Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, Senate.
Raymond J. Lesniak
Sponsored
Became law10
Amends "Waterfront Commission Act" to expand the commission's jurisdiction over certain licensing and registration procedures. *
Makes various revisions to the "New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association Act." *
Eliminates direct shipping for New Jersey wineries.
Combines separate stock and mutual workers' compensation insurance security funds into a single fund.
Establishes lower limits for yearly local budget appropriations increase.
Concerns groups eligible for, standard policy provisions of and other matters related to group life insurance.
Regulates life insurance viatical settlement practices; repeals existing law regulating viatical settlements.
Increases certain investment limits for domestic insurers.
The "Indexed Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities." *
Strengthens enforcement powers of Department of Banking and Insurance with respect to certain regulated financial institutions.
Passed the Senate2
Creates offense of animal incapacitation and increases and revises certain animal cruelty penalties. *
Amends and supplements the "New Jersey Parentage Act."
Out of committee8
Provides that only physicians may perform needle electromyography or interpret nerve conduction studies and evoked potentials.
Revises "Respiratory Care Practitioner Licensing Act."
Changes the phase-out schedule of the transitional energy facility assessment unit rate surcharges.
Transfers $110 million from State disability benefits fund to General Fund.
Increases the cigarette tax by 35 cents per pack. *
Authorizes electronic reporting of tax debtor account information by certain financial institutions to the Division of Taxation.
Reorganizes NJSPCA and county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Provides for creation of special permits to serve alcoholic beverages in certain smart growth development projects.
In committee13
Prohibits smoking in restaurants and bars.
Amends and supplements the "New Jersey Parentage Act," establishing new procedures concerning blood or genetic testing.
Permits voter registration at polling place on days of municipal primary and general elections.
Establishes statutory minimum amounts for medical malpractice liability insurance coverage.
Abolishes death penalty in New Jersey; provides for resentencing for persons sentenced to death.
Increases compensation for jurors.
Excludes from income that portion of annuity distribution that is return on initial investment for purposes of PAAD and Senior Gold income eligibility.
Clarifies test for determining when personal property is not a taxable fixture attached to real property.
Prohibits candidate from loaning personal funds greater than maximum contribution limit to candidate's own campaign.
Regulates service contracts; provides consumer protections; establishes record keeping and financial assurance requirements.
Makes certain changes to requirements related to gross receipts assessment on health care facilities.
Appropriates $2,250,000 to DOT for aid to the City of Linden and Roselle Borough for the St. Georges Avenue Streetscapes Infrastructure Project.
Authorizes special "Born to Run" license plate with proceeds to benefit Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 7
Makes various revisions to the "New Jersey Home Ownership Security Act of 2002."
Revises pilotage laws.
Revises calculation of budget caps and reduces allowable surplus for public school districts.
"New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act"; prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.
Provides that the chairmanship of the State Athletic Control Board would be a part-time position.
Provides additional State school aid to school districts which are bordered by at least three Abbott districts.
Expands certain powers of New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to establish and develop professional football league training facilities.
Passed the Senate · 2
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.
Increases jurisdictional amount allowed for wage disputes heard by the Department of Labor.
Out of committee · 12
"New Jersey Medical Care Access and Responsibility and Patients First Act."
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Establishes September 11th Memorial License Plate; dedicates fees therefrom to support New Jersey World Trade Center Scholarship Fund. *
Restores Department of the Public Advocate as principal department in Executive Branch. **
Adds four legislative members to Amistad Commission.
Permits students and teams from non-member schools to participate in certain events sponsored by voluntary association.
Revises scope of practice of optometrists.
Certifies court reporters.
Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding.
Prohibits campaign contributions by business entities seeking or holding State contracts in certain circumstances.
Provides for appointment of a BPU Business Ombudsman to assist businesses with energy issues.
Permits certain for-profit entities to manage or operate cemeteries.
In committee · 20
Allows certain undocumented aliens to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,500,000 to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Newark City's plane crash costs.
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.
Provides benefits for family temporary disability leave.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
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.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Reduces blood alcohol level at which a person is considered to be guilty of drunk driving from 0.10% to 0.08%.
"New Jersey Medical Care Access and Responsibility and Patients First Act."
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits; increases members' contribution rate.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
Establishes September 11th Memorial License Plate; dedicates fees therefrom to support a memorial and victims injured in attack.
Provides that repayment of liquid assets by certain former constituent districts of dissolved limited purpose regional district be made over ten-year period.
Clarifies that municipalities may establish sterile syringe access programs.
Establishes involuntary outpatient commitment for certain persons who are mentally ill or gravely disabled and provides for involuntary inpatient commitment for certain persons who are gravely disabled.
Exempts solar energy systems from real property taxation.
Establishes advocacy pilot program for mentally ill offenders.
Exempts members of fraternal benefit societies from insurance producer licensing requirements in certain circumstances.