Bills in the 2016–2017 Session, Senate.
Sandra B. Cunningham
Sponsored
Became law11
Establishes compensation program for law enforcement officers and certain other employees injured while performing official duties.*
Revises treatment requirements for convicted drug offenders receiving general assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program.*
"New Jersey International Arbitration, Mediation, and Conciliation Act."
Prohibits public institution of higher education from using State funds in excess of $10,000 to pay fee of commencement and other speakers.*
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to provide annual New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program report to Governor and Legislature and develop student loan comparison information document to increase program transpa
Revises New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program to require applicants first exhaust federal student loans, require income verification, and limit total student loan amounts.
Requires institutions of higher education to enter into collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement.
Prohibits certain employment discrimination based upon expunged criminal record.
Revises procedures for expunging criminal and other records and information, including shortening of certain waiting periods for expungement eligibility and increasing number of convictions which may be expunged.
Decreases waiting period to expunge entire juvenile record from five to three years.
Changes PERS membership eligibility for certain elected public officials and provides for PERS reenrollment.
Vetoed4
Requires incarcerated individual from State to be counted at residential address for legislative redistricting purposes.
Requires DOH to authorize Jersey City to issue certified copies of birth certificates by September 1, 2017.*
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to establish repayment assistance program for borrowers under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program who suffer material loss of income.
Commits $3 million from Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skill to NJ Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.
Passed the Senate11
Requires institutions of higher education to provide to prospective students certain cost, loan, and debt information in financial aid shopping sheet.
Requires State Board of Education high school graduation requirements include instruction on tuition assistance programs and student loan debt; requires high school students to meet with guidance counselor to discuss tuition assistance and dual enrollment
Revises and renames NJSTARS; repeals NJSTARS II; establishes NJ HonorScholars Program.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to obtain court order prior to using certain collection practices for defaulted loans under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to establish income-driven repayment option and loan rehabilitation program for borrowers under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish communication campaign to encourage students to enroll in 30 credits per year and institutions to report to secretary on strategies and incentives to accomplish this goal.*
Requires institutions of higher education to develop open textbook plan.*
Requires four-year institutions of higher education to offer accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree programs.
Allows students to use certain grant awards during summer session.*
Requires public institution of higher education to offer course on stress management.
Establishes Higher Education Student Assistance Authority Review Task Force to study implementation of New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.
Out of committee10
Establishes "Einstein Scholars Program."
Concerns disputed medical fees in workers' compensation claims.
Establishes loan redemption program for teachers employed in chronically failing schools.
Provides increased tax credit amounts under Grow New Jersey Assistance Program for certain businesses that have collaborative research relationships with colleges or universities.*
Eliminates UI exemption for interns employed by hospitals.
Directs State Auditor to conduct performance review audits of public institutions of higher education.
Establishes Office of Student Loan Ombudsman; regulates student loan servicers.
Expands eligibility of inmates for medical parole and requires inmate's enrollment in Medicaid under certain circumstances.
Establishes Campus Sexual Assault Commission.
Requires institutions of higher education to use procedures in response to allegations of sexual harassment that are consistent with certain federal guidance and to report incidence of sexual assault.
In committee22
Reduces drug free school and public property zones to 200 feet.
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.
Requires president of public institution of higher education to regularly report on-campus criminal and fire events to the institution's governing board.
Requires reporting of the graduation rates of State tuition aid grant recipients.
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 school districts to pay advanced placement examination fees for certain students and the State to reimburse school districts for the cost.
Directs New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Secretary of Higher Education to promote 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.
Allows nonimmigrant alien students who have applied for a green card to qualify for in-State tuition at public institutions of higher education.
Requires installation of visual monitoring systems in licensed child care centers.
Allows persons on parole and probation to vote; provides registration assistance to persons on probation, parolees, and persons completing sentences.
Requires Secretary of Higher Education to annually provide Governor and Legislature with student consumer information report compiled under "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act."
Requires institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water annually, report test results, and install lead filters or treatment devices.
Establishes "Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program" in Union, Essex, Hudson, and Gloucester counties, appropriates $210,000.
Permits up to seven dollar increase in surcharge for document recordation with county in support of county homelessness housing trust funds.
Establishes Tuition Aid Grant Study Commission to examine New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program and make recommendations regarding improvements to program.
Creates a civil "rape shield" law.
Restricts eligibility for borrowing through New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program to students attending in-State institutions of higher education.
"Personal Injury Trust Fund Transparency Act;" requires plaintiff to file personal injury trust claims under certain circumstance; addresses allocation of trust claims; establishes scheduling and discovery requirements for certain tort actions.
Filed1
Allows School of Osteopathic Medicine at Rowan University to maintain principal clinical affiliation with either osteopathic or allopathic hospital.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law4
Expands eligibility of inmates for medical parole and requires inmate's enrollment in Medicaid under certain circumstances.
Allows School of Osteopathic Medicine at Rowan University to maintain principal clinical affiliation with either osteopathic or allopathic hospital.
