Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, General Assembly.
Upendra J. Chivukula
Sponsored
Became law2
Authorizes rural electric cooperative and certain municipalities to establish municipal shared services authority.*
Amends definition of "Class II renewable energy."
Passed the General Assembly1
Requires written contract between customers and third-party electric power and gas suppliers.
Out of committee5
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research institutions; allows certain technology businesses located in certain innovation zones to receive certain tax credits under Grow New Jersey Assistan
Requires BPU to establish uniform Statewide reliability standards for electric and gas public utilities.*
"Government Energy Reliability and Savings Public-Private Partnership Act."
Creates Office of Clean Energy.
Designates New Jersey Big Data Alliance as State's advanced cyberinfrastructure consortium.
In committee24
Provides for submission to voters in each county a binding referendum on the establishment of a county administrative school district to govern and operate all public schools in the county.
Establishes governance structure for county administrative school districts.
Requires electric, gas, and water public utilities to provide bill credits to volunteer fire companies, first aid, rescue, and emergency squads, and nonprofit homeless and domestic violence assistance organizations.
Expands State's energy efficiency and renewable energy requirements.
Establishes alternative distributed energy generating requirement; provides financial incentives for certain alternative distributed energy generating facilities.
Establishes temperature control guidelines and standards for school facilities.
"Save New Jersey Electric and Gas Public Utility Customer Service and Call Center Jobs Act"; requires notification by electric and gas utilities when relocating customer and call centers out of State.
Provides gross income tax exclusion for capital gains from sale of certain employer securities.
Amends Offshore Wind Economic Development Act concerning offshore wind energy facilities and wind energy zones.
Classifies energy derived from hydrothermal decomposition as Class I renewable energy.
Allows use of master meter system in residential dwellings under certain conditions.
Requires MVC to publish driver's manual on website in certain languages.
Allows law enforcement agencies to utilize electronic signatures on police reports; requires Attorney General to adopt uniform guidelines.
Enhances retail competition in electric power and gas supply industries.
Abolishes Division of Rate Counsel and transfers functions to Office of Attorney General; decreases BPU membership.
Directs Rutgers Discovery Informatics Institute, Office of Information Technology, and New Jersey Big Data Alliance to develop advanced cyberinfrastructure strategic plan.
Requires electric public utilities to conduct vegetation management adjacent to service lines on certain real properties.
Establishes uniform real property taxation for commercial renewable energy systems and limits municipal construction permit fees for non-commercial renewable energy systems.
Requires State to use energy-efficient outdoor lighting fixtures.
Permits NJ boat manufacturers to qualify for EDA loans for renewable energy technology, equipment, or systems.
Provides gross income tax exclusion for capital gains from sale of certain employer securities by qualified business that result in net positive benefit to the State.
Establishes traffic law public awareness campaign.
Requires 9-1-1 service facilities to be equipped with system for processing requests for emergency services sent via text message.
Requires electric public utilities to place distribution infrastructure underground if fully compensated by certain public hospitals and public institutions of higher education.
Carried from the Senate
Became law1
Designates New Jersey Big Data Alliance as State's advanced cyberinfrastructure consortium.*
Vetoed1
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research institutions; allows certain technology businesses located in certain innovation zones to receive certain tax credits under Grow New Jersey Assistan
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Prohibits sending unsolicited advertising by text messaging, and requires companies offering text messaging services to allow customers to block all incoming and outgoing text messages.
Requires Division on Civil Rights and DCA to post information regarding disability accommodation rights for owners and occupants of condominiums, cooperatives, and other common interest communities.
Requires DHS and DMVA to conduct or contract for follow-up studies of former residents transitioning to community from their facilities.*
Creates the option to make a voluntary contribution for the support of local libraries on gross income tax returns.
Concerns exemptions from permits for certain agricultural activities under "Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act". *
Grants immunity from liability for certain professional services rendered during emergencies under certain circumstances.
Exempts certain offers and sales of securities from registration.*
Requires issuance of one free copy of a veteran's death certificate to certain authorized persons upon request.
"Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act."
Requires one-time application for requesting services for individuals with developmental disabilities from DCF and DHS.
Establishes Equipment Loan Program in NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust; changes submission and approval requirements for financial plan.
Vetoed · 3
Requires fire suppression systems in new single and two family homes.
Provides State aid for certain adult education programs.
Requires each school district with middle school or high school to establish food services advisory committee to consider menu options that reflect students' cultural, traditional, and dietary preferences.*
Passed the General Assembly · 17
Requires court to issue animal protective orders against persons found guilty of abusing animals.
Clarifies authority of municipal court to suspend driver's licenses; establishes that the terms revoke and suspend are to have the same meaning under Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.*
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Establishes the "New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act."*
Requires institutions of higher education to provide to prospective students certain cost, loan, and debt information in financial aid shopping sheet.
Exempts veterans' organizations from nonprofit corporation annual report filing fee.
Permits sale of home-baked goods under certain circumstances.
Authorizes prescribed burning in certain circumstances.
The "Real Estate Installment Contract Act."
Regulates mailed manufacturer's rebates.
Authorizes Attorney General to impose a fine against institution of higher education that fails to appropriately respond to a student's allegation of sexual assault by another student.*
Designates Common Eastern Bumble Bee as New Jersey State Native Pollinator.
Requires oversight reporting on Hurricane Sandy recovery funds.
Authorizes issuance of restraining orders for situtations in which domestic violence statutes do not apply.
Requires Attorney General to establish Statewide gun buyback program.
Requires 9-1-1 service facilities be equipped with Next Generation 9-1-1 system and provides funding for that purpose; makes texting the 9-1-1 emergency system without purpose of reporting need for 9-1-1 service a fourth degree crime.**
Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act; Provides income tax credit to family caregivers of certain armed service members with physical disabilities.
Out of committee · 19
Eliminates awarding of attorneys' fees, filing fees and costs of suit for certain technical violations of consumer fraud act.*
Establishes carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide air quality standards and certification requirements for ice arenas.*
Establishes DOT roadside memorial program for fallen police officers, sheriff's officers, EMS workers, and firefighters; designated as "Patrolman Joseph Wargo's Law.**
Permits master deed of condominium to reflect proportional common and limited common elements interests of each owner as fractions.
Establishes pilot project to permit voters in military service on active duty overseas, and their eligible family members, to vote in certain elections using the Internet; makes appropriation.*
Extends "Right to Farm" protection to certain agricultural tourism acttivities and events; requires adoption of agricultural management practices therefor; permits special occasion events that promote agricultural tourism conducted at wineries under certa
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically engineered material.*
Permits two or more candidates for school board member to circulate petitions jointly and be bracketed together on ballot for same term.
Requires health insurance carriers to use standard explanation of benefits form.
Reduces amount of fire duty required in order to receive exempt fireman certificate.
Allows tax credits for development of qualified wind energy facilities in certain portfield sites.
Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ's required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Establishes forest stewardship program for State-owned lands.
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.*
Establishes one-year moratorium on replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with wireless telephone service; requires BPU to report to Governor and Legislature. *
Revises procedure for issuance of amended birth certificate for person who has undergone change in sex.
Enhances penalty for leaving the scene of boating accident.
Establishes Class I renewable energy certificate multiplier program for certain energy production facilities fueled by methane.
Concerns street light outage reporting.
In committee · 67
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain seasonal workers.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Revises definition of "necessary care" in the State's animal cruelty law to include more specific requirements.
Establishes Hunterdon-Somerset Flood Advisory Task Force.
Establishes a Business Part in the Superior Court.
Creates a Business Court.
Establishes crime of participation in criminal street gang initiation ritual.
Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of a residence to a second degree crime under certain circumstances.
Establishes the Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth in DOE, and the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force.
Authorizes professional and occupational boards to recognize continuing education approval entities.
Establishes public-private alternative fueling station pilot program.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
Requires insurers to provide coverage for medications and dose-intensive chemotherapy/bone marrow transplants and umbilical cord blood transplants for treatment of sickle cell anemia.
