Bills in the 2016–2017 Session, Senate.
Jim Whelan
Sponsored
Became law5
Revises "Overseas Residents Absentee Voting Law"*
Allows existing rural development areas zoned for industrial use under pinelands comprehensive management plan to be included as eligible areas under certain business incentive programs.*
Limits application of DEP shellfish habitat rules for certain dredging activities.
Authorizes operation of lottery courier services.
Declares that deed restrictions or agreements that prevent raising or constructing of a structure to certain flood elevation standards are unenforceable.
Vetoed1
Provides tax credit eligibility for qualified businesses for certain persons employed as independent contractors under Grow New Jersey Assistance Program.
Passed the Senate2
Authorizes public financing of primary election campaigns to fill gubernatorial vacancy and general election campaigns to fill vacancy in offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
Imposes certain qualification requirements for members of State Ethics Commission; provides process for appointment of members.*
Out of committee9
Authorizes Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation for child in proceedings after parental rights have been terminated.
Establishes "Green Fund" in BPU to provide funding for energy reliability, resilience, and sustainability programs.
Allows use of rear view backup camera and parking sensors during road test.
Requires BPU to render decision on case within 12 months of final public hearing or hold another public hearing prior to deciding case.
Establishes Medicaid program to provide housing-related services to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
Provides for regulation of fantasy sports activities in New Jersey.*
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2017.
Appropriates $32.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants.
Establishes 9/11 Memorial Registry.
In committee22
Exempts disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients from payment of municipal parking meter fees when their vehicles bear disabled veteran's or Purple Heart license plate or placard issued by N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission.
"Mainland Memoriam Act"; directs MVC to create graduated driver's license informational material to be distributed by motor vehicle dealers.
Permits veteran's property tax deduction for tax year when veteran was previously qualified to receive deduction and became owner of real property after October 1 of pretax year.
Immunizes from civil liability first responders who forcibly enter property to provide emergency assistance.
Provides certain small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy a corporation business tax or gross income tax credit for certain reinvestment in shore municipalities.
Establishes small business loan guarantee program in EDA to support capital purchases and operating expenses and permits certain qualified businesses in regional centers to qualify for certain EDA loans.
Establishes criteria and requirements for shore protection project priority list and funding from Shore Protection Fund.
Requires electric public utilities to conduct vegetation management adjacent to service lines on certain real properties.
Establishes central registry for sickle cell trait diagnoses; provides for informational outreach and genetic counseling.
Permits administration of epinephrine auto-injector device by persons who complete approved educational program.
Provides credits against corporation business and gross income taxes for qualified farmers that develop housing for their agricultural workforce.
Directs DOT, NJTA, and SJTA to permit certain wineries to participate in certain sign programs on freeways, interstate highways, and toll roads.
Directs the Division of Taxation to produce instructional materials on the appropriate gross income tax treatment of certain deferred compensation plans.
Establishes requirements for sale and planting of running bamboo.
Expands duties and responsibilities of Lieutenant Governor; includes Lieutenant Governor in existing laws governing recall and ethics; establishes Lieutenant Governor's salary and budget.
Establishes "Comprehensive State Plan for Economic Development."
Requires certain local authorities to inspect, maintain, and repair fire hydrants in planned real estate developments.
Establishes the New Jersey Film and Television Project and Employment Incentive Program.
Repeals prohibition on elementary and secondary school students bringing or possessing paging devices on school property.
Enacts "Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
Extends county-based real property assessment pilot program to Atlantic County; revises assessment calendar for counties operating under that pilot program.
Reallocates portion of tourism fee proceeds in eligible municipality to organization empowered to operate convention center facilities whose mission includes convention and group sales and marketing.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law6
Requires BPU to render decision on case within 12 months of final public hearing or hold another public hearing prior to deciding case.
Allows use of rear view backup camera and parking sensors during road test.
Provides for regulation of fantasy sports activities in New Jersey. *
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2017.
Establishes 9/11 Memorial Registry.
Appropriates $32.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 13
Authorizes health care providers to engage in telemedicine and telehealth.*
Requires DOH to issue standing order authorizing pharmacists to dispense opioid antidotes to patients without individual prescriptions.*
Prohibits possession, transport, import, export, processing, sale, or shipment of parts and products of certain animal species threatened with extinction.
Prohibits possession and transport of parts and products of certain animals at PANYNJ airports and port facilities.
Permits DHS to request waiver of time limits for certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients under certain circumstances.*
Requires report on status of lead-safe program in DCA.*
The "Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act."
Concerns taxation of casino gaming property; redirects investment alternative tax proceeds; abolishes Atlantic City Alliance.
Prohibits investment of pension and annuity funds by State in companies that boycott Israel or Israeli businesses.
Places two-year moratorium on moving date of Type II school district's annual school election from day of general election in November back to third Tuesday in April; creates study commission.*
Implements person-first language and changes pejorative terminology referring to persons with certain disabilities or substance use disorders.
Designates portion of US Highway Route 40 in Upper Pittsgrove Township as "John R. Elliott HERO Campaign Way."
Regulates and prohibits certain operation of drones.
Vetoed · 6
Requires hospital patient's medical record to include notation if patient is at increased risk of confusion, agitation, behavioral problems, and wandering due to dementia related disorder.*
"Earn Your Way Out Act" ; requires DOC to develop inmate reentry plan; establishes administrative parole release for certain inmates;requires study and report by DOC on fiscal impact.*
Permits BPU to approve qualified wind energy project; requires BPU to provide application periods for those projects.
