Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, General Assembly.
David W. Wolfe
Sponsored
Became law2
Requires county college board of trustees to provide certain notices of layoffs.
Designates State Highway No. 70 bridge over Manasquan River as the "September 11 Memorial Bridge;" appropriates $2,500.
Out of committee2
Expands law providing penalty against teacher who leaves job prior to expiration of contract to include teachers at approved private schools for the disabled.
Provides for extension of health benefits coverage for certain part-time students.
In committee38
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.
Requires candidates for teacher certification to complete technology training program.
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.
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.
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.
Denies custody and visitation rights to minor child by family members of individuals convicted of certain crimes.
Increases income eligibility limit for Homestead Property Tax Reimbursement Program beginning in tax year 2002.
"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.
Provides payment to local public employers for post-retirement health care benefits to certain PFRS, CPFPF and PERS retirees.
Prohibits superintendent of schools from also serving as the school business administrator for a district.
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.
Designated the "Capital and Educational Facility Financing Act."
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; restates age requirements for power vessel operation and exceptions to course requirement; appropriates $2 million for enforcement.
Revises school bond law to simplify refunding bonds and permit electronic bid proposals.
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.
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.
Establishes the County School District Feasibility Study Commission.
Eliminates remarriage as condition for termination of certain PFRS death benefits.
Elevates certain animal cruelty crimes to crime of third degree; increases civil penalties for animal cruelty; establishes registry of violators of animal cruelty laws.
Concerns sale or rental of video games rated for mature and adults only audiences.
Eliminates the public vote on a school district budget which is within cap.
Eliminates remarriage prohibition for PFRS death benefits; provides retirement allowance to certain survivors of PFRS members.
Concerns penalty for use of wireless phone while driving.
Requires private vocational schools to provide adequate written notification when planning to close facilities.
Allows a deduction against New Jersey gross income for bicycle commuters.
Increases annual income limits for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Authorizes criminal history record background checks of employees and volunteers of nonprofit domestic violence victim serving organizations.
Carried from the Senate
Became law1
Expands law providing penalty against teacher who leaves job prior to expiration of contract to include teachers at approved private schools for the disabled.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 2
Changes laws governing financial liability for patients in psychiatric facilities and eliminates institutional liens for persons treated at State and county psychiatric facilities. **
Concerns availability, deductibles, and certain treatment under high deductible health plans paid through federally qualified health savings accounts.
Passed the General Assembly · 6
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Provides immunity from civil liability for school personnel and school bus contractor employees who use reasonable force or restraint to stop fights on school property or to defend themselves against a student assault. **
Decreases certain motor vehicle fines and lengthens time to provide proof of insurance.
Provides NJ STARS scholarship to certain students who had been enrolled in a dual enrollment program established by the students's high school and a county college.
The "Health Insurance Affordability and Accessibility Reform Act."
Concerns availability, deductibles, and certain treatment under high deductible health plans paid through federally qualified health savings accounts. *
Out of committee · 26
Requires insurers that provide outpatient prescription drug benefits and State Health Benefits Program to cover costs of prescription female contraceptives. *
Establishes NJ STARS Program to provide scholarships for county college students. *
Establishes Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in DEP and appropriates $200,000 therefor from Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund. *
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Establishes "Alan M. Augustine Colorectal Cancer Research Fund"; appropriates $100,000. *
Requires health care facilities to report certain information about their health care staff to their respective professional boards or DHSS.
Requires NJ Division of Travel and Tourism to report to Governor and Legislature every six months on status of tourism industry.
Revises pilotage laws.
Requires services under State contracts to be performed in the United States. *
Prohibits public institutions of higher education from imposing nonresident tuition fees on members of New Jersey National Guard and surviving children and spouses of Guard members killed in line of duty.
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits; increases members' contribution rate.
Reduces from 0.10% to 0.08% the blood alcohol content at which a person is considered guilty of operating a boat while under the influence.
Adds two employees to the boards of trustees of the State colleges. **
Requires the reporting of criminal offenses occurring on school property to law enforcement authorities.
Establishes fine of $100 for use of hand-held wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. *
Credits coverage under Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare towards employer's minimum participation rate under NJ Small Employer Health Benefits Program.
Appropriates moneys from the "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003" for loans for dams restoration and repair projects and to finance the costs of State dam restoration and repair projects.
"Family Health Care Coverage Act"; reestablishes NJ FamilyCare Program, expands eligibility for Medicaid program for parents and adults without dependent children and provides for pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates for GA program. *
Includes screening for toxoplasmosis in newborn screening program.
Establishes pilot program for satellite-based monitoring of certain sex offenders and authorizes certain sex offenders to submit to annual polygraph; appropriates $3 million. *
Requires pamphlet for students about pedophile crimes.
