Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, General Assembly.
Matthew W. Milam
Sponsored
Became law5
Requires that any United States or State of New Jersey flag purchased with State funds be manufactured in the United States.
Allows officers of corporation to grant employees and officers of corporation shares of stock, rights or options.
Increases civil penalties for medical waste violations and intentional ocean pollution. *
Establishes the InvestNJ Business Grant Program in NJEDA to stimulate certain capital investment and job creation in New Jersey during a limited period, makes appropriations. *
Designates bridge carrying State Highway Route No. 109 over Cape May Canal as "Cape May County Veterans Memorial Bridge."
Passed the General Assembly5
Prohibits DEP from mandating public access to tidal waterfront areas adjacent to critical infrastructure or requiring the purchase or improvement of off-site locations for this purpose.
Requires license suspension of certain health care professionals and medical waste facilities, generators, and transporters for willful illegal or improper medical waste disposal. *
Increases statute of limitations and provides treble damages for certain violations of "Uniform Securities Law (1997)." *
Makes it a crime to communicate or transmit sexually suggestive communications to a minor under certain circumstances.
Expands "Jersey Fresh" program to include "Made With Jersey Fresh" designation of certain baked goods and other food products. *
Out of committee7
Requires State Auditor review of certain Department of Corrections privatization contracts.
Concerns penalties for illegally passing a school bus.
Appropriates $1,068,921 from "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Designates Rt. 9 in Cape May County as "Police Unity Tour Memorial Highway." *
Lowers age of eligibility for surviving spouse under homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Implements recommendations of the Assembly Coastal New Jersey Evacuation Task Force.
Requires DEP to notify coastal municipalities of certain settlement discussions.
In committee84
Increases PFRS benefits for active members when PFRS funded at 101%, for retirees over three fiscal years thereafter.
Provides enhanced benefits to survivors of certain PFRS members.
Provides paid post-retirement medical benefits to certain retired veteran State employees.
Permits exclusion from calculation of adjusted municipal tax levy of increases greater than four percent in amounts required to be raised for emergency service purposes.
Provides that only certain DOC employees may recruit, interview, and hire corrections officers.
Requires Commissioner of Corrections to institute 15-minute shift overlap in State correctional facilities.
Requires civilian employees of DOC to be trained in gang awareness.
Requires 40 hours annual in-service training for State corrections officers.
Requires internal affairs investigations to be conducted by unit seperate from unit responsible for collecting gang intelligence information.
Requires home interview of corrections officer applicants.
Requires State to offer surplus State police vehicles to certain volunteer fire and emergency service organizations.
Concerns certain workers' compensation survivor benefits and certain supplemental benefits.
Establishes certain customer protection requirements for cable television customers.
Establishes the Travel and Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund.
Authorizes DEP and NJ Marine Fisheries Council to regulate taking and management of striped bass.
Regulates telephone customer service practices.
Creates a directory of registered telemarketers.
Supplemental appropriation of $2 million to NJ Commerce and Economic Growth Commission for tourism promotion and grants to regional tourism councils.
Suspends certain tolls during evacuation of coastal areas.
Prohibits telecommunications, utility or cable television companies from charging certain customers prior to actual billing due date.
Requires telemarketers to have signed consent form or written request before making telemarketing sales calls to customer on NJ Do Not Call List.
Eliminates certain components of realty transfer fee.
Establishes "New Jersey Veterans' Hospital Task Force."
Supplemental appropriation of $1.2 million to Maurice River Township for the siting of a State correctional facility.
Requires notification to corrections officers when disturbance occurs in correctional facility.
Appropriates $25 million to remove and replace 500 bed Phase I facility at Southern State.
Establishes additional factors to be used when calculating value of land to be acquired for farmland preservation purposes; and excludes, from taxation, income from certain sales of land for farmland preservation purposes.
Concerns recorded telephone messages.
Requires notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of automobile and homeowners insurance policies to be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Establishes criminal and civil penalties for transmission of certain commercial electronic mail messages.
Permits bars and restaurants to have electronic games of skill on premises.
Requires certain safety measures at certain swimming pools.
Prohibits adoption of certain rules and regulations by State agencies prior to July 1, 2009.
Provides for funding of casino regulation during period when annual appropriations act is not in effect.
Establishes pilot program to study feasibility of regionalization of certain school districts; appropriates $150,000.
Provides for deprivatization of motor vehicle inspection program when vendor contract concludes.
Provides for value of certain riparian grants to be determined at time of application to Tidelands Resource Council.
