Bills in the 2000–2001 Session, General Assembly.
David W. Wolfe
Sponsored
Became law7
Expands indemnification for school board members and employees and establishes a code of ethics for school board members.
Permits aid to nonpublic schools for electronic textbooks.
Establishes a Commission on Early Childhood Education in but not of the DOE.
Establishes an Office of Early Childhood Education in the DOE.
Revises mission of the New Jersey School of the Arts to provide assistance to secondary schools in meeting Visual and Performing Arts Standards.*
Concerns homeowners insurance deductibles and rates; provides for consumer information brochure.
Establishes cap on application fees for certain CAFRA and waterfront development permits.
Passed the General Assembly1
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to the Disaster Fund for Children of New Jersey.
Out of committee17
Requires that new teachers hired by licensed child care centers to provide preschool classes to Abbott district students be certified.
Adds a new Governor's School and appropriates an additional $609,160 to the Governor's Schools in FY 2000.*
Requires at least 10% of residents in new assisted living facilities be Medicaid-eligible.
Exempts minors from child labor laws.*
Supplemental appropriation of $370,000 to the Department of Community Affairs for a grant to the E=mc2 program.
Appropriates $200,000 to New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education for programs to promote an environmentally responsible citizenry. *
Revises certain endorsements to the instructional certificate, requires certified teachers in licensed child care centers located in early childhood program aid districts, and establishes a loan program to assist in the attainment of certification. **
Supplemental appropriation of $370,000 to the Department of Community Affairs for a grant to the E=mc2 program.
Appropriates $40,440,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and various Green Acres bond funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and approves funding of certain local government open space acquisition projects; including local "planning incentive" projects in southern NJ.
Revises procedure for the return of State-operated school districts to local control.
Permits students to satisfy high school graduation requirements by taking practical arts courses.
Provides for grants to clean up contamination discovered subsequent to underground storage tank removal or closure.
Establishes parental orientation program in the Abbott school districts.
Establishes a fund through which a receiving district would be reimbursed if it has to refund tuition moneys to a sending district because of an overpayment; appropriates $3 million.
Provides annual State facilities aid payments to charter schools.
Appropriates $1,086,158 from 1995 Green Acres bond act for coastal Blue Acres acquisition projects by local government units.
Appropriates $15 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain local government units to acquire noncontaminated portions of Ciba Geigy lands in Ocean County for recreation and conservation purposes.
In committee36
Prohibits requiring school and county college employees to search for or handle explosive devices.
Creates new $100 assessment for convictions of certain sexual offenses to fund counseling for victims and their families; establishes Sexual Offender Victim Counseling Fund.
Establishes the Educational Technology Grant Program in the Department of Education.
Requires candidates for teacher certification to complete technology training program.
Expands the Garden State Scholarship Program using unclaimed lottery prize funds.
Provides New Jersey certification as a school administrator or principal to any applicant with similar certification in another State.
Requires hepatitis B immunization for admission to kindergarten or first grade and sixth grade at a public or private school.
Prohibits superintendent of schools from also serving as the school business administrator for a district.
Permits only two school districts to share a school business administrator.
Renames the New Jersey State College Governing Boards Association as the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities.
Permits employees of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials to enroll in PERS.
Allocates at least $100 million from the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for coastal and inland Blue Acres land acquisition projects in flood-prone areas.
Concerns grievance procedures for school employees losing employment.
Authorizes "Down's Syndrome Awareness" license plate.
Revises "Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund" bonded indebtedness cap from a floating cap or $550,000,000 of debt outstanding to a fixed cap of $550,000,000 of aggregate debt issued.
Provides that certificates for swimming instructors may be issued by the American Red Cross or National YMCA.
Excludes federal employee Thrift Savings Plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Allows senior and disabled homeowners to collect both the NJSAVER rebate and the homestead rebate.
Prohibits school board members removed from office upon creation of State-operated district from serving on board during State operation of district.
Revises certain eligibility and reporting requirements for the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program.
Requires that student's disciplinary records be transferred to receiving district when student transfers districts.
Permits establishment of employee assistance programs for public employees.
Revises the State funding formula for the county colleges.
Requires school boards to mandate wearing of protective devices by pupils and teachers who are dealing with certain dangerous materials or processes and to ensure that teaching staff are properly trained; appropriates $125,000.
