Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Diane B. Allen
Sponsored
Became law1
Prohibits penalizing pharmacy for dispensing forged or fraudulent prescription approved by certain State prescription drug benefit programs. *
Passed the Senate1
Allows certain organizations to file complaints with the Council on Local Mandates.
Out of committee9
Provides for automatic enrollment in PAAD and Senior Gold programs under certain circumstances.
Codifies the "At Home Downtown Program"; requires "Main Street New Jersey" Program and "At Home Downtown Program" to be administered by HMFA.
Requires school districts to report to DOE certain information on students removed from school pursuant to "Zero Tolerance for Guns Act."
Lengthens service life of certain school buses to 15 years. **
Establishes the Troops to College Program in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to assist veterans in making the transition into the college classroom. *
Requires payment of certain attorney's fees, expenses and costs in identity theft cases; adds debit card numbers to definition of "personal identifying information". *
Provides unemployment benefits for certain spouses of National Guard members.
Enacts "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children."
"New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act"; requires each four-year public institution of higher education to provide on its website certain information regarding its costs, faculty, and graduation rates.
In committee86
Requires dissemination of organ and tissue donation by State Treasurer, Personnel Commissioner, State contractors, and preparers of advanced health care directives; designates April of each year as Donate Life Month.
Revises qualifications to carry firearms for certain retired police officers.
Requires "just compensation" for condemnation of single-family residence to be based on cost of comparable relocation properties.
Prohibits municipal officers and employees serving on redevelopment or housing agencies from voting to condemn property.
Places temporary moratorium on use of eminent domain; creates Eminent Domain Study Commission to examine its use Statewide.
"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 that dependent children can be enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program at any time within one year of becoming a dependent.
Disqualifies member of board of education for conviction of certain crimes and requires member to undergo criminal history background investigation.
Requires legislators to designate one covered position of elected office or employment for PERS credit.
Revises procedures for the use of eminent domain and compensation for loss of business in municipal redevelopment programs.
Provides that a homestead owner who is 65 years of age or older or disabled shall not receive a homestead rebate of less than $1,440.
Makes membership in PERS optional for all elected officials and certain appointed officials.
Implements measures to strengthen oversight of hospital charity care subsidies.
Provides additional mandatory fines and restitution for theft of flags or flag-holders from grave sites.
Provides for a mandatory minimum term for assaulting a law enforcement officer.
Creates "Green E-ZPass" discounts for certain fuel-efficient vehicles.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for certain New Jersey members of the military and their families in need of assistance.
Increases penalty for illegal firearms' sale within 1,000 feet of school.
"Cigarette Fire Safety Act."
Recognizes American Sign Language as a world language for meeting high school graduation requirements.
Exempts New Jersey teachers' purchase of qualified teaching materials from sales and use tax.
Allows Attorney General to prevent halfway house placement of murderers.
Creates the crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability.
Allows exclusion of certain alternative energy and energy conservation patent income under the gross income tax and corporation business tax.
Exempts sales of methane gas fuel conversion machinery and equipment from sales and use taxes.
Provides civil service preference to veterans of Operation "Noble Eagle."
Permits tax deduction under the New Jersey gross income tax for taxpayers who operate or maintain for their employees a licensed child care center or who have paid the cost of outside child care.
Allows refundable gross income tax credit for certain unreimbursed hearing aid expenses.
Requires Division of Property Management and Construction to conduct analysis of State buildings to determine energy and cost savings through use of renewable energy equipment or technology.
Exempts residential electric vehicle charging systems from real property taxation.
Exempts certain materials and labor used to convert traditional motor vehicles into plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles from sales and use tax.
Requires BPU to conduct pilot program to allow free parking for alternative fuel vehicles and alternative technology vehicles.
Relieves municipalities and counties along light rail lines of civil liability in Quiet Zones under certain circumstances.
Establishes the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate.
Excludes certain federal employee retirement fund contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Revises DHSS to establish statewide universal purchasing system for childhood vaccines.
Requires State toll road authorities to give preference in awarding service station contracts to bidders offering to dispense certain alternative fuels on State's toll roads.
Creates a civil "rape shield" law.
Authorizes marriages by proxy for certain persons serving overseas in the Armed Forces or National Guard.
Requires that NJ FamilyCare Program cover pediatric day health services for all children covered by program.
Requires Division of Developmental Disabilities to study need for placement trusts for persons with developmental disabilities.
Exempts storage facility space furnished to active duty military personnel from the sales and use tax.
