Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Jennifer Beck
Sponsored
Passed the Senate3
"Michael Massey's Law"; requires sanitation vehicles display flashing lights in certain circumstances and imposes conditions on drivers approaching sanitation vehicles displaying flashing lights.
Creates Clinical Trials Working Group.
Establishes "New Jersey Business Advisory Council" in Business Action Center.
Out of committee4
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction and veterans' property tax exemption to residents of continuing care retirement communities.*
Allows host municipalities to offer property tax abatements on former Fort Monmouth property under terms and conditions established by those municipalities.
Repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act."
Establishes moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for purpose of natural gas exploration or production until certain federal laws are changed.
In committee74
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 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 full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office.
Reduces corporation business tax rate and provides an additional rate reduction for three years for taxpayers that relocate corporate headquarters to New Jersey.
Suspends pension of any retired public employee who resumes public employment with compensation more than $15,000.
Concerns liability and insurance coverage for medical malpractice actions.
Establishes public bidding and contracting procedures for Rutgers, the State University that mirror those in place for the State colleges.
Directs Division of Gaming Enforcement, in consultation with New Jersey Racing Commission, to establish and oversee slot machine gambling operations at horse racetracks.
Provides for establishment and operation of casino at Meadowlands Complex.
Requires forfeiture of public office, position or employment upon conviction of certain offenses.
Requires State Treasurer, in consultation with State Comptroller, to promulgate rules and regulations concerning best practices for awarding independent State authority contracts.
Establishes measures to improve transparency and accountability of regional authorities of this State; enhances oversight of those authorities by Governor and State Comptroller.
Directs the executive county superintendent of schools to select a new district of residence for students who reside on certain federal property who are not the dependent children of military personnel.
Clarifies DOBI's regulatory authority over certain flood insurance claims.
Requires insurers writing homeowners insurance policies in the State to offer certain coverage for heating oil tanks.
Prohibits location of off-road vehicle training or recreation facility within five miles of residential zone.
Provides protections for individuals with developmental disabilities through accountability and transparency; designated as "Stephen Komninos' Law."
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Authorizes penalties for failure to file certain public employment contracts; clarifies requirement for electronic posting of public employment contracts and interest arbitration awards.
Establishes best practices for procurement and payment of legal services by local governments and school districts.
Requires filing of financial and conflict disclosure statements as condition of development approval.
Repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act"; prohibits COAH from basing prospective need portion of fair share obligation on commercial development.
Exempts from sales tax for two years certain highly fuel efficient vehicles and energy efficient appliances.
Revises "Contractors Registration Act" to include water remediation services.
Requires insurance producers to perform bona fide services for public entities in order to share commissions; requires disclosure of commission sharing.
Requires health care representative to make health care decisions for incapacitated patient in accordance with patient's religious beliefs.
Authorizes innocent spouse relief under the gross income tax.
Modifies school funding law to incorporate recommendations of DOE's Education Funding Report and Educational Adequacy Report.
Imposes requirements on certain pediatric emergency departments; requires DOH to include information on pediatric emergency departments in its annual hospital performance report.
Permits persons at racetracks, off-track wagering facilities, and casino simulcasting facilities to place instant racing wagers.
Creates cigar night smoking ban exemption at racetracks and off-track wagering facilities.
Creates voluntary survey for physicians as part of biennial registration process with Board of Medical Examiners and requires board to maintain and disseminate survey data as appropriate.
Establishes Rail Passenger Bill of Rights and authorizes Division of Consumer Affairs to enforce provisions.
Provides sales and use tax exemption for certain energy products and services used for consumption at certain manufacturing facilities.
Increases length of time in which to file certain lien claim forms under "Construction Lien Law."
Revises the "Contractors' Registration Act."
Allows individual appointed as State monitor to remain employed for more than two years without cancellation of retirement benefits.
Provides for establishment and operation of casino at Meadowlands Complex and Monmouth Park racetrack.
Removes expiration of required payment by public employees of percentage of cost of health care coverage provided by public employers.
