Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Jennifer Beck
Sponsored
Out of committee3
Designates bridge carrying State Highway Route No. 9 over Throckmorton Street in Freehold Township as "Corporal Philip A. Reynolds Memorial Bridge." *
Prohibits local officer or employee from lobbying or advocating before any body of the municipality where officer or employee serves; provides penalties for violation. *
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.
In committee60
Extends textbook sharing program to include all school equipment.
Prohibits certain elected officials and appointed officers from receiving dual health benefit coverage.
Creates the "Local Unit Audit Teams" program in the Department of the Treasury.
Requires LBFO to prepare fiscal note on any bill having local government cost.
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.
The "New Jersey Senior Citizen Taxpayer Reverse Mortgage Program."
Establishes Property Tax Impact Review Commission to review legislation potentially impacting property taxes.
Reduces property taxes for owner-occupied primary residences.
Prohibits county committee of a political party from contributing to or accepting contribution from another such county committee.
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain State, county and municipal elective and appointive positions.
Provides for mandatory imprisonment and forfeiture of retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes.
Provides for establishment, by NJT and its contract carriers, of customer feedback response programs.
Establishes penalty for suspension, by bus operator under contract with NJ Transit, of peak hour regular route service.
Makes theft, misappropriation, or wrongful operation of certain motorbuses a second degree crime.
Penalizes permittees who acquire construction permits and certificates of occupancy by illegally influencing the permit procurement process; requires posting of bonds in certain situations; permits civil fines.
Requires NJ Transit to provide on-time performance data for bus passenger service in its annual report.
Requires executive county superintendent of schools to determine routes and bid and award contracts for all nonpublic school busing in the county.
Establishes priority for certain municipalities, counties, and non-profit organizations to purchase State surplus real property prior to public auction; requires State to follow Green Acres fair market valuation process.
Clarifies that retention of unearned wages by a public servant is theft under certain circumstances.
Establishes Office of the Advocate for Private Commuter Bus Services Consumers and bill of rights for customers of privately operated motorbus regular route services.
Concerns regular route peak bus services and imposes fee on private carriers that fail to meet certain performance standards.
Clarifies position of NJT on avoiding destructive competition against private entities providing certain public transportation services.
Prohibits electric public utilities from cutting or removing agricultural items located on certain right-of-way easements on private property.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
Exempts child care centers operating in public schools from certain environmental review licensing requirements.
Revises certain provisions of farmland assessment law.
Provides increased representation on receiving district boards of education for certain sending districts.
Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office.
Requires health care representative to make health care decisions for incapacitated patient in accordance with patient's religious beliefs.
Establishes the "Corrupt Gains Restitution Act."
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Child Protection Zone Act."
Prohibits public employers from reimbursing tuition or awarding promotions or compensation based on degrees or certifications obtained from unaccredited institutions.
Appropriates $3.6 million from the Clean Waters Fund for sewerage infrastructure improvements at the former Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital.
Requires Fort Monmouth Revitalizations Economic Planning Authority to include provision for race horse training and stabling facility.
Permits the appointment of joint municipal court judges by agreement of affected municipalities.
Removes residency requirement for municipal emergency management coordinators.
Clarifies that prohibition against person holding more than one elective public office applies to service in elective public office in acting capacity.
Prohibits termination of certain telephone service.
Provides immunity from civil liability to anyone who in good faith uses an automated external defibrillator in an emergency.
Prohibits use of "build-out" approach to determine fair share of affordable housing need in given region.
Amends New Jersey's False Claims Act to enhance the State's recovery.
Limits the salaries of school business administrators, superintendents of schools, and assistant superintendents of schools to the salary of the Commissioner of Education.
Amends the "Public Corruption Profiteering Penalty Act."
Offers surviving spouse of TPAF or PERS member with 25 or more years of service choice of deferred pension instead of current return of contributions and non-contributory life insurance.
