Bills in the 2006–2007 Session, Senate.
Loretta Weinberg
Sponsored
Became law9
The "Raincheck Policy Disclosure Act."
Increases maximum municipal dog license fee from $7 to $21. *
Makes changes concerning Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism.
Permits county board of taxation to extend municipality's filing deadline for assessment appeals for any year in which revaluation is implemented.
"Patricia's Law;" model Missing Persons Legislation.
Requires distributing information about human papillomavirus to parents and guardians of seventh to twelfth graders and to pediatricians, and establishes public awareness campaign. *
Extends deadline for authorization to make grants from the "Wastewater Treatment Fund" for certain projects listed in P.L.2005, c.301.
"Billy's Law"; requires DCF and DHS to establish regulations for out-of-State placements in residential schools and programs .**
Changes deadline for voter-verified paper record of votes cast on voting machines to June 3, 2008. *
Passed the Senate1
Extends victim counselor's privilege to include statements made during certain interviews of victim.
Out of committee17
Establishes Asperger's Syndrome Pilot Initiative.
Requires Local Finance Board approval for proposed loan agreements between local authorities and for-profit entities.
Renames the Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program and makes various other changes to the program.
Provides for establishment of county offices for disability services; appropriates $425,000. *
"Independence, Dignity and Choice in Long-Term Care Act"; reallocates State long-term care expenditures.
Establishes that "45-day" rule applies to corrections officers, sheriff's officers, New Jersey Transit police officers and paid firefighters. *
Mandates alternate testing dates because of days of religious observance for certain applicants seeking licensure.
Changes criteria for eligibility to receive limited teaching certificates in dental schools.
Revises the marriage laws; establishes civil unions; establishes the "New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission."
Permits short-term tax exemption or abatement for houses improved to accommodate totally disabled persons when reconstruction or renovation is performed by charitable entity, or for-profit entity using volunteer labor.
Makes it unlawful to discriminate against employees because of religious practices.
Provides for religious accommodation regarding admission procedures at licensed health care facilities.
Provides for instruction in autism and other developmental disabilities awareness and methods of teaching students with autism and other developmental disabilities for candidates for teaching certificates and current teachers and paraprofessionals. *
Establishes New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force.
Concerns Early Intervention Program services for children with autism.
Extends funding for autism medical research and treatment.
Requires DHSS and DHS to establish autism and intellectual and other developmental disabilities awareness program for emergency medical technicians, police officers, and firefighters. *
In committee85
Provides in-network benefits to patient with disability for services provided by out-of-network provider under certain circumstance.
Establishes voluntary Statewide physician joint purchasing alliance.
Requires NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to notify and receive input from Hackensack Meadowlands District municipalities concerning certain Meadowlands complex projects.
Requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes.
"The Dunphy Family's Law"; establishes "ALS Research Fund."
Prohibits certain terminal leave compensation for local elected officials.
Amends Tort Claims Act to provide liability for damage caused by municipal sewer or water system under certain circumstances.
Requires repayment of terminal leave sick and longevity compensation upon reemployment with State or local government.
Requires issuing agency to notify noncustodial parent's employer through National Medical Support Notice that child is required to be enrolled in parent's health benefits plan.
Establishes voluntary Statewide joint purchasing alliance for persons covered by individual health benefits plans.
Establishes pilot program for CDL training.
Requires binding arbitration in contract disputes between hospitals and health insurance carriers.
Establishes Become A Nurse license plates and dedicates fees for nursing scholarships.
Establishes eligibility of property owned by 100% disabled veteran with domestic partner for veterans' property tax exemption.
Provides DEP commissioner with veto authority over all hunts.
Clarifies law concerning the administration of epinephrine to students with dual orders.
Prohibits legislator and Governor from accepting money or things of value for any purpose from casino licensees and certain casino employees.
Requires retail pharmacies to stock and dispense emergency contraception.
Authorizes a motion to dismiss in a cause of action (a "SLAPP" suit) arising from a defendant's valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech.
Allows certain nonprofit agencies under contract to DHS to establish a working capital fund.
Provides that any party filing a first paper with the courts be given a copy of the records retention schedule.
Provides for increase in relocation assistance amounts based on increase of CPI.
Requires retail food establishments to have staff person certified in DHSS-approved food safety training course.