Makes various changes to interest arbitration procedures; repeals sunset provision.
Clarifies that defendants are to be credited for pre-sentence jail time directly attributable to specific offense for which sentence is imposed.
Authorizes special Combat Action Badge license plate program.
Authorizes issuance of restraining orders for situations in which domestic violence statutes do not apply.
Requires institutions of higher education to offer cats and dogs no longer used for educational, research, or scientific purposes to animal rescue organizations for adoption.
Expands and clarifies definition of gang criminality.
Authorizes free fishing licenses for persons with disabilities.
Expands the Address Confidentiality Program to include victims of sexual assault and stalking.
Authorizes court to include in domestic violence restraining orders a provision making the order applicable to a pregnant victim's child upon birth of the child.
Prohibits awarding alimony to domestic violence offenders; permits termination of alimony based on conviction for crime or offense involving domestic violence.
Establishes limited duration homestead property tax reimbursement.
Imposes mandatory forfeiture of public office, position or employment upon conviction of certain offenses.
"Shyanne's Law"; requires mental health counseling for all animal cruelty offenders.
Eliminates penalties for asset transfers up to $500 per month during look-back period for determining eligibility for Medicaid long-term care services.
Provides civil service preference to military service members who did not serve in theater of operation but received campaign or expedition medal.
Concerns prompt payment of construction contracts.
"Tyler Banuls' Law"; provides protections for children with developmental disabilities receiving services from DCF.
Provides supplemental appropriation of $200,000 to Rutgers University - Camden for support of Citizenship Rutgers events.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $12,960,000 to DOE for additional State aid to certain school districts.
Establishes the offense of incest.
Establishes per se standard for driving under the influence of drugs.
Requires mental health evaluation for all animal cruelty offenders; designated as "Shyanne's Law."
Permits 15 liquor licenses to be issued in three municipalities located in Fort Monmouth redevelopment area.
Permits smoking in certain facilities for purpose of medical or scientific health-related research.
Imposes mandatory 30 days' imprisonment and 30 days' community service for crime of initiating, circulating, or transmitting false public alarm.
Upgrades offense of endangering welfare of incompetent person; establishes new crime of enticing certain disabled persons to commit act likely to be injurious to their own welfare.
Establishes New Jersey Advisory Council on Home and Community-Based Settings to implement DHS Statewide Transition Plan.
Establishes "Superstorm Sandy Homeowners Protection Act."
Authorizes executive county superintendent of schools to solicit proposals from school districts willing to be certified as district of residence for students who reside on certain federal property.
Provides protections for individuals with developmental disabilities through accountability and transparency; upgrades crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities.
"The Child and Family Suicide Prevention Act;" requires training related to screening for suicide prevention for pediatricians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses.
Revises penalties for certain violations of law by public movers and warehousemen.
Permits demonstration county to terminate its participation in the "Real Property Assessment Demonstration Program."
Requires law enforcement be notified of application to expunge mental commitment record.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 23
Expands number of safe havens for leaving newborn infants.
Permits Internet gaming equipment to be located at certain secure facilities in Atlantic City.
Provides that nonpublic school nursing services may include nursing services for a preschool pupil in the event of an emergency.
Requires annual physical examination of child 19 years of age or younger include certain questions related to cardiac health.*
Establishes apprentice firearm hunting license and apprentice bow and arrow license.*
Enhances penalty for leaving the scene of boating accident.
Provides standards for, and requires registration of, home elevation contractors.*
Implements constitutional amendment providing for pretrial detention of certain criminal defendants; establishes non-monetary bail alternatives for release; authorizes Judiciary to revise fees for certain legal programs and services.*
Establishes "College Affordability Study Commission" to examine issues and develop recommendations to increase the affordability of higher education in New Jersey.
Reduces amount of fire duty required in order to receive exempt fireman certificate.
Prohibits posting, publishing on the Internet, or disclosing certain information regarding law enforcement officers.*
Requires each State agency to review permits issued by the agency and make necessary changes to expedite and facilitate permitting.
