Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Robert M. Gordon
Sponsored
Became law5
Appropriates $7 million in 1992 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects.
Requires nursing homes to use pressure redistribution mattresses for all residents.
Authorizes enhanced DHSS monitoring of hospital financial performance and intervention in management of identified distressed hospitals.
Requires uniform billing and reporting of infection rates by ambulatory surgical centers and requires DHSS to make reported information public. **
Makes certain changes to the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.
Out of committee16
Requires prompt parental and staff notification of contaminated soil found on school property. *
Establishes requirements concerning certain public contracts with private firms.
Requires certain persons to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation against vulnerable adults.
Exempts reconstruction, improvement or enlargement of hospitals and nursing homes from imposition of affordable housing fees; prohibits calculation of fair share obligation on same. *
Makes certain changes to the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.
Revises regulation of landscape architects.
Authorizes the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to undertake an aquarium project within or outside the meadowlands complex.
Allows in FY2009 up to $9 million from "Shore Protection Fund" to be used to help defray State park and forest operation and maintenance costs; requires DEP to study State park and forest fee structure and revenue sources, and modify fees accordingly. *
Regulates operation of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and dirt bikes, and certain other vehicles and off-road vehicles; requires DEP to designate three sites on State-owned land where snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and dirt bikes may be used. *
Provides exception to local cap law for purchases of fuel efficient vehicles and permits loans by New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust for those purchases.
"Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act."
Modifies "Predatory Towing Prevention Act."
Requires confirmation of financial assistance for eligible homeowners voluntarily closing or replacing petroleum underground storage tanks, and expands eligibility for financial assistance. *
Prohibits use of electronic smoking devices in indoor public places and sale to minors. *
Provides for asset disregard for Medicaid recipients under long-term care insurance partnership.
Permits member of volunteer fire company and emergency response squad to hold municipal elective office.
In committee12
Expands offense of computer criminal activity to include accessing computer data for an unlawful purpose by means of a knowing misrepresentation as to identity of person requesting information.
Creates Meadowlands Economic Development Trust; provides for sharing of tax revenues generated by developments of regional economic significance to improve local quality of life.
Exempts charges for residential storage space and dues for residential health and fitness facilities from the sales and use tax.
Provides gross income tax deduction for three years of nursing pay for new enrollees in nursing education programs.
Limits DEP regulation of medical diagnostic x-ray equipment in facilities performing 750 or fewer x-rays per year.
Requires van accessible handicapped parking spaces be used exclusively by handicapped equipped vans.
Provides bill of rights for persons receiving services under Congregate Housing Services Program.
Provides additional enforcement provisions under "Health Care Quality Act"; allows certain private causes of action for violations; expands administrative remedies; establishes enforcement fund.
Imposes a one-year moratorium on the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association reorganization of certain school athletic conferences under certain circumstances.
Increases New Jersey Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association payment cap to $250,000 for certain annuities.
Prohibits sale of electronic smoking devices to minors.
Requires closed-cycle cooling towers as condition of NJPDES permit for certain energy generation facilities.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 32
Requires staff members of adoption agencies to undergo criminal history record background and child abuse record information checks. *
Expands consumer protections under New Jersey's motor vehicle "lemon law."
"Grace's Law;" requires health insurers, State Health Benefits Program and NJ FamilyCare to provide coverage for hearing aids for covered persons 15 and younger.
Requires drivers to make all reasonable efforts to remove ice or snow from vehicle; creates fine.
Prohibits sale of certain flavored cigarettes.
Extends the term of office for members of NJ Collaborating Center for Nursing board and dedicates portion of nurse licensing fee to support center. *
Establishes forest stewardship and forest certification programs in DEP; establishes Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund. *
Establishes involuntary commitment to outpatient treatment for person in need of involuntary commitment to treatment. *
Requires anatomical research recovery organizations to register with DHSS.
"Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act."
"New Jersey Hero Act"; concerns organ and tissue donation.**
Appropriates $33 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Requires alternative testing arrangements be provided to certain students unable to attend tests at their regular administration due to religious observance.
