Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, Senate.
Sandra B. Cunningham
Sponsored
Became law5
Provides that New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program scholarship may be awarded in any semester of attendance or enrollment at institution of higher education in State.
Establishes requirements for closures of private career schools and institutions of higher education, modifies review process of new academic programs, and requires approval of branch campuses.*
Provides relief to students receiving State financial aid to address special circumstances due to 2020 public health state of emergency.
Makes changes to membership and responsibilities of Campus Sexual Assault Commission.
Raises statutory threshold for certain public bidding, permits bidder disqualification due to prior negative experience, adds exemptions to public bidding requirement under "State College Contracts Law," and establishes process for cooperative pricing sys
Vetoed2
Eliminates mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment determined by Legislature to be of non-violent nature.
Eliminates mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment determined by Legislature to be of non-violent nature.
Passed the Senate5
Prohibits academic degree-granting institutions from entering into revenue sharing arrangements with financial institutions for consumer financial products or services and regulates consumer financial products or services marketed to students.
Requires institutions of higher education to distribute information on availability of allowance for dependent care expenses in determination of cost of attendance.
Requires registration of private education lenders; establishes protections for private education borrowers.
Removes Selective Service registration as requirement for eligibility under State student financial aid programs.
Requires DOH approval for adverse possessory action against hospitals.
Out of committee22
Requires undergraduate students to file degree plan and requires institutions of higher education and certain propriety institutions to develop pathway systems to graduation.
Commits $3 million from Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skill to NJ Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.
Prohibits municipal licensure of children operating temporary businesses.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide graduating students with information on income-contingent student loan repayment programs.
Establishes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities.*
Implements sentencing recommendations of the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission to eliminate certain mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment; eliminates mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for crime of official misconduct.*
Establishes certain requirements for closures of institutions of postsecondary education.
Permits retroactive modification of certain judgements of conviction; requires study of DOC's anticipated expenses to upgrade data infrastructure.**
Establishes compassionate release program for certain inmates; repeals law that establishes medical parole.
Requires cost savings study of compassionate release program and elimination of mandatory minimum terms; establishes "Corrections Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention Fund."
Establishes Community College Opportunity Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to provide last-dollar financial aid grants to county college students and Student Success Incentive funding to county colleges.
Establishes Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program in DOE to assist public schools in establishing or expanding certain educational programs to address learning loss in students.
Requires financial aid award letter provided by institutions of higher education and certain proprietary schools be consistent with financial aid shopping sheet.
Implements certain guidelines concerning purchase of catalytic converters.
Requires institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions that have agreements with online program managers to disclose online program information.
Requires online program manager providing marketing services for institution of higher education or proprietary institution licensed to offer academic degrees to self-identify as third party to prospective students.
Requires certain institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions to submit certain documentation on online program managers to Secretary of Higher Education.*
Requires four-year public institutions of higher education to provide on website certain information on online degree students and graduate degree students.
Awards project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for water infrastructure projects in certain school districts; appropriates $6,608,212.
Provides project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for career and technical education at county colleges; appropriates $26,456,996.
Requires incarcerated individual from State to be counted at residential address for municipal, county, and congressional redistricting purposes and for apportionment of regional school district board of education members. *
Makes supplemental appropriation of $8 million to DHS to increase reimbursement for funeral, burial, and crematory services provided to certain beneficiaries of Work First New Jersey and Supplemental Security Income programs.
In committee24
Requires president of public institution of higher education to regularly report on-campus criminal and fire events to the institution's governing board.
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
Establishes process for county colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs in certain critcal-need applied science fields.
Revises standards for contracting at State colleges to mirror standards applicable to public research universities.
Increases age of dependent for whom gross income tax exemption for higher education expenses may be claimed from under 22 years to under 25 years.
Requires certain corporations to appoint women to board of directors.
Requires public institutions of higher education to temporarily suspend collection of tuition and other payments from students impacted by shutdown of federal government.
Bars the denial of expungement application in certain instances.