Allows identity theft victims to petition for judicial determination of factual innocence.
Appropriates $8 million in Taxpayer Rate Reduction.
Authorizes creation of 33rd UEZ in Beverly City, Burlington County.
Authorizes awards to State and local government employees for suggestions to save taxpayers money through sharing and consolidation.
"Family Home Occupation Act;" classifies certain home-occupations as accessory uses needing no use variances in residential zone; authorizes municipalities to limit or exclude certain warehousing, manufacturing or retailing activities.
Requires adult Work First New Jersey recipients to complete secondary education under certain circumstances and receive life skills training.
Requires municipalities accepting long-term tax exemption PILOTs to distribute portion of payments to county and other taxing districts; limits PILOT agreements to 15-20 years.
Immunizes employers from civil liability for certain disclosures regarding employees and former employees.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and higher education institutions.
Requires candidates for teacher certification to complete technology training program.
Establishes a regional transportation coordinator unit in each office of the executive county superintendent to improve the coordination of pupil transportation services within the county.
Reorganizes the provisions in Title 18A regarding public and nonpublic school pupil transportation.
Provides for full State funding of the special education costs of students who reside in foster homes.
Includes transportation costs in the calculation of extraordinary special education costs incurred by public school districts.
Requires signs posted by retail motor fuel dealers to indicate motor fuel prices for cash and credit card customers; establishes new penalties for violations.
Creates special fallen firefighter plates with proceeds to children of fallen firefighters.
Requires gated community guards to allow sheriffs and constables to serve process.
Eliminates imposition of sales and use tax on charges for initiation fees, membership fees, or dues for access to or use of certain health and fitness clubs and organizations.
Requires Domestic Security Preparedness Planning Group to conduct mock exercise pertaining to agricultural bioterrorism; and appropriates $150,000 therefor from New Jersey Domestic Security Account.
Requires Domestic Security Preparedness Planning Group to include a representative of New Jersey State First Aid Council.
Requires municipal court to hear certain violations of animal cruelty statutes within 14 days of the summons date.
Affords emergency services peer counselors confidentiality privileges.
Provides PFRS member in federal or State military service who is injured or killed with disability or death benefits.
Provides that records of convictions for carjacking, promoting prostitution of a child and certain child endangerment crimes shall not be expunged.
Permits school districts to provide transportation to nonpublic school pupils when the per pupil amount of the route exceeds the maximum nonpublic school transportation costs per pupil by no more than 10%.
Requires school facilities projects to maintain the character of historic school facilities.
Requires Department of Education to encourage boards of education to offer instruction in media literacy.
Clarifies that "entering" a public place for a drug deal is conduct included in C.2C:33-2.1.
Eliminates transfer inheritance taxes on brothers and sisters of a decedent.
Clarifies that responsibility for investment of assets under management of Division of Investment vests in State Investment Council.
Permits purchase of PFRS credit for certain pre-enrollment temporary service.
Provides for increase in allowance paid to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities.
Upgrades offense of simple assault to aggravated assault when victim is employee of DHS and clearly engaged in duties conducting investigation.
Requires municipal court to hear certain violations of animal cruelty statutes within 14 days of the summons date.
Allows identity theft victims to petition for judicial determination of factual innocence.
Establishes NJ Task Force on Utility Sub-metering.
Allows persons affected by certain plant closings, transfers and mass layoffs to receive one year suspension of payment of interest on mortgage loan.
Authorizes the AG or the Commissioner of DOLWD to obtain expedited injunction for violations of law requiring prenotification of certain plant closings, transfers and mass layoffs.
Concerns free access to certain job training courses for employees affected by plant closings, mass layoffs or transfer of operations.
Requires insurers, Medicaid, and NJ FamilyCare to reimburse for childhood immunizations at levels specified by regulation.
Provides for allocation of societal benefits charge among residential, small commercial and large commercial and industrial utility customers, establishes a credit against societal benefits charge and provides for certain energy assistance grants.
Eliminates general purpose, supplemental and mansion realty transfer fees.
Makes Housing Assistance and Recovery Program effective immediately.
Clarifies that sexual assault victims are not responsible for any costs of forensic sexual assault examinations or related services.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 10
Provides for gubernatorial appointment without requiring advice and consent of Senate for teenage members of Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
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. *
Permits parent of stillborn child to request certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth directly from State registrar.
Revises laws restricting operation of personal watercraft and permits local police enforcement.
Authorizes N.J. Historical Commission to establish program for roadside markers to designate historic sites.