Allows property taxpayers an additional 90 days to file tax appeal after revaluation.
Revises statutes governing compensation for victims of crime.
Increases the number of voting members on UMDNJ board of trustees from 11 to 19, adds two additional nonvoting members, authorizes trustee establishment of hospital board of directors, and requires establishment of certain trustee committees.
Increases handicapped parking education and fines for unlawfully parking in handicapped space; requires MVC to issue stickers for handicapped placards and license plates when renewed every three years.
Allocates certain excess surplus of health service corporations to hospitals for charity care subsidies.
Increases fees charged for marriage licenses and dedicates monies to Displaced Homemakers Trust Fund.
Removes monk parakeet from list of potentially dangerous species.
Clarifies and codifies certain existing hazardous substance reporting requirements for industrial facilities.
Increases railroad franchise and property taxes to support improvements to railroad capital facilities.
Authorizes examination of health service corporation conditions or methods of operation, and requires deposit of any determined excess surplus in newly established "New Jersey Quality Health and Wellness Fund."
Establishes Task Force on Education Reform.
Allows tax credit to health care professionals for expenses to achieve accessibility for persons with mobility impairments.
Provides enhanced penalties for drunk drivers with blood alcohol concentration of 0.17% or greater.
Increases oversight and disclosure of public school district financial affairs and employment practices.
Revises the definition of nonpublic school to include preschools under chapter 192 and chapter 193 State aid programs for nonpublic students.
Permits physicians to earn continuing medical education credits by providing free medical care to low-income, uninsured patients.
Includes adult with onset physical disabilities as eligible criteria for assistance through Special Needs Housing Trust Fund.
Exempts emergency medical technicians from provisional license requirement when operating a vehicle in their official capacity.
Requires licensees in business of firearms repair to obtain ballistics identifiers before returning a rifle or handgun to its owner.
"State Authorities Reform Act."
Permits certain funds to be spent on temporary emergency housing; appropriates $1 million to DCA rental assistance program.
Requires fee-for-service prescription drug benefits for NJ FamilyCare.
Requires that 10% of State portion of Work First New Jersey emergency assistance funding be used to pay for development of low-income rental housing.
Provides for religious accommodation regarding donations of anatomical gifts.
Provides that a nursing home resident has a right to receive food that meets the resident's religious dietary requirements.
Requires health care representative to make health care decisions for incapacitated patient in accordance with patient's religious beliefs.
Provides for gubernatorial appointment without requiring advice and consent of Senate for teenage members of Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
Requires DHSS licensure of surgical practices.
Requires certain physicians to complete course in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.
Requires DOC to transfer certain payments of restitution to VCCB.
Provides for payment of VCCB assessments out of defendant's bail monies.
"Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Oversight Act."
"Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act"; appropriates $75,000.
Exempts certain persons enrolled in public institutions of higher education from payment of undergraduate tuition at nonresident rates.
Changes effective date of section 2 of P.L.2007, c.1 concerning the issuance of construction permits for certain child care centers and schools.
Authorizes municipalities that receive certification pursuant to the Fair Housing Act to make affordable housing units available on a preferential basis to persons of low and moderate income employed in a municipality's housing region.
Supplemental appropriation of $4 million for Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Infantile Autism.
Requires medical examiner to contact next-of-kin in case of certain deaths.
Prohibits person from serving as officer of more than two political campaign committees.
Requires local government officer to file financial disclosure statement within 30 days of taking office.
Increases contribution limit by counties and municipalities to volunteer first aid, ambulance, and rescue squads.
Increases VCCB assessments.
Establishes the "Office of the Gang Member Relocation Coordinator."
Provides additional enforcement provisions under "Health Care Quality Act"; allows certain private causes of action for violations; expands administrative remedies; establishes enforcement fund.
Requires DOE to conduct domestic violence training for teachers and school administrators.
Establishes "Domestic Violence Health Care Response Act."
Clarifies goal of domestic violence public awareness campaign pertaining to risk factors; requires public awareness notices include language used by substantial segments of local populations.
Directs the Division on Women to conduct an audit of the coordination of community responses to domestic violence.
Establishes the "Firearm Automated Licensing System"; provides for an additional assessment fee for retail dealer licenses, handgun purchaser permits and firearm purchaser identification cards.
