Bills in the 2016–2017 Session, General Assembly.
R. Bruce Land
Sponsored
Became law4
Concerns Code Blue alert plans to shelter at-risk individuals. *
Authorizes veterans property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans who did not serve in theater of war.
Modifies requirements for receipt of distinguished service medal; codifies qualifications for receipt of meritorious service medal.*
Permits conduct of punch-board games under raffle license.
Passed the General Assembly4
Concerns withholdings and deductions from employee wages for certain payments.
Provides for special Bronze Star license plates.
Directs DOT to establish roadside accident memorial program.
Provides for immediate issuance of marriage and civil union licenses; provides for 72 hour waiting period prior to the ceremony.
Out of committee8
Retitles State correction officer as State correctional police officer; clarifies law enforcement powers.
Requires 40 hours annual in-service training for State corrections officers.
Excludes veterans' entitlements from income for determination of PAAD eligibility.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
Establishes telemarketing fraud investigation unit.
Designates New Jersey Route 47 from Wildwood City to Maurice River Township as "Veterans Memorial Highway at Delsea Drive."
Provides free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel.
Provides tax credit eligibility for qualified businesses at certain airports under Grow New Jersey Assistance Program.
In committee56
Permits a joint meeting by the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees to review and veto utility rate increases approved by BPU.
Makes "Skinner's and Michelle's Law" violators subject to No Early Release Act sentencing guidelines.
Directs DOT Commissioner to allocate Transportation Trust Fund monies for concept development and design of Route 55 extension.
Revises qualifications for handgun permit, establishes crimes for certain handgun use; establishes annual fee of $100.
Establishes aid program for certain municipalities with State correctional facilities.
Restores State fiscal year 2011 reductions to Garden State Preservation Trust payments in lieu of taxes; appropriates $3,400,000 to DCA.
Establishes "State Vehicle Reduction Task Force."
Establishes compensation program for State, county, and juvenile corrections officers and parole officers injured while performing official duties.
Prohibits sale of certain laser pointers that exceed certain power output.
Requires civilian employees of DOC to be trained in gang awareness.
Requires DOT and DEP to conduct study on options to alleviate congestion on Route 47.
Expresses additional rationale for existing statutory prohibition of self-service dispensing of motor fuel at service stations.
Reinstates sick leave injury program for State corrections officers and juvenile justice officers under certain circumstances.
Establishes guardianship monitoring program in Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults.
Makes Fiscal Year 2015 General Fund appropriation of $250,000 for restoration and maintenance of A.J. Meerwald.
Directs State Comptroller to identify and recommend certain programmatic budget reductions for certain State agencies, authorities, and instrumentalities.
Reduces State hotel and motel occupancy fee from five to two percent starting FY2011; preserves dedication.
Includes death by auto or vessel and certain assaults as crimes with bail restrictions.
Increases mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain repeat sex offenders.
Requires DCA to establish training and certification program and arbitration standards for new home warranty arbitrators and publish a "New Home Buyer's Bill of Rights."
Requires inmates with sufficient means to pay their incarceration costs.
Provides annual salary supplement for teachers earning National Board certification; appropriates $500,000.
Establishes maximum fees for providing copies of patient medical records.
Revises procedures for securing a permit to carry a handgun.
Sets fees for DEP permits and approvals for repair or reconstruction of Sandy-damaged structures at no more than amount in effect on October 28, 2012.
Excludes from gross income under the gross income tax certain United States military compensation paid to members of units of the NJ National Guard and reserve components of the United States Armed Forces.
Authorizes school district hiring preference for veterans.
Requires State Comptroller to review, and make recommendations for improvement of, the procurement process of the State, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government, and boards of education.
Provides family leave insurance for certain first responders.
Upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault if committed against county or municipal official in certain circumstances.
Increases certain penalties for vehicular homicides involving intoxicated drivers; designated "Josh's and Craig's Law."
Directs Office of Emergency Management to develop and undertake annual public awareness campaign concerning State's emergency coastal evacuation plan.
Extends eligibility for $250 property tax deduction to Cold War veterans.
Excludes .22 caliber tubular magazines from large capacity ammunition magazine definition.
Extends Class Two special law enforcement training for time deployed.
Requires Commissioner of Corrections to institute 15-minute shift overlap in State correctional facilities.
Eliminates certain components of realty transfer fee.
Makes Fiscal Year 2016 General Fund appropriation of $500,000 for restoration and maintenance of A.J. Meerwald.
Directs Office of CATV to promulgate rules and regulations concerning customers applying to establish CATV service, including requirement that customers provide two proofs of identity.
Directs that decision by administrative law judge be considered final agency decision if Civil Service Commission has not met for more than 60 days.
Requires school district to admit child who is not resident of school district if grandparent resides in district and provides substantial afterschool care to child.