Reduces number of paid holidays for all State and local government employees to parallel federal schedule.
Requires filing of financial and conflict disclosure statements as condition of development approval.
Allows only one PERS-covered position for PERS membership, contributions and service credit; provides for PERS designation of maximum compensation position among multiple positions held.
Repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act"; prohibits COAH from basing prospective need portion of fair share obligation on commercial development.
Delays implementation of paid family leave for two years.
Permits approval of certain regional contribution agreements through December 31, 2009.
Makes members of county boards of taxation ineligible for membership in State-administered retirement system or for health care benefits coverage under plan for public employees.
Provides a gross income tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualified home purchases made by certain first-time homebuyers in the remaining portion of taxable year 2009, taxable year 2010 and taxable year 2011.
Provides gross income tax deduction for certain savings deposits and interest accrued thereon in the remaining portion of taxable year 2009, taxable year 2010 and taxable year 2011.
Exempts from sales tax for two years certain hybrid and highly fuel efficient vehicles and energy efficient appliances.
Reduces number of members serving on Casino Control Commission from five to three.
Reduces corporation business tax rate and provides an additional rate reduction for three years for taxpayers that relocate corporate headquarters to New Jersey.
"Tara's Law"; Establishes registry of offending community care residence providers and requires written monthly case manager reports of individuals with developmental disabilities residing in community care residences.
Concerns liability, standards of care, and insurance coverage for medical malpractice actions.
Revises Business Employment Incentive Program to spur economic growth.
Prohibits for ten years after compliance with penalty or sentence imposed by court elected or appointed officials convicted of certain crimes from serving as governmental affairs agents.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 26
Revises certain restrictions on permit holders and provisional driver's licensees; renames provisional license "probationary." *
Permanently disqualifies certain persons convicted of child endangerment from working with children.
Provides for gubernatorial appointment without requiring advice and consent of Senate for teenage members of Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
Requires local government officer to file financial disclosure statement within 30 days of taking office.
Requires staff members of adoption agencies to undergo criminal history record background and child abuse record information checks. *
Requires nursing homes and assisted living residences to provide informational sheet concerning Medicaid eligibility to certain residents.
Upgrades penalties for tampering with witnesses and informants; upgrades hindering apprehension or prosecution under certain circumstances. *
Centralizes non-tax debt management functions for State government in Division of Revenue.
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. *
Requires alternative testing arrangements be provided to certain students unable to attend tests at their regular administration due to religious observance.
Expands coverage under "New Jersey Horse Racing Injury Compensation Board Act" to thoroughbred hot walkers, grooms, and assistant trainers under certain circumstances.
Appropriates $1,068,921 from "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Requires deposit of proceeds from sale, assignment, lease, transfer, or redevelopment of certain high value municipal assets into dedicated trust fund; provides for establishment, supervision, and administration of dedicated trust fund. *
Requires 45 days' notice to affected municipalities of discontinuance of certain bus and train service.
Provides that in the event a state of emergency is declared due to failure to enact appropriation law casinos and racetracks may remain open under certain conditions. *
"Public Access and Marina Safety Task Force Act." *
Requires DHS to verify income of applicants for Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare with Department of the Treasury records.
Establishes Criminal Sentencing Commission to study and review the criminal law and recommend revisions; repeals existing commissions.
Makes changes to PERS and TPAF concerning retirement age, eligibility, purchase of service credit; makes various changes to SHBP administration; merges Washington and Lincoln holidays for State employees in Presidents Day. *
Increases carryover period of net operating loss deduction under corporation business tax.
Establishes Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. *
"Kyleigh's law;" requires holders of special learner's permits, examination permits, and provisional driver's licenses to display certain decals. *
Permanently designates February "Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month" in New Jersey.
Authorizes N.J. Historical Commission to establish program for roadside markers to designate historic sites.