Provides that certain employees of educational institutions are eligible for unemployment benefits under certain circumstances.
Includes certain armed security officers regulated by "Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago's Law" in crimes of assault and disarming an officer.
Clarifies prohibition on discrimination against servicemembers in "Law Against Discrimination."
Revises eligibility for convicted drug offenders to receive general assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program.
Establishes Outstanding Scholars Recruitment Program.
Awards credits to reduce the parole eligibility date of inmates who participate in college and associate degree educational programming.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to suspend administrative wage garnishment, certain judicial proceedings, and payments on certain New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students loans during COVID-19 state of emergency.
Permits certain cities to transfer a portion of its public employees from a locally-administered health benefits program to SHBP.
Permits youth-serving patriotic societies to speak with public school students during regular school hours.
Grants immunity from liability to institutions of higher education and certain employees for damages resulting from novel coronavirus disease.
Reduces standard voter registration deadline to eight days before election; allows voter registration at polling place on election day and at offices where mail-in ballots are issued within 45 days before election.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to permit certain students to submit monthly expense and resource statement for income verification; requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to impute in-kind support amounts.
Establishes pilot program in DOE to support establishment of criminal justice career academies in public high schools.
Implements sentencing recommendations of the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission to eliminate certain mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment; eliminates mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for crime of official misconduct.
Prohibits institution of higher education and proprietary institution licensed to offer academic degrees from withholding student transcript due to outstanding balance on student's account.
Expands "Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program" and in Juvenile Justice Commission to include Jersey City; appropriates $2 million.
Filed1
Concerns certain benefits and leave provided to workers.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law11
Requires incarcerated individual from State to be counted at residential address for municipal, county, and congressional redistricting purposes and for apportionment of regional school district board of education members. **
Prohibits municipal licensure of children operating temporary businesses.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide graduating students with information on income-contingent student loan repayment programs.
Establishes compassionate release program for certain inmates; repeals law that establishes medical parole.
Commits $3 million from Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skill to NJ Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.
Establishes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities.*
Requires cost savings study of compassionate release program and elimination of mandatory minimum terms; establishes "Corrections Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention Fund."
Establishes Community College Opportunity Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to provide last-dollar financial aid grants to county college students and Student Success Incentive funding to county colleges.
Awards project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for water infrastructure projects in certain school districts; appropriates $6,608,212.
Provides project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for career and technical education at county colleges; appropriates $26,456,996.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $8 million to DHS to increase reimbursement for funeral, burial, and crematory services provided to certain beneficiaries of Work First New Jersey and Supplemental Security Income programs.
Passed the General Assembly1
Implements sentencing recommendations of the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission to eliminate certain mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment; eliminates mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for crime of official misconduct.*
Co-sponsored
Became law · 31
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.*
Establishes certain rights for students with military obligations attending public institutions of higher education and permits late registration for students with military obligations.*
Requires residential landlords to equip steam radiators with protective covers.
Allows public office holder or candidate to use political contributions to pay for child care expenses related to office or campaign activities.
Requires certain health care professionals to undergo explicit and implicit bias training.*
Requires DOH to develop and implement plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening.
Requires members of governing boards of public institutions of higher education to complete a training program developed by institution in consultation with Secretary of Higher Education.*
"New Jersey Fair Play Act"; allows collegiate student-athletes to earn compensation for use of name, image, or likeness.
"Healthy Terminals Act"; requires certain airport and train station workers to be paid certain wage rates and benefits.*
Requires lead paint inspection on certain residential rental property, including upon tenant turnover; establishes lead-based paint hazard education program; appropriates $3,900,000. *
Appropriates $32,711,205,000 in State funds and $13,856,161,239 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2020-2021.
Appropriates $46,380,012,000 in State funds and $21,026,030,082 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2021-2022.
Assists inmates released from incarceration in obtaining necessary reentry benefits.
Increases strangulation assault to crime of second degree.