Establishes additional requirements, and penalties for failure to comply, concerning information to be provided to persons purchasing cats or dogs from pet shops. *
Provides that school districts must ensure that students with disabilities have opportunities to participate in athletic activities equal to those of other students.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2015.
Authorizes hiring preference for veterans in non-civil service jurisdictions.
Prohibits insurers from setting prices for non-covered dental services.
Authorizes Attorney General to coordinate Statewide law enforcement efforts against opioid drug abuse.*
Partially repeals prohibitions, permits, licenses, and authorizations concerning wagers on professional, collegiate, or amateur sport contests or athletic events.
Authorizes establishment of Achieving a Better Life Experience accounts for persons with certain disabilities.**
Creates new criminal offenses concerning endangering another person; repeals N.J.S.2C:12-2 and N.J.S.2C:24-7.
Prohibits Division of Developmental Disabilities from compelling transfers of individuals with developmental disabilities from out-of-State to in-State facilities unless certain exceptions apply.
Limits increase in annual budget requests of certain county entities.
Vetoed · 14
Increases flexibility, clarity, and available tools of optional municipal consolidation process.
Concerns attorney fees for workers' compensation awards.
Adds to property tax levy cap exclusions increases in flood insurance premiums.
Establishes in DOC, supervised community reintegration program for certain victims of domestic abuse.*
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.*
Revises procedure for issuance of amended birth certificate for person who has undergone change in sex.
Gives priority in training programs to long-term unemployed.
Establishes time periods for adverse possession of certain property.
Requires necessary services and supports to be provided to former residents of developmental centers transitioning to community placements.*
Increases transparency and accountability at PANYNJ.
Partially repeals prohibitions against sports wagering at racetracks and casinos in New Jersey.
Requires notification of local law enforcement prior to expungement of certain mental health records of prospective firearms purchasers.
Establishes Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Council.*
The "Municipal Volunteer Property Tax Reduction Act"; permits certain municipal property owners to perform volunteer services in return for property tax vouchers.
Passed the Senate · 13
Requires Commissioner of DHSS to convene a strategic planning summit to analyze the State's physician workforce supply.
Permits municipality to hire private company to provide construction officials, subcode officials, and technical assistants.
Increases criminal penalties if leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor results in injury or death.
Transfers responsibility for establishment and enforcement of ethical standards for local officials to State Ethics Commission.**
Directs MVC to establish driver's license endorsement for autonomous vehicles.
Extends veteran's property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
Designates May of each year "Military Appreciation Month" in New Jersey.
Authorizes Sunday bow hunting on federal military installations and William J. Hughes Technical Center.*
Requires certification of diligent inquiry in residential mortgage foreclosure actions to be filed by attorneys.
Authorizes installation of automatic standby generators in certain residences without zoning or planning board approval.
Establishes veterans' preference for affordable housing in certain housing projects.
Upgrades crime of stalking when stalking activity is carried out or assisted by installation or use of communication or location monitoring program or device on cellular phone or wireless mobile device.*
Establishes Task Force on School District Regionalization.
Out of committee · 48
Requires certain State oversight of budgets of regional sewerage authorities.
Requires certain bidders for prevailing wage public work to provide proof that the prevailing wage will be paid.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act"; imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances. *
Requires municipalities to exempt 100% disabled veterans from construction permit surcharge fees for improvements to promote living unit accessibility.*
Establishes State Transportation Infrastructure Bank within New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.
Concerns importation and delivery of motor fuel during certain emergencies.
Concerns sale of certain motor fuel during certain emergencies.
Requires BPU to issue written decision concerning utility rate increase approvals to public via its website.
Revises penalty provisions for certain drunk driving violations, including use of and applicable time periods covering driver's license suspensions and installations of ignition interlock devices on motor vehicles.*
Establishes durational limits and enumerates certain factors concerning modification and termination of alimony; establishes "open durational" alimony."*
Requires mortgage lenders to maintain vacant, age-restricted dwelling units during foreclosure.
