Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Sandra B. Cunningham
Sponsored
Became law4
Requires president of public institution of higher education to regularly report on-campus criminal and fire events to the institution's governing board.
Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program.
Requires Secretary of Higher Education to adopt new comprehensive master plan within six months and every seven years thereafter.
Permits municipality with UEZ to participate in Downtown Business Improvement Zone Loan Fund.
Vetoed1
Removes restrictions on convicted drug offenders receiving general assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program.
Passed the Senate4
Requires institutions of higher education to provide to prospective students certain cost, loan, and debt information in financial aid shopping sheet.
Requires reporting of the graduation rates of State tuition aid grant recipients.
Establishes compensation program for certain law enforcement officers injured while performing official duties.*
Increases reporting requirements for the NJ Basic Skills Training Program for Economic Growth.
Out of committee2
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal record.
Requires DOC to make reports containing information concerning treatment and reentry initiative participation; requires AOC to establish program that collects recidivism data and make reports concerning adults sentenced to period of probation.*Requires DO
In committee18
Reduces drug free school and public property zones to 200 feet.
Allows persons on parole and probation to vote; provides registration assistance to persons on probation, parolees, and persons completing sentences.
Establishes residency requirement for police officers and firefighters in certain municipalities.
Requires incarcerated individual from State to be counted at residential address for legislative redistricting purposes.
Increases penalties for failing to yield when violation results in death to pedestrian.
Allows application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership.
Establishes "MarcAnthony's Law;" criminalizes use of defaced or stolen firearm to injure a police officer; enhances penalties for defacing a firearm.
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal histories.
Requires school districts to pay advanced placement examination fees for certain students and the State to reimburse school districts for the cost.
Changes certain eligibility and benefit provisions of Employees' Retirement System of Jersey City.
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal histories.
Directs New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Secretary of Higher Education to promote the establishment of higher education and business partnerships.
Clarifies juvenile's right to attorney representation; requires 12-month judicial review hearing when juvenile is placed out-of-home.
Requires certain undergraduate students to file degree plan and requires public institutions of higher education to develop pathway systems to graduation.
Establishes compensation program for certain injured probation officers.
Requires DOH to authorize Jersey City to issue certified copies of birth certificates by September 1, 2015.
"New Jersey International Arbitration, Mediation, and Conciliation Act."
Requires installation of visual monitoring systems in licensed child care centers.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law2
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal record.*
Requires DOC to make reports containing information concerning treatment and reentry initiative participation; requires AOC to establish program that collects recidivism data and make reports concerning adults sentenced to period of probation.*
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Establishes "College Affordability Study Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations to increase the affordability of higher education in New Jersey.
Authorizes fine for failure to maintain certain vacant properties; requires out--of-state creditors to designate in-State representative.
Requires Medicaid managed care organizations to meet certain conditions prior to reducing reimbursement rates for personal care assistant services and home-based supportive care services.
Directs certain four-year public institutions of higher education to establish substance abuse recovery housing program.
Permits successful completion of special probation drug court program notwithstanding use od medication-assisted treatment.*
Authorizes certain county veteran identification cards to serve as proof of status for veteran designation on driver's license or identification card.
Requires certain sanitary and protective procedures for used mattresses.*
Establishes vocational training pilot program in DOC; provides for inmate compensation for education and workforce training participation.
Directs DOLWD to provide information regarding employee leave and benefit rights.
Allows businesses due to receive grant under Business Employment Incentive Program to receive tax credit instead of grant.
Expands Police Training Commission membership to include representative from National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.*
Vetoed · 16
"Property Tax Lien Pilot Program," establishes pilot program to allow certain municipalities greater control over sale of tax liens.
"Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty First Century First Responders Protection Act"; concerns workers' compensation for public safety workers.
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research institutions; allows certain technology businesses located in certain innovation zones to receive certain tax credits under Grow New Jersey Assistan
"Unfair Wage Recovery Act"; provides that unlawful employment practice occurs each time individual is affected.
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.*
Establishes "Police Officer, Firefighter, Public School Teacher, Corrections Officer, and Sanitation Worker Home-buyer Assistance Act."; appropriates $5 million.*
Requires use of goods made in the United States for public contracts; requires disclosures by businesses that receive public contracts or development assistance.**
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.
