Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Loretta Weinberg
Sponsored
Became law9
Provides for gubernatorial appointment without requiring advice and consent of Senate for teenage members of Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
Requires local government officer to file financial disclosure statement within 30 days of taking office.
Requires staff members of adoption agencies to undergo criminal history record background and child abuse record information checks. *
Requires managed care plans to pay health care claims based on assignment of benefits.
Requires adoption of constitutions and bylaws by county political party committees; requires certain information concerning committee members to be filed with county clerk; eliminates fixed terms for committee members and chairs. *
Requires alternative testing arrangements be provided to certain students unable to attend tests at their regular administration due to religious observance.
Renames the Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program and makes various other changes to the program.
Revises jurisdiction of Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission, and transfers administration of Historic New Bridge Landing State Park from DEP to Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission.
Includes nurse midwives among medical professionals authorized to certify medical condition of individuals under "Temporary Disability Benefits Law" and "Work First New Jersey Act."
Passed the Senate2
Revises criminal history record check process undergone by public and nonpublic school employees and school bus drivers.
Permits NJ courts to not enforce defamation judgments from foreign countries under certain circumstances.
Out of committee21
Requires facility where patient dies to provide medical examiner with contact information for next-of-kin so medical examiner may obtain additional information about death. *
Requires governmental affairs agents to disclose on notice of representation form compensation amount received from State or local government entities; requires notice to be posted on Internet site of Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Provides DYFS caseworkers with personnel and law enforcement assistance when conducting DYFS investigations.
Provides for establishment of county offices for disability services; appropriates $90,000. *
Requires DHSS and DHS to establish autism and intellectual and other developmental disabilities awareness program for certain first responders. *
Provides that nursing home resident has right to receive food that meets resident's religious dietary requirements.
Requires training program for and recognizes position of technical assistant to construction code official.
Prohibits alimony and awards concerning equitable distribution to persons who commit certain crimes; eliminates inheritance rights for parents who abuse or abandon children. *
Prohibits hospitals from charging certain uninsured persons more than 15% greater than applicable Medicare rate.
The "Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act."
Requires each hospital board of trustees to adopt a written policy governing conflicts of interest.
Establishes "Bleeding Disorders Treatment Fund."
Enacts the "Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act."
Increases tax rates on liquor and wines, vermouth, sparkling wines and hard cider and dedicates additional revenue to the Health Care Subsidy Fund.
Requires disclosure of campaign contributions received or expenditures made by individual seeking election as political party committee officer. *
Establishes the "New Jersey-Israel Commission" as a permanent commission in the Department of State.
Requires Public Advocate intervention, additional public participation, and health impact study as conditions of conversion of health service corporation to domestic stock insurer. *
Permits physicians to issue multiple prescriptions for total of up to 90-day supply of Schedule II drugs.
Specifies public members on Board of Medical Examiners and requires board to take certain actions to investigate licensees.
Imposes temporary fee on plaintiffs at certain residential mortgage foreclosure sales to provide funding for Legal Services of New Jersey. *
Revises approval process for rate changes applicable to medical malpractice liability insurance.
In committee95
Provides in-network benefits to patient with disability for services provided by out-of-network provider under certain circumstance.
Requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes.
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.
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.
"State Authorities Reform Act."
Requires DHSS licensure of surgical practices.
Requires DOC to transfer certain payments of restitution to VCCB.
Prohibits person from serving as officer of more than two political campaign committees.
Increases contribution limit by counties and municipalities to volunteer first aid, ambulance, and rescue squads.
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.
Adds two members to NJ Commission on American Indian Affairs.
Establishes NJ Native American Burial Ground Preservation Task Force.
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.
Provides that reports and publications produced by State be primarily available on Internet, provides for notice of availability of reports and publications.
Increases railroad franchise and property taxes to support improvements to railroad capital facilities.
