Bills in the 2002–2003 Session, General Assembly.
David W. Wolfe
Sponsored
Became law2
Exempts teachers from foreign countries from teacher citizenship requirements and permits boards of education to temporarily employ such teachers.
Designates highbush blueberry as New Jersey State Fruit.
Passed the General Assembly1
Requires candidates for teacher certification to complete technology training program.
Out of committee4
Implements a pilot tuition aid grant program for part-time students using unclaimed lottery prize money. *
Requires that student's disciplinary records be transferred to receiving district when student transfers districts.
Revises school bond law to simplify refunding bonds and permit electronic bid proposals.
Designates State Highway No. 70 bridge over Manasquan River as the "September 11 Memorial Bridge;" appropriates $2,500.
In committee45
Requires that new teachers hired by licensed child care centers to provide preschool classes to Abbott district students be certified.
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.
Provides New Jersey certification as a school administrator or principal to any applicant with similar certification in another State.
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.
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.
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.
Prohibits NJT from making major alterations to rail yards located near certain environmentally sensitive areas.
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.
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.
Appropriates $1,086,158 from 1995 Green Acres bond act for coastal Blue Acres acquisition projects by local government units.
Provides that security fee charged to assisted living residents is refundable if resident leaves facility.
Increases income eligibility for Homestead Property Tax Reimbursement Program beginning in tax year 2002.
Requires DEP permitting and monitoring of all wells and boreholes.
"Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors, 65 years and older.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions made for efforts in relief of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Strengthens screening procedures for school bus drivers.
Requires health clubs to have defibrillator and other lifesaving equipment on site and employees trained to use equipment.
Provides payment to local public employers for post-retirement health care benefits to certain PFRS, CPFPF and PERS retirees.
Appropriates $1 million to DEP for Cook Creek/Lake Louise dredging.
Requires automobile insurers to reduce rates by 5% for holders of special-learner driver's permits and provisional driver's licenses.
Prohibits superintendent of schools from also serving as the school business administrator for a district.
Provides additional retirement benefits for PERS and TPAF members employed by school boards, educational services commissions and jointure commissions retiring between July 1, 2002 and January 1, 2003.
Provides additional retirement benefits for PERS and TPAF members employed by school boards, educational services commissions and jointure commissions.
Establishes the level of State school aid for the 2002-2003 school year; establishes the Save Our Schools Fund to finance increased State aid.
Establishes the level of State aid for the 2002-2003 school year.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Redirects $15 million prior appropriation from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grant to Dover Township, Ocean County, to acquire lands for open space purposes.
Criminalizes certain fraudulent solicitations and collection of funds.
Designated the "Capital and Educational Facility Financing Act."
Increases PFRS accidental disability retirement benefit from 2/3 to 75% of member's highest annual compensation.
Requires the State to pay the cost of providing a thorough and efficient education for pupils in certain State facilities.
Exempts New Jersey teachers' purchase of qualified teaching materials from sales and use tax.
Allows adopted person access to his original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
Provides four-year phase-in of boat safety course requirement for operating power vessels and personal watercraft; reinstates age requirements for power vessel operation and exceptions to course requirement; appropriates $2 million for enforcement.
"New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act."
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $200,000 to the Department of State for a grant to Algonquin Arts.
Concerns collective bargaining between educational employers and employee organizations.
Concerns telemarketing political calls.
Provides for the election of school board members at November general election.
Prohibits member of Legislature from holding more than one elective office, any appointed public office or employment or any public contract.
Prohibits members of the Legislature from acting on certain bills in which they have personal interest; redefines personal interest.
Requires members of NJ Legislature to file statement of financial affairs.
Carried from the Senate
Became law2
Requires that student's disciplinary records be transferred to receiving district when student transfers districts.
Revises school bond law to simplify refunding bonds and permit electronic bid proposals.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 9
Prohibits unsolicited telemarketing sales calls to certain customers.
Establishes the Amistad Commission to coordinate educational and other programs on slavery and African-American history.
Exempts from New Jersey gross income tax the income of victims who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States. *
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Adds two members chosen by public employees' labor organizations to State Health Benefits Commission.
Establishes "Autism Medical Research and Treatment Fund." *
Designates State office building in Asbury Park as "Thomas S. Smith, Sr. State Office Building."