Provides increased tax credit amounts under Grow New Jersey Assistance Program for certain businesses that have collaborative research relationships with colleges or universities.*
Eliminates UI exemption for interns employed by hospitals.
Vetoed1
Establishes Office of Student Loan Ombudsman; regulates student loan servicers.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 13
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools and county colleges.*
Prohibits president or other employee of public institution of higher education from taking final action on purchase of property unless prior notice is provided to institution's governing board and general counsel and board approves action.**
Requires Commissioner of DCA to promulgate rules and regulations providing for veterans' affordable housing assistance preference.
Permits DHS to request waiver of time limits for certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients under certain circumstances.*
Establishes permanent sterile syringe access program.*
Expands infertility coverage under certain health insurance plans.
Ensures equal rights and opportunities for pregnant students in institutions of higher education.*
Requires housing authority to advertise when applications are being accepted for housing assistance waiting lists online.
Directs Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to work to promote basic skills training through organizations dedicated to the economic empowerment of specific segments of society, such as the African American Chamber of Comme
Establishes "Milkweed for Monarchs" program.
Establishes tuition reimbursement program for certain psychiatrists who work in underserved areas or psychiatric hospitals in New Jersey.*
Establishes Women's Vocational Training Pilot Program to promote economic self-sufficiency of low-income women through increased participation in high-wage, high-demand occupations; authorizes allocation of certain funds therefor.*
Establishes criminal penalties for sale and possession of certain firearm components.
Vetoed · 8
Restricts use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities.
Establishes restricted use driver's license endorsement for certain motor vehicle offenders with suspended license.
Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms.
"Earn Your Way Out Act" ; requires DOC to develop inmate reentry plan; establishes administrative parole release for certain inmates;requires study and report by DOC on fiscal impact.*
Concerns equal pay for women and employment discrimination.
Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Requires institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to improve transparency of tuition and fees.
Provides that AG handle investigation and prosecution of crime involving person's death by law enforcement officer while acting in officer's official capacity or while in custody; requires trial in venue outside county where incident occurred.
Passed the Senate · 15
Revises "Pet Purchase Protection Act" to establish new requirements for pet dealers and pet shops.*
Increases criminal penalties if leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor results in injury or death.
Requires certain common interest community associations to publish certain information; requires that homeowners' association contracts for management and maintenance include 24-hour emergency services.
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 Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Council.
Removes certain bars to employment for convicted offenders.
Establishes temporary mortgage relief programs for certain owners of real property damaged by "Superstorm Sandy."
Repeals family cap in Work First New Jersey program.
Provides that no more than 120 credits will be required for baccalaureate degree awarded by a public institution and no more than 60 credits for an associate degree.
Makes FY 2017 supplemental appropriation of $7,453,000 to DOH for family planning services.*
Allows gross income tax deduction for certain student loan interest.
Permits establishment by county and four-year institutions of higher education of three plus one degree programs for receipt of baccalaureate degree after spending three years at county college and one year at senior institution.
Establishes Dual Enrollment Study Commission.*
Prohibits landlords from requiring residential tenants to pay rent and other related charges through electronic funds transfer, requires landlords to provide receipts for cash payments.*
Authorizes use of certain electric school buses.*
Out of committee · 39
Raises minimum wage rate to $10.10, makes further increases over a four-year period, and maintains annual increases based on increases in CPI-W.
Enacts the "NJ Family First Employer Act"; establishes award for certain employers.
Requires State to reimburse counties for portion of holiday pay to county employees performing State services on certain holidays.
Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families; qualifies families to receive additional nutritional assistance.
Requires law enforcement agencies in this State to establish minority recruitment and selection programs; establishes reporting requirement.
Requires health insurance coverage for contraceptives to include prescriptions for 12 months.
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.
Establishes State Transportation Infrastructure Bank and State Energy Bank within New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.*
Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act; Provides income tax credit to family caregivers of certain armed service members with physical disabilities.
"Secure Schools for All Children Act"; establishes State aid program for security services, equipment, or technology to ensure safe and secure school environment for nonpublic school students.
Concerns earned sick leave.
The "New Jobs for New Jersey Act."
Increases the personal income tax's pension and retirement income exclusion fivefold over three years.
Automatically registers or updates voter registration as part of driver's license application or renewal.
Requires AG and county prosecutor to provide notification on website concerning persons indicted or prosecuted for crimes under certain circumstances.*
"Higher Education Citizenship Equality Act;" defines domicile for dependent students for the purpose of eligibility for State student loans, grants, and scholarships and resident tuition rate.*
Requires boards of education to conduct student vision screenings that include evaluation of acuity and binocular vision.
Establishes telemarketing fraud investigation unit.
Permits certain public institutions of higher education to make purchases and contract for services as participating contracting units in cooperative pricing systems and through use of nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreements.
Increases amount of benefits under Work First New Jersey program.*
Authorizes expedited partner therapy, under which sexual partners or patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted disease are treated without prior clinical examination.