Requires NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to notify and receive input from Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission and Hackensack Meadowlands District municipalities concerning certain Meadowlands complex projects.
Prohibits display of political campaign signs on any public property or highway.
Limits amount of contribution to legal defense fund of holder of elective public office and requires reporting thereof to ELEC.
Establishes Task Force on Hospital Technology to recommend incentives to encourage hospitals to integrate technology to improve patient care and safety.
Requires DYFS to take certain actions to ensure caseworker safety.
Requires that medical gas cylinders, containers and vessels used in health care facilities be color-coded to identify contents.
Requires health insurers to cover costs of early intervention services.
Requires insurers and State health care coverage programs to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Requires in-network hospitals to notify patients of out-of-network health care professionals who provide services in hospital.
Revises procedures for municipal redevelopment programs; prohibits certain campaign contributions by redevelopers.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for New Jersey National Guard members and their families in need of assistance.
Requires individual to be at least 21 years of age to enter into contract for the use of a credit card under certain circumstances.
Curbs contributions by certain public contractors and certain developers; curbs contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
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.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Prohibits alimony to persons who commit certain crimes resulting in death.
Requires retailers to post warnings of lead poisoning from improper paint removal.
Increases VCCB assessments.
Requires municipality to post sign on property subject of development application.
Requires health insurers to cover medically necessary expenses for preventing infertility in women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
The "Toxic-free Children's Products Act."
Provides for payment of VCCA assessments out of defendant's bail monies.
Eliminates 15% fee charged by cemetery company on transfer of graves, crypts and niches.
Concerns environmental permits in low-income, minority communities.
Requires health insurers SHBP, Medicaid, and NJ FamilyCare to provide coverage for ancillary medical services in connection with outpatient diagnostic screening and surgical intervention services.
Enters New Jersey in Nurse Multistate Licensure Compact.
Requires Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare and SHBP to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Requires retail pharmacies to stock and dispense emergency contraception.
Requires State to contract with pharmaceutical companies to purchase influenza vaccine for high-risk persons and their care providers.
The "Animal Cruelty Recodification and Modernization Act."
Allows property taxpayers an additional 90 days to file tax appeal after revaluation.
Revises law concerning meetings of public bodies.
Eliminates minimum average daily enrollment requirement for certain private schools for students with disabilities.
Prohibits individuals associated with political committees, and other individuals associated with campaign committees, from receiving salary therefrom or renting real property to such committees.
Decreases certain public document copy fees to up to $0.10 or less per letter size page and up to $0.15 or less per legal size page.
Prohibits cemetery company from charging additional fee for rendering certain services on Sunday.
Supplemental appropriation of $500,000 for grant to NJ State Association of Jewish Federations for Holocaust survivor services.
Expands NJ Cancer Education and Early Detection Program in DHSS to include treatment for colorectal and prostate cancers; appropriates $450,000.
Prohibits sale of food and beverage packaging and containers made with bisphenol A.
Permits removal of State board, commission or independent authority member for failure to attend three consecutive meetings thereof without good cause.
Enhances crime victims' rights under the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights."
Eliminates DCF from licensure as approved adoption agency.
Requires cemetery companies to file annual financial report.
Requires certain cemeteries to accept Work First New Jersey and SSI allowance for burial expenses.
Requires staff of shelters for victims of domestic violence and emergency shelters for homeless to undergo criminal history record background checks.
Prohibits certain elected public office holders from simultaneously holding more than one elective office.
Increases and revises membership of New Jersey Cemetery Board.
Requires certain appointed public officials to work 35 hours or more per week to be eligible for PERS and SHBP; requires termination of PERS and SHBP participation of certain appointed officials whose term of appointment expires.
Makes certain changes concerning the appointment, duties, and tenure of the Director of Division on Civil Rights.
Requires Attorney General to provide certain information regarding certain charitable organizations to public on Internet.
Revises regulation of practice of notaries public.