Exempts certain fuel used for operation of recreational motor boats and vessels from petroleum products gross receipts tax and motor fuel tax.
Designates portion of State Highway Route 55 as "State Trooper Frankie L. Williams Memorial Highway."
Permits independent State authorities to establish joint insurance funds.
Allows driver's license to indicate post office box mailing address.
Permits municipalities, by ordinance, to prohibit release of balloons.
Establishes rebuttable presumption that person who commits crime with bail restrictions be detained prior to trial.
Requires development of manufacturing business attraction, expansion, and retention marketing plan for areas located in certain counties within southern New Jersey.
Requires public utility to charge veterans' organization residential rate for service delivered to property at which veterans' organization primarily operates.
"Library Construction Bond Act"; authorizes issuance of $125 million in general obligation bonds to finance public library capital projects; appropriates $5,000.
Designates portion of the State Highway Route 49 in Cumberland County as "Mike Trout Highway."
Prohibits offshore drilling in State waters and issuance of DEP permits and approvals for activities associated with offshore drilling.
Requires county colleges to develop juvenile offender reentry programs.
Provides for establishment of county college certificate programs to meet needs of certain regional employers.
Establishes task force to determine feasibility of creating New Jersey Marine Science Institute in Atlantic County-Cape May County region.
Provides for operation of casinos, racetracks, State parks, and motor vehicle agencies in event that state of emergency is declared.
Carried from the Senate
Became law2
Retitles State correction officer as State correctional police officer; clarifies law enforcement powers.
Designates New Jersey Route 47 from Wildwood City to Maurice River Township as "Veterans Memorial Highway at Delsea Drive."
Co-sponsored
Became law · 18
Allows certain National Guard and United States Reserve members to temporarily defer mortgage loan payments and suspend property tax payments.*
Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to work with US Army Corps of Engineers to establish joint permit application process for aquaculture projects.
Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to adopt coordinated permit application and review program for aquaculture projects.*
Allows fire district elections to be moved to November; eliminates certain fire district budget referenda; and eliminates certain fire district capital purchase referenda.
Establishes Military and Defense Economic Ombudsman in DMVA.*
Establishes New Jersey Military Skills Council.
Provides preference to certain employers applying for workforce development grants.
Expands list of retired law enforcement officers eligible to carry handgun.
Enters NJ in Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Provides diamondback terrapins protection as nongame indigenous species.
Designates "Garden State" as State Slogan.
Allows "100 percent Disabled Veterans" to receive parking privileges reserved for persons with disability.
Designates USS New Jersey as New Jersey State Ship.
Permits eligible students who are members of United States Armed Forces to wear military uniform at high school graduation.
Establishes Gold Star Family Counseling Program in DMVA; creates tax credit for certain health care professionals.
Authorizes certain benefits for certain family members of military personnel who died while on active duty.
Designates portion of State Highway Route 55 as "State Trooper Frankie L. Williams Memorial Highway." *
Appropriates $2,988,859 from 2009 Historic Preservation Fund and constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to provide capital preservation grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Vetoed · 4
"Music Therapist Licensing Act."
Creates viticulture trail tourist directional signs.
Bars persons under age 18 from marrying or entering into a civil union.
Establishes process for recovery of Superstorm Sandy aid overpayments and makes General Fund appropriation.*
Passed the General Assembly · 5
Establishes process for recovering cost of caring for domestic companion animals involved in animal cruelty violations.*
Establishes multi-species depredation permit.
Extends post-military service protection against mortgage foreclosure.
Eliminates use of standardized assessments as measure of student growth or progress in evaluations of teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals.
Concerns reimbursement for epinephrine, naloxone, and continuous positive airway pressure administered as an ambulance service.
Out of committee · 35
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for maintenance of certain State memorials honoring war veterans.
Clarifies that use of propane-powered noise making device is allowed as non-lethal method of wildlife control on farmland.
Requires public bodies under Open Public Meetings Act to display U.S. flag and recite Pledge of Allegiance at beginning of meeting.
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State's open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs.
Establishes grant program for homeless veterans shelters.
Excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation.
Changes law regulating size limits of lobsters.
Provides incentives for certain businesses associated with military installations.
Facilitates coordination of land use planning between civilian and military interests to preserve viability of federal military installations within State.
Directs Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to forgive certain student loans in the event of student borrower's death or total and permanent disability and grant deferment for temporary total disability.*
Establishes requirements concerning necessary care of dogs, domestic companion animals, and service animals, and for tethering of dogs.***
Provides fair standards for elections and recall of officers for homeowners' associations.
Increases minimum annual amounts for appropriation for certain arts, historical heritage, and tourism purposes from hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues.
Provides for early termination of terms of office for certain appointed municipal court positions when two or more municipalities enter into agreements to establish joint or shared municipal courts.