Concerns unemployment compensation and labor disputes.
Disqualifies casino license applicant for five-year period if person substantially closed casino property in State; revokes license; reinstates license eligibility under certain circumstances.*
Provides certain incentives to qualified businesses in Garden State Growth Zones; creates Garden State Growth Zone at Atlantic City International Airport and surrounding area.
Passed the Senate · 5
Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems.*
Transfers responsibility for establishment and enforcement of ethical standards for local officials to State Ethics Commission.
Prohibits certain possession, sale, trade, distribution, or offering for sale of shark fins.*
Increases minimum annual amounts for appropriation for certain arts, historical heritage, and tourism purposes from hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues.
Establishes New Jersey Caregiver Task Force to evaluate and provide recommendations on caregiver support services.
Out of committee · 25
Enters New Jersey in multistate Nurse Licensure Compact.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
Provides gross income tax credit for A-list performing artists for income derived from certain live performances contracted for and rendered within the Atlantic City Tourism District on a recurring basis and within the State.
Revises requirements and training standards for first responders under New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Act of 1987.
Imposes tax on certain State lottery winnings to finance grant program for not-for-profit entities operating after school programs in certain districts.
Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act; Provides income tax credit to family caregivers of certain armed service members with physical disabilities.
Requires public school student with concussion to be evaluated by physician or other licensed health care provider before return to school and return to physical activity at school.*
Establishes Main Street Economic Growth Program to encourage business development in small, highly developed municipalities.
Authorizes impoundment of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes for certain crimes and offenses.
"Healthy Small Food Retailer Act"; provides funding to small food retailers to sell fresh and nutritious food.
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research institutions; allows certain technology businesses located in certain innovation zones to receive certain tax credits under Grow New Jersey Assistan
Requires Secretary of State to establish secure Internet website for online voter registration; authorizes use of digitized signatures from New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission's database.
Provides diamondback terrapins protection as nongame indigenous species.
Authorizes local units of government subject to "Local Public Contracts Law" and "Public School Contracts Law" to use electronic procurement technologies.
Increases amount of benefits under Work First New Jersey program.*
Requires State to pledge to ensure availability of job training or similar activities to certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to prevent loss of benefits.
Requires municipalities to conduct lead paint inspections in single- and two-family dwellings; requires reporting of inspection results to State.
Requires issuance of conditional certifications for homemaker-home health aides within seven days and issuance of final certification within 120 days.
Authorizes medical marijuana for qualifying patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Allows installment payments for senior and disabled property taxpayers to repay overpayments of homestead credits and homestead property tax reimbursements.
"Electronic Publication of Legal Notices Act"; permits publication of legal notices by government agencies and persons on official government notice websites instead of newspapers.
Requires DHS to take appropriate action to exempt veterans from benefits time limit applicable to able-bodied adults without dependents under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Clarifies that authorized persons and entities may administer a single dose of any opoid antidote, or multiple doses of any intranasal or intramuscular opioid antidote to overdose victims, with immunity under "Overdose Prevention Act." *
Clarifies law concerning the advertising and promoting of NJ farm products.
Removes seven-day limitation for continued operation of casinos and racetracks in event that a state of emergency is declared; deems certain employees essential during budget-related state of emergency.*
In committee · 28
Establishes "Atlantic City Growth Tax Credit Program" to grant tax credits to promote the development of non-rental housing in Atlantic City.
Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard.
Authorizes South Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Association license plates with proceeds to veterans' and emergency management operations.
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically modified material.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Provides courts with sentencing discretion for certain convictions concerning possession of a firearm.
Establishes requirements for training programs for homemaker-home health aides in care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
Requires availability of early voting for certain elections; makes appropriation.
"Atlantic City Urban Enterprise Zone and Property Tax Relief Act"; creates urban enterprise zone in Atlantic City for 10 years.
Prohibits certain provisions in consumer contracts.
Expands timeframe for renewal of driver's license, registration, and inspection by military personnel and immediate family members under certain circumstances.
Requires development and implementation of mitigation plans for radon contamination in certain child care centers; requires DOE to develop such plans for child care centers operating in public schools, request funding, and implement plans when funded.
Requires health care practitioners to inform patients of addiction potential of controlled dangerous substances prior to issuing prescription.
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice care services.
Permits public-private partnership agreements for certain building and highway infrastructure projects; provides for EDA oversight.
Requires government records to be made available on the Internet and permits custodian to advise requester of the record to obtain record directly from Internet.
Provides credits under corporation business tax and gross income tax for qualified wages of certain disabled veterans.
Permits juror donation of statutory juror compensation to New Jersey Vet2Vet Hotline program.
Authorizes State and local law enforcement entities to contract for bulk purchasing of heroin antidote.
Requires issuance of tourniquets to law enforcement officers; requires emergency service vehicles be equipped with tourniquets.
Requires continued coverage of prescription drugs for certain medical conditions.
Establishes special probation drug court eligibility for persons with previous criminal convictions or adjudications of delinquency, or pending charges, for certain crimes.
Prohibits intentional release of balloons inflated with lighter-than air gases.
"Voter Privacy Act"; establishes protections for privacy of voters; prohibits automated programs to remove names of ineligible voters from official lists of eligible voters; prohibits sharing of certain voter information with federal government.
Filed · 1
Designates building where NJEDA is located in memory of Caren S. Franzini to commemorate her outstanding service to State.