Permits person covered by certain managed care plans to receive covered services from network provider without obtaining written referral from primary care provider.
Requires health insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for screening for cervical cancer, including testing for HPV.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for certain infant formulas.
Provides for alternative annual reorganization meeting date for county political committees if regular date coincides with period of religious observance.
Concerns pay equity in the workplace.
Allows adoptees access to nonidentifying family medical history information.
Requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in or waiting to enter crosswalks.
Requires parents of children receiving influenza vaccinations to be informed of thimerosal-free alternatives.
Establishes Electronic Health Information Technology Fund.
Requires one of six public members of State Planning Commission to be representative of New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
Provides support for obstetric services by certain health care facilities.
Requires certain public utilities and the State Treasurer to deposit certain moneys into State chartered depository institutions.
Permits small, women or minority owned businesses located in designated regional centers to qualify for loans from EDA as if located in designated urban center.
Makes various revisions to laws regulating certain health benefits plans.
Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, and sale of certain jewelry.
Requires contractors to provide Department of the Treasury with employment information about contracts with public bodies.
Requires boards of education to provide certain nutritional information for food and beverage items offered for sale in school cafeterias.
Authorizes central municipal court to hear cases brought by county office of consumer affairs.
Requires test agencies to offer post-examination products and services in a uniform manner to all test subjects.
Requires governmental affairs agents retained by government entities to file certain reports with ELEC; requires certain government entities retaining governmental affairs agents to file annual reports with ELEC.
Increases health benefits continuation coverage from 18 months to 36 months for certain persons covered under certain small employer health benefits plans.
Authorizes alternate route trained police officers to be hired as parole or sheriff's officers.
Establishes procedures and standards regarding public service privatization contracts.
Re-establishes State Board of Education as the rule-making authority under several school district accountability statutes and reinstates its role in considering appeals from any Commissioner of Education determination.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 15
"New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act." *
"Grace's Law;" requires health insurers, State Health Benefits Program and NJ FamilyCare to provide coverage for hearing aids for covered persons 15 and younger.
Extends the term of office for members of NJ Collaborating Center for Nursing board and dedicates portion of nurse licensing fee to support center. *
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.
"New Jersey Hero Act"; concerns organ and tissue donation.**
Provides marketing, information disclosure, and suitability requirements for certain annuities directly solicited to consumers. *
Renames the "police court of the Palisades Interstate park" as "Court of Palisades Interstate Park."
Requires nursing homes to use pressure redistribution mattresses for all residents.
"Mortgage Stabilization and Relief Act"; creates Mortgage Stabilization Program and Housing Assistance and Recovery Program; imposes additional requirements on lender foreclosing mortgage; appropriates $40 million from the "Long Term Obligation and Capi
Provides for improved structure and fiscal management of higher education in New Jersey. *
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. **
Establishes "New Jersey Lung Cancer Research Fund"; provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns.
Concerns continuing education for dentists. *
Makes emergency medical technician certification valid for five years.
Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for family planning services.
Passed the Senate · 6
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information. *
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in amount of Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance payment. *
Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.
Concerns contracts for credit card accounts with certain individuals under 21 years of age. *
Directs Medicaid to establish medical home demonstration project.
Requires local unit or authority to provide director of the Division of Local Government Services with report concerning law suits to which it is a party before budget is approved.
Out of committee · 33
Requires use of uniform silver flags to mark certain pesticide applications.
Establishes requirements for non face-to-face sales of cigarettes and tobacco products. *
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for active duty members of United States Armed Forces, Reserve components thereof, and National Guard from New Jersey. *
Revises laws concerning local redevelopment, relocation assistance and eminent domain. *
Concerns chiropractic scope of practice. *
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.
Establishes certain standards for the sale of State surplus real property.
Requires pharmacists to include on prescription drug label name of brand name drug and generic drug when generic drug is dispensed. **
Amends stalking law to broaden protections for victims.
