Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Raymond J. Lesniak
Sponsored
Became law7
Reduces number of voters for whom person can serve as messenger; limits to three number of voted mail-in ballots transmittable by bearer; modifies conviction standard under vote by mail law.
Eliminates exemption from noise control restrictions for certain bars in Atlantic City Tourism District.*
Prohibits import, sale, purchase, barter, or possession of ivory or rhinoceros horn and items containing ivory or rhinoceros horn, with limited exceptions.*
Permits successful completion of special probation drug court program notwithstanding use od medication-assisted treatment.*
Partially repeals prohibitions, permits, licenses, and authorizations concerning wagers on professional, collegiate, or amateur sport contests or athletic events.
Provides up to $25 million in tax credits under Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program for certain infrastructure at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Authorizes establishment of recovery high school alternative education programs.
Vetoed6
Directs State Board of Agriculture and Dept. of Agriculture to adopt regulations concerning confinement of pregnant sows during gestation.
Authorizes establishment of three pilot recovery alternative high schools that provide high school education and substance dependency plan of recovery to test the effectiveness of this model.*
"Comprehensive Regulated Grease Recycling Act."
Partially repeals prohibitions against sports wagering at racetracks and casinos in New Jersey.
Directs Governor to withdraw from compact establishing Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor; dissolves compact and commission; transfers commission's NJ operations to State Police.
Prohibits possession, transport, import, export, processing, sale, or shipment of parts and products of certain animal species threatened with extinction.*
Passed the Senate4
"Economic Opportunity Act of 2014, Part 1."
Prohibits certain possession, sale, offering for sale, trade or distribution of shark fins.
Allows NJ gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions of food made from business inventory.
Prohibits possession and transport of parts and products of certain animals at PANYNJ airports and port facilities.*
Out of committee13
Provides for presumptive parole; establishes parole compliance credits; requires inmate disciplinary database; bases commutation credits on custodial sentence.*
Requires Division of Addiction Services to grant residential drug treatment program licenses to certain programs operating in State correctional facilities and county jails.
Requires use of bear-resistant containers, dumpsters, or food boxes in certain areas located in black bear habitat under certain circumstances, including garbage collection, and prohibits certain actions that would result in feeding of black bears.
Revises law concerning the rights and responsibilities of motor vehicle franchisees and franchisors.**
Authorizes permits for certain New Jersey casinos for interstate and foreign Internet wagering; requires Internet gaming payment processors be licensed as casino service industry enterprises.
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.*
"Economic Opportunity Act of 2014, Part 3."
"Economic Opportunity Act of 2014, Part 2."
Exempts certain persons from licensing requirements of the "New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lending Act."
Eliminates requirement that public-private partnership agreements for construction of certain higher education facilities be submitted to EDA for review and approval by certain dates.
Provides for receipts for applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Requires DHS to ensure that expedited benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are made available to certain households.
Adds two public members to NJT board.
In committee44
Authorizes award of attorney's fees and expenses in landlord-tenant actions under certain circumstances.
Revises law concerning ticket sales.
Imposes certain registration and reporting requirements to prevent illegal trade of tigers.
Allows establishment of county-wide purchasing system for certain school district services in certain counties; offers employment protections for certain food or custodial services employees; and regulates subcontracting by districts and public higher edu
Requires police to provide certain reports free of charge to crime victims.
Provides for issuance of certificate of rehabilitation to certain offenders with substance abuse disorders.
Establishes process to bar certain health care providers from receiving reimbursement under PIP.
Concerns arbitration for certain non-teaching school staff.
Revises definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
Recognizes same-sex marriages entered into outside the State.
Prohibits certain possession, sale, offering for sale, trade or distribution of shark fins; and allows in NJ the processing or sale of wild striped bass caught outside of NJ.
Authorizes licensing of operators to provide restricted foreign Internet wagering to foreign patrons under certain circumstances.
"New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act."
Directs Commissioner of Education to establish per pupil expenditure limits for classroom instruction, support services, and administrative costs.
Restricts placement of inmates in certain housing units of State correctional facilities.
Requires veterinarians to provide written prescriptions and certain notifications.
Increases motor fuels tax five cents per year for three years.
Removes three most recently appointed New Jersey commissioners from PANYNJ board of commissioners; replaces those commissioners with individuals recommended from three different groups with policy expertise.
