Bills in the 2012–2013 Session, General Assembly.
Donna M. Simon
Sponsored
Out of committee2
Reduces number of rooms necessary for historic hotel to receive liquor license.
Provides for permanent debarment from government contracting of any person who is convicted of certain crimes involving government contracts.
In committee22
Authorizes appointment of part-time county tax administrators.
Protects drug overdose victims and witnesses from certain criminal charges if medical assistance is sought.
Establishes Hunterdon-Somerset Flood Advisory Task Force.
Requires medical bills be standardized and accompanied by explanatory disclosure form.
Tax Relief for New Jersey Families Act; provides income tax credits for property tax relief, quadruples the homestead property tax credit and increases the earned income tax credit.
Directs board of trustees of county college to post information on the compensation paid to college president on its website.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to adopt guidelines for the employment contracts of county college presidents.
Prohibits adoption of new rules exceeding federal standards unless specifically authorized by State law or necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare.
Prohibits plea bargain if sex offender who committed Megan's Law offense would not be required to register.
Criminalizes operation of school bus with suspended driver's license.
Requires school districts to allow home-schooled students to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities in the student's resident district.
Allows disabled veteran's surviving spouse to claim property tax exemption when veteran's disability declaration is granted after death.
Requires sex offenders to note criminal status on social network accounts.
Requires eligibility checklist and audit for enrollment in PERS of certain public employees who provide professional services; imposes fine on certifying officer or supervisor for ineligible enrollments.
Requires criminal background check for name change and prohibits persons convicted of certain crimes from changing their name.
Requires certain health benefits coverage for diagnosing and treating autism and other developmental disabilities.
Requires public utility requesting rate increase to hold public hearings in every county.
Requires public utilities to meet with county emergency management coordinators during major catastrophic event.
Establishes "New Jersey Electromagnetic Infrastructure Advisory Commission."
Establishes pilot program to provide zero-interest loans to certain emergency shelters and food banks for purchase and installation of generator.
Requires certain public contracts for insurance coverage and consulting services to be awarded through competitive contracting process.
Authorizes disclosure by DCF of child abuse and neglect information to religious institutions.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 13
Directs Board of Nursing to encourage nursing schools to give academic credit to students for training received in US military as corpsmen and medics.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2013.
Requires professional boards to provide credits toward requirements for licensure for veterans with substantially equivalent training.*
Allows certain military spouses with out-of-State teaching license to receive temporary instructional certificate in New Jersey.
Reorganizes and renames DHSS as Department of Health; establishes Division of Aging Services in DHS.
Revises "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act."
Prohibits certain energy suppliers from making false and misleading claims to potential customers; prohibits suppliers' calls to customers where no business relationship exists.*
Provides for licensure of pediatric respite care facilities. *
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.
Codifies regulation exempting firearms records from State's open public records law. *
Prohibits inclusion of bonus in employment contract of school superintendent for reducing number of out-of-district placements of students with special education needs.
Appropriates $1,393,084 from 2009 Historic Preservation Fund to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Vetoed · 1
Establishes pilot program to utilize value-based benefit design in SHBP to increase health benefits coverage for certain employees concerning chronic health conditions.
Passed the General Assembly · 5
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act": imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances.**
Clarifies that first aid, ambulance or rescue squads, as entities, have immunity from civil damages in certain circumstances.
Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
Designates May of each year "Military Appreciation Month" in New Jersey.
Establishes "Energy Infrastructure Study Commission."
Out of committee · 18
Designates State Highway Route 31 as the "Tri-County Purple Heart Memorial Highway."
Establishes and enhances certain insurance fraud prevention measures.
Establishes task force to study various issues related to improving special education programs and services for public school students.
Increases penalties for harboring or concealing certain sex offender.*
Prohibits State and local public contracts with persons or entities engaging in certain investment activities in energy or finance sectors of Iran.*
Permits veterans' organizations to use net proceeds from games of chance for organizations' support.
Establishes the "New Jersey Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act."
Designates portion of U.S. Route 206 bypass in Hillsborough Township as "Peter J. Biondi Bypass."
Eliminates restriction on placement of special education students in sectarian schools.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2013.
Lieutenant Scott Jenkins' Law; creates certain new criminal offenses aimed at theft from carriers; amends theft statutes.*
Provides for screening newborn infants for adrenoleukodystrophy.