Requires certain elected officials and appointed officers eligible for dual health benefits coverage to choose coverage by one public entity. *
Provides certain law enforcement officers and firefighters regain pay status when appeals of termination are not resolved within 180 days. *
Clarifies obligation of cemeteries to hold consumer prepayments for cemetery services in trust accounts.
Extends payment of accidental death benefit in PFRS, SPRS, PERS and TPAF to survivors of certain members of reserve component of Armed Forces and National Guard. *
Establishes a "Silver Alert System." *
Requires health benefits coverage for certain therapies for the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. *
Provides for certification of voting machines and voting machine components and examination of voting devices that may have been tampered with or altered.
Establishes requirements concerning certain public contracts with private firms.
Prohibits individuals from purchasing more than one handgun in a calendar month.
Requires certain persons to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation against vulnerable adults.
Supplemental appropriation of $6 million to DHS and $6 million to DCF to increase salary of direct care employees of community mental health agencies. *
Authorizes court to waive or reduce parole ineligibility or grant probation for drug-free school zone violations under certain circumstances.
"Ricci's Law;" revises ignition interlock device requirements for certain drunk driving offenses. *
Provides for adjustment and notice of date on which certain elections can occur if date coincides with period of religious observance.
Concerns prevailing wage in construction projects connected with Board of Public Utilities financial assistance.
Concerns regulation of court reporting firms. *
Designates "North Hackensack Train Station" as "Historic New Bridge Landing Station - River Edge, New Jersey." *
Establishes registry of offenders of individuals with developmental disabilities in DHS.
Requires confirmation of financial assistance for eligible homeowners voluntarily closing or replacing petroleum underground storage tanks, and expands eligibility for financial assistance. *
Prohibits local officer or employee from lobbying or advocating before any body of the municipality where officer or employee serves; provides penalties for violation. *
"New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act."
Establishes New Jersey Special Education and Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force.
Clarifies provisions of "Law Against Discrimination" concerning persons with an autism spectrum disorder.
Revises provisions of "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act" concerning the economic recovery term.
In committee · 82
Mandates testing for lead toxicity as condition for certain school, nursery school, or child care attendance.
Prohibits members of the Legislature from holding other elective public offices.
"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 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.
Decreases membership of county boards of taxation to 2004 level.
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.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Revises definition of destructive device to include weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
Eliminates regional contribution agreements; creates housing rehabilitation and assistance program for grants to municipalities.
Requires that public employees who are married or with domestic partners receive health care benefits from only one public employer.
Requires government records to be made available on the Internet.
Creates the Office on Women's Research and Policy and appropriates $150,000.
The "Health Insurance Affordability and Accessibility Reform Act."
Regulates pharmacy benefits management companies.
Revises provisions of the "Open Public Meetings Act" to ensure greater compliance.
Strengthens public disclosure and monitoring requirements of "Open Public Meetings Act".
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Increases minimum loss ratio for individual and small employer-health benefits plans from 75% to 80%.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Requires certain health care facilities to adopt certain infection control strategies.
Creates Meadowlands Economic Development Trust; provides for sharing of tax revenues generated by developments of regional economic significance to improve local quality of life.
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.
Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.
Directs ELEC to collect fees from certain firms that employ legislative agents; increases certain penalties imposed by ELEC and Executive Commission on Ethical Standards; dedicates funds to those commissions.
Prohibits persons who violated certain laws from registering as governmental affairs agents and from acting as representative before local government units.
Regulates teen nights by requiring security provided by police officers, prohibiting persons under age 15 from attending, and disqualifying registered sex offenders from employment.
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
Extends, by three years, the collection of annual surcharges for the Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance Premium Assistance Fund.
Requires policy on use of alternative dispute resolution for State agencies; expands duties of Dispute Settlement Office of Department of Public Advocate.
Permits limited pharmacy sales of syringes and needles without a prescription.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Meadowlands Conservation Trust.