"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.
Requires that certain inmates with detainers be provided access to drug treatment programs.
Bars persons under age 18 from marrying or entering into a civil union.
Concerns employer inquires about worker's wage and salary experience.
Authorizes reciprocal agreements with other states for academic credit transfer and directs public institutions of higher education to enter into such agreements.
Prohibits sale of unsafe supplemental mattresses designed for children's products.
Provides two elected members of pension commission of closed Hudson County Employees' Pension Fund may be active or retired county employees.
Authorizes psychiatric advanced practice nurses to complete certain certificates required for involuntary commitment to treatment.*
Establishes Office for Women's Advancement in DOLWD to facilitate full and equal participation of women in workplace; makes an appropriation.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to conduct study to determine extent and cause of outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges.
Concerns outreach and training for minorities and women in the construction industry.
Establishes Behavioral Health Services Task Force.*
Repeals law suspending certain licenses, registrations and certifications for failure to repay student loans.
"Safe Transportation Jobs and Fair Employment Rules Act."
Requires public institutions of higher education to allow students, faculty, and other staff to identify sexual orientation and gender identity on any forms used to collect certain demographic data.
Establishes Montclair State University as public research university.
Increases amount of benefits under Work First New Jersey program by 30 percent over three years and according to Social Security cost of living increases thereafter.
Repeals family cap in Work First New Jersey program.
In committee · 54
Provides for presumptive parole; establishes parole compliance credits; requires inmate disciplinary database; bases commutation credits on custodial sentence.
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.
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.
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically modified material.
"Revised State Medical Examiner Act"; establishes Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner in DOH.
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.
Establishes driver's license for residents who cannot prove lawful presence in US.
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.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Dedicates 30 percent of all UEZ sales tax revenues to respective UEZ account and 70 percent of UEZ sales tax revenues to General Fund.
Prohibits tourist helicopter operations in New Jersey.
Provides for designation of new charter school authorizers.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
Prohibits employers from obtaining, requiring, or discriminating on the basis of credit reports.
Requires AG oversight of transfer of federal surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies; establishes review and reporting requirement.
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.
Requires State to pay its pension contributions quarterly on July 15, October 15, January 15 and April 15.
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice care services.
"Unfair Wage Recovery Act"; provides that unlawful employment practice occurs each time individual is affected.
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.
Requires owner of foreclosed property to provide relocation assistance to tenant displaced by termination of illegal occupancy.
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.
"Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law"; permits minors to give consent for behavioral health care.
Establishes minimum certified nurse aide-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.
Revises statutes concerning firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits; makes handgun purchase permit valid for four years.
Clarifies intent of Legislature to protect certain senior tenants; aligns housing age restrictions with federal law.
Designates September 11 each year "September 11 Remembrance Day" in New Jersey.
Allows gross income tax credit for certain child and dependent care expenses.
Requires members of governing boards of public institutions of higher education to complete a training program developed by the Commission on Higher Education.
Allows certain students including undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria to qualify for State student financial aid programs.
Establishes a loan redemption program for public school teachers who meet certain academic requirements and teach Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subjects or special education.
Provides gross income tax credits to support development of New Jersey-based small business start-ups.
Requires various measures to address effects of low levels of lead exposure.
Provides rental and lease protections for domestic violence victims.
Establishes guardianship monitoring program in Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults.
Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service.
Prohibits bio-analytical laboratories from charging certain patients more than 115% of the applicable Medicare rate.
Concerns credit card interchange fees and consumer protection.
Removes black bear from list of game species.
Requires evaluation of school buildings for air quality and mold.
Requires newly manufactured handguns to be micro-stamped; establishes handgun database.
Requires color photo on firearms identification cards, permits to purchase handgun, and permits to carry handgun.
"Consumer Freedom From Unwanted Expense in Health Insurance Coverage Act."
Requires Center for Occupational Employment Information to share labor market information with school districts and public institutions of higher education.
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
Establishes "Local Safe Corridor Fund"; increases penalties on roadway designated as local safe corridor and dedicates funds to local safe corridor safety initiatives.
Requires advance notice of water supply discontinuations for non-payment of local government water bills; requires offer of payment plan in certain circumstances.
Increases fee for firearms purchaser identification card; requires color photo on firearms purchaser identification cards, permits to purchase handgun, and permits to carry handgun.
Prohibits discrimination against prospective tenant based on information in credit reports.
Permits temporary rental assistance for emergency assistance recipients.
Establishes the "Domestic Violence Tuition Waiver Program."
"Voter Privacy Act"; establishes protections for privacy of voters; prohibits automated programs to remove names of ineligible voters from official lists of eligible voters; prohibits sharing of certain voter information with federal government.
Establishes Edison Innovation Science and Technology Fund in EDA to provide grants for certain science and technology-based university research; appropriates $5 million.
Filed · 1
Establishes program to reimburse local governments for federal grant funds lost due to "sanctuary jurisdiction" status.