Revises New Jersey False Claims Act to comply with federal Deficit Reduction Act for purposes of entitling State to enhanced recovery in Medicaid fraud cases; establishes an annual reporting requirement for the Attorney General. *
Eliminates statute of limitations in cases brought under the "Survivor's Act" where the death resulted from muder or manslaughter under certain circumstances.
Passed the Senate · 8
Revises criminal history record check process undergone by public and nonpublic school employees and school bus drivers.
Revises and expands New Jersey Trademark Anti-Counterfeiting Act.
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in amount of Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance payment. *
Bars public entities and public employees from entering into confidential settlements of claims against them; provides that such settlements constitute public records.
Requires State agencies to review operations and to implement use of Internet to conduct public business when cost savings may be realized, with certain exceptions.*
Upgrades penalties for assaulting certain health care professionals and workers. *
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 a degree.
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 · 35
"Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority Act."
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.
The "New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lending Act"; concerns certain licensed mortgage and consumer lending practices, supervision and enforcement. *
Establishes temperature control guidelines and standards for school facilities. *
Requires candidates nominated by direct petition for general election to file petitions on same day as candidates seeking nomination in primary must file petitions of nomination.
Requires consumer complaints to licensing boards of regulated professions to be resolved within 120 days. *
The "New Homebuyers' Bill of Rights Act."
Enhances protections for new homebuyers.
Amends stalking law to broaden protections for victims.
Requires certain elected officials and appointed officers eligible for dual health benefits coverage to choose coverage by one public entity. *
Provides that nursing home resident has right to receive food that meets resident's religious dietary requirements.
Permits appointment of municipal emergency management coordinator from contiguous or adjoining municipality.
Provides tax deduction from casino gross revenues for certain promotional gaming credits. *
Permits parent of twins or higher order multiples enrolled in public school to select shared or separate classroom placement of their children.
Lengthens service life of certain school buses to 15 years. **
Expands scope of New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act dealing with economic impact of rules on small businesses.
Reduces notice that school district is required to give superintendent of schools if district determines not to reappoint.
Allows State to offer incentive to employees with non-SHBP health care coverage to waive SHBP benefits.
Changes prospectively definition of compensation used to calculate benefits in PERS and TPAF to average of five highest-paid years from average of three highest-paid years. *
Requires that new employees, appointees and elected officials work 35 or more hours per week to be eligible for SHBP benefits; maintains eligibility of persons with current and continuous SHBP coverage.
Prohibits use of purchased out-of-State service pension credit for post-retirement health care benefits.
Requires member of PERS or TPAF who holds concurrently more than one PERS-covered or TPAF-covered public position to designate one position as basis of membership.
Revises certain eligibility requirements and employment incentive limitations and provides for extension of certain grant agreements under Business Employment Incentive Program.
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.
Provides for adjustment and notice of date on which certain elections can occur if date coincides with period of religious observance.
Clarifies school district employees subject to statutory provisions concerning supplemental compensation for unused sick leave and vacation carry forward requirements.
Requires disclosure of campaign contributions received or expenditures made by individual seeking election as political party committee officer. *
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.
Provides for regulation of small wind energy systems by municipalities.
Requires confirmation of financial assistance for eligible homeowners voluntarily closing or replacing petroleum underground storage tanks, and expands eligibility for financial assistance. *
Requires that school districts use a model contract developed by the Commissioner of Education when employing a superintendent of schools.
Prohibits disqualification and replacement of cast absentee ballots because of withdrawal of candidate prior to election day.
Permits standardbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack to decrease annual number of race dates to no less than 141, and permit holders at Freehold Raceway to no less than 168, upon agreement with representative horsemen's organization.
Reduces threshold value of surplus State-owned real property and easements above which legislative review and approval is required before sale.
In committee · 51
Prohibits members of the Legislature from holding other elective public offices.
"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.
Requires legislators to designate one covered position of elected office or employment for PERS credit.
Decreases membership of county boards of taxation to 2004 level.