Requires nursing home facility operated by DMVA for veterans to provide State-funded transportation to health care services outside of facility.
Requires driver's manual to include driver's responsibilities during police stop and under State's "move over" law; requires driver testing on responsibilities during police stop; and authorizes driver testing on duties under State's "move over" law.*
Limits application of DEP shellfish habitat rules for certain dredging activities.
Requires certain schools to maintain supply of opioid antidotes and permits emergency administration of opioid antidote by school nurse or trained employee.
Requires Office of Emergency Management to establish county storm preparedness funding program. *
Creates Veterans Diversion Program to divert eligible servicemembers away from criminal justice system and into appropriate case management and mental health services.
Requires DMVA to notify county veterans' affairs office of death of certain military service members; requires office to have Gold Star liaison.
Requires Adjutant General to create informational webpage for Gold Star families.
Appropriates $300,000 from General Fund to New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University.
Appropriates $3 million from General Fund to Dept. of Agriculture for financial assistance to farmers whose crops have been affected by Dickeya dianthicola disease and for related research.
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to develop and implement beginning farmer mentoring program in cooperation with certain agricultural and educational organizations and entities.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to persons hiring beginning farmers to perform custom farming.
Establishes "New Farmers Improvement Grant Program" to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers.
Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases.
Establishes Garden State Young Farmers Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to persons leasing agricultural land to beginning farmers.
Appropriates $5 million from General Fund to Dept. of Agriculture for financial assistance to fishermen affected by 2017 reduction in summer flounder and black sea bass harvest quotas.
Extends eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits to certain individuals affected by the 2017 reduction in flounder and black sea bass harvest quotas.
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2018.
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2018; allocates funds from Local Aid Infrastructure Fund for operating and administrative expenses for transportation
Appropriates $4,990,934 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects.
In committee · 96
Permits certain retired law enforcement officers to possess hollow nose ammunition.
Requires that certain information be redacted from motor vehicle accident reports submitted to the public.
Expands eligibility for property tax reimbursement program.
Creates State Dredging Task Force.
Provides gross income tax credits to support development of New Jersey-based small business start-ups.
Revises animal cruelty provisions concerning euthanizing and impoundment of animals, and provisions for court disposition of seized animals; establishes civil penalty for improper euthanizing of animals; repeals conflicting sections of law.
Clarifies that certain former New Jersey National Guard members may be eligible for higher education tuition assistance.
Appropriates $3.5 million to Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory improvements project.
Permits qualified person with post-traumatic stress disorder to obtain handicapped parking placard.
Makes it a crime of the fourth degree to unlawfully use a controlled dangerous substance or prescription drug while pregnant.
Permits agriculture-related events on preserved farmland.
Establishes the "Veterans Court Pilot Program in several counties."
Establishes a gross income tax credit for certain firefighter training graduates.
Updates factors for consideration for grandparent and sibling petitions seeking visits with child over objection of parent, guardian, or custodian; adds preference for child's temporary placement with grandparent under "Child Placement Bill of Rights Act.
Provides tuition benefits at public institutions of higher education for dependents of certain veterans.
Requires retail establishments to allow persons with certain medical conditions access to employee restrooms.
Permits sale of motor fuels that have not been blended with ethanol for certain purposes.
Allows eligible landscape operators to make certain purchases of certain materials and supplies without payment of sales and use tax.
Requires four-year public institutions of higher education to have one veteran coordinator for every 200 veteran students; requires veteran coordinator to work with DMVA to ensure veterans have access to all available services.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 to Department of State to fund Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory at Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station.
Allows consumption of food on craft distillery premises.
Appropriates $1.6 million to Dept. of Agriculture for Jersey Fresh program.
Requires State to pay its pension contributions on quarterly basis by August 1, November 1, February 1 and May 1 of each year.
Requires certain CATV companies to make CATV service available throughout residential areas of municipality within specified number of years after CATV company first provides service to municipality.
Establishes procedures and standards regarding public services privatization contracts.
Excludes certain health care service firms from certain requirements.
Permits local health boards to require minimum temperature of 70 degrees from October through April in certain buildings occupied by seniors and disabled persons.
"Combat to College Act"; grants priority course registration to military service members and veterans attending public institutions of higher education.
Requires public institutions of higher education to grant academic credit to certain veterans.
Requires creditors to maintain vacant and abandoned non-residential properties under foreclosure.
Requires creditors to maintain interior of vacant and abandoned residential property under foreclosure.
Authorizes free State park and forest admission and free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for persons with certain types of military service.
Excludes veteran disability compensation from income qualification limits under homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Revises animal cruelty offenses involving neglect and abuse, and the penalties therefor; repeals appropriate sections of law.
Establishes cruelly restraining a dog as a criminal and civil animal cruelty offense.