Provides for random drug testing and testing for cause of employees of State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and veterans homes and requires applicants for employment to undergo drug testing. *
Appropriates $49.65 million from "2007" Farmland Preservation Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $15,557,201 from various historic preservation funds to provide grants for certain historic preservation projects, and appropriates $574,805 from certain historic preservation bond funds for associated administrative expenses.
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 · 7
Establishes 6-member "Prescription Drug Labeling Task Force." *
Permits local government units to grant Length of Service Award Program points to certain activated military members.
Expands authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside normal territorial jurisdictions.
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information. *
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in amount of Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance payment. *
Requires signs posted by retail motor fuel dealers to indicate motor fuel prices for cash and credit card customers; establishes additional $1,000 penalty for violations. *
Provides Heritage Tourism Task Force with extension of time for submission of its heritage tourism master plan and inventory of historic sites.
Out of committee · 20
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding.
Requires two-way communications equipment on school buses.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for active duty members of United States Armed Forces, Reserve components thereof, and National Guard from New Jersey. *
Requires schools to notify certain students of potential eligibility for NJ STARS Program.
Amends stalking law to broaden protections for victims.
Establishes New Jersey Task Force on Coordinating and Funding Programs for the Homeless.
Delays expiration date of certain professional and occupational licenses and registrations for individuals with certain types of military service.
Establishes ovarian cancer public awareness campaign in DHSS. *
Provides veterans' organizations right to receive unclaimed veterans' cremains after one year. *
"Self-Directed Support Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Rights Act."
Requires each general hospital and State psychiatric hospital to annually conduct public meeting for community it serves. *
Requires notification of law enforcement for furlough or discharge of certain patients from State psychiatric hospitals. *
Supplemental appropriation of $6 million to DHS and $6 million to DCF to increase salary of direct care employees of community mental health agencies. *
The "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
Makes revisions to personal assistance services program in DHS.
Establishes pilot program in Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to high school seniors.
Creates "New Jersey Senior Labor Task Force."
Denies surviving spouse with domestic violence restraining order or charged with intentional killing of decedent right to determine disposition of human remains of deceased spouse.
Requires member of New Jersey National Guard to apply for tuition benefits under Post-911 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at public institutions of higher education. *
In committee · 38
Allows judgment for restitution of stolen public funds to be levied against convicted employee's retirement allowance or pension contributions.
Decreases membership of county boards of taxation to 2004 level.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Requires impact statement for any proposed regulation affecting volunteer ambulance squad and fire company.
Establishes 24-hour hotline for information concerning the crime of human trafficking; appropriates $75,000.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Classifies burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree.
Eliminates ambulatory care facility gross receipts assessment.
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Clarifies blight criteria under "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," and prevents use of condemnation to acquire code compliant residential property under that law.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Limits amount of contribution to legal defense fund of holder of elective public office and requires reporting thereof to ELEC.
Requires DHSS to request a minimum of $1,250,000 in annual funding for Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey.
Extends veteran's property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
The "Najeeb Green-Lewis Law," requires motor vehicle rental companies to confirm driving status of driver as condition of renting certain vehicles.
Establishes Task Force on Hospital Technology to recommend incentives to encourage hospitals to integrate technology to improve patient care and safety.
Requires court to issue animal protective orders against persons found guilty of abusing animals.
Revises child pornography law.
Requires health insurers to cover medically necessary expenses for preventing infertility in women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
The "Toxic-free Children's Products Act."
Requires completion of workers compensation cases 120 days from end of hearing in certain cases.
Creates New Jersey Cold War ribbon; appropriates $5,000.
Imposes mandatory minimum terms of incarceration on juveniles who use guns to commit acts which, if committed by adults, would constitute serious crimes.
Establishes civil action for damages against organizations that support terrorism.
Grants immunity from civil liability to persons reporting information concerning crimes related to terrorism.
Concerns pre-delivery communications regarding individual life insurance policies and effective date of delivered policies.
Concerns pay equity in the workplace.
Revises Special Municipal Aid program.
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%.
Makes various statutory changes to "Child Care Licensing Act."
Provides support for obstetric services by certain health care facilities.
Consumer Relief Act of 2009; establishes temporary sales and use tax rate reduction periods for sales of certain goods and services.
Provides a plan to rebalance State resources to provide community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" increases sentences for sex offenders and persons who harbor them.
Establishes decal system in place of special license plates.
Requires provision of detailed information regarding any State school aid shortfall in Governor's proposed budget.