Provides gross income tax credit for certain expenses paid or incurred for care and support of qualifying senior family member; designated as Caregiver's Assistance Act.
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.*
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to commercial beekeepers, with some restrictions.
Clarifies that first aid, ambulance or rescue squads, as entities, have immunity from civil damages in certain circumstances.
Provides that crime victims do not have to pay fees to obtain records relating to the crime and that requests for such records are not public information.*
Requires hiring preference for veterans seeking position with State Police.
Requires an annual State debt affordability analysis be included in the State Debt Report.
Requires issuance of one free copy of a veteran's death certificate to certain authorized persons upon request.
"Military Dependents Scholarship Fund Act"; provides college scholarships to the spouses and children of those killed, missing in action or disabled in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support farm to school and school gardens programs.
Establishes "Best in New Jersey 'Farm to School' Awards Program" to annually recognize the best farm to school programs implemented by a school or school district.
Allows contributions to "New Jersey Farm to School Program."
Makes construction work on public utilities subject to "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act."
Directs the Dept. of Agriculture to establish a clearinghouse website for farmers to offer produce and dairy products for use by school breakfast programs, school lunch programs, and food banks.
Establishes exclusive State regulatory authority over apiary activities and allows for delegation of monitoring and enforcement authority to municipalities.
Prohibits firearm possession by persons convicted of carjacking, gang criminality, racketeering and terroristic threats.
Authorizes prescribed burning in certain circumstances.
Establishes certain requirements for hospitals regarding patient-designated caregivers.
Establishes four-year County Vocational School District Partnership Grant Program in DOE.
Authorizes special Alpha Kappa Alpha license plate.
Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native bee hive.
Limits certain unused sick leave pay and vacation leave carry-forward for school and local employees; limits sick leave use by new public employees before retirement.
Codifies "Project Medicine Drop" program; requires Division of Consumer Affairs to maintain secure prescription medicine drop-off receptacles at certain law enforcement agencies.*
Requires pharmacies and prescribers to notify patients about how to ensure proper and safe disposal of unused prescription drugs.
Authorizes the establishment of federal impact aid reserve account.
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA to issue State flag to resident enrolling in federal service academy.
"Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law"; permits minors to give consent for behavioral health care.
Upgrades violation of a stalking restraining order to a crime of the third degree.*
Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act; Provides income tax credit to family caregivers of certain armed service members with physical disabilities.
Increases income eligibility cap to receive respite care for certain veterans.*
Exempts Holocaust reparations payments from legal process, and from estate recovery under Medicaid program.
"Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act of 2015"; authorizes the court to issue protective orders for victims of certain nonconsensual sexual conduct.
Establishes task force to study issues related to sexual assault on college campuses.
Permits tenant to be removed from leased housing due to criminal activity under certain circumstances.
Requires timeframe of standardbred mare residing in New Jersey breeding farm be inclusive of foaling instead of between foal's conception and birth.
Requires municipalities to file copies of tax abatement and exemption agreements and tax agreements with county chief financial officer and county counsel within 30 days of execution.*
Establishes procedure for consolidating fire districts.
In committee · 59
Changes certain eligibility criteria for TPAF, JRS, PERS, PFRS and SPRS disability benefits; requires Attorney General to establish fraud unit; creates temporary committee to recommend accidental disability standard for systems.
Expands the domestic violence statutes to encompass minors aged 16 and older.
"Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act."
Makes various changes to civil service law concerning seasonal appointments, temporary layoffs, and rescinding adoption of civil service.
Requires tenure charges be filed against any public school employee found to have bullied a student and requires the employment of any nontenured public school employee be terminated for such activity.
Prohibits animal cruelty violators from working at, or owning or operating, an animal-related enterprise; designated as "Moose's Law."
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Prohibits certain energy suppliers from making false and misleading claims to potential customers; prohibits suppliers' calls to customers where no business relationship exists.
