Bills in the 2012–2013 Session, General Assembly.
Peter J. Barnes III
Sponsored
Became law1
Modifies certain CATV company filing requirements with BPU and CATV company subsciber notice requirements concerning rates, charges, or services.*
Vetoed3
Authorizes Judiciary to revise or fees and other statutory fees, subject to limitations, to fund e-court information system and Legal Services of New Jersey; provides for review of such fees by Judiciary.*
Requires registered qualifying patient's authorized use of medical marijuana to be considered equivalent to use of any other prescribed medication.
Revises definition of destructive device to include weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
Passed the General Assembly13
Requires correctional facilities to provide inmates with prescription medication that was prescribed for chronic conditions existing prior to incarceration.
Establishes a civil cause of action for gender-motivated violence.
Requires annual notice of assessment on property to contain bolded notice of filing deadline for appeal.
Revises notice requirements by CATV companies for changes to station channel positions to be consistent with federal law.*
Limits forum of consumer contract disputes to New Jersey.
Regulates individuals engaged in the facilitation of like-kind exchanges of property pursuant to Section 1031 of the United States Tax Code.
Requires independent State authority member to disclose contractual relationship between authority and authority member's relatives. *
Creates a civil cause of action for stalking.
Upgrades crime of manslaughter to aggravated manslaughter under certain circumstances.
"Disaster Information Access Act"; requires utility service providers to report severe weather and emergency related service interruptions; directs utility service providers and State Office of Emergency Management to present reported information online
Establishes pilot program requiring Attorney General to perform internal affairs functions of certain law enforcement agencies.
Repeals anachronistic, superceded, or invalidated sections of statutory law.
Revises statutes concerning incorporation and governance of the Protestant Episcopal Church to remove gender-specific references.
Out of committee4
Directs Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to forgive certain student loans in the event of the student borrower's death.
Permits theaters with 250 seats or more to apply for liquor license. *
Creates New Jersey Coastal Commission; reallocates certain funds from DEP to commission; and appropriates $20 million.
Changes type of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.
In committee24
Allows credit against certain charges to CATV customers opting out of premium service within 30 days of CATV company notice of network or programming change.
Increases membership of PFRS board of trustees.
Requires certain DOC, county, and municipal prison physicians to acquire certain training.
Includes nonpublic schools and incidents occurring off school grounds in school bullying law and provides greater protections for victims of bullying.
Establishes special parking for hybrid, electric, and alternative fuel vehicles.
Increases penalties for certain alteration of an automobile's computer and establishes penalty for resulting death or injury.
Requires school districts to ensure that certain student information stored on an electronic data processing system is backed up daily, and that teachers have access to the information for at least 150 days.
Directs BPU to establish online process for submission of required documents by BPU regulated and licensed entities.
Creates New Jersey Business Action Center.
Limits sale and manufacture of flame retardant chemical decabromodiphenyl ether.
Concerns exclusion of individuals with certain employment history in advertisements for job vacancies.
Conforms Megan's law to requirements of federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Adds conviction of unlawfully possessing weapon to list of crimes that statutorily prohibits someone from buying or owning firearm.
Requires prior written authorization for third-party charges to be placed on cellular telephone bills.
"Emergency Information Access Act"; requires utility service providers to report severe weather and emergency related service; directs utility service providers and State Office of Emergency Management to present reported information online and via telep
Provides for access to adoptee's original birth certificate under certain circumstances.
Clarifies procedures for restoration of driver's license after suspension; authorizes the court to waive imprisonment under certain circumstances.
Deletes CAFRA permit exemption for reconstruction activities in coastal area.
Appropriates $3.5 million to Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory improvements project.
Establishes procedures for determining enforceability of standard form contracts; invalidates certain indemnification clauses.
Requires hazard mitigation plan element in municipal master plan; appropriates $95,000.
Prohibits law enforcement officer from arresting student for violation of school policy under certain circumstances.