Requires State to pay its pension contributions quarterly on July 15, October 15, January 15 and April 15.
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.
Requires AG oversight of transfer of federal surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies; establishes review and reporting requirement.
Permits municipal land banking in conjunction with online property database development.
Establishes minimum certified nurse aide-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.*
Passed the Senate · 10
Increases criminal penalties if leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor results in injury or death.
Prohibits employers from obtaining, requiring, or discriminating on the basis of credit reports.*
Establishes "New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission."
Makes FY 2014 supplemental appropriation to DOH for $7,453,000 for family planning services.*
Concerns earned sick leave.
Requires Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with various entities, to design a manufacturing career pathway to provide students with skills necessary to gain employment in manufacturing sector.
Requires establishment of processes to identify Medicaid eligible incarcerated individuals who are awaiting pre-trial release determinations, are being released following period of incarceration, or are undergoing inpatient hospital treatment.*
Permits group self-insurance plans for, and collective bargaining agreements improving the provision of, workers' compensation.
Allows PFRS to pay pension to member who resigns and retires from PFRS-covered employment to assume elective office with same employer to eliminate conflict of incompatible positions.
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools.
Out of committee · 38
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act"; imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances. *
Establishes telemarketing fraud investigation unit.
Establishes State Transportation Infrastructure Bank within New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.
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 durational limits and enumerates certain factors concerning modification and termination of alimony; establishes "open durational" alimony."*
Requires disclosure of all fees and charges associated with prepaid debit cards on the package of such cards.
Provides for presumptive parole; establishes parole compliance credits; requires inmate disciplinary database; bases commutation credits on custodial sentence.*
Requires Division of Addiction Services to grant residential drug treatment program licenses to certain programs operating in State correctional facilities and county jails.
Requires use of bear-resistant containers, dumpsters, or food boxes in certain areas located in black bear habitat under certain circumstances, including garbage collection, and prohibits certain actions that would result in feeding of black bears.
Authorizes court to order submission of DNA evidence to national database to determine whether the evidence matches a known individual or a DNA profile from an unsolved crime.*
Requires contractors to provide Department of the Treasury with employment information about contracts with public bodies.
Provides that crime victims do not have to pay fees to obtain records relating to the crime and that requests for such records are not public information.*
Makes construction work on public utilities subject to "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act."
Requires State Employment and Training Commission to prepare annual report on State workforce.
Provides that eligibility for NJ STARS Program be based on class rank at completion of student's junior year or senior year of high school.*
Prohibits school district from denying student school breakfast or school lunch because payment is in arrears without prior notice to parent.
"Art Therapist Licensing Act."
Establishes certain requirements for hospitals regarding patient-designated caregivers.
Requires elevators in new buildings be at least a certain size.
Prohibits existing child care subsidy recipient from being treated as a new applicant for subsidy after moving to a new county of residence.
"Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law"; permits minors to give consent for behavioral health care.
Dedicates 30 percent of all UEZ sales tax revenues to respective UEZ account and 70 percent of UEZ sales tax revenues to General Fund.
Shortens waiting periods for expungement of criminal and other records and information; makes various changes to other expungement procedures and requirements.*
Requires DHS to notify enrollees in Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly of Medicare eligibility.
Requires DHS to monitor utilization and billing of services for Medicaid home and community-based long-term care.
Requires insurance producer licensing examination and registration materials to be offered in English and Spanish, and examination instructional materials to be available in Spanish.
Provides for notification of next-of-kin in event of death of senior citizen in senior housing facility.
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.*
Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms.
Establishes task force to study issues related to sexual assault on college campuses.
"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."
Permits small businesses to qualify for loans from NJEDA for costs of energy audit and making energy efficiency or conservation improvements.
Expands scope of law governing registration of security guards; designated as "Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago's Law." *
Mandates health benefits coverage for opioid analgesics with abuse-deterrent properties.
Makes FY 2016 supplemental appropriations of $6,500,000 and adds language provision.
Requires DCPP to implement policies and procedures to ensure caseworker safety; "Leah's Law." *
Requires each institution of higher education to establish Sexual Violence Prevention Advisory Board.
In committee · 57
Requires owner of foreclosed property to provide relocation assistance to tenant displaced by termination of illegal occupancy.