Exempts assets redeemed for long-term health care from property tax reimbursement income standards; requires notice of property tax reimbursement program on tax bills.
Exempts certain physician-owned or operated ambulatory health care facilities from ambulatory care gross receipts assessment if facility is Medicaid or NJ Family Care provider.
Extends useful life of certain school buses from 12 to 16 years.
Authorizes former mayors and deputy mayors to solemnize marriages and civil unions.
Establishes criminal offense of animal cruelty in the presence of a child.
Imposes a surcharge on motor vehicle violations to provide property tax relief to municipalities for local police services.
Revises animal cruelty offenses concerning abuse, abandonment, neglect, and improper euthanizing of animals, increases criminal and civil penalties therefor; establishes such penalties for new offenses; repeals conflicting sections of law.
Permits public employees to waive enrollment in State-administered pension systems and elect enrollment in Defined Contribution Retirement Program.
Revises conditions when posted price of motor fuel may be changed after a 24-hour period.
Designates four State songs.
Directs Office of Emergency Management to develop and undertake annual public awareness campaign concerning State's emergency coastal evacuation plan.
Prohibits towing and transportation of boats during emergency evacuations.
Requires the State Police to implement reverse lane strategy on certain roads.
Requires motor vehicle dealer to pay off loan on trade-in within seven days.
Creates "Real Property Revaluation Review Commission."
Prohibits certain unsolicited political calls by political organizations or candidates to persons in this State.
Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by disabled veterans.
Creates "Task Force on the Extension of Route 55."
Directs DOT Commissioner to allocate Transportation Trust Fund monies for concept development and design of Route 55 extension.
Prohibits imposition of corporation business tax on certain foreign corporations carrying passengers into and out of State in motor vehicle or motorbus.
Requires that newly built schools be constructed to serve as emergency shelters.
Allows motor vehicle operator to make left hand turn onto one-way street at red light.
Authorizes veterans property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans who did not serve in theater of war.
Revises laws relative to affordable housing.
Extends limit for nonpublic school busing to 30 miles in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren Counties, and requires existing bus stops to be used.
Requires pension loan interest rate in TPAF, PERS, JRS, PFRS and SPRS be no more than 4%.
Concerns the moratorium on taking, landing, or possession of horseshoe crabs.
Requires issuance of construction permits for installation of wheelchair ramps on residential real property within 3 business days of application.
Establishes in DEP the Environmental Science Review Board to review proposed environmental regulations for consistency with science.
Authorizes police officers to waive local disciplinary hearings and appeal to administrative law judge in civil service and Superior Court judge in non-civil service municipalities.
Establishes procedures for selecting hearing officers in certain police disciplinary hearings.
Permits members of Pinelands Commission to approve revisions to comprehensive management plan.
Requires the Attorney General to issue uniform guidelines regarding release of arrest information to media.
Provides immunity to law enforcement officers who, in good faith, release driver in violation of provisional driver's license law.
Allows public employers to offer retirees with other health care coverage incentive to waive SHBP coverage.
Penalties certain activities; prohibits holding more than one elective public office; addresses activities during and after elective public office; restricts campaign contribution use; restricts certain benefits; regulates gifts to public officials.
Concerns timeliness of certain workers' compensation claims filed by surviving dependents of certain law enforcement personnel.
Provides a gross income tax deduction for the payment of credit card interest.
Requires disciplinary actions against police officers be based exclusively on rules and regulations adopted by the appropriate authority.
Requires DEP to designate three sites in State park or forest where snowmobiles, all terrian vehicles, and dirt bikes may be used; regulates operation of those vehicles and certain other off-road vehicles.
Provides that person owning or controlling premises not liable for raffles law violation occurring without person's knowledge.
Allows certification of a qualified UEZ retailer as a business, notwithstanding that it sells items out of stock at time of purchase at a UEZ location and later mails them to purchaser from another location.
Expands eligibility for State-endorsed high school diploma under Operation Recognition in DOE to veterans of certain wars and conflicts.
Provides fair standards for elections and recall of officers for homeowners' associations.
Allows construction of wind dependent energy facilities within 500 feet of mean high water line of tidal waters under certain circumstances.
Excludes veteran disability compensation from income qualification limits under homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Requires BPU to provide same financial incentives for purchase and installation of wind technologies as for solar technologies.
Carried from the Senate
Became law3
Designates Rt. 9 in Cape May County as "Police Unity Tour Memorial Highway." *
Requires DEP to notify coastal municipalities of certain settlement discussions.