Appropriates $55 million from "2009 Green Acres Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects, and approves $2,400,800 from 1995 bond act for coastal blue acres projects.
Establishes criminal penalties for killing, injuring or interfering with a service animal or guide dog; designated as "Dusty's Law." *
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Concerns assessment of penalties for certain fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and requires recovered penalties deposited into unemployment compensation fund.
Permits contractor in certain construction contracts with State college to choose between a retainage deduction from monthly progress payments or depositing a bond; allows 2% retainage deduction of amount due on each partial payment.
In committee · 94
Concerns repayment of unemployment insurance benefits obtained fraudulently.
Revises child pornography law.
Allows victims and relatives to witness parole hearings.
Permits layoff plans as substitute for employment reconciliation plans for joint meetings or shared service agreements under certain circumstances.
Requires life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of the murder of a minor under the age of 18 in the course of the commission of a sex crime.
Makes elected officials with compensation less than $50,000 ineligible for health care benefits on the 61st day after enactment.
Eliminates dual governmental pay to members of Legislature for legislative duties.
Regulates assignment and use of State vehicles.
Regulates assignment and use of vehicles owned or leased by State authorities.
Authorizes special emergency appropriations for the payment of certain expenses incurred by municipalities to implement a municipal consolidation.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
Requires prosecutor to determine risk of re-offense under Megan's Law prior to offender's release from incarceration.
Bars companies which hire illegal aliens from public contracts, grants, loans, or tax incentives for seven years.
Provides for mandatory forfeiture of retirement benefits of elected official convicted of crime involving office held.
Directs Attorney General to publicize information about human trafficking hotlines; mandates law enforcement training on responding to the needs of victims of the crime of human trafficking.
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Requires certain public entities to issue requests for proposals for purchase of certain insurance products and services; requires disclosure of commissions paid.
Prohibits elected officials and public employees from enrolling for health benefits with more than one public entity; provides civil action for treble expenses by public entity providing additional coverage.
Eliminates seniority in Civil Service and other jurisdictions for reductions in force in certain circumstances.
Provides for priority consideration, by State, of permit applications by counties and municipalities with 10 or more shared services.
Requires interpretive statements of State general obligation bond act public questions to include certain fiscal information.
"The New Jersey Healthcare Choice Act"; permits health insurers licensed in other states to provide coverage in New Jersey under certain circumstances.
"Education Investment Act"; establishes an equity financing for education program at certain public institutions of higher education.
Makes various changes to civil service law concerning seasonal appointments, temporary layoffs, and rescinding adoption of civil service.
The "New Jersey Parental Rights Program Act."
Adds child molestation and endangerment to crimes that subject public school employee offender to pension and retirement benefit forfeiture.
Exempts military personnel receiving combat zone pay from the gross income tax.
Provides public servant is guilty of official misconduct if he knowingly obtains, arranges or provides "no-show" job for himself or another.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Provides for mandatory imprisonment and forfeiture of retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes.
Makes members of county boards of taxation ineligible for membership in State-administered retirement system or for health care benefits coverage under plan for public employees.
Requires local authorities and commissions to establish an Internet website and post information related to each entity's mission, finances, meetings, and employees.
Establishes crime of participation in criminal street gang initiation ritual.
Expands duties of State Auditor to include performance audits at request of legislator; establishes Performance Audit Committee, consisting of eight public members, to help conduct performance audits.
Requires ballot question on approval of State bond issue to disclose total amount of debt of State or other entity, debt service on which is funded through annual State appropriation.
Creates the "Local Unit Audit Teams" program in the Department of the Treasury.
Requires Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to maintain information on Internet; requires certain assistance to be provided to individuals filing complaints with the committee.
Establishes special license plates supporting autism awareness.
Increases penalties for luring a child and kidnapping.
Requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to compile and annually update list of all unfunded State and federal mandates on municipalities and counties.
Enters New Jersey in Nurse Multistate Licensure Compact.
Establishes Governor's authority over approval of minutes of certain regional commissions.
Establishes measures to improve transparency and accountability of regional authorities of this State; enhances oversight of those authorities by Governor and State Comptroller.
Reduces number of signatures required on petition to recall elected official.
Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office.
