Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, General Assembly.
Amy H. Handlin
Sponsored
Became law1
Establishes measures to provide employment stability for teaching paraprofessionals employed in school districts that receive federal funding under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Passed the General Assembly2
Establishes a "State Authorities Review Commission."
Establishes certain minimum standards for State contracts paid on hourly basis.
Out of committee2
Requires school bus drivers to have annual physical.
Requires prequalification process for prospective bidders on school district transportation contracts; authorizes debarment of bidders convicted of certain crimes; authorizes disqualification of bidder or termination of transportation contract for certai
In committee46
Prohibits loans as political contributions by certain persons; prohibits certain inducements for political contributions; reduces permitted amount of outstanding loans in certain cases.
Prohibits political contributions by persons or businesses investing or rendering advice regarding investment of certain State funds.
Prohibits campaign contributions by certain individuals, businesses or other organizations performing public contracts.
Prohibits awarding of municipal professional services contracts to members of Legislature.
Prohibits certain relatives of legislators from being employed or assigned in certain positions.
Requires all elected officials and candidates and certain other public officials to file financial disclosure statement.
Clarifies that certain ethical standards apply to Governor and Governor's staff.
Establishes new standard and procedure for forfeiture of elective public office for accepting illegal contributions; removes illegal contribution threshold for such forfeiture.
Limits contributions to certain candidates and elected officials by certain public contractors; limits contributions by certain political party committees; repeals certain campaign contribution prohibitions.
Prohibits member of Legislature from performing certain no-bid contracts.
Requires issue advocacy organization using certain candidate information in advertisements to register with ELEC as political committee or continuing political committee.
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain State, county and municipal elective offices; provides for transition period between offices.
Bans campaign contributions and certain political communication by corporations and labor organizations.
Prohibits campaign contributions by certain individuals, businesses or other organizations that purchase or acquire property involved in eminent domain proceedings.
Establishes a "Local Authorities Review Commission."
Clarifies penalties court may impose in sentencing certain adults and juveniles guilty of making false public alarms.
Requires electronic bulletin board on DCA website for local units to advertise shared services opportunities; requires development of computerized survey to match local units together to implement shared services.
Requires suspension of State officer or employee indicted for certain offenses that, upon conviction, require forfeiture of office or position.
Requires suspension of local elected and appointed officers and employees indicted for certain offenses that, upon conviction, require forfeiture of office or position.
Eliminates PERS membership for current and future part-time elected and appointed officials.
Concerns criminal background checks for certain school employees.
Prohibits sex offenders from entering school property.
Requires completion of legislative ethics training program for legislators and State officers or employees and special State officers or employees in Legislative Branch.
Requires ELEC to provide ethics training for governmental affairs agents.
Requires all elected or appointed local government officers to receive ethics training.
Requires public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes or found at fault in certain civil actions to reimburse public entities for legal expenses.
Increases penalties for underage drinking.
Directs AG to enter into agreement with U.S. Attorney General to empower certain corrections officers to investigate immigration status of inmates.
Requires decal for holder of a provisional license; upgrades penalties for provisional license offenses.
Prohibits certain political activity by governmental employees and by public employee unions.
Provides that fee increases for holder of certain licenses be authorized by State Comptroller under certain circumstances.
Requires State Treasurer to post information about State contracts for legal services on special website.
Authorizes Commissioner of Transportation to extend current ban on large trucks outside of National Network to 96-inch wide trucks.
Permits Commissioner of Transportation to adopt regulations limiting the operation of certain commercial motor vehicles.
Establishes two year pilot program permitting school boards and municipalities to issue special decals to the holders of provisional driver's licenses.
Provides automobile insurance rate reduction for display of provisional license decal.
Prohibits member of Legislature from representing any person or party other than the State in connection with any proceeding of municipal, county, or State government entity.
Allows a motor fuel tax refund for fuel used by certain volunteer first responders operating personal vehicles during emergency responses.
Regulates receipt of things of value by members and employees of Legislature and officers and employees of Executive Branch.
Limits payment to certain public employees for accumulated sick leave upon retirement; requires fine and reprimand or termination for violation of sick leave by public employee.
Prohibits State officer or employee or special State officer or employee with contracting responsibilities from seeking or accepting employment with certain vendors or contractors until two years after leaving office or employment.
Changes certain public contracting processes; limits use of certain State funds; changes State Ethics Commission membership; adds public corruption to crimes comprising racketeering activity; changes campaign contributions limits and reporting requiremen
Limits awarding of no-bid contracts by the State, counties, municipalities, school districts and public institutions of higher education.
Clarifies that pay-to-play law applies to federally funded State contracts.
Extends filing deadline for school election candidate petition of nomination due to unforeseen closure.
Provides additional penalties for creditors that fail to maintain vacant residential properties during foreclosure.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 8
Amends stalking law to broaden protections for victims.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Permits municipalities to set strict absentee policies for service on authorities, boards, and commissions.