Appropriates $1,068,921 from "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 16
Delays expiration date of certain professional and occupational licenses and registrations for individuals with certain types of military services. *
Requires all automobile passengers to wear seat belts.
Establishes New Jersey Reading Disabilities Task Force.
Daniel Mackay's Law; requires certain information be given to next of kin of relatives killed or incapacitated in motor vehicle accident; caps certain abandoned vehicle storage fees.
Requires DHSS and DHS to establish autism and intellectual and other developmental disabilities awareness program for certain first responders. *
Requires a State tax expenditure report be included in the Governor's annual budget message.
Permits use of overseas absentee ballots for all elections; authorizes transmission of ballots by electronic means. *
Provides veterans' organizations right to receive unclaimed veterans' cremains after one year. *
The "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
Provides one hour and two hour service options for expedited over the counter corporate service requests.
Changes petition filing date for Board of Fire Commissioners.
Makes various changes related to casino service industry licensing, casino service employees, testing of gaming devices, casino simulcasting, and unclaimed casino obligations. *
Requires confirmation of financial assistance for eligible homeowners voluntarily closing or replacing petroleum underground storage tanks, and expands eligibility for financial assistance. *
Authorizes interception of wire or electronic communications of suspected computer trespasser under certain circumstances.
Creates "Computer Crime Prevention Fund"; imposes penalties on certain offenders.
Requires member of New Jersey National Guard to apply for tuition benefits under Post-911 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at public institutions of higher education. *
Passed the General Assembly · 22
The "Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act."
Changes perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around occupied building.
Clarifies definition of "primary care" in Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program to include practice of geriatrics.
Prohibits free housing for cabinet members.
The "Consumer Telephone Records Protection Act of 2008." *
Requires notice to primary and secondary borrower before repossession of motor vehicle under certain circumstances.
Permits in-person wagering at casinos on results of professional sports events, subject to voter approval.
Requires account numbers to be truncated on certain sales receipts. *
Chloe and Samantha's Law; requires notice to consumers of availability of products to prevent tip-over accidents involving certain furniture or televisions.
Provides that reports and publications produced by State be primarily available on Internet, provides for notice of availability of reports and publications.
Invalidates consumer contracts which require a waiver of right to file a consumer complaint.
"New Jersey Fair Debt Collection Practices Act."
Requires the adoption of nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools. *
Expands emergency operations plans to include care for domestic animals.
Permits casino employees to serve on Atlantic City governing body in certain circumstances. *
Provides additional penalties for violations of "Uniform Securities Law (1997)" involving certain persons.
Allows bureau chief to assess civil penalty for certain violations of "Uniform Securities Law (1997)."
Establishes permissive inferences related to conduct that serves as predicate to sex offenses against minors.
Requires persons subject to Megan's Law registration to provide law enforcement with any Internet identifiers.
Authorizes wiretap orders for investigation of luring or enticing a child, identity theft, stalking and harassment under certain circumstances.
Provides that information technology professionals who find child pornography on computers must report the finding to law enforcement.
Allows DMVA to fundraise for handicap accessible vehicle purchase.
Out of committee · 38
Expands State law enforcement powers of United States Park Police.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Establishes program for directing motorists to agricultural tourism establishment locations. *
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. *
Authorizes each municipality that shares courtroom facilities with one or more municipalities to appoint a judge and an administrator. *
Jessica Rogers' Law: upgrades assault by auto or vessel in situations of road rage. *
"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.
Authorizes deer hunting with bow and arrow on Sundays.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" increases sentences for sex offenders and persons who harbor them.
Revises statutes concerning abandoned vessels to include sunken vessels; authorizes certain entities to remove abandoned vessels. *
"Pharmacy Quality Improvement and Error Prevention Act."
Removes appropriations for gypsy moth suppression from the municipal expenditure cap and county and municipal tax levy cap.
Requires single operating-room facilities to register with DHSS, permits practitioners to refer patients to ambulatory surgery facilities in which practitioners have financial interest under certain circumstances. **
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Exempts certain purchases by school food service providers from the sales and use tax.
The "Green Building Tax Credit Act."
Establishes Office of Agricultural Water Usage Assistance; requires DEP to consult with that office regarding water usage certification for farmland; prohibits assessment of certain fees for water usage by farmers. *
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive senior and disabled homestead property tax reimbursement.
Mandates that certain personnel critical to certain State finance and revenue generating activities are essential employees during a declared State government shutdown due to failure to enact an annual appropriation act.
The "New Jersey Homeownership Preservation Act."