Eliminates criteria qualified voter must meet to receive military or civilian absentee ballot.
Prohibits NJT from making major alterations to rail yards located near certain environmentally sensitive areas.
Allows enclosure or replacement of open-air structure for use as bath house or rest rooms without need to obtain CAFRA permit.
Allows retail and wholesale sale of chilled beer by beverage distributor licensees.
Requires county college board of trustees to provide certain notices of layoffs.
Denies custody and visitation rights to minor child by family members of individuals convicted of certain crimes.
Provides for licensure and operation of long-term acute care hospitals.
Exempts teachers from foreign countries from teacher citizenship requirements and permits boards of education to temporarily employ such teachers.
Adds site and utility work to list of categories of work for which separate plans and specifications may be prepared under "Local Public Contracts Law."
Provides that security fee charged to assisted living residents is refundable if resident leaves facility.
Provides for appointment of additional sending district representatives to certain receiving district boards of education and expands voting rights of the representatives.
Clarifies definition of nonconforming spaces which may qualify for additional State school facilities aid and clarifies the minimum 40% State share of debt service.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 18
Appropriates $26.3 million in federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds.
Provides for presumption of death for persons exposed to catastrophic events.
Concerns certain public benefits available to persons affected by September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on US.
Establishes a New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit.
Establishes new procedures for the application for services provided to the developmentally disabled.
Authorizes municipal utilities authorities and school districts to join with municipalities to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Excludes U.S. military pensions and survivors benefits of persons less than 62 years of age from gross income taxation.
The "Private Well Testing Act"; appropriates $1million from safe Drinking Water Fund. *
Imposes civil penalties on domestic violence offenders and establishes Domestic Violence Victims Fund. *
Establishes New Jersey Prepaid Higher Education Expense Program.*
Expands definition of Circle of Mobility to include commuter rail service in Central New Jersey.
Authorizes 10-year lease purchase agreements and leasing arrangements for the acquisition of school buses.
"Leonard Cohen's Law"; concerns hospital patient transfers.
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program beginning in tax year 2000.
Allows association libraries to apply for certain library grant funds. *
Amends CAFRA to exempt enclosure of certain commercial developments from DEP's permitting requirements.
Removes requirement that a public utility employee's Social Security number appear on employee's identification badge.
"The Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act."
Vetoed · 1
Increases pharmacy dispensing fees in Medicaid and PAAD by $1.00 over three-year period; appropriates $6,481,000 in State funds and $3,325,000 in federal funds.*
Passed the General Assembly · 9
Punishes certain acts involving invasion of privacy.
Authorizes county vocational schools and technical institutes to employ non-certified persons in post-secondary and adult continuing education programs.
Concerns public works subcontractors.
Places five-year moratorium on distribution and sale of irradiated food.
Increases the number of appointed board members for certain county vocational school districts from four to six.
Appropriates $50,000 to DMAVA for transportation pilot program to provide veterans' medical transportation.
Extends the deadline for submission of a long-range facilities plan for certain school districts.
Establishes the Commission on After-School Programs in DHS; appropriates $100,000. *
Establishes the "Alan M. Augustine Colon Cancer Research Fund," appropriates $100,000.
Out of committee · 53
Accelerates phase-in of the NJ SAVER rebate. *
Establishes the Amistad Commission to coordinate educational and other programs on slavery and African-American history.
Redirects certain moneys in the Sanitary Landfill Facility Contingency Fund to landfill closure and landfill mining projects.*
Establishes "Seniors Helping Seniors Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Demonstration Program" in DHS; appropriates $360,000. *
Appropriates $1,350,000 to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $5,000 income tax deduction.*
Requires owner of hospital to offer to sell facility before seeking to close or convert facility to another use.
Prohibits persons who violate animal cruelty statutes from serving as animal control officers.
Appropriates $50 million to acquire real property in areas affected by Hurricane Floyd, pay relocation expenses, and compensate for lost property taxes.
Appropriates $21,480,950,000 in State funds and $8,009,987,000 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2000-2001.
Provides full PFRS credit for transferred PERS service of certain PFRS members.**
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility Act." *
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses incurred in diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
Reallocates $2.25 million of Corporation Business Tax dedicated funds for carbon filtration systems for three wells in Dover Township, Ocean County.
Supplemental appropriation of $50,000 to DCA for grant to Providence House in Ocean county.