Grants immunity to certain underage persons for unlawful possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Permits physicians to issue multiple prescriptions for total of up to 90-day supply of Schedule II drugs.
The "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," authorizes bonds for $400 million; appropriates $5,000. **
Establishes the "New Jersey Scenic and Historic Highways Program."
Vetoed · 1
Lengthens service life of certain school buses to 15 years. **
Passed the General Assembly · 13
Creates a civil "rape shield" law. *
"Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
Requires Division of Taxation to display Senior Gold prescription program information on tax return instructions.
Requires and permits preference in awarding certain contracts. *
Authorizes companies under BPU jurisdiction to bill customers electronically upon customers' request. *
Requires State Auditor to conduct performance review audit of SHBP at least every three years and to annually conduct limited audit to ensure that only eligible persons are receiving benefits.
Includes limitations on amount of retirement compensation which may be provided by a school board in the employment contracts of superintendents of schools, assistant superintendents of schools, and school business administrators.
Requires that school districts use a model contract developed by the Commissioner of Education when employing a superintendent of schools.
Directs Chief Technology Officer in the Office of Information Technology to study and report potential benefits of expanding the use of electronic transactions, including the use of electronic signature and electronic record by the State.
Requires victims of the criminally insane to be notified upon release, escape, or transfer of offender from mental health facility.
Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program. *
Permits sheriffs, local police, and county corrections facilities to hire certain laid off officers without utilizing certain Civil Service lists. *
Requires State Treasurer to issue cost benefit analysis and security report for conversion of military housing to civilian housing at Earle Naval Weapons Station and places moratorium on issuance of certain State permits and plan approvals.
Out of committee · 24
Creates "The 2009 New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project Act."
Requires managed care plans to pay certain health care claims based on assignment of benefits.
Makes public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes or found at fault in certain civil actions liable and subject to pension garnishment for public legal expenses and illegally obtained funds. *
Permits municipality to enact ordinance regulating where sex offenders may reside. *
Decreases membership of county boards of taxation to 2004 level.
Decreases certain public document copy fees to up to $0.10 or less per letter size page and up to $0.15 or less per legal size page.
Authorizes a board of education to reject the lowest bid for a school transportation contract based on the school bus safety inspection record of the bidder.
Exempts certain renewable energy systems from real property taxation. *
Authorizes enhancement of State Uniform Construction Code's energy subcode based on anticipated energy savings; provides down payment assistance to certain purchasers of homes meeting enhanced energy subcode requirements.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" increases sentences for sex offenders and persons who harbor them.
Requires adoption of constitutions and bylaws by county political party committees; requires certain information concerning committee members to be filed with county clerk; eliminates fixed terms for committee members and chairs. *
Appropriates $1,068,921 from "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Appropriates $54,917,725 from various Green Acres funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Allows municipalities to require mortgage lenders to maintain vacant residential properties during foreclosure.
Provides that tuition assistance or additional compensation for graduate degree provided under employment contracts for certain school district administrators may only be provided if degree is conferred by accredited institution.
Prohibits penalizing pharmacy for dispensing forged or fraudulent prescription approved by certain State prescription drug benefit programs. *
Requires certain conditions be met in order for school districts to provide their employees with tuition assistance for coursework or additional compensation upon acquisition of academic credits or completion of a degree program.
Establishes a pilot program in DOE to address the State's shortage of mathematics and science teachers.
Appropriates $27.75 million from "2007" Farmland Preservation Fund" and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Fund" for planning incentive grants to municipalities for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $49.65 million from "2007" Farmland Preservation Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $120,123,420 from various Green Acres funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Appropriates $19,919,700 from various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
In committee · 71
Requires governmental affairs agents to disclose on notice of representation form compensation amount received from State or local government entities; requires notice to be posted on Internet site of Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Eliminates legislative leadership committees.
Creates "Comprehensive Anti-Nepotism Act."
Establishes campaign advertising ethics committee; imposes penalties for making false, deceptive, misleading or fraudulent statements about candidates for public office.
Increases membership of PFRS board of trustees from 11 to 13 members.
Prevents use of condemnation to acquire residential and other private property under redevelopment laws.
Requires reduction in number of State employees to FY2000 level; establishes procedure to control creation of new State positions and filling of vacancies.
The "Public Surface Water Supply Protection Act."
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance prohibiting sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
"Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act"; appropriates $75,000.
Requires keg registration; makes the unlawful possession of an unregistered keg a petty disorderly persons offense.
Authorizes assessment of development impact fees by municipalities.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Provides public servant is guilty of official misconduct if he knowingly obtains, arranges or provides "no-show" job for himself or another.
Requires DEP to conduct public hearing and provide opportunity for public comment at conclusion of feasibility study for shore protection projects.
Provides for development of uniform fee schedule for registration and certification of businesses seeking to perform State contracts; provides for collaboration to streamline procurement application process.