Requires lobby security for certain senior citizen high-rise buildings in areas with high violent crime rates.
Allows two elected members of pension commission of closed Hudson County Employees' Pension Fund to be active county employee or retired county employee.
Authorizes award of attorney's fees and expenses in landlord-tenant actions under certain circumstances.
Requires NJHMFA to establish reverse mortgage program for certain retirees living in cooperatives.
"Save New Jersey Electric and Gas Public Utility Customer Service and Call Center Jobs Act"; requires notification by electric and gas utilities when relocating customer and call centers out of State.
Requires newly-constructed multiple dwellings with six or more residential units to install standby generators to provide electricity in case of emergency.
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically modified material.
Permits sale of home-baked goods under certain circumstances.
Revises statutes concerning firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits; makes handgun purchase permit valid for four years.
Establishes "Commission on College Tuition."
"The Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act"; requires public utilities to file certain information concerning emergency preparedness with BPU and increases certain penalties.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Provides gross income tax credits to support development of New Jersey-based small business start-ups.
Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans.
Prohibits certain energy suppliers from making false and misleading claims to potential customers; prohibits suppliers' calls to customers where no business relationship exists.
Establishes one-year moratorium on replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with non-copper-based landline or wireless telephone service; requires BPU to report to Governor and Legislature.
Provides that a school district may be placed under full or partial State intervention pursuant to the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) for no longer than five years.
Expands eligible municipalities under the "Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act" to include Harrison Town in Hudson County.
Provides for designation of new charter school authorizers.
"Higher Education Citizenship Equality Act;" defines domicile for dependent students for the purpose of eligibility for State student loans, grants, or scholarships and in-State tuition rate.
Authorizes public schools to serve to students certain produce grown in community garden.
Directs DOH to develop plan to phase out use of latex gloves in health care facilities and food establishments.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Extends service prevailing wage requirements to certain food service contracts.
Allows establishment of county-wide purchasing system for certain school district services in certain counties; offers employment protections for certain food or custodial services employees; and regulates subcontracting by districts and public higher edu
Concerns arbitration for certain non-teaching school staff.
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.
Revises statutes regarding practice of physical therapy.
"Revised State Medical Examiner Act"; establishes Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner in DOH.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Concerns victim's right to rape care advocate under certain circumstances.
Eliminates transfer inheritance tax and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amounts under New Jersey estate tax in accordance with provisions of federal tax law.
Establishes "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program" for public institutions of higher education to establish or expand programs in manufacturing fields.
Eliminates power of DRPA to finance economic development; changes composition of board; imposes restrictions regarding financing, contract procedures, conflicts of interest, and review audits; creates commuter's council.
Revises exemption from "unemployment compensation law" for operators of certain motor vehicles.
Authorizes special "We Support the Arts" license plates with proceeds to New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Revises criminal history record check procedures for school personnel to provide for communication of post-employment federal criminal record information received through participation in federal rap back program to Commissioner of Education.
Concerns prompt payment of construction contracts.
The "Full Marriage Recognition for Civil Union Couples Act"; recognizes certain civil unions as marriages dating back to inception of such civil unions.
Requires certain sanitation procedures for mattresses and product labeling regarding such procedures.
Provides supplemental appropriation of $200,000 to Rutgers University - Camden for support of Citizenship Rutgers events.
Provides expedited procedure for foreclosing residential properties in uncontested actions.
Establishes per se standard for driving under the influence of drugs.
Imposes three-year moratorium on use of assessments developed by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers for certain purposes.
Permits voter registration at polling place on days of municipal, primary, and general elections.
Prohibits tourist helicopter operations in New Jersey.
Automatically registers or updates voter registration as part of driver's license application or renewal.
"New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act"; authorizes issuance of $125,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance capital projects at public libraries; appropriates $5,000.
Establishes driver's license for residents who cannot prove lawful presence in US.
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice services.
Establishes certain requirements for 9-1-1 public safety answering points and public safety dispatch points.
Clarifies DHS authority to regulate sober living homes and halfway houses as residential substance abuse aftercare facilities; requires background checks and other protections for residents of residential substance abuse facilities.
Requires that information about legal rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords in rental dwelling units be kept up to date in both English and Spanish.
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.
Clarifies threshold eligibility requirements for certain tax credit program.
Filed · 1
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.