Increases veteran's property tax deduction.
Revises retirement provisions for PERS members who are veterans.
Supplemental appropriation of $8,050,000 in State and federal funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement for home health services.
Amends graduated driver's license law and 10 year driver's license law.*
Requires insurers that provide certain prescription drug benefits to cover costs of contraceptives.
Establishes Homeowners Insurance Availability Advisory Committee.
Modifies daily limit for taking of striped bass.
Requires counseling for juveniles adjudicated delinquent for cruelty to animals.
Appropriates $2.5 million to DEP for Proprietary House restoration.
Provides grants to educational technology training centers to establish satellite facilities and maintain and upgrade equipment; appropriates $2.8 million. *
Makes certain acts of animal cruelty crimes of the fourth degree; requires juveniles adjudicated delinquent for certain animal cruelty offenses to receive court-ordered psychological counseling. **
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $350,000 to the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory.
Appropriates $1,400,000 to DHSS for grants to certain geriatric assessment centers.
"Senior Gold Prescription Discount Act." *
Requires governing body of general hospital to have at least one member who resides in municipality where hospital is located.
Requires Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to obtain report from independent organization before issuing certificate of need to close or convert a general hospital.
Expands law enforcement powers of certain DEP personnel.
Expands the Tuition Aid Grant program to part-time undergraduates.
Exempts certain sales to nonprofit homeowners' associations from sales and use tax.
Provides a gross income tax credit for 6% of certain charitable contributions that are deductible for federal income tax purposes.
"Health Care Carrier Accountability Act."
Increases and indexes maximum homestead rebate benefit.
Accelerates phase-in of the NJ SAVER rebate.
Establishes the Higher Education Master Plan Commission in the Legislative Branch of State government and appropriates $300,000.
Establishes a loan redemption program for teachers employed in public or nonpublic schools in the State.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct their own pension plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct one-half of their federal self-employment taxes from gross income under the gross income tax.
Directs Drinking Water Quality Institute to reevaluate maximum contaminant level for arsenic, MTBE and radium in drinking water; appropriates $300,000.
Prohibits sale of gasoline containing MTBE; directs DEP to seek waiver from EPA oxygen requirements for purpose of discontinuing use of MTBE; and establishes Transportation Energy Security Council to monitor good faith compliance effort. *
Provides single sales fraction for corporation business tax income allocation formula, eliminates "regular place of business" requirement to allocate less than 100% of income to New Jersey, provides airline-specific sales fraction. *
Increases TPAF and PERS retirement benefits for active members and retirees; revises calculation of assets and establishes benefit enhancement fund.
Approves State funding for certain "urban aid" local government open space acquisition projects.
Exempts 1996 and subsequent model year motor vehicles equipped with on-board diagnostic systems from emissions testing; requires check of functioning of on-board diagnostic system.
Provides State aid to Abbott district charter school students to reach 90% of maximum T&E amount.
Increases TPAF and PERS retirement benefits for certain active and retired employees. *
Expands mission of NJ organized militia in DMAVA and increases size and rank of leadership.
Exempts from reenrollment certain TPAF and PERS retirees employed by DOE and boards of education. *
Provides benefit coverage to certain police, fire and emergency personnel.
In committee · 71
Upgrades simple assault committed against domestic violence victims to aggravated assault.
Concerns disqualification from unemployment benefits.
Allows weapons seized in domestic violence cases to be stored with local law enforcement agency rather than the county prosecutor's office.
Requires certain health insurers to provide coverage for prescription contraceptives.
Revises certain sections of the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" concerning municipal providers of utility services and rural electric cooperatives.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
The "Public Surface Water Supply Protection Act."
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Exempts public entities operating public recreational facilities from liability for damages resulting from personal injury.
Increases cost of living adjustment in pension allowances and survivor benefits payable to certain former public safety officers and their survivors.
Increases cost of living adjustment in pension allowances and survivor benefits payable to certain former public safety officers and their survivors.
Increases minimum amount of PFRS ordinary disability retirement allowance from 40% to 50% of average final compensation.
The "Health Care Insurer Accountability Act of 1998."
Eliminates motor vehicle registration fees for certain entities.
"Brain Injury Research Act."
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education loan payments.
Establishes special license plate to support education.
Eliminates fee for State permits issued for county road projects.