Abolishes legislative leadership committees; reduces contributions to State political party committees to $12,500 per year, to county committees to $10,000 per year and to municipal committees to $5,000 per year.
Requires 12-hour behind-the-wheel course for special learner's permit.
Criminalizes participation in a criminal street gang.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Prohibits individual from holding simultaneously more than one elective public office.
Decreases sales and use tax rate from 7% to 6%.
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 campaign contributions between county party committees; makes such contributions a third degree crime; increases to third degree crimes certain other campaign finance offenses.
Increases statute of limitations for certain crimes involving political corruption from five years to seven years.
Requires mandatory sexual violence training for law enforcement, judicial and prosecutorial personnel.
Establishes stricter limits on contributions to county committees of political parties and by county committees to candidates; prohibits contributions between county committees.
Establishes registry of community agency employees providing services to persons with developmental disabilities.
Eliminates certain components of realty transfer fee.
The "Najeeb Green-Lewis Law," requires motor vehicle rental companies to confirm driving status of driver as condition of renting certain vehicles.
Requires insurers and State health care coverage programs to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Curbs contributions by certain public contractors and certain developers; curbs contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Revises law relating to title recordation.
Establishes financial incentives for certain energy providers to conduct energy audits.
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.
Limits payment upon retirement to $10,000 to State and local public officers and employees for accumulated sick leave.
Increases various penalties for violations of the pension laws.
Prohibits enrollment in PERS of public employee who is also public contractor; requires member to designate only one position as basis of enrollment.
Revises benefits calculation for PERS and TPAF members retiring after certain date to average of five highest-paid years, and for JRS members retiring after certain date to average of three highest-paid years.
Requires that SHBP prescription drug plan use bulk purchasing.
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.
Requires that ordinary disability retirement in certain State-administered retirement systems be granted only if member has qualified for federal Social Security Disability benefits.
Allows pension calculation to be based on compensation increase in excess of actuarially assumed experience only if employer pays unfunded liability.
Increases enrollment threshold in PERS and TPAF to $10,000; requires assessment of adding annual minimum hour requirement to qualify for service credit.
Revises membership and duties of Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission.
Requires SHBP to provide for program to inform physicians about use and cost savings of generic prescription drugs.
Authorizes creation of memorial license plates for immediate family members of September 11 victims.
Requires keg registration; makes the unlawful possession of an unregistered keg a petty disorderly persons offense.
Exempts from sales tax all hybrid and certain highly fuel efficient vehicles.
Establishes "New Jersey Commission on Government Efficiency and Cost Control" to recommend measures for efficiency and cost reduction in State government.
Requires certain appointed public officials to work 35 hours or more per week to be eligible for PERS and SHBP; requires termination of PERS and SHBP participation of certain appointed officials whose term of appointment expires.
Revises laws governing provision of affordable housing; reestablishes regional contribution agreement as method of meeting affordable housing obligation; repeals Statewide non-residential development fee.
Prohibits member of Legislature from seeking certain grants or loans through annual appropriations act or legislatively-controlled program.
Provides that municipalities with minimum amounts of developable land may file certification with the Council on Affordable Housing, even if no petition for substantive certification is filed.
Provides that municipalities may provide occupancy preferences in available COAH units to certain households participating in certain federal programs.
Excludes from State income taxation certain payments made to the families of victims of school violence.
Eliminates expansion of preschool education program in "School Funding Reform Act of 2008."
Increases from seven to 60 the number of calendar days casinos and racetracks may continue to operate during state of emergency.
Provides consumer protections under certain telecommunications service provider contracts.
Permits municipalities to satisfy fair share housing obligation by a 15 percent set aside of new residential development; defines municipal fair share as a portion of prospective regional housing need.
Caps bond counsel legal fees and costs on public issuers' bond transactions and requires a competitive selection process for retaining bond counsel.
Requires the placement of defibrillators on certain trains.
Protects municipalities that have complied with affordable housing obligations from being required to provide more than their fair share.