Requires managed care plans to pay certain health care claims based on assignment of benefits.
Adds two members to NJ Commission on American Indian Affairs.
Establishes NJ Native American Burial Ground Preservation Task Force.
Requires alternative testing arrangements be provided to certain students unable to attend tests at their regular administration due to religious observance.
Prohibits sale of certain bicycles with quick release wheels.
Revises criminal history record check process undergone by public and nonpublic school employees and school bus drivers.
Requires employees of adoption agencies specializing in foreign adoption to undergo criminal history record background and child abuse record information checks.
Enacts the "Civil Marriage and Religious Protection Act."
Requires insurers and State health care coverage programs to cover cost of HPV vaccine and establishes public awareness campaign about HPV.
Requires health insurance coverage for scalp hair prostheses and for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Requires Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare and SHBP to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Requires adoption and distribution of constitutions and bylaws by county political party committees; requires certain oaths of office by committee members; requires certified list of committee members to be filed with county clerk.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 22
Eliminates the death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without eligibility for parole in certain circumstances. *
Prohibits political contributions by all State and local public agencies.
Concerns sale or lease of unsafe or recalled children's products. *
Amends "Law Against Discrimination" concerning gender identity or expression discrimination.
"Bloodborne Disease Harm Reduction Act"; establishes demonstration program to permit operation of sterile syringe access programs; appropriates $10 million. *
Permits registered nurses to make determination and pronouncement of death in any setting where death occurs.
Requires certain State buildings to be designed and managed to meet high performance green building standards. *
Establishes Heritage Tourism Task Force.
"New Jersey Stem Cell Research Bond Act," authorizes the sale of State general obligation bonds in the amount of $450 million and appropriates $5,000. **
Establishes pharmacy's duty to fill prescriptions for in-stock drugs or devices without delay, notwithstanding sincerely held moral, philosophical or religious beliefs of pharmacist. *
Requires Office of Legislative Services to make complete voting records of legislators available to the public in electronic form.
"Safe Patient Handling Act"; requires health care facilities to establish safe patient handling programs.
Renames "Open Public Meetings Act" in honor of Senator Byron M. Baer.
Establishes Department of Children and Families.
Excludes membership fees and dues of certain governmental and charitable clubs and organizations and certain parking services from sales and use tax. ****
Transfers Division of Elections from Department of Law and Public Safety to Department of State; designates Secretary of State as chief election official.
Provides for plaques in State House to honor Hutchins F. Inge and Walter Gilbert Alexander, first African-American Senator and Assemblyman.
Requires governmental affairs agent to report particular items in annual appropriation legislation or appropriation legislation supplemental thereto on which agent acted.
Prohibits candidates from contributing campaign funds to charity in which candidate or candidate's immediate family is an officer or employee or receives compensation for goods or services provided to the charity.
Requires hospitals to implement infection prevention programs and to report number of certain infections to DHSS. *
Establishes special fund for proceeds from sale of certain State-owned real property; restricts use for State debt reduction and capital projects. *
Revises laws concerning hate crimes and bullying; establishes Commission on Bullying in Schools.
Passed the Senate · 6
Revises statutory mental health coverage requirements and requires all health insurers and SHBP to cover treatment for alcoholism and other substance-use disorders under same terms and conditions as for other diseases or illnesses.
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Revises requirements for voter disqualification of persons lacking capacity to understand the act of voting.
Restricts receipt of things of value by members of the Legislature and legislative staff from lobbyists and governmental affairs agents; increases certain penalty provisions. *
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Out of committee · 42
Revises statutes governing compensation for victims of crime. *
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
The "Responsible Employer Act." *
"Electronic Waste Management Act." *
Requires and permits preference in awarding certain contracts in order to satisfy certain urban revitalization goals.
Requires employers to provide rest and meal breaks.
Requires certain ambulatory care facilities to provide services to patients without regard to ability to pay or source of payment.
Increases voting members on UMDNJ board of trustees from 11 to 19; provides for additional board powers; and establishes board of directors for University Hospital. ***
Establishes New Jersey Prescription Drug Retail Price Registry in Division of Consumer Affairs. *
Creates position of First Assistant Child Advocate and provides that either Child Advocate or First Assistant be an attorney.