"Public Access and Marina Safety Task Force Act." *
Authorizes special Gold Star Parent motor vehicle plates for parents of military personnel who died while on active duty.
Revises calculation of Unemployment Trust Fund Reserve Ratio for experience rating year beginning July 1, 2008; appropriates $260,000,000 to unemployment compensation fund.
Creates crime of exposure to toxic pollutants.
Requires State to purchase energy efficient and hybrid vehicles; provides for phase-in of the requirement.
Establishes forest stewardship and forest certification programs in DEP; establishes Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund. *
Requires DEP to establish free recreational saltwater fishing registry.
Amends P.L.1999, c.23 concerning renewable energy.
Protects property taxpayers by requiring removal of certain property tax deduction and credit information from documents available for public inspection and provides for homestead property tax benefit in form of credit. *
Eliminates downgrading of DWI offenses that occur more than 10 years after previous conviction.
Authorizes N.J. Historical Commission to establish program for roadside markers to designate historic sites.
Establishes system for the issuance of special vehicle registration plate decals and medallions and provides for the discontinuance of certain special license plates. *
Revises New Jersey False Claims Act to comply with federal Deficit Reduction Act for purposes of entitling State to enhanced recovery in Medicaid fraud cases; establishes an annual reporting requirement for the Attorney General. *
Provides penalties for sexually offensive communication or harassing communication through social networking websites. *
Appropriates $49.65 million from "2007" Farmland Preservation Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $66 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," "2007 Green Acres Fund," and "2007 Blue Acres Fund" for State acquistion of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects.
Prohibits misleading use of senior-specific certifications or professional designations in connection with sales of securities.
Expands authorization for clamming on Sundays.
In committee · 92
Allows municipalities to provide free or reduced fee beach badges to active military and NJ National Guard personnel.
Excludes veterans' benefits from calculation of financial obligation for care at psychiatric facility.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement for claimants affected by eminent domain.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
The "South Jersey Regional Veterans' Health Care Facility Grant Fund Act."
Requires forfeiture of public office upon conviction of fourth degree crime or higher; disqualifies person from future office upon conviction of fourth degree crime or higher or conviction of crime involving dishonesty.
Provides additional retirement benefits for certain police and firefighter members of PFRS.
Excludes charges for certain membership and initiation fees and dues from sales and use tax.
Establishes annual sales tax holiday for certain sales of personal computers and certain sales of school supplies and equipment during first full weekend of August.
Allows for a gross income tax deduction for any honorably discharged member of the US Armed Forces, reserve unit or national guard.
Prohibits insurers offering managed care plans from denying participation in network to health care providers willing to meet terms of contract.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement for claimants affected by eminent domain.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Makes employment matters not exempted by statute mandatory subjects of public employment collective bargaining.
Clarifies certain standards for regulation of recreational vehicles as housing.
Requires adult Work First New Jersey recipients to complete secondary education under certain circumstances and receive life skills training.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for New Jersey National Guard members and their families in need of assistance.
Modifies blood alcohol concentration level for drunk driving conviction for repeat offender.
Revises criminal history record check process undergone by public and nonpublic school employees and school bus drivers.
Allows municipality to approve transfer from PERS to PFRS by certain firefighters.
Provides certain veteran benefits to veterans of the global war on terror conflicts and those of certain military engagements served during certain periods.
Concerns arbitration for certain non-teaching school staff.
Directs State Comptroller to identify and recommend certain programmatic budget reductions for certain State agencies, authorities, and instrumentalities.
Provides for nonbinding referendum to ascertain voter sentiment with respect to elimination of homestead rebate program except for senior and disabled residents and use of $1.33 billion in savings to balance the annual State budget; appropriates $5,000.
Retitles State correction officer as State correctional police officer; clarifies law enforcement powers.
Allows charitable contribution tax deductions under New Jersey gross income tax.
Prohibits payment of temporary disability benefits to incarcerated individuals.
Phases out sales and use tax on certain initiation fees, membership fees and dues.
Authorizes "100 percent Disabled Veteran" license plates for qualified veterans; entitles holders to handicapped parking privileges.
Clarifies failure to provide minimum care to an animal constitutes animal cruelty.
Permits in-person wagering at casinos and horse racetracks on results of professional sports events, subject to voter approval.
Authorizes State and local governments to enter into group purchasing agreement for alternative fueled vehicles.
Clarifies that licensed dealers may provide firearms for display at fund raising events sponsored by certain tax exempt organizations.
"One Strike, You're Ours;" adds use of Internet as aggravating factor in child sex crimes and requires lifetime electronic monitoring of offender.