Establishes State Police toll-free hot line for reporting possible sex-related crimes involving juveniles over interactive computer services, appropriates $150,000.
Authorizes adoption of municipal transfer of development rights programs.
Requires municipal master plans under Municipal Land Use Law to be consistent with the State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
Establishes additional penalities for DWI with child as passenger.
Establishes special priority of acquiring lands in flood-prone areas for recreation and conservation purposes using monies from Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund.
Establishes minimum registration fees for certain private passenger vans and noncommercial trucks equipped with wheelchair lifts.
Clarifies and strengthens domestic violence training requirements for law enforcement officers; appropriates $250,000.
Excludes certain deferred compensation of public school and charity employees from current taxation under the gross income tax.
Prohibits sex offenders from coaching youth sports teams.
Requires certain information to be printed on invoices and delivery tickets for liquefied petroleum gas.
Makes various changes in civil service system concerning titles, compensation and layoffs.
Requires DEP to study health and status of menhaden fishery; appropriates $95,000.
Requires DOE to develop guidelines for the evaluation and identification of gifted students and establish program guidelines to address their special academic needs.
Provides that $5 million of unclaimed State Lottery prize money be used annually to establish and supplement public school gifted and talented programs.
Requires legislative approval for granting of initial license to institution of higher education.
Encourages the development of character education programs.
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Creates pilot program in Essex County concerning domestic violence; creates additional Superior Court judgeship for Essex County; appropriates $275,000.
Directs DEP to phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether as a component of gasoline.
Requires that Abbott v. Burke parity remedy aid be allocated to county vocational school districts for students enrolled in those districts who reside in an Abbott district.
Establishes subcommittee of local emergency councils to develop school crisis response action plans; appropriates $3 million.
The "Dormitory Fire Safety Act."
Appropriates $7.5 million annually in tobacco settlement monies for cancer research.
Establishes Autism Registry in DHSS; appropriates $500,000.
Prohibits sale of products containing ephedrine alkaloids to minors 17 years of age and younger.
Amends definition of veteran for certain military engagements.
Concerns employment rights of teaching staff at schools and programs subject to State takeovers.
Permanently denies convicted criminals access to public records containing victim's information; protects certain criminal investigatory files and crime victim information from public access.
Establishes Brownfields Redevelopment Grants Program; appropriates $150 million.
Authorizes special emblem for license plates of disabled veterans.
Increases maximum homestead rebate benefit.
Requires designated employees trained in the use of defibrillators to be available for high school athletic events; appropriates $1.2 million.
Makes cyber piracy among candidates for elective office and certain committees a fourth degree crime.
Require joint municipal planning board review of long-range facilities plans developed by regional school districts.
Establishes special dredging account; directs $5,000,000 of sales tax collected annually be deposited therein; directs DEP to administer account and dredging program with certain requirements.
Requires DEP assume responsibility for dredging of waterways providing boat access to lagoon communities; appropriates $6,000,000.
Appropriates $26,140,000 for dredging projects and dredged material disposal projects related to navigational waterways.
Increases penalties for lying about conduct of law enforcement officer.
Supplemental Appropriation of $25 million to DEP to fund grant to Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority for Brick Township Reservoir.
Clarifies reference to Gross Vehicle Weight in laws governing duration of use of school buses.
Provides full PFRS credit for transferred PERS service of certain PFRS members at State cost.
Authorizes free admission to State parks and forests and the New Jersey State Aquarium and free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for members of volunteer fire companies or volunteer first aid or rescue squads.
Supplemental appropriation of $675,000 to Point Pleasant Beach, Ocean County, for rehabilitation of municipal park and Little League ballfields.
Clarifies the use of external indices by the Director of the Division of Taxation in estimating certain sales tax liabilities.
Establishes minimum salary of $40,000 for teaching staff members in school districts and educational services commissions.
Authorizes and directs DEP to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle program in the State beginning in calendar year 2006.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Requires DEP to classify certain surface waters of the State as category one waters.
Requires licensure of hospital in Union County to provide adult cardiac surgery services.
Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to change any date in the school budget and election calendar due to a conflict with a day of religious observance.
Establishes vote-by-mail pilot program for 2003 annual school elections in certain counties.
Increases TPAF and PERS disability and veterans retirement benefits for active and retired employees.
Filed · 1
The "New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Act;" appropriates $8.98 million.