Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, General Assembly.
Alison Littell McHose
Sponsored
Became law1
Permits parent of twins or higher order multiples enrolled in public school to select shared or separate classroom placement of their children.
In committee63
Prohibits certain cabinet-level officers from engaging in outside employment for compensation.
Permits use of deadly force against black bears in certain cases.
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses providing employment to certain National Guard or reservists.
Establishes New Jersey Commission on State Advertisements and Promotions; prohibits appearance of Governor in State advertisements or promotions unless appearance is essential to achieve public purpose.
Requires appropriations in the nature of grants-in-aid to include certain criteria in the act in which they are enacted.
Regulates the level of State debt service payments on bonds issued by the State or State entities and prohibits the use of bond proceeds to pay interest on bonds.
Exempts construction, expansion or renovation of buildings or other structures for police departments, fire departments, and volunteer first aid, emergency, ambulance or rescue squads from "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Clarifies that Fish and Game Council has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Allows school psychologists to treat certain individuals in the private sector; provides for health benefits coverage therefor.
Requires that the members of a housing authority must reside in the municipality in which the housing authority was created.
Requires MVC to immediately suspend driver's license of alleged drunk drivers who cause a death.
Adds "significant bodily injury" to assault by auto or vessel statute; upgrades penalties for inflicting serious bodily injury.
Specifies motor vehicle fines from tickets issued by State Police providing rural patrol be paid to municipality, not State.
Establishes the "Rural Police Services Relief Fund."
Prohibits unauthorized use of name and images of members of Armed Forces of United States.
Prohibits filling of vacancy among candidates nominated at primaries after 48th and before 14th day before general election, except due to death; prohibits filling subsequent vacancies before elections.
Prohibits foreign ownership of certain transportation infrastructure.
Prohibits the Delaware River Port Authority from selling or leasing certain transportation infrastructure projects to foreign corporations or governments.
Prohibits the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from selling or leasing certain transportation infrastructure projects to foreign corporations or governments.
Prohibits the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission from selling or leasing certain transportation infrastructure projects to foreign corporations or governments.
Prohibits the Delaware River and Bay Authority from selling or leasing certain transportation infrastructure projects to foreign corporations or governments.
Removes charges for initiation fees, membership fees, or dues from sales and use tax.
Establishes Lane Splitting Task Force.
Requires voter registration forms be made available when applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping license.
Prohibits DOT from putting tolls on I-78 and I-80 and from transferring jurisdiction to independent authority or entity.
Provides that public official may refuse to solemnize civil unions if solemnization conflicts with public official's conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs.
Clarifies certain standards for regulation of recreational vehicles as housing.
Prohibits State departments and agencies from considering or requiring compliance by Highlands planning area municipalities with Highlands regional master plan in certain circumstances.
Establishes reporting requirements and permissive inference for violations by motor vehicle operators approaching or passing certain horses, ponies and mules.
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Prohibits certain candidates from receiving public financing for campaigns.
Establishes eleven-member "New Jersey Clean Elections Financing Study Commission."
Encourages purchase of "Jersey Fresh" and other NJ agricultural products by State agencies, departments and facilities.
Establishes task force in Department of Agriculture to develop markets for place-based foods.
Establishes wind easements in NJ.
Revises definition of religious employer in statute concerning insurance coverage of prescription female contraceptives.
Clarifies provisions of law concerning commissions and buyer's premiums for sale of local government real estate.
Requires minimum geographic cost adjustment for school districts in certain counties.
Provides that NJ STARS students can enroll in county college outside county of residence under certain circumstances.
Clarifies that licensed dealers may provide firearms for display at fund raising events sponsored by certain tax exempt organizations.
Sunsets "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" five years after date of enactment unless certain conditions are met.
"Ovarian Health Protection Act"; prohibits procurement or use of human eggs for research or experimentation.
Limits the salaries of school business administrators, superintendents of schools, and assistant superintendents of schools to the salary of the Commissioner of Education.
Prohibits housing allowance in contract between State Board of Education and State district superintendent.
Establishes Department of Economic Development and Regulatory Affairs; transfers certain functions, powers, duties, agencies, divisions, and other entities from other principal departments to Department of Economic Development and Regulatory Affairs.
Establishes new Dept. of Agriculture and Conservation; clarifies authority of Fish and Game Council in but not of the new department.
Prohibits placing primary election candidates into political party lines on primary ballot.
Prohibits MVC from charging certain fees for renewal of boat or motor vehicle registrations.
Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning socio-economic impact statements for proposed rule-making.