Increases penalties for failing to secure a child in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat while operating a motor vehicle.
Requires health care facilities to report certain information about their health care staff to their respective professional boards or DHSS.
Revises New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act and other laws relating thereto.
Prohibits use of certain underwriting guidelines by insurers pertaining to guide dogs, service dogs, or hearing assistance dogs harbored on the insured property.
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.
Establishes special motorcycle license plates for veterans.
Requires Secretary of State to establish secure Internet website for online voter registration; authorizes use of digitized signatures from New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission's database.
Prohibits the sale of certain children's products containing lead, mercury, or cadmium.
Makes a $3 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of certain electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Provides for licensure of pediatric respite care facilities.
Transfers Bureau of Securities to Department of Banking and Insurance.
Makes permanent certain temporary authorizations that expanded permitted investment by Director of Division of Investment of State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund and State pension funds.
Requires adoption agency, court, or DYFS to maintain child's religious upbringing when placing child in adoptive or resource family home.
The "Smart Container Act."
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.
Requires that police obtain warrant to seize cell phone data.
Requires that police obtain warrant to attach GPS device to suspect's motor vehicle.
Directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse municipalities for certain emergency services.
Requires health benefits coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances and provides reimbursement therefor.
Allows monies statutorily dedicated to standardbred or thoroughbred horse racing purses to be used for benefit of horse racing industry, subject to agreement between permitholder and representative horsemen's organization.
Requires notification of certain domestic violence victims through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday System (VINE).
Permits counties and municipalities to use snow removal reserve funds for clearance of debris following declaration of emergency by President or Governor.
Establishes Division of Minority and Women Business Development and State Chief Disparity Officer to monitor efforts to promote participation by minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State contracting.
Concerns transfer of PANYNJ contracts related to marine terminals.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for certain infant formulas.
Expands the Tuition Aid Grant program to part-time undergraduates.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for pediatric cancer research.
Requires owner or operator of industrial establishment applying for de minimis exemption from "Industrial Site Recovery Act" to certify as to no actual knowledge of contamination exceeding remediation standards.
Requires DEP to update Shore Protection Master Plan.
Requires investigating law enforcement officer to contact next of kin of unconscious motor vehicle accident victim who has been transported to hospital emergency room.
Allows homestead property tax reimbursement program participants who lose income eligibility due to an IRA withdraw for certain purposes to maintain base year upon requalification.
Establishes certain procedures for awarding design-build contracts.
Requires health insurers to disclose broker commissions to purchasers.
Allows gross income taxpayers to use their gross income tax returns to make voluntary contributions to the Rutgers Oral History Archives.
Establishes "Rutgers, The State University Study Commission."
Permits developer to qualify for low-interest loan from NJEDA when building a high performance green building.
Requires installation of operational automatic rain sensor on lawn sprinklers as condition of sale and on lawn sprinklers on commercial, retail or industrial property and in common interest communities within specified timeframes.
Provides supplemental appropriation of $2,700,000 to DCA for Neighborhood Preservation Program.
Requires use of uniform silver flags to mark certain pesticide applications.
Establishes animal cruelty offense of cruel confinement of a gestating pig.
Creates grant program for newly established small businesses engaged in life sciences.
Creates matching grant program for small businesses engaged in life sciences.
Directs New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Secretary of Higher Education to promote the establishment of higher education and business partnerships.
Increases tobacco products wholesale sales and use tax rates to be on par with tax rate imposed on cigarettes under cigarette tax; dedicates revenue for smoking and tobacco use cessation programs.
Provides extended validity to wastewater service area designations and sewer service area designations, and revises certain aspects of wastewater management planning process.
Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless.
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools, playgrounds, and recreational fields.
Provides sales and use tax exemption for compressed natural gas used to fuel certain bus operation.
Eliminates restriction on placement of special education students in sectarian schools.
Creates special license plates supporting Autism Awareness.
Prohibits development over 35 feet in height in Hudson River Palisades viewshed.