Bills in the 2002–2003 Session, Senate.
Raymond J. Lesniak
Sponsored
Became law1
Temporarily suspends certain required contributions to health care benefits fund for PERS and TPAF retirees and dependents; permits use of money in fund for retiree health care benefit costs. *
Passed the Senate1
Requires clinical trial sponsor to provide certain information to New Jersey residents concerning continued payment for medication after clinical trial. *
Out of committee7
Clarifies that assessments for local improvements are continuous lien on land from effective date of ordinance or resolution authorizing assessment.
Increases the cigarette tax by 60 cents per pack and increases the tobacco products wholesale sales and use tax rate on products other than cigars from 30% to 48%. *
Authorizes DCA to adjust certain county budgets to reflect certain county correctional facility costs. *
Increases the term of officers of Educational Opportunity Fund board of directors from one year to two years.
Withdraws $30 million from the State disability benefits fund for deposit in the General Fund.
Concerns calculation of Second Injury Fund surcharges.
Increases the cigarette tax by 55 cents per pack; redirects additional $190 million annually to health related programs beginning in FY 2004.*
In committee7
Allows bids on certain public contracts to be submitted electronically.
Establishes disciplinary procedure for school board members when charged with certain crimes.
Prohibits smoking in restaurants and bars.
Revises "Respiratory Care Practitioner Licensing Act."
Provides that only physicians may perform needle electromyography or interpret nerve conduction studies and evoked potentials.
Amends "Waterfront Commission Act" to expand the commission's jurisdiction over waterborne freight and certain licensing and registration procedures.
Amends and supplements the "New Jersey Parentage Act," establishing new procedures concerning blood or genetic testing.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 9
Imposes restrictions on future retail sales of handguns; mandates sales of personalized handguns when found available for retail sales purposes. *
Authorizes leases of municipally owned or controlled real estate to not-for-profit corporations and associations.*
Permits BPU to authorize the securitization of deferred balances of electric public utilities for the provision of basic generation service.
Revises "grandfathering" provisions for eligibility to be a licensed home inspector. **
Reimburses certain urban enterprise zones for municipal account monies transferred to the General Fund during fiscal year 2003 and permits those zones to borrow from the enterprise zone assistance fund. *
Appropriates $13,708,385 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," federal funds, and 1978 Green Acres bond fund, and appropriates or reappropriates certain other moneys, for "urban aid" and other local government open space acquistion and
Appropriates $11.105 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $56 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Permits municipalities to enact ordinance to hold DUI arrestees in protective custody. *
Out of committee · 17
Prohibits unsolicited telemarketing sales calls to certain customers. *
"New Jersey Home Ownership Security Act of 2002." *
Permits wine tastings and samplings by certain Class C alcoholic beverage licensees.
Establishes Brownfields Redevelopment Grants Program; appropriates $150 million.
Reduces blood alcohol level at which a person is considered to be guilty of drunk driving from 0.10% to 0.08%.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,500,000 to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Newark City's plane crash costs.
"Brain Injury Research Act."
Concerns public works contracts and project labor agreements with labor organizations. *
Creates study commission on the death penalty. *
Establishes special license plates to fund diabetes research and education.
"New Jersey Medical Care Access and Responsibility and Patients First Act." *
Expands duties performed by advanced practice nurses.
Reduces standard nonforfeiture rate for certain individual deferred annuities.
Authorizes municipalities to require conformity with traffic performance objectives as a condition of subdivision or site plan approval.
Provides separate standards for handicapped access in public buildings versus multi-family dwellings.
Provides that practice of polysomnography shall not be considered practice of respiratory care.
Extends authority for municipalities to establish transfer of development rights programs and sets forth parameters for creation thereof.
In committee · 21
"Patient Access to Eye Care Act."
Provides individual cause of action for unfair practices in the settlement of insurance claims and makes unfair practices subject to consumer fraud law.
Authorizes and directs DEP to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle program in the State beginning in calendar year 2006.
Eliminates automatic liens and removes financial liability for certain family members of patients in psychiatric facilities, developmental centers or receiving other residential functional service.
Requires the Governor's annual budget recommendations to establish the State share of public school costs at 50 percent by dedicating growth in certain State revenues.
Bans consent searches of motor vehicles by State and local law enforcement officers.
Authorizes adoption of municipal transfer of development rights programs.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $50,000 for an endowment to the Wynona Moore Lipman Ethnic Studies Center to be established at Kean University.
Increases pension benefits for certain retirees in certain municipal retirement systems.
"Dignity in Home Care Act"; provides for increases in Medicaid reimbursements to home health agencies for direct care worker salaries; appropriates $10 million in State and $10 million in federal funds.
Appropriates a sum not to exceed $350,000 for the reconstruction and restoration of Van Riper House in Nutley.
Imposes restrictions on future retail sales of handguns; mandates sales of personalized handguns when found available for retail sales purposes.
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Provides benefits for family temporary disability leave.
Allows worker selection of treatment providers under workers' compensation.
Requires licensure of hospital in Union County to provide adult cardiac surgery services.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Supplemental appropriation to DHSS of $1,560,000 to provide grants for rodent control programs in municipalities with Abbott school districts.
Requires Medicaid program to increase reimbursement for ambulance services provided to Medicaid recipients who are also Medicare-eligible to Medicare rate.
Implements procedures to ensure compliance of State agencies with certain set-aside contract requirements.
Permits State, counties, municipalities and boards of education to establish special pay plans under sections 401(a) and 403(b) of federal Internal Revenue Code.