Appropriates $1,068,921 from "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Provides marketing, information disclosure, and suitability requirements for certain annuities directly solicited to consumers. *
Appropriates $8,430,250 from various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $54,917,725 from various Green Acres funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Renames the Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program and makes various other changes to the program.
Upgrades unlawful possession of a machine gun or assault firearm to a crime of the second degree.
Expands NJ FamilyCare, establishes mandate for health care coverage of children, makes various reforms to individual and small employer insurance markets and certain dependent coverage; appropriates $1 million. **
"Mortgage Stabilization and Relief Act"; creates Mortgage Stabilization Program and Housing Assistance and Recovery Program; imposes additional requirements on lender foreclosing mortgage; appropriates $40 million from the "Long Term Obligation and Capi
Provides for improved structure and fiscal management of higher education in New Jersey. *
Revises jurisdiction of Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission, and transfers administration of Historic New Bridge Landing State Park from DEP to Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission.
Requires DHS to verify income of applicants for Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare with Department of the Treasury records.
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Requires assisted living facilities to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
Makes changes to certain grants for wastewater treatment system projects provided under P.L.2005, c.301.
Includes nurse midwives among medical professionals authorized to certify medical condition of individuals under "Temporary Disability Benefits Law" and "Work First New Jersey Act."
Authorizes N.J. Historical Commission to establish program for roadside markers to designate historic sites.
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. **
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.
Passed the Senate · 6
Permits local government units to grant Length of Service Award Program points to certain activated military members.
Requires NJ Transit to do report on rail station accessibility to the disabled.
Requires Treasurer and Division of Pensions and Benefits and Investment Directors to report on status of State-administered pension plans to Legislature by May 15 and November 15 each year. **
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in amount of Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance payment. *
Upgrades penalties for assaulting certain health care professionals and workers. *
Directs Medicaid to establish medical home demonstration project.
Out of committee · 47
Makes FY 2009 supplemental appropriations totaling $22,500,000 to provide food, energy and legal aid assistance to individuals and families under the "New Jersey Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan."
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Establishes the InvestNJ Business Grant Program in NJEDA to stimulate certain capital investment and job creation in New Jersey during a limited period, makes appropriations.
Provides for automatic enrollment in PAAD and Senior Gold programs under certain circumstances.
Allows certain local public entities to enter into contracts of up to 15 years for energy conservation or provision of renewable energy production at buildings owned by such entities. *
"Pharmacy Quality Improvement and Error Prevention Act."
Revises laws concerning local redevelopment, relocation assistance and eminent domain. *
Revises statutory mental health coverage requirements and requires all health insurers and SHBP to cover treatment for alcoholism and other substance-use disorders under same terms and conditions as for other diseases or illnesses.
"Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program Act." **
Exempts from realty transfer fees, sales of homes of certain New Jersey members of the military.
Excludes veterans' benefits from calculation of financial obligation for care at psychiatric facility.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers. *
Provides for establishment of county offices for disability services; appropriates $90,000. *
Makes it a crime of the third degree to practice psychology without a license and prohibits certain unlicensed employees of certain entities from using title of psychologist.
Requires DHSS and DHS to establish autism and intellectual and other developmental disabilities awareness program for certain first responders. *
Provides that nursing home resident has right to receive food that meets resident's religious dietary requirements.
Requires boards of education to permit public participation at board meetings.
Imposes moratorium on harvest and possession of horseshoe crabs.
The Vote By Mail Law. **
Establishes ovarian cancer public awareness campaign in DHSS. *
"Self-Directed Support Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Rights Act."
Requires health benefits coverage for certain therapies for the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. *
Authorizes municipal planning boards to adopt green buildings and environmental sustainability municipal master plan element.
The "Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act."
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. **
Requires each hospital board of trustees to adopt a written policy governing conflicts of interest.
Authorizes court to waive or reduce parole ineligibility or grant probation for drug-free school zone violations under certain circumstances.