Requires public health emergency credits to be awarded to certain inmates and parolees during public health emergency; prohibits contact with victim upon release of inmate awarded credits.***
Directs DOE to establish five-year pilot program for issuance of limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing and limited certificate of eligibility for certain teacher candidates.*
Mandates training on culturally responsive teaching for all candidates for teaching certification.
Requires compilation of data and issuance of annual reports on New Jersey teacher workforce.
Concerns eligibility of education employees for unemployment.
Expands scope of inmate reentry assistance and benefits.
Authorizes expanded provision of harm reduction services to distribute sterile syringes and provide certain support services to persons who use drugs intravenously. **
Requires resources be made available to victims of sexual assault.
Establishes alternate route to expedite certification of teachers at early college high school programs.
Directs NJT to erect statue in honor of A. Philip Randolph, appropriates $90,000.
Makes $15 million in federal funds available to EDA and New Jersey Council on the Arts to support arts and culture organizations in need.*
Makes $25 million in federal funds available to EDA to support microbusinesses in need.*
Requires institutions of higher education to provide certain student loan information.
"Responsible Collective Negotiations Act."
FY 2021 State supplemental appropriation; appropriates $100.3 million in General Fund monies and $14.4 million in Property Tax Relief Fund monies.
Expands bonding authority of New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority to permit financing for general funding needs of New Jersey's institutions of higher education.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.
Vetoed · 2
Establishes program allowing certain applicants to perform community service in lieu of paying motor vehicle surcharges.
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Passed the Senate · 12
Concerns eligibility, procedures, and post-program relief for certain drug or alcohol dependent persons sentenced to special probation, or regular probation which as a condition of such requires substance use disorders treatment. *
Establishes scholarship program for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in field of fusion science.
Revises definition of "landlord" to include rooming and boarding house owners and operators with regard to ordinances holding landlords to certain standards of responsibility.
Requires State Capitol Joint Management Commission display representation of Alice Paul in State Capitol building.
Requires school district to provide information to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses. *
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to conduct study to determine extent and cause of outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges.
Establishes New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission.
Prohibits gender-based price discrimination.
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.**
Requires teachers to biennially complete two hours of professional development related to cultural competence.
Provides CBT tax credit for certain deliveries of low carbon concrete and for costs of conducting environmental product declaration analyses of low carbon concrete.*
Requires DEP to develop and implement electric school bus program; provides for $15 million in first year and $15 million annually in subsequent two years to DEP, subject to availability, to provide grants.*
Out of committee · 31
Amends and supplements FY20 appropriations act to effectuate extension of fiscal year through September 30, 2020; reduces authorized appropriations; makes FY20 supplemental appropriations of $7,745,997,000 in State funds and $4,586,243,000 in federal fund
Directs the development and posting of notices containing information for victims of human trafficking.
Requires law enforcement agencies in this State to establish minority recruitment and selection programs; establishes reporting requirement.
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.
Requires school districts to provide feminine hygiene products in certain public schools and requires State to pay costs.
Requires Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain database of Educational Opportunity Fund student admissions.
Establishes rebuttable presumption that person who commits domestic violence by strangling victim be detained prior to trial.
"College Mental Health Services Act"; establishes grant program for public institutions of higher education and requires public institutions of higher education to report certain information concerning mental health treatment and suicides.
Establishes pilot program to provide guidance to students applying for federal financial aid.
Requires DOE to maintain list of textbook vendors that use inclusive material and school districts to use textbooks from those vendors.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability. *
Requires institutions of higher education and private career schools to provide on website employment data of graduates; requires DOLWD to compile certain employment information.
Establishes fire safety standards and protocols for certain light frame residential construction; requires project labor agreements for this construction; requires placards identifying primary structural systems of buildings.
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.*
Requires Secretary of Higher Education's approval for certain branch campuses; establishes fiscal monitoring and closure policies for independent institutions of higher education; modifies review process for new higher education academic programs.
Expands offenses eligible for expungement upon successful discharge from drug court.
Requires Internet websites and web services of school districts, charter schools, renaissance schools, and the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf to be accessible to persons with disabilities. *
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.
Establishes the "Urban Wealth Fund Pilot Program."
"Manufacturing in Higher Education Act"; requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to manufacturing industry.
Establishes criminal offenses and civil penalties concerning inhumane confinement of breeding pigs and calves raised for veal.
Requires DHS to establish payment programs for purchase of transportation services from private sector and government transportation service providers. *
Makes $15 million in federal funds available to EDA to support businesses and nonprofits in need.*
Makes $10 million in federal funds available to EDA to support child care providers in need.*
Makes $35 million in federal funds available to EDA to support food and beverage establishments in need.*
Restores and revises Urban Enterprise Zone program; appropriates $42,500,000. *
Requires induction loop listening system installation in certain buildings open to public upon new construction or substantial renovation.
Allows certain voters residing overseas to vote in certain elections in this State depending on overseas residency or intent to return. *
Permits parent or guardian to request grade retention for student during 2021-2022 school year.
Revises effective date of "New Jersey Fair Play Act."
"New Jersey College Affordability Act"; appropriates $10 million.
In committee · 42
Eliminates requirement to submit sales tax exemption form for textbook purchases.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
"Immigrant Tenant Protection Act."
Increases criminal penalties if leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor results in injury or death.
"Consumer Freedom From Unwanted Expense in Health Insurance Coverage Act."
Expands registration requirements under Megan's Law to include persons committing human trafficking crimes or engaging in prostitution, when crimes involve minors.
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.
The "New Jersey Youth Justice Transformation Act;" annually appropriates $100 million to Juvenile Justice Commission.
Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
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.
Concerns participation in special probation drug court.
Prohibits sale of menthol cigarettes.
Reaffirms and clarifies that Attorney General and Division on Civil Rights may initiate actions in Superior Court to enforce "Law Against Discrimination."
Provides for civil actions against persons or entities profiting from commission of human trafficking offenses, or maintaining victims of such offenses.
Requires applicants for commercial driver license to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking.
Establishes "New Jersey College Ready Students Program Act"; provides tuition-free dual enrollment opportunities at county college for certain high school students.
Provides for process to vacate and expunge certain arrests, charges, complaints, convictions, other dispositions, and DNA records, associated with violations by certain human trafficking victims.
Directs BPU to develop and implement electric school bus pilot program.
Expands duties of Commission on Human Trafficking to include studying connection between human trafficking and illicit massage parlor businesses.
Creates new $100 assessment for convictions of certain sexual offenses to fund counseling for victims and their families; establishes Sexual Offender Victim Counseling Fund.
Establishes one-time payment program in Department of Treasury for aid for certain eligible taxpayers; appropriates $35 million.
Provides that institutions of higher education may permit final-year students in graduate degree programs for mental health care professions to graduate or be matched with residency or clinical programs early.
Concerns psychological testing of police officers.
Establishes crime of law enforcement officer choking another person; designated as George Floyd's Law.
Requires access to law enforcement disciplinary records as government records; requires such records to be retained for certain period of time.
Establishes license to allow wineries that produce more than 250,000 gallons per year to directly ship wine to consumers.
Authorizes creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct; appropriates $600,000.
"Reproductive Freedom Act."
Establishes certain guidelines for health insurance carriers concerning step therapy protocols.
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.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to New Jersey Library Network for continuation of services.
Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; requires periodic certificate renewal and professional development for school counselors; mandates number of school counselors per public school; establishes position of School C
Makes $10.5 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools.
Provides that certain school districts will receive State school aid in amounts equal to aid provided in 2020-2021 school year.
Requires racial and gender diversity in membership to be considered for appointments to certain boards and commissions established by statute.
Establishes requirements for use of deadly force.
Requires electric, gas, and water public utilities to disseminate outage information to customers through autodialed telephone call, text message, and electronic mail alert service.
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."
Filed · 7
Requires school districts to provide school meals or meal vouchers to students eligible for free and reduced price school meals during school closures due to COVID-19 epidemic.
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.