Prohibits persons violating animal cruelty law from owning, keeping, or harboring animals; requires DHSS establish and maintain website list of such persons.
Prohibits annual bonuses for perfect attendance and the non-use of sick leave.
Prohibits terminal leave compensation for local government employees.
Prohibits member of Legislature from seeking certain grants or loans through annual appropriations act or legislatively-controlled program.
Requires suspension of payment for unused sick or vacation leave payable to person indicted for criminal offense; requires forfeiture of such payment upon service deemed dishonorable or conviction for crime.
Limits use and supplemental compensation for certain leave.
Permits boards of education to convey certain school property to nonprofit senior citizen organizations for nominal consideration.
Requires Director of Division of Taxation to study impact of State business income taxes on business out-migration, business formation, and employment.
Bars certain employees of certain public agencies from participating in PERS; repeals law permitting PERS and TPAF members on leave who work for labor organization to purchase pension credit.
Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain seasonal workers.
Prohibits dual government employment and office holding; requires pension forfeiture by convicted elected officials; bans use of campaign funds for criminal defense costs; revises legislative conflict of interest standards.
Prohibits payment to public employees at retirement for certain unused sick leave, provides for forfeiture of payment for unused sick leave for certain criminal convictions, and requires documentation for use of sick leave.
Establishes NJ Animal Abuser Registry.
Requires condominium and homeowners' associations to provide information to federal home loan insurance providers at no cost to potential buyers.
Establishes criminal penalties for killing, injuring or interfering with a guide dog; designated as "Dusty's Law."
Establishes bribery in official and political matters applies to person soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept benefit as consideration to act even though not yet in office or otherwise qualified to act.
"Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to entities contributing to scholarships for low-income children; appropriates $1,500,000 to Treasury.
Allows certain emergency squad volunteers holding municipal elective office to vote on emergency squad concerns.
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.
Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests.
Exempts employees and school board members of federal impact aid districts from certain out-of-state travel restrictions.
Specifies conditions under which State, county, municipality, independent authority, school district, or higher education institution can grant unpaid or paid leave of absence to public employee to perform work for labor organization.
Establishes offense of advertising commercial sexual abuse of minor.
Makes all persons convicted of sexual assault subject to the No Early Release Act; specifies that any use of force elevates sexual assault to aggravated sexual assault.
Requires in-network hospitals to notify patients of out-of-network health care professionals who provide services in hospital.
Reduces gross income tax rates by 10 percent over three years.
"The Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act of 2012"; requires public utilities to file certain information concerning emergency preparedness with BPU and increases certain penalties.
Excludes from gross income tax value of prizes or awards won in athletic competition in Olympic Games.
Renames Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility as "William H. Fauver Youth Correctional Facility."
Requires persons convicted of human trafficking of a child or engaging in prostitution of a child to register as sex offenders.
Permits human trafficking victims to testify by closed circuit television under certain circumstances.
Requires certain contractors to verify work authorization of newly hired employees.
Directs removal or enhancement of electric public utility infrastructure located in flood hazard area.
Prohibits public utility from filing rate increase petition under certain circumstances.
Disqualifies person named on federal Terrorist Watchlist from obtaining firearms identification card or permit to purchase handgun.
Expands definitions of "abused child" or "abused or neglected child" to include prenatal exposure of child to controlled substances.
Prohibits sale of video games containing mature and adult content to minors.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures.
Enacts the "NJ Family First Employer Act"; establishes award for certain employers.
"Direct Tax Relief for New Jersey Families Act"; Establishes the New Jersey Direct Property Tax Relief Program; increases the renter's gross income tax credit for property taxes; and increases the earned income tax credit.
Requires screening of certain high-risk pregnancies and reporting of fetal deaths.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to include information on life insurance plans in its student loan repayment information document.
Prohibits workers' compensation reimbursement to certain entities for treatment paid on behalf of injured worker.
Directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse municipalities for certain emergency services.
Excludes certain out-of-State businesses and employees from certain taxes, fees, and business registration requirements when temporarily performing in-State work or services during declared disaster or emergency.
Prohibits boards of education from charging students a fee to participate in extracurricular activities.
Provides for disclosure of person's medical records related to AIDS or HIV infection for investigations or prosecutions of crime of diseased person committing act of sexual penetration; makes crime ineligible for expungment.