Requires school districts to notify DYFS of certain pupil absences.
"Violence Prevention in Health Care Facilities Act," requires certain health care entities to establish violence prevention programs to protect health care workers.
Establishes Commission on Women Veterans.
Prohibits product testing with traditional animal test methods if federally recommended alternative test method exists, with certain exceptions; and provides for injunctive relief for violations.
Raises cigarette tax rate 17 1/2 cents per pack, changes tobacco products wholesale sales tax on moist snuff to weight-based tax and increases revenue dedication for Health Care Subsidy Fund. *
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
"The Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act." *
Requires use of uniform silver flags to mark certain pesticide applications.
The "Global Warming Response Act."
Authorizes enhancement of State Uniform Construction Code's energy subcode based on anticipated energy savings; provides down payment assistance to certain purchasers of homes meeting enhanced energy subcode requirements. *
Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.
Requires DMVA to evaluate resources, costs and benefits of providing home health care aides for qualified veterans.
Requires hospital trustees to undergo training approved by DHSS.
Reforms the review, processing, and payment of certain private passenger automobile insurance personal injury protection claims.
Establishes prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse public awareness campaign; designated Jason's Law.
Creates "The 2007 New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project Act"; appropriates $7.675 million.
Establishes the position of Ethics Counsel and mandates certain ethics consultation and training in the Legislative Branch of State government.
Authorizes construction of curb extensions for pedestrian safety on local roadways without Commissioner of Transportation's approval.
Requires wheelchair securement and occupant securement devices for wheelchaired passengers.
Requires wheelchair securement devices and wheelchair occupant securement devices on certain vehicles and training in their use for certain employees.
Places the burden of proof and burden of production on school districts in due process hearings conducted to resolve special education issues.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in foreign companies doing business in Iran.
Revises appointment process for members of NJ Collaborating Center for Nursing board and dedicates portion of nurse licensing fee to support center.
Requires health care providers to test pregnant women for HIV as part of routine prenatal care unless woman refuses testing, and requires testing of certain newborns for HIV. *
Requires DHSS to maintain registry of reported autism diagnoses; appropriates $500,000.
"New Jersey Health Information Technology Act"; establishes New Jersey Health Information Technology Commission and Office for e-HIT, and provides for Statewide health information technology plan. *
Permits certain child care centers to receive $1,500 grants from Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund. *
Appropriates $40 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Regulates certain tows and requires licensure of towing companies.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Creates new alcoholic beverage license for facilities that teach winemaking.
In committee · 80
Curbs contributions by certain public contractors and certain developers; curbs contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Meadowlands Conservation Trust.
"Rail Special Transportation District Act."
"New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act"; prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.
"New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act"; prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces, except casino floors and simulcasting facilities.
Requires that medical gas cylinders, containers and vessels used in health care facilities be color-coded to identify contents.
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in amount of Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance payment.
Allows certain undocumented aliens to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education.
Creates the Office on Women's Research and Policy and appropriates $150,000.
Prevents use of condemnation to acquire residential property under redevelopment laws.
The "Health Insurance Affordability and Accessibility Reform Act."
Supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to DHSS for Office on Women's Health.
Increases minimum loss ratio for individual and small employer-health benefits plans from 75% to 80%.
Requires health insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for screening for cervical cancer, including testing for HPV.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Increases annual income limitation to receive senior and disabled citizens' property tax deduction to $15,000.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Establishes "Zero Lift Pilot Program" in DHSS; appropriates $300,000.
Creates the crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability.
Provides that PFRS definitions of widow, widower and spouse will include domestic partners of all PFRS members.
Prohibits certain elected officials from receiving dual health benefit coverage.
"Jessica Lunsford Act;" concerns sentencing of sex offenders and persons who harbor them; requires electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders and creates child protection zones.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Revises law concerning meetings of public bodies and access to government records; makes appropriation.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to Community Food Pantry Fund.
Requires under "Fair Housing Act" that certain percentage of affordable housing be reserved for very low income households.
Requires HMOs to report number of children screened for lead poisoning under Medicaid program.
"Community Health Service Pilot Initiative Act."
Requires "just compensation" for condemnation of single-family residence to be based on cost of comparable relocation properties within 20 mile radius.