Establishes procedures for court and DYFS to determine safety of minor child whose child's caretaker is incarcerated. **
Provides collective negotiation procedures for school employee contracts, prohibits imposition of such contracts.
Passed the General Assembly · 8
Upgrades simple assault committed against domestic violence victims to aggravated assault.
Adds leader of firearms trafficking network and weapons training for illegal activities to RICO statute. *
Provides State-paid SHBP benefits in retirement to certain former State employees with 25 or more years State service.
Requires insurers that provide certain prescription drug benefits and State Health Benefits Program to cover costs of contraceptives. *
Extends certain benefits to veterans of Operation "Enduring Freedom".
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Provides that assisted living resident's security deposit is refundable if resident leaves facility. *
Includes certain business practices of cable television companies as violations of "New Jersey Antitrust Act."
Out of committee · 24
Authorizes certain counties to increase the number of appointed board members on county vocational school district boards of education. *
Clarifies provisions of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" concerning municipal electric power systems and rural electric cooperatives. *
Establishes new method of establishing financial liability for patients in psychiatric facilities and eliminates financial liability of certain family members. *
Supplemental appropriation of $150,000 to DHSS for a grant to Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey, Inc.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. *
Encourages the development of character education programs.
Establishes the Higher Education Master Plan Commission in the Legislative Branch of State government. *
Exempts certain investment clubs from certain partnership fee and payment requirements.
Strengthens screening procedures for school bus drivers.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for hearing aids.
Designated as the Senior Property Tax Freeze Protection Act; extends annual deadline for filing application for homestead property tax reimbursement to June 1. *
Authorizes transfer of any title at any point during the term of a local unit lease purchase agreement or contract.
Makes various changes to the automobile insurance laws; consolidates administrative functions relative to automobile insurance; provides for insurance fraud reforms. *
Requires at least one member of Pinelands Commission to possess training knowledge, or experience in wildfire management or fire safety.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints." *
Prohibits requiring school and county college employees to search for or handle explosive devices.
Prohibits certain acts involving invasion of privacy.
Repeals law creating State poet laureate.
Requires award of grants to remediate discharges from home heating oil tanks for application filed prior to July 1, 2007.
Provides immunity from civil liability for school personnel who use reasonable force or restraint to stop fight between students.
"Commercial Landfill Regulatory Reform Act."
Appropriates $51,282,300 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," and appropriates or reappropriates certain other moneys, for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in "urban aid," densely or highly populat
Appropriates $14,663,500 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in central NJ.
Appropriates $16,042,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in southern NJ.
In committee · 91
Punishes certain acts involving invasion of privacy.
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.
Creates pilot program in Essex County concerning domestic violence; creates additional Superior Court judgeship for Essex County; appropriates $275,000.
Appropriates $2.5 million to DEP for Proprietary House restoration.
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 the Commission on After-School Programs in DHS; appropriates $100,000.
Authorizes and directs DEP to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle program in the State beginning in calendar year 2006.
Establishes the "Alan M. Augustine Colon Cancer Research Fund," appropriates $100,000.
Appropriates $50 million to acquire real property in areas affected by Hurricane Floyd, pay relocation expenses, and compensate for lost property taxes.
Permits municipality under State supervision to reduce operating costs through employee early retirement and termination incentive program.
Redirects certain moneys in the Sanitary Landfill Facility Contingency Fund to landfill closure and landfill mining projects.
Permits certain TPAF veteran retirees to receive paid health benefits under State Health Benefits Program.
Requires certain information to be printed on invoices and delivery tickets for liquefied petroleum gas.
Revises retirement provisions for PERS members who are veterans.
Appropriates $50,000 to DMVA for transportation pilot program to provide veterans' medical transportation.
Authorizes special emblem for license plates of disabled veterans.
Provides minimum retirement benefit to TPAF and PERS members with 20 or more years of service.
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Establishes subcommittee of local emergency councils to develop school crisis response action plans; appropriates $3 million.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
Provides for the reduction of the per pupil expenditure of certain constituent municipalities of regional school districts.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Requires designated employees trained in the use of defibrillators to be available for high school athletic events; appropriates $1.2 million.
The "Public Surface Water Supply Protection Act."
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.
Establishes special license plate to support education.