"Rail Special Transportation District Act."
Supplemental appropriation of $5,000 to DHS from Forfeiture Funds in Office of the Attorney General for grant to Defining Moment Foundation.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Limits payment to certain public employees for accumulated sick leave upon retirement; requires fine and reprimand or termination for violation of sick leave by public employee.
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Requires DHSS to make reported information about certain adverse events publicly available.
Confers civil service status on police officers employed by UMDNJ and Rutgers University.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
"Kyleigh's Law"; revises laws concerning provisional driver's licenses.
Chloe and Samantha's Law; requires notice to consumers of availability of products to prevent tip-over accidents involving certain furniture or televisions.
The "Najeeb Green-Lewis Law," requires motor vehicle rental companies to confirm driving status of driver as condition of renting certain vehicles.
Requires notification of rape care advocate under certain circumstances by law enforcement, prosecutors and medical providers.
Requires "just compensation" for condemnation of single-family residence to be based on cost of comparable relocation properties within 20 mile radius.
Concerns eligibility for Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief fund assistance when more than one child in family has catastrophic illness.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Requires decal for holder of a provisional license; upgrades penalties for provisional license offenses.
Limits payment upon retirement to $15,000 to local public officers and employees for accumulated sick leave.
"Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
Establishes Medication Management, Outreach and Support Program in DHS; appropriates $8 million.
Increases annual property tax deduction for senior citizens and disabled persons from $250 to $500.
Requires physicians and other prescribers to obtain informed consent from parents or guardians of minors for certain medications with "black box warning."
Requires filing of annual financial reports by certain businesses when receiving more than $25 million from public entities for any redevelopment or environmental remediation project or projects.
Establishes Office of the Advocate for Persons with Autism in Department of the Public Advocate.
Requires DHSS to establish "New Jersey Autism Website."
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to create identification card for use by persons with autism.
Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly.
Authorizes "100 percent Disabled Veteran" license plates for qualified veterans; entitles holders to handicapped parking privileges.
Requires van accessible handicapped parking spaces be used exclusively by handicapped equipped vans.
Establishing a "Silver Alert System" for missing elderly people.
Authorizes special Gold Star Family license plates.
Extends Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance Premium Assistance Fund and collection of annual surcharges for 5 years.
Allows gross income tax deduction for taxpayers who provide support for elderly or disabled relative living in their home.
Prohibits certain relatives of legislators from being employed or assigned in certain positions.
Enhances PFRS accidental death pension benefit for survivors of member serving in nonsupervisory rank.
Allows corporation business tax credit for full cost of purchasing portable defibrillators.
Expands the means to obtain a protective order for a minor.
Provides additional enforcement provisions under "Health Care Quality Act"; allows certain private causes of action for violations; expands administrative remedies; establishes enforcement fund.
Requires MVC to notify Medicaid if driver's license of medical transportation services provider is suspended or revoked.
Prohibits health care institutions from discharging medications into sewer or septic systems.
Makes Housing Assistance and Recovery Program effective immediately.
Permits person with developmental disability and legal guardian to audio record sessions of interdisciplinary team in which person or guardian participates.
Requires installation of low-flow toilets and low-flow showerheads in multiple dwellings having 3 or more units.
Requires filing of financial and conflict disclosure statements as condition of development approval.
Caps bond counsel legal fees and costs on public issuers' bond transactions and requires a competitive selection process for retaining bond counsel.
Creates bistate commission to coordinate management and flood prevention of waterways flowing between Bergen County, NJ and Rockland County, NY.
Extends service prevailing wage requirements to food service contracts and to local units and State authorities.
Makes various technical and procedural amendments to the "Municipal Land Use Law."
Prohibits misleading use of senior-specific certifications or professional designations in connection with sales of securities.
Concerns dispensation by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to a patient of drugs delivered to the eye through a contact lens.
Prohibits smoking at public parks and beaches.