Directs PANYNJ to establish requirements concerning business operations, safety requirements and violations, and emissions standards for motor carrier operations in NJ portion of port district.
Concerns consolidation of NJTA and SJTA.
Authorizes processing and sale of wild striped bass caught outside NJ.
Increases number of PANYNJ commissioners to 14; requires one commissioner from each state be appointed upon recommendation of American Automobile Association.
The "Commercial Identity and Likeness Protection Act"; concerns certain unauthorized commercial uses of a person's identity or likeness.
Ends the estate tax and raises the gross income tax rate on taxable income exceeding $350,000.
Lifts moratorium on new Business Employment Incentive Program grant awards and establishes "New Jersey Business Employment Incentive Program Task Force."
Provides that retired justices and judges collecting pension or retirement allowance are eligible for recall duties until 85 years of age.
Revises definitions in Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor compact to clarify jurisdiction of commission.
Requires composting or recycling of food waste by large volume generators.
Makes it a crime of the fourth degree for certain persons to willfully and knowingly fail to report child abuse if they know the child abuse has occurred.
Establishes "Tiny Home Pilot Program" in three regions of State; appropriates $5 million.
Restricts use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities.
Establishes "breakfast after the bell" incentive fund.
Allows businesses due to receive grant under Business Employment Incentive Program to elect to receive corporate or gross income tax credit if grant funds are not available.
Transfers Division of Mental Health Advocacy to DHS; re-titles director as Mental Health Advocate; provides diversion for mental health treatment for persons subject to prosecution in municipal court; appropriates $15,000,000.
Permits voter registration at polling place on days of municipal, primary, and general elections.
Prohibits State-sponsored travel to states adopting religious freedom statutes without protection against discrimination.
Modifies provisions of certain economic incentive programs.
Establishes independent Office of Comptroller of Education and removes authority of State Comptroller with regard to oversight of boards of education.
Requires combined reporting of corporation business tax by certain members of unitary business groups.
Provides for sentence of special probation drug court for certain persons who violate terms or conditions of regular probation, when determined by court to be drug dependent.
Provides that two members of board of education of Type II school district will be appointed by mayor or other chief executive officer of municipality constituting district.
Requires psychological examination of person charged with unlawful possession of firearms and other weapons in certain circumstances.
Removes certain bars to employment for convicted offenders.
Allows defendant to apply for expungement of more than one crime under certain circumstances.
Carried from the General Assembly
Vetoed1
Prohibits possession and transport of parts and products of certain animals at PANYNJ airports and port facilities.*
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Designates New Jersey Big Data Alliance as State's advanced cyberinfrastructure consortium.*
Establishes crimes of dog fighting and leader of a dog fighting network, and updates crime of animal fighting; amends RICO concerning dog fighting.*
Establishes additional requirements, and penalties for failure to comply, concerning information to be provided to persons purchasing cats or dogs from pet shops. *
Makes certain reforms to juvenile justice system.
Authorizes Attorney General to coordinate Statewide law enforcement efforts against opioid drug abuse.*
Requires Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to annually prepare substance use treatment provider performance report, and make available to public.*
Directs certain four-year public institutions of higher education to establish substance abuse recovery housing program.
Extends "Overdose Prevention Act" immunity provisions to certain professionals and professional entities, and permits needle exchange programs to obtain standing order for opioid antidote.*
Requires DHS and DOC to formulate joint arrangement and plan to ensure provision of mental health and substance use disorder services to inmates.*
Removes presumption of nonimprisionment in certain assault cases involving domestic violence victims; expands criminal coercion statute; revises Pretrial Intervention procedures in certain criminal cases.*
Reduces membership of Rutgers board of trustees and eliminates dual membership on Rutgers board of trustees and Rutgers board of governors.
Vetoed · 5
Permits two or more candidates for school board to circulate petitions jointly and be bracketed together on ballot for same term; permits short nonpolitical designation of principles on petitions and ballots.*
"Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act"; enhances film and digital media tax credits, revises and expands tax credit eligibility requirements, and requires EDA to study development of film studio at North Jersey location.*
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.*
Provides for licensure of ambulatory care facilities to provide integrated primary care services including behavioral health care.
Requires law enforcement agencies in this State to establish minority recruitment and selection programs; establishes reporting requirement.
Passed the Senate · 6
Directs Rutgers Discovery Informatics Institute, Office of Information Technology, NJ Edge.Net Inc., and New Jersey Big Data Alliance to develop advanced cyberinfrastructure strategic plan; appropriates $150,000.*
Concerns earned sick leave.
Prohibits business receiving State development subsidies from making certain campaign contributions.
Requires health care practitioners to inform patients of addiction potential of controlled dangerous substances prior to issuing prescription.
Requires review of Core Curriculum Content Standards to ensure guidence for substance abuse instruction provided to public school students incorporates most recent evidence-based standards and practices.*
Requires establishment of processes to identify Medicaid eligible incarcerated individuals who are awaiting pre-trial release determinations, are being released following period of incarceration, or are undergoing inpatient hospital treatment.*
Out of committee · 22
Requires public school students in grades 9 through 12 to receive instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of an automated external defibrillator prior to graduation*
"Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act"; permits qualified terminally ill patient to self-administer medication to end life in humane and dignified manner. *
Provides certain offers and sales of securities from registration.*
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.
Allows certain State agencies to sell Internet advertisements on agencies' websites as pilot program.*
Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families; qualifies families to receive additional nutritional assistance.
"Art Therapist Licensing Act."
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal record.
Makes FY 2015 supplemental appropriation to DHS for $5 million for substance abuse prevention, and requires substance abuse prevention programs to be evidence-based.
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.
Directs poison control and drug information program to establish clearinghouse of drug overdose information, report on trends, and provide education on safe storage and disposal of medications; appropriates $500,000.
Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services.
Establishes remote medical consultation assistance grant program in DOH.
Provides diamondback terrapins protection as nongame indigenous species.
Shortens waiting periods for expungement of criminal and other records and information; makes various changes to other expungement procedures and requirements.*
Prohibits administration of standardized assessments in kindergarten through second grade.
"New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program Act"; establishes retirement savings program for certain workers.
Requires county and municipal police departments to establish cultural diversity training course and plan.
Limits to six months time public officer may serve in acting capacity without nomination.
Requires expenses incurred by Governor during out-of-State travel for political activities not be paid with or out of public funds.
"Healthy Small Food Retailer Act"; provides funding to small food retailers to sell fresh and nutritious food.
In committee · 33
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically modified material.
Directs BPU to adopt best practices and standards for public utility disaster response.
Requires court to consider gang affiliation when making bail determinations.
Requires liability insurance for permit to possess certain dangerous animals.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
"Higher Education Citizenship Equality Act;" defines domicile for dependent students for the purpose of eligibility for State student loans, grants, or scholarships and in-State tuition rate.
Designates Pine Barrens treefrog as New Jersey State Amphibian.
Allows application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership.
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal histories.
Establishes compensation limits for licensed public adjusters.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools.
Permits automatic expungement for certain persons completing a sentence to drug court under the special probation statute.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Increases penalties for counterfeiting if the offense creates risk of bodily injury, serious bodily injury or death; creates new offense within Criminal Code of counterfeiting products related to health.
The "Marriage Equality Act"; recognizes same-sex marriage.
"The Opportunity to Compete Act;" establishes certain employment rights for persons with criminal histories.
Establishes driving privilege cards for New Jersey residents who cannot prove lawful presence in United States.
Permits a student to participate in certain voluntary surveys if the district sends prior written notification to the student's parents; limits use of information obtained from survey.
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.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and higher education institutions.
Requires law enforcement officers to wear body cameras.
Requires that certain inmates with detainers be provided access to drug treatment programs.
The "Full Marriage Recognition for Civil Union Couples Act"; recognizes certain civil unions as marriages dating back to inception of such civil unions.
Eliminates brand registration requirement for certain wines.
Requires disclosures of out-of-network services performed by health care providers under certain circumstances.
Requires school districts and charter schools to annually provide to parents or guardians of enrolled students information on certain tests to be administered during the school year.
Allows parent or guardian to exclude student from administration of certain assessments.
Imposes three-year moratorium on use of assessments developed by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers for certain purposes.
Establishes driver's license for residents who cannot prove lawful presence in US.
Regulates tethering of, and outdoor shelter for, dogs.
Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed.
Requires Governor's resignation from office if Governor becomes candidate for President of the United States.
Filed · 1
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.