Establishes licensing program for site remediation professionals; changes laws concerning site remediation. *
Authorizes BPU to use Retail Margin Fund monies to provide grants for combined heat and power production, energy efficiency projects and programs promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency; makes an appropriation. **
Requires health insurers and SHBP to provide certain mental health benefits for eating disorders under same terms and conditions as for other illnesses and diseases.
Requires and permits preference in awarding certain contracts.
Provides for adjustment and notice of date on which certain elections can occur if date coincides with period of religious observance.
Establishes the "New Jersey-Israel Commission" as a permanent commission in the Department of State.
Permits New Jersey Historic Trust to charge fees for publications and access to seminars; permits Trust to become tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Adds non-voting member to NJT board.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to Community Food Pantry Fund and to Cat and Dog Spay/Neuter Fund. *
Requires DHS to develop procedures to enable hospitals to promptly transfer emergency department patients with mental illness to appropriate treatment setting. *
Requires DHS and DCF to establish standardized admission protocols and medical clearance criteria for admission to behavioral health care facilities. *
Requires DHS and DCF to identify available mental health services and perform needs assessment. *
Makes several changes to the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program.
Revises laws concerning pedestrian safety and traffic control; requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians under certain conditions.
Permits person to donate blood at 16 years of age with parental consent.
Requires Public Advocate intervention, additional public participation, and health impact study as conditions of conversion of health service corporation to domestic stock insurer. *
Specifies public members on Board of Medical Examiners and requires board to take certain actions to investigate licensees.
Revises approval process for rate changes applicable to medical malpractice liability insurance.
Establishes the "New Jersey Scenic and Historic Highways Program."
Requires a State tax expenditure report be included in the Governor's annual budget message.
In committee · 38
Requires DHSS licensure of surgical practices.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Provides a corporation business tax credit for contributions to support facilities construction, expansion, renovation and upgrade at New Jersey public and independent institutions of higher education.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Establishes procedures for operation of air ambulance services.
Requires Police Training Commission to develop accelerated training course for certain corrections officers.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Requires DHSS to make reported information about certain adverse events publicly available.
Makes employment matters not exempted by statute mandatory subjects of public employment collective bargaining.
Requires DHSS to make list of drugs with "black box" warnings accessible through its website.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Establishes minimum energy efficiency standards for certain products.
"Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
The "Toxic-free Children's Products Act."
Eliminates 15% fee charged by cemetery company on transfer of graves, crypts and niches.
Requires filing of annual financial reports by certain businesses when receiving more than $25 million from public entities for any redevelopment or environmental remediation project or projects.
"New Jersey G.I. Bill"; provides higher education benefits to New Jersey veterans.
Prohibits cemetery company from charging additional fee for rendering certain services on Sunday.
Supplemental appropriation of $500,000 for grant to NJ State Association of Jewish Federations for Holocaust survivor services.
Permits direct shipping of wine to New Jersey consumers.
Authorizes special Gold Star Family license plates.
Prohibits display of political party affilliation on absentee ballot envelopes.
Requires cemetery companies to file annual financial report.
Requires certain cemeteries to accept Work First New Jersey and SSI allowance for burial expenses.
Increases and revises membership of New Jersey Cemetery Board.
Provides for alternative annual reorganization meeting date for county political committees if regular date coincides with period of religious observance.
Makes Housing Assistance and Recovery Program effective immediately.
Requires installation of low-flow toilets and low-flow showerheads in multiple dwellings having 3 or more units.
Provides a plan to rebalance State resources to provide community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities.
Authorizes county regulation of fertilizer application.
Amends State fiscal year 2009 appropriations provision to remove prohibition on payment of scheduled salary increase for judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Creates bistate commission to coordinate management and flood prevention of waterways flowing between Bergen County, NJ and Rockland County, NY.
Extends service prevailing wage requirements to food service contracts and to local units and State authorities.
Authorizes central municipal court to hear cases brought by county office of consumer affairs.
Increases health benefits continuation coverage from 18 months to 36 months for certain persons covered under certain small employer health benefits plans.