Limits enforcement of certain employment contracts of individuals eligible for unemployment compensation.
Clarifies procedures for resignation, removal, and succession of fiduciaries.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 15
Requires all lamps and lighting devices on motor vehicles be kept in working order.
Revises "Electronic Waste Management Act."
Modifies certain service outage compensation and notice requirements for CATV companies.
Prohibits minors under 14 years of age from using spray tanning in tanning facilities and prohibits minors under 17 years of age from using tanning beds.**
Concerns various authorities, boards, commissions, councils, divisions, and task forces.
Revises "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act."
The "Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act."
Exempts certain properties acquired by municipalities from county, school, and fire district taxes immediately upon aquisition.*
Allows nonpublic schools to participate in joint purchasing agreements entered into by two or more school districts.
Appropriates $24,290,379 from "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" and Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $38.5 million from "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants.
Appropriates $16,250,000 from "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" for planning incentive grants to municipalities for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $4,083,320 from "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund," "2007 Farmland Preservation Fund," and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
"The New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013."**
Expands notification when an offender is released from custody or transferred within the criminal justice system. *
Vetoed · 2
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.*
"Good Samaritan Emergency Response Act"; eliminates criminal liability for persons who seek medical assistance in response to drug overdose. *
Passed the General Assembly · 12
Requires ATM independent sales organizations to provide certain withdrawal options.
Forbids members of the State Investment Council from voting on transactions concerning investment with which a member has certain financial or familial conflicts and requires removal for violations thereof.
Decriminalizes possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana, imposes civil penalties, and establishes fund for drug education.*
The "Real Estate Installment Contract Act."
Requires voter approval at the annual school election or by the board of school estimate prior to designation as charter school district of residence or expansion of a charter school.
Revises law concerning ticket sales.
Requires affidavits for civil actions concerning certain mental health professionals. *
Provides for certain psychologists to prescribe medications.
Concerns enforcement, penalties, and procedures for law regarding failure to pay wages.
Creates New Jersey Cold War medal.
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.
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Out of committee · 21
Requires water purveyors to notify municipalities they service regarding water supply and water quality issues.*
Prohibits drilling technique of hydraulic fracturing.
Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning conflicts between rules of different State agencies.
"Group Home Fire Safety Act."
Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ's required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Requires insurers to cover breast evaluations and other additional medically necessary testing under certain circumstances and requires certain mammogram reports to contain information on breast density.**
Immunizes from civil liability first responders who forcibly enter property to provide emergency assistance.
Extends statute of limitations in certain civil actions for sexual abuse; expands the categories of potentially liable defendants; and revives certain actions.*
Eliminates restriction on placement of special education students in sectarian schools.
Lieutenant Scott Jenkins' Law; creates certain new criminal offenses aimed at theft from carriers; amends theft statutes.*
Criminalizes second or subsequent drunk driving offenses in certain cases.
Requires labeling of all foods containing genetically modified material.
Reduces number of rooms necessary for historic hotel to receive liquor license.
Establishes animal cruelty offense of cruel confinement of a gestating pig.
Increases civil and criminal penalties involving unstamped and counterfeit cigarettes and cigarette smuggling and establishes crime involving transfers of counterfeit cigarettes.*
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA to issue State flag to resident enrolling in federal service academy.
Requires coverage of medication therapy management in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare.
Prohibits retail mercantile establishments from imposing surcharges on consumer credit card purchases.
Codifies current State Board of Education regulations which limit who may serve as case managers for students with disabilities to members of child study teams and certain speech-language specialists.
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Provides standards for home elevation contractors.
In committee · 55
Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans.
Establishes reward program in DOE for districts with high academic performance and low per pupil expenditures.
Authorizes "100 percent Disabled Veteran" license plates for qualified veterans; entitles holders to handicapped parking privileges.
Requires the incorporation of solar panels in design and construction of new public school facilities.
Amends RICO to add certain crimes involving public servants.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Requires third-party disbursement service organization that contracts with local government unit or board of education to post bond against failure to meet obligations.
Requires newly licensed registered professional nurse to attain baccalaureate degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure.
Provides enhanced penalties for certain crimes when victim is 65 years of age or older, or disabled.
"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.
Concerns compensation and benefits of officers, employees, and members of State and local authorities.
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research universities, colleges or research hospitals.
Establishes conditional intervention program in municipal court for certain first-time offenders.
Permits municipality, fire district or authority to approve transfer of certain firefighters from PERS to PFRS.
Provides tax credit against gross income tax for costs of certain property that conserves energy or promotes energy efficiency and for other energy efficiency measures.
Establishes conditional intervention program in municipal court for certain first-time offenders.
Requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes.
Expands the Tuition Aid Grant program to part-time undergraduates.
Requires health insurance carriers to use standard explanation of benefits form.
Requires executive county superintendent to designate a county special services school district or educational services commission as the county education services agency to assist local school districts in sharing services.
Permits municipality to pay tax refund in equal installments over period of three years.
Requires taxpayer to provide certificate of merit setting forth estimated true value of certain property which is subject to county tax appeal.
Establishes certain consumer protections related to arbitration organizations.
Permits developer to qualify for low-interest loan from NJEDA when building a high performance green building.
Provides supplemental appropriation of $2,700,000 to DCA for Neighborhood Preservation Program.
"Ocean County Stormwater Management System Demonstration Act."
Authorizes Ocean County Planning Board and municipal planning boards in Ocean County to take certain measures to control stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution in Barnegat Bay watershed.
Requires, after assessment, DEP to adopt total maximum daily loads for Barnegat Bay ecosystem.
Limits rescheduling, cancelation, and no-show fees providers of health care services may charge in certain instances.
Prohibits charges for busy or unanswered cellular telephone calls.
Provides consumer protections under certain telecommunications service provider contracts.
Establishes 30-day grace period for consumer to cancel contract for telephone or cable service.
Establishes "Solar Equipment Purchase and Installation Assistance Program" in NJ EDA.
Requires Division of Rate Counsel to evaluate NJT fare increases and determine whether increases are necessary and fair to NJT customers.
Designates Pine Barrens treefrog as New Jersey State Amphibian.
Requires parole board under certain circumstances to release inmates not convicted of a violent crime under the No Early Release Act at the time of parole eligibility.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools, playgrounds, and recreational fields.
Prohibits employees of certain organizations from enrolling in State-administered retirement system or health care plan of public employer.
Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and recycling industries.
Provides a NJHOPE credit, increases the current gross income tax homestead property tax credit, and increases the gross income tax rate on taxable income exceeding $1,000,000.
Clarifies that the implementation of a municipal court security plan, shall be at the discretion of the municipal governing body.
Requires certain entities to be equipped with generators and allows those entities to qualify for NJEDA loans for cost of generators.
Increases penalties for illegal use of telephone or electronic communication device while driving.
Extends statute of limitations in certain civil actions for sexual abuse; expands the categories of defendants who are potentially liable; codifies liability of public entities in these actions; and revives certain actions.
Provides private cause of action for bad faith in settlement of insurance claims.
Requires electric public utilities to implement flood mitigation plans for electric distribution substations and transfer stations in certain flood zones.
Clarifies that municipalities that failed to fill police vacancies created by retirements are eligible for "Safe and Secure Communities" grants.
Establishes Capture, Control, and Conserve Reward Rebate Program in DEP to encourage property owners to implement certain techniques to conserve water or control stormwater runoff.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
Authorizes disclosure by DCF of information regarding child abuse to religious institutions.
Expands implied consent statute to include blood and urine testing.
Establishes "Rutgers, The State University Study Commission."
Prohibits use of anti-concurrent causation clauses in homeowners insurance policies.
Establishes sexual assault training requirements for law enforcement officers.
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.