Eliminates fee for State permits issued for county road projects.
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 $25 million to DEP to fund grant to Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority for Brick Township Reservoir.
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.
Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $5,000 income tax deduction.
Requires DEP to assume responsibility for dredging of waterways providing boat access to lagoon communities; appropriates $6,000,000.
Establishes "Seniors Helping Seniors Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Demonstration Program" in DHS; appropriates $360,000.
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.
Appropriates $26,140,000 for dredging projects and dredged material disposal projects related to navigational waterways.
Authorizes county vocational schools and technical institutes to employ non-certificated persons in post-secondary and adult continuing education programs.
Provides grants to educational technology training centers to establish satellite facilities and maintain and upgrade equipment; appropriates $2.8 million.
Appropriates $1,400,000 to DHSS for grants to certain geriatric assessment centers.
Requires joint municipal planning board review of long-range facilities plans developed by regional school districts.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education loan payments.
Provides additional retirement benefits for certain members of PERS and TPAF who are employed by school boards, educational services commissions and jointure commissions.
Concerns public works subcontractors.
Concerns employment rights of teaching staff at schools and programs subject to State takeovers.
Increases nonpublic pupil transportation to 30 miles from the pupil's residence.
Provides additional retirement benefits for certain members of PERS and TPAF who are employed by school boards, educational services commissions and jointure commissions who retire between July 1, 2000 and July 1, 2001.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Establishes a loan redemption program for teachers employed in public or nonpublic schools in the State.
Establishes minimum salary of $40,000 for teaching staff members in school districts and educational services commissions.
Expands mission of NJ organized militia in DMVA and increases size and rank of leadership.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct their own pension plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Exempts from New Jersey gross income tax the victims who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States.
Creates continuing education and nurse recruitment pilot program in DMVA; appropriates $348,000.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Requires private contractors to suspend from duties involving contact with pupils school bus drivers charged with certain crimes or offenses.
Designated as the Senior Property Tax Freeze Protection Act; extends annual deadline for filing application for homestead property tax reimbursement to June 30th.
Establishes Truck Safety Advisory Council; increases certain fees related to the operation of commercial motor vehicles to fund truck safety operations in the State Police; doubles motor vehicle points assessed when operators of heavy vehicles violate
Eliminates immediately the rate reductions and rate caps of electric public utilities for provision of basic generation service.
Authorizes BPU to allow electric public utilities to recover basic generation services transition costs over a term of not less than 20 years.
Increases minimum PFRS special retirement allowance from 65% to 70% of final compensation.
Establishes Autism Registry in DHSS; appropriates $500,000.
Designates September 11 in each year as "Red, White, and Blue Ribbon Day" in honor of victims of September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
Reduces to 5 years length of continuous residency requirement to qualify for homestead property tax reimbursement.
Provides for recoupling of the computation of the New Jersey estate tax in accord with the federal estate tax.
Exempts certain investment clubs from certain partnership fee and payment requirements.
Modifies various laws in regard to medical malpractice liability.
Establishes the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in the DEP and appropriates $200,000.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
Provides tax credits for certain participants in federal Environmental Performance Track Program.
Eliminates the alternative minimum assessment under the corporation business tax.
Establishes the New Jersey School Counts County College Scholarship Program; appropriates $2,000,000.
Decreases and eliminates certain fees and penalties.
Exempts vanpool rentals from domestic security fee imposed under P.L.2002, c.34.
Permits any full-time employee of school board to attend annual New Jersey Education Association convention without loss of pay.
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
"New Jersey Fair Market Drug Pricing Act"; establishes New Jersey Rx Card Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Restricts expenditure of State appropriated funds for cabinet officers' chauffeur driven limousines.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive senior and disabled homestead property tax reimbursement.
Prohibits legislators from employing or supervising certain relatives in certain positions.
Prohibits sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids.
Appropriates $5 million to the DEP for Black Creek and Wreck Pond dredging.
Removes tolls from the Garden State Parkway.
Authorizes assessment of educational facilities construction fees by boards of education under certain circumstances.
Allows a corporation business taxpayer that dissolves and completely liquidates during the 2002-2003 suspension of net operating loss deductions to use that deduction.
Prohibits submission of bids for local public contracts and public school contracts on certain days.