Limits payment upon retirement to $15,000 to local public officers and employees for accumulated sick leave.
Permits direct shipping of wine to New Jersey consumers.
Requires reduction in number of positions in State service; establishes procedure to control creation of new State positions and filling of vacancies.
Authorizes SDA school districts to construct school facilities projects and receive State debt service aid.
Prohibits an executive county superintendent of schools from eliminating a nonoperating school district if its elimination would result in a property tax increase.
Designates "New Jersey, U.S.A." as State song.
Reinstates PFRS and SPRS accidental death benefits to certain surviving spouses who remarried.
Increases the application fee and provides for an admission fee to pre-trial intervention; dedicates fee increase for victim services.
Revises animal fighting laws; increases existing, and establishes new, penalties.
Establishes animal hoarding as a criminal and civil animal cruelty offense.
Clarifies that certain former New Jersey National Guard members may be eligible for higher education tuition assistance.
Requires State and county offices of emergency management to designate critical infrastructure in need of emergency power generators.
Requires cost analysis in certain cases when State department contracts out work.
Establishes coastal operations team to review county evacuation plans.
Provides for Statewide evacuation strategy for hospitals and other health care facilities.
Allows counties to establish emergency management registry for individuals with special needs.
Establishes commission authorized to identify and locate emergency shelters.
Requires State and local emergency operations plans include provisions to address needs of families of emergency responders serving during a disaster or emergency.
Requires all assisted living facilities set aside at least 10% of beds for Medicaid-eligible persons and accept at least 5% Medicaid direct admission.
Prohibits health care institutions from discharging medications into sewer or septic systems.
Requires persons who serve alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants to complete educational program.
"Josh's Law," increases penalties for vehicular homicide.
Requires designation of one position for PERS membership by person holding more than one PERS-covered position.
Prohibits hospital from charging patient or third party payer for costs associated with certain hospital-acquired conditions.
Requires signs posted by retail motor fuel dealers to indicate motor fuel prices for cash and credit card customers; establishes additional $1,000 penalty for violations.
Extends eligibility for $250 property tax deduction to Cold War veterans.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service, and their immediate family members.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping for certain retired military personnel.
Provides additional penalties for certain crimes involving cemeteries and other property.
Provides 90-day window for persons to transfer, render inoperable or surrender assault firearm.
Provides that any public or nonpublic building used as a polling place and involved in providing care to children must be closed on general election day.
Requires all campaign contributions to be reported to ELEC.
Designates September 11 each year "September 11 Remembrance Day" in New Jersey.
Removes confidential employee status of certain Casino Control Commission employees.
Increases pensions for certain PFRS retirees when special retirement benefit for active PFRS members increases to 70%.
Establishes arson investigation unit in Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs.
Increases penalties for certain motor vehicle right-of-way violations and requires attendance at Driver Improvement Program.
Returns pension loan interest rate in TPAF, PERS, JRS, PFRS and SPRS to fixed 4%.
Eliminates maximum age requirement for appointment as police officer or paid firefighter.
Permits PFRS retiree to borrow from life insurance benefit amount equal to no more than 50% of benefit's total value.
Establishes that police cruisers have a useful life of five years and allows local units to bond for such vehicles.
Regulates the sale of dextromethorphan.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Authorizes waiver of certain juvenile firearm-related cases.
Provides immunity for police officers who are subjects of certain disciplinary and administrative hearings.
Establishes NJ Alzheimer's Disease Study Commission.
Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues.
Provides single sales fraction for corporation business tax income allocation formula and establishes airline-specific sales fraction.
Places 2-1/2 percent limit on annual increases on municipal service fees imposed on manufactured homes in mobile home parks.
Clarifies chief of police is responsible for disciplining subordinates.
Establishes sales and use tax rate reduction period from October 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009 for sales of certain goods and services greater than or equal to $10,000; sets reduction period tax rate at 3.5%.
Permits certain retired law enforcement officers to possess hollow nose ammunition.
Establishes conflict resolution procedures through Department of Agriculture for complaints against commercial fishing docks and fish processing facilities.
Designates July 30th of each year as "Corrections Officers Day."
Increases certain penalties for vehicular homicides involving intoxicated drivers; designated "Josh's and Craig's Law."
Mandates health insurance coverage for certain infant formulas for children up to age of five.
Provides automatic farmland assessment for owners of permanently preserved farmland.
Establishes new crimes concerning service dogs and upgrades crimes against certain other animals.
Filed · 1
Permits casino employees to serve on Atlantic City governing body in certain circumstances.