Appropriates $13,845,980 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and various Green Acres bond funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in southern NJ.
Appropriates $16,575,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and various Green Acres bond funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in central NJ.
Appropriates $65,822,075 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and various Green Acres bond funds, and appropriates or reappropriates certain other moneys, for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in "ur
Establishes NJ STARS II Program for NJ STARS scholars who advance to a New Jersey four-year public institution of higher education; appropriates $1,000,000 to Higher Education Student Assistant Authority. *
In committee · 80
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education loan payments.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
Establishes procedures for court and DYFS to determine safety of minor child whose child's caretaker is incarcerated.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct their own pension plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Provides tax credits for certain participants in federal Environmental Performance Track Program.
Eliminates the alternative minimum assessment under the corporation business tax.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Appropriates $5 million to the DEP for Black Creek and Wreck Pond dredging.
Clarifies provisions of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" concerning municipal electric power systems and rural electric cooperatives.
Requires award of grants to remediate discharges from home heating oil tanks for applications filed prior to July 1, 2007.
Establishes the "Veterans Home Health Care Demonstration Program"; appropriates $1 million.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Supplemental appropriation of $150,000 to DHSS for a grant to Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey, Inc.
Modifies various laws in regard to medical malpractice liability.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive senior and disabled homestead property tax reimbursement.
Adds leader of firearms trafficking network and weapons training for illegal activities to RICO statute.
Provides a gross income tax deduction from the State gross income tax for donations of certain environmentally sensitive or undeveloped lands, or an interest therein, to the State of New Jersey.
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.
Extends veterans' property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
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 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.
Establishes "Seniors Helping Seniors Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Demonstration Program" in DHS; appropriates $360,000.
Redirects certain moneys in the Sanitary Landfill Facility Contingency Fund to landfill closure and landfill mining projects.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Expands mission of NJ organized militia in DMVA and increases size and rank of leadership.
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain State, county and municipal elective offices and appointive positions.
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.
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.
Exempts certain investment clubs from certain partnership fee and payment requirements.
Permits any full-time employee of school board to attend annual New Jersey Education Association convention without loss of pay.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
Establishes Autism Registry in DHSS; appropriates $500,000.
Provides for recoupling of the computation of the New Jersey estate tax in accord with the federal estate tax.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Appropriates $2.5 million to DEP for Proprietary House restoration.
Increases minimum PFRS special retirement allowance from 65% to 70% of final compensation.
Provides additional retirement benefits for certain members of PERS and TPAF who are employed by school boards, educational services commissions and jointure commissions.
Provides that assisted living resident's security deposit is refundable if resident leaves facility.
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Establishes the Graduate Student Loan and Loan Redemption Program; appropriates $500,000.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
Allows a corporation business taxpayer that dissolves and completely liquidates during the 2002-2003 suspension of net operating loss deductions to use that deduction.
Provides State-paid SHBP benefits in retirement to certain former State employees with 25 or more years State service.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Authorizes assessment of educational facilities construction fees by boards of education under certain circumstances.
Decreases certain motor vehicle fines.
Extends certain benefits to members of U.S. Reserves and State organized militia who serve at least 180 continuous days.
Extends State veterans' benefits eligibility to those New Jerseyans who served on active duty missions related to the war on terror since September 11, 2001.
Requires hospitals to report information about patient infections to DHSS.
Implements, upon voter approval, constitutional amendment establishing the office of Lieutenant Governor.
Appropriates $300 million in FY 2005 to the Department of Education to make the June 22, 2005 State aid payment.
Provides additional State school aid to certain school districts with significant enrollment growth.
Revises calculation of budget caps and increases allowable surplus for public school districts.
Eliminates certain components of realty transfer fee.
Provides for automatic exemption from jury service for member of a paid or volunteer fire department or fire patrol, paid or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a State, county or municipal police officer.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Clarifies that Fish and Game Council has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Creates New Jersey Clinical Trials Registry in DHSS.
Changes catch and possession limits for taking of striped bass.
Imposes mandatory minimum term of 10 years on defendant convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.
Prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
"Jessica Lunsford Act;" concerns sentencing of sex offenders and persons who harbor them; requires electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders and creates child protection zones.
Provides for mandatory forfeiture of retirement benefits of elected official or public employee convicted of crime involving public service.
Provides immunity for certain volunteer health care professionals and nonprofit clinics.
"Jessica Lunsford Act;" concerns sentencing of sex offenders and persons who harbor them; requires electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders and creates child protection zones.
Recodifies offenses against animals under State criminal code; increases degree of crime for certain offenses.
Establishes offense of soliciting image of minor with unlawful purpose.