA to support new businesses and nonprofit organizations following COVID-19 pandemic; appropriates $25 million.
Appropriates $120 million from General Fund to EDA to support microbusinesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $10 million from General Fund to EDA to support child care providers impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.