Revises definition of destructive device to include weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
Provides immunity from liability for persons who install or inspect child restraint systems.
Prohibits members of the Legislature from holding other elective public offices.
Prohibits members of the Legislature from holding appointive public offices.
Appropriates $350,000 for New Bridge Landing Historical Site.
Disqualifies parent who abandoned child from share of deceased child's estate.
Appropriates $100,000 to DHSS for grant to New Hope, Inc. of Bergen County to assist single first-time mothers and their babies.
"Veterans' Property Tax Relief Act of 2006."
Creates Bergen County Transportation Trust Fund.
Limits leave and supplemental compensation benefits for school district superintendents, assistant superintendents, and school business administrators; provides procedures and penalties for enforcement of TPAF provisions.
Establishes standards for employment contracts with certain school district administrators, and requires DOE to approve the contracts and to provide public access to the contracts.
Revises procedures for municipal redevelopment programs; prohibits certain campaign contributions by redevelopers.
Decreases certain public document copy fees to $0.10 per letter size page and $0.15 per legal size page.
Revises procedures for the use of eminent domain in municipal redevelopment programs.
Requires new State buildings to be designed and managed to meet Silver level certification under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
Requires that public employees who are married or with domestic partners receive health care benefits from only one public employer.
Supplemental appropriation of $5,000 to DHS from Forfeiture Funds in Office of the Attorney General for grant to Defining Moment Foundation.
Requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in or waiting to enter crosswalks.
Requires court to issue animal protective orders against persons found guilty of abusing animals.
Requires insurers and State health care coverage programs to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Exempts initiation fees, membership fees, and dues of certain municipal, county, and nonprofit clubs and organizations from sales and use tax.
Requires health insurers to cover costs of early intervention services.
"Prescription Drug Right-to-Know Act"; establishes clinical trials registry in DHSS; requires pharmaceutical companies to publicly disclose clinical trial data.
Requires certain health care facilities to adopt certain infection control strategies.
Prohibits individuals from purchasing more than one handgun in a calendar month.
Establishes minimum energy efficiency standards for certain products.
Creates presumption regarding disability pension and workers compensation eligibility for public employees and emergency personnel participating in World Trade Center operations; requires Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to develop health regis
Permits, rather than requires, participants in death registration process to use New Jersey Electronic Death Registration System.
Provides certain benefits to New Jersey Transit police officers.
Requires that each school district receive a minimum of 35% State support of its net budget and that a minimum of 35% of the net budget be supported through local tax levy.
Requires health care providers to obtain informed consent from patients for use of certain reprocessed medical devices.
Eliminates regional contribution agreements; creates housing rehabilitation and assistance program for grants to municipalities.
Permits any minor to bring action for domestic violence restraining order.
Bars direct solicitation letters from attorneys to accident victims and other persons.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
Provides that a homestead owner who is 65 years of age or older or disabled shall not receive a homestead rebate of less than $1,440.
Establishes "Parent Partnership Recognition Day" in school districts during the fourth week of October.
Concerns access to physical therapy services, and insurance claims handling following access to such services.
Directs Legislative Services Commission to provide for a comprehensive Statewide costing-out study to determine per pupil costs required to provide a thorough and efficient education.
Establishes certain standards for the sale of State surplus real property.
Permits revised methods of treatment for chiropractors and establishes continuing education requirements.
Extends, by three years, the collection of annual surcharges for the Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance Premium Assistance Fund.
Expands scope of claims subject to "Health Claims Authorization, Processing and Payment Act," and modifies certain claims procedures.
Requires insurance and SHBP coverage for magnetic resonance imaging for women at high risk for breast cancer.
Requires radon testing of certain educational facilities every five years, residential properties at the time of sale, and residential lease properties within 18 months and every five years thereafter.
Renames the "police court of the Palisades Interstate park" as "Court of Palisades Interstate Park."
Establishes three-year Nurse Educator Pilot Program in Division of Consumer Affairs.
Authorizes Medicaid Inspector General to investigate fraud in charity care program.
Sets standards regarding New Jersey Transit Corporation contracts privatizing public transit services.
Requires policy on use of alternative dispute resolution for State agencies; expands duties of Dispute Settlement Office of Department of Public Advocate.
Removes confidential employee status of certain Casino Control Commission employees.