Establishes one-year moratorium on replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with non-copper-based landline or wireless telephone service; requires BPU to report to Governor and Legislature.
Revises requirements related to public hearings on proposed public utility rate increases.
Requires public utilities to provide customers notice of request for increase in rates; revises requirements related to hearings on proposed rate increases.
Requires public utilities to mail customers detailed explanation of rate settlement agreements prior to final BPU vote.
Phases out estate tax over five-year period.
Implements recommendations of the SCI report entitled "Scenes from an Epidemic" concerning prescription drug and heroin abuse.
"Consumer Protection Act of 2012."
Decreases sales and use tax rate from 7% to 6%.
Requires reporting of suspected abuse of institutionalized elderly to police and that facility employees receive notice of reporting requirement annually; designated as "Peggy's Law."
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools.
Establishes "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" pilot program; appropriates $250,000.
Establishes temperature control guidelines and standards for school facilities.
Permits certain deer control activities; prohibits deer feeding; and establishes check-off donation on hunting license applications to support venison donation program.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Repeals traffic control signal monitoring system pilot program; prohibits future use of red light cameras in State.
Authorizes executive county superintendent of schools to require implementation of shared services arrangements and to approve school district collective negotiations agreements prior to execution of agreement.
Amends State college law to remove certain employees from civil service system and allow boards of trustees to conduct collective bargaining.
Requires each hospital board of trustees to adopt a written policy governing conflicts of interest.
Prohibits cemetery company from charging additional fee for rendering certain services on Sunday.
Requires certain commissions to maintain meeting minutes; establishes Governor's authority to approve or veto the minutes of those commissions.
"Drug Dealer Accountability Act;" increases penalties for distribution of phencyclidine; establishes criminal liability for drug dealers under certain circumstances; imposes civil and criminal penalties for combinations of controlled dangerous substances.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
Revises statutes regarding practice of physical therapy.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
Concerns victim's right to rape care advocate under certain circumstances.
Requires at least one State developmental center in each region of State; requires certain factors to be considered for transfer of residents between developmental centers.
Eliminates transfer inheritance tax and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amounts under New Jersey estate tax in accordance with provisions of federal tax law.
Requires contracting units and boards of education to credit contractors with interest earned on certain funds withheld from payment to contractors.
Increases the State earned income tax credit from 20 percent to 25 percent of the federal earned income tax credit over two taxable years.
Upgrades theft to a crime of the first degree if amount involved is $500,000 or more.
Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding.
Establishes the "Sexual Assault Victim's Bill of Rights" for victims of sexual violence.
Creates self-defense justification for victims of domestic violence.
Establishes manufacturing machine and metal trade apprenticeships tax credit program.
Eliminates power of DRPA to finance economic development; changes composition of board; imposes restrictions regarding financing, contract procedures, conflicts of interest, and review audits; creates commuter's council.
Eliminates restriction on placement of special education students in sectarian schools.
Creates Education Reform Review Task Force; delays certain uses of certain assessments and certain changes to teacher evaluation system.
Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty.
Requires release of bid list prior to bid date under "Local Public Contracts Law."
Allows public contractors paying benefits under collective bargaining agreements to count benefit costs toward compliance with local "living wage" ordinances.
Makes revisions to the "Contractors' Registration Act."
Prohibits plea bargain if sex offender who committed Megan's Law offense would not be required to register.
Provides courts with sentencing discretion for certain convictions concerning possession of a firearm.
Reforms procedures concerning provision of affordable housing; reinstates moratorium on Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Implements certain governance and transparency reforms at PANYNJ.
Requires certain health care facilities to provide information concerning palliative care and hospice services.
Provides governance, transparency, and accountability reforms at PANYNJ.
Gives priority to applicants for firearms purchaser identification card and permits to purchase handguns when domestic violence restraining order is in effect.
Makes reforms to mental health treatment; clarifies law governing purchase of firearms by persons with history of mental illness.
Establishes three-year pilot program in one county to provide nonpublic school transportation services on county-wide basis.