Recodifies offenses against animals under State criminal code; increases degree of crime for certain offenses.
Authorizes creation of urban enterprise zones in Garfield, Harrison, Keansburg, and two joint urban enterprise zones, one in Cliffside Park and Fairview, and one in Buena Vista Township and Buena Borough.
Dedicates $20 million annually in realty transfer fee revenues to pay for development, improvement, and repair of State parks, forests, recreation areas, historic sites, natural areas and fish and wildlife areas.
Prohibits candidates and elected public officials charged with crimes from using campaign contributions for their legal defense.
Implements measures to strengthen oversight of hospital charity care subsidies.
Establishes Office of Airline Consumer Advocate and consumer bill of rights for airline passengers.
Removes limousine services from sales and use tax imposition.
Prohibits awarding of municipal professional services contracts to certain elected officials.
Exempts sales of energy and utility service to manufacturing facilities from the sales and use tax and the transitional energy facility assessment (TEFA) unit rate surcharge.
Repeals cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
Prohibits public entities from engaging certain governmental affairs agents.
Exempts membership fees, initiation fees, or dues for access to health and fitness, athletic, or sporting clubs of certain charitable organizations from sales and use tax.
Requires filing of financial and conflict disclosure statements as condition of development approval.
Requires LBFO to prepare fiscal note on any bill having local government cost.
Limits payment to $15,000 for accumulated sick leave upon retirement for local public employees.
Provides for mandatory imprisonment and forfeiture of retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes.
Increases enrollment threshold in PERS and TPAF to $10,000; requires assessment of adding annual minimum hour requirement to qualify for service credit.
Requires local officer or employee employed by more than one local unit to submit combined timesheet to discourage double billing; increases certain fraud penalties; establishes biometric fingerprint scanner grant program.
Requires that public officers or public employees convicted of crimes involving their office or employment be sentenced to mandatory prison terms and forfeit pension benefits.
Restores point of sale sales tax exemption on purchases by businesses located in UEZ.
Requires the establishment of a prequalification process for prospective bidders on public school district transportation contracts.
Requires school bus safety instruction in all school districts which provide pupil transportation.
Establishes circumstances under which municipalities may base development approval, the timing thereof, or denial, on sufficiency of local transportation infrastructure.
Provides that school bus driver charged with certain crimes or offenses shall be removed from contact with pupils and terminated from employment upon conviction.
Establishes the "Healthy Workplace Act."
Amends "State Transfer of Development Rights Act," and provides for impact fees and other incentives for establishment of transfer of development rights programs.
Increases statute of limitations for certain crimes involving political corruption from five years to seven years.
Requires county superintendent of schools to determine routes and bid and award contracts for all nonpublic school busing in the county.
"New Jersey Medical Care Availability and Patient Protection Act of 2004."
Requires insurers and State health care coverage programs to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Excludes military compensation of military personnel serving outside of this State from gross income tax.
Requires Treasurer and Divisions of Pensions and Benefits and Investment Directors to report on status of State-administered pension plans to Legislature by April 15 and December 15 each year.
"Kyleigh's Law"; revises laws concerning provisional driver's licenses.
Caps bond counsel legal fees and costs on public issuers' bond transactions and requires a competitive selection process for retaining bond counsel.
Makes elected officials with compensation less than $50,000 ineligible for health care benefits on the 61st day after enactment.
Limits leave and supplemental compensation benefits for school district superintendents, assistant superintendents, and school business administrators; provides procedures and penalties for enforcement of TPAF provisions.
Clarifies that retention of unearned wages by a public servant is theft under certain circumstances.
Repeals law providing benefits for family temporary disability leave.
Restores the death penalty for certain murders.
Clarifies that certain former New Jersey National Guard members may be eligible for higher education tuition assistance.
Establishes financial incentives for certain energy providers to conduct energy audits.
Designated the Shop Here, Save Money, Secure Jobs Act of 2008; establishes sales and use tax rate reduction period from November 28, 2008 through January 4, 2009, sets reduction period tax rate at 3.5%.
Establishes new limits for campaign contributions by individuals, certain groups and campaign committees.
Establishes stricter limits on contributions to county committees of political parties and by county committees to candidates; prohibits contributions between county committees.
Prohibits member of Legislature from seeking certain grants or loans through annual appropriations act or legislatively-controlled program.
Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office.
Concerns pay equity in the workplace.
Abolishes Council on Affordable Housing for failure to comply with legislative directives.
Provides for public comment period at certain sessions of each house of the Legislature.
Requires each school district to adopt a dating violence policy to prevent and address incidents involving dating violence.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Requires sex offenders in satellite-based monitoring program to pay for certain equipment and monitoring costs.
Authorizes the executive county superintendent of schools to reduce the required local share of a non-operating district.
Concerns liability, standards of care, and insurance coverage for medical malpractice actions.