Establishes minimum criminal penalties for animal cruelty offenses.
Establishes recreational fishing license plate; dedicates fees to coastal fishing research.
Concerns UEZ program funding to qualifying municipalities.
Permits municipalities to contract with animal and humane societies which engage in animal foster care.
Provides that organ donor designation on driver's license or identification card remains upon renewal of license or card under certain circumstances.
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.
Revises animal cruelty offenses involving neglect, care and euthanasia of impounded animals, and the penalties therefor.
Revises animal cruelty offenses and penalties concerning animal abandonment and failure to report injuring certain animals with a motor vehicle; increases civil penalties for certain other animal cruelty offenses.
Designates Dept. of Agriculture as sole agency to administer "Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program."
Transfers administration of certain nutrition programs to Department of Agriculture.
Authorizes special striped bass license plate.
Establishes Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Task Force.
Requires debt collectors, in certain circumstances, to cease debt collections against certain victims of identity theft.
Requires municipalities to submit economic growth plans to DCA for approval of continued participation in urban enterprise zone program; allow zone funds to pay for storm related recovery costs for five years.
Requires hospitals and health care professionals to offer hepatitis C testing to certain individuals.
Expands military leave benefits for certain public officers and employees subject to proof of service.
Eliminates three year renewal requirement for disability parking identification cards and placards.
Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to make certain consumer reviews and complaints publically available.
Allows operators of motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and bicycles to proceed through malfunctioning steady red light under certain circumstances.
Provides sales and use tax exemption for purchases of certain replacement goods and services made by certain persons affected by natural disasters.
Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for volunteer emergency workers and persons with certain types of military service.
Establishes Office of Common Interest Community Association Ombudsman.
Eliminates requirement that State reimburse municipalities for construction permit surcharge fee revenues foregone due to exemption for disabled veterans.
Prohibits electric power supplier or gas supplier from providing service to customer unless it is disclosed to customer in large print that its rates are not regulated by BPU.
Requires New Jersey Turnpike Authority to hold regular meetings in various counties in the State.
Provides for representation of certain regions of State on New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Provides court with sentencing discretion in certain cases under the "Graves Act."
Provides same military service credit for compensation purposes to noncertificated employees of school districts that is provided to certificated employees under current law.
Requires school districts to provide transportation to public and nonpublic school pupils living along hazardous routes.
Clarifies that only products assembled in U.S. meet "Buy-American" standards of public contracts laws.
Limits certain State and nonprofit open space acquisitions in municipalities.
Eliminates DOLWD licensing for operators of refrigerating plants using anhydrous ammonia.
Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to make certain consumer reviews and complaints publicly available.
Requires training of certain staff and health care professionals in interacting with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Expands crime of bias intimidation to include law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel.
Authorizes creation of Wounded Warrior licence plate.
Provides State aid to counties and municipalities to fund transportation services for veterans to VA medical centers; appropriates $500,000.
Criminalizes the manufacture, sale, and possession of controlled dangerous substance U-47700, known as U-4 or "Pink."
Establishes Gold Star Family Scholarship Program; appropriates $100,000 from General Fund to Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
"Driver and Pedestrian Mutual Responsibility Act."
Excluding from gross income taxation certain pension payments received by police officers and firefighters.
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
Excludes corrugated containers sold by the manufacturer from definition of "litter-generating product"; exempts such sales from user fee imposed under "Clean Communities Program Act."
Allows veterans of the United States Armed Forces or National Guard with 20 or more years of service to carry handgun.
Provides gross income tax credits for certain taxpayers who donate organs.
Provides gross income tax credits for certain taxpayers who provide blood donations.
Expands option of governmental home health care agency to partner with non-governmental providers to deliver health care services.
Dedicates $140,000 from NJ Brain Injury Research Fund for community based services provided by Statewide alliance dedicated to assisting persons with brain injury through advocacy, education, information and resources, outreach, and support services.
Requires NJT to study and report on commuting needs of residents in Atlantic, Cumberland, and Cape May counties.
Authorizes certain county fire coordinators to display emergency warning lights on vehicles.
Allows choice districts to enroll students on tuition basis under certain circumstances.
Eliminates veterans' gross income tax deduction requirement that New Jersey National Guard member serve in federal active duty status.
Prohibits person convicted of certain crimes from obtaining certain specialty license plates.
Prohibits school bus from stopping for students at certain locations.
Removes seven-day limitation for continued operation of casinos and racetracks in event that a state of emergency is declared.
Limits State Lottery drawings to two per day per game.
Establishes presumption of joint legal and physical custody in child custody matters.
Allows certain shipyards to conduct certain work on vessels in water.
Exempts veterans from non-driver identification card fees.
Provides civil service preference to all veterans.
Filed · 1
Appropriates $12.3 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.