Provides procedures for crediting certain dwellings used by agricultural laborers in determination of municipality's fair share housing obligation.
Renames Dept. of Agriculture as Dept. of Agriculture and Conservation; transfers certain agencies from other depts. to Dept. of Agriculture and Conservation; clarifies authority of Fish and Game Council.
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website.
Protects property owned by military personnel and first responders from condemnation.
Excludes certain stable stall rentals from sales and use tax imposition and provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of equine-related services.
Precludes most distributions of increased value of pre-marital residence at time of divorce.
Expands range of local units eligible to join an insurance fund established by a municipality or county under certain circumstances.
Exempts certain lake association membership fees and dues from sales and use tax.
Establishes task force to study treatment of veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in judicial proceedings.
Establishes sex-selection and race-selection abortions as third degree crimes and permits civil actions.
Requires physicians to provide patients opportunity to undergo obstetrical ultrasound or sonogram within 48 hours of performing abortion.
Eliminates $500 minimum tax on New Jersey S corporations with New Jersey gross receipts less than $100,000 under Corporation Business Tax.
Provides certain retirees from public police departments the right to hawk, peddle and vend.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 12
Requires boards of education to permit public participation at board meetings.
Extends payment of accidental death benefit in PFRS, SPRS, PERS and TPAF to survivors of certain members of reserve component of Armed Forces and National Guard. *
Delays expiration date of certain professional and occupational licenses and registrations for individuals with certain types of military services. *
Requires training program for and recognizes position of technical assistant to construction code official.
Establishes Veterans' Oral History Foundation.
Establishes pilot program in Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to high school seniors.
Eliminates throwout of receipts in allocation of entire net income under the corporation business tax; eliminates "regular place of business" requirement to allocate less than 100% of income to New Jersey. *
Permits municipalities and counties to make certain traffic engineering decisions without DOT approval.
The "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
Provides authorized emergency vehicles protection under lemon law.
Requires confirmation of financial assistance for eligible homeowners voluntarily closing or replacing petroleum underground storage tanks, and expands eligibility for financial assistance. *
Requires member of New Jersey National Guard to apply for tuition benefits under Post-911 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at public institutions of higher education. *
Vetoed · 1
Expands scope of New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act dealing with economic impact of rules on small businesses.
Passed the General Assembly · 9
Revises New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act and other laws relating thereto. *
Establishes a "State Authorities Review Commission."
Changes perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around occupied building.
Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits.
Requires certain elected officials and appointed officers eligible for dual health benefits coverage to choose coverage by one public entity. *
Prohibits mislabeling and misbranding of farm products; directs Secretary of Agriculture to investigate and enforce violations; increases penalties for certain violations.
Creates alternate voting members on county agriculture development boards.
Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits.
Enhances crime victims' rights under the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights."
Out of committee · 29
Requires local government officer to file financial disclosure statement within 30 days of taking office.
Establishes Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in DEP and appropriates $200,000 therefor from Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund.
Provides for promotion and sale of "Jersey Fresh" and other NJ agricultural or horticultural products at service areas along certain toll roads.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance regulating where sex offenders may reside. *
Establishes program for directing motorists to agricultural tourism establishment locations. *
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct their own pension plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Authorizes deer hunting with bow and arrow on Sundays.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" increases sentences for sex offenders and persons who harbor them.
Requires adoption of constitutions and bylaws by county political party committees; requires certain information concerning committee members to be filed with county clerk; eliminates fixed terms for committee members and chairs. *
Appropriates $33 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Removes appropriations for gypsy moth suppression from the municipal expenditure cap and county and municipal tax levy cap.
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Appropriates $54,917,725 from various Green Acres funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Appropriates $8,430,250 from various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Revises deadline for selection of delegates for annual convention of New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
Authorizes special license plates with proceeds to the families of NJ troops overseas.
Provides manufacturers a single sales fraction corporation business tax income allocation formula.
"Kyleigh's law;" requires holders of special learner's permits, examination permits, and provisional driver's licenses to display certain decals. *
Increases carryover period of net operating loss deduction under corporation business tax. *
Extends expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs from 2009 to 2014.
Requires high-mounted rear stoplights on certain passenger vehicles.
Appropriates $27.75 million from "2007" Farmland Preservation Fund" and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Fund" for planning incentive grants to municipalities for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $49.65 million from "2007" Farmland Preservation Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $6.45 million from "2007 Farmland Preservation Fund" and "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $66 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," "2007 Green Acres Fund," and "2007 Blue Acres Fund" for State acquistion of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects.
Appropriates $120,123,420 from various Green Acres funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Appropriates $19,919,700 from various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $15,557,201 from various historic preservation funds to provide grants for certain historic preservation projects, and appropriates $574,805 from certain historic preservation bond funds for associated administrative expenses.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
In committee · 134
Eliminates legislative leadership committees.
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.
The "New Jersey Self-Defense Law."
Eliminates public school district budget reduction appeals to Commissioner of Education.
Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.
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.
Provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations.
Establishes pilot program in Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to high school seniors.
Increases membership of PFRS board of trustees from 11 to 13 members.
Excludes certain illegal aliens from workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits.
Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens.
Ends the transitional energy facilities assessment, caps the State use portion of State energy tax revenues and ensures the balance of such State revenues are paid annually as municipal aid.
Limits contributions to certain candidates and elected officials by certain public contractors; limits contributions by certain political party committees; repeals certain campaign contribution prohibitions.
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain State, county and municipal elective offices; provides for transition period between offices.
Establishes a "Local Authorities Review Commission."
Directs AG to enter into agreement with U.S. Attorney General to empower certain corrections officers to investigate immigration status of inmates.
Modifies rule governing decisions under the "Municipal Land Use Law."
Implements the economic indicator recommendations of the Commissioner of Education on Abbott district designation.
Authorizes the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations concerning the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation.
Provides that English shall be the official language of the State.
Requires public bodies to allow public comment at every meeting.
Requires DEP to refund application fee to certain persons exempt from Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act.
Provides for direct property tax relief from Highlands Property Tax Stabilization Fund.
Repeals gross receipts and use taxes on retail sales of fur clothing.
Authorizes municipalities that petition for or receive substantive certification pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act" to make certain affordable housing units available on a preferential basis to certain eligible persons.
"Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act"; appropriates $75,000.
Includes same sex marriages among marriages declared void; provides that New Jersey will not recognize marriages in other jurisdictions which are void in New Jersey.
Requires proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain certain benefits.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Revises Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act; repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Prohibits use of public funds for embryonic stem cell research.
Provides for philosophical exemption to mandatory immunizations.
Requires school districts to inform the parent or guardian of a student recommended to use certain medications of the possible side effects and potential negative consequences of those medications.
Allows a corporation business taxpayer recognizing income, gain or loss pursuant to a plan of complete liquidation to deduct its net operating loss carryovers notwithstanding the limitations on such deductions during the 2002-2005 tax years.
Establishes Commission on Women Veterans.
Extends limit for nonpublic school busing to 30 miles in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Salem, Sussex and Warren Counties.
Establishes prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse public awareness campaign; designated Jason's Law.
Prohibits candidates and elected public officials charged with crimes from using campaign contributions for their legal defense.
Removes limousine services from sales and use tax imposition.
Eliminates use of vaccines containing mercury over three years.
Requires the reporting of criminal offenses occurring on school property to law enforcement authorities.
Repeals cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
Extends certain federal income tax advantages of individual health savings accounts to individual taxpayers under the New Jersey gross income tax.
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
"Women's Right to Know Act."
Revises procedures for securing a permit to carry a handgun.
Exempts membership fees, initiation fees, or dues for access to health and fitness, athletic, or sporting clubs of certain charitable organizations from sales and use tax.
Permits a farm income averaging credit under the New Jersey gross income tax.
The "Public Dam Rehabilitation Project Bond Act," authorizes bonds for $90,000,000 and appropriates $5,000.
Prohibits enrollment in PERS of public employee who is also public contractor; requires member to designate only one position as basis of enrollment.
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain State, county and municipal elective and appointive positions.
Concerns affordable housing in the Highlands Region.
Repeals Highlands planning and environmental permitting provisions of "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," and amends various statutes to reflect repeal thereof.
Requires Attorney General to defend certain local law enforcement officers.
Requires in public schools instruction on the contributions of United States veterans and the observance of patriotic exercises on certain holidays.
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Requires adoption and distribution of constitutions and bylaws by county political party committees; requires certain oaths of office by committee members; requires certified list of committee members to be filed with county clerk.
Eliminates the alternative minimum assessment under the corporation business tax.
Provides that no more than four of the seven public members appointed to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council may be of the same political party.
Allows for exclusion of certain properties from Highlands preservation area.
Eliminates the New Jersey inheritance tax and repeals chapters 33 through 37 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes.
Requires public referendum prior to issuance of general obligation bonds by local units.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
Provides gross income tax credit for certain small business employers that provide health care benefits to employees.
Requires State Treasurer to post information about State contracts for legal services on special website.
Caps bond counsel legal fees and costs on public issuers' bond transactions and requires a competitive selection process for retaining bond counsel.
Provides for no net loss of DEP lands for fishing, hunting, and trapping purposes.
Enhances duty and broadens liability concerning security of personal information, and response to breach of security, under "Identity Theft Prevention Act."
Decreases BPU membership from five to three members.
Prohibits certain public officers and employees from receiving dual health care benefit coverage.
Excludes certain federal employee Thrift Savings Fund contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote."
Requires "permanent injury" under limitation on lawsuit threshold to seriously impact life of injured person to pierce threshold.
"The New Jersey Healthcare Choice Act"; permits health insurers licensed in other states to provide coverage in New Jersey under certain circumstances.
Clarifies the responsible planning entity for provision of fair share housing.
Provides that municipalities with minimum amounts of developable land and minimum densities in residential zones are protected from builders' remedy lawsuits.
Repeals law providing benefits for family temporary disability leave.
Prohibits Council on Affordable Housing from establishing affordable housing need and fees based on commercial and industrial development.
Exempts employees and school board members of federal impact aid districts from certain out-of-state travel restrictions.
Establishes motor vehicle registration for street rods and custom motor vehicles.
Repeals sections of law pertaining to transfer of civil service and non-civil service employees of terminated local health agency to superseding agency.
Restores the death penalty for certain murders.
Clarifies right of employers to require employees to speak English while engaged in work.
Appropriates $600,000 to the Lake Hopatcong Commission from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenues.
Prohibits awarding of certain State grant funds to nonprofit organization which includes on its governing board the Governor or legislator.
Prohibits use of purchased out-of-State service pension credit for post-retirement health care benefits.
Establishes "New Jersey Commission on Government Efficiency and Cost Control" to recommend measures for efficiency and cost reduction in State government.
Requires State provide description of services to be provided if local unit must pay for services.
"Jessica Lunsford Act;" concerns sentencing of sex offenders and persons who harbor them; requires electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders and creates child protection zones.
Increases membership of Fish and Game Council and clarifies it has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Prohibits sale of lottery tickets or shares after claim of top prizes.
Extends expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs from 2009 to 2014 for lands in Highlands Region.
Caps noneconomic damages in medical malpractice actions at $250,000.
Eliminates imposition of sales and use tax on charges for initiation fees, membership fees, or dues for access to or use of certain health and fitness clubs and organizations.
Requires voter referendum and vote by affected governing bodies for approval of proposed consolidation plan.
Authorizes black bear hunting permits and permit fees, and clarifies Fish and Game council authority over bear hunting.
Expands calibers of rim-fire rifles permitted on State wildlife management target ranges.
Designates New Jersey Route No. 15 as "Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway."
Prohibits employment of unauthorized aliens.
Requires principals and teachers of public schools to conduct an oral recitation from the Declaration of Independence before the opening of school each day in grades 3-12; appropriates $10,000.
Designated the Shop Here, Save Money, Secure Jobs Act of 2008; establishes sales and use tax rate reduction period from November 28, 2008 through January 4, 2009, sets reduction period tax rate at 3.5%.
Excludes overtime pay of certain employees from gross income tax.
Allows vendors to retain 1% of sales tax collected as consideration for collecting and promptly remitting the same.
Establishes Lake Hopatcong Fund, dedicates $700,000 annually from pleasure boat registration fees to that fund, and appropriates $700,000 for FY2009.
Provides sales tax exemption for sales of prepared foods.
Delays implementation of paid family leave for two years.
"Zero-Based Budget Act;" requires State Treasurer to develop and integrate certain zero-based budgeting practices and procedures in preparation and submission of Governor's annual budget message.
Concerns hazardous waste transporter fee.
"Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act in New Jersey."
Eliminates supplemental realty transfer fee and one percent fee on transfers of certain commercial real estate and tax on sale of controlling interests in certain commercial real property.
Bars sex offenders from jobs which primarily consist of contact with children.
Abolishes Council on Affordable Housing for failure to comply with legislative directives.
Expands the list of crimes that may not be expunged.
Eliminates expansion of preschool education program in "School Funding Reform Act of 2008."
Establishes in DEP the Environmental Science Review Board and Environmental Policy Review Board to review proposed environmental regulations for consistency with planning policies and science.
Permits approval of certain regional contribution agreements through December 31, 2009.
Abolishes offices of superintendent of elections and deputy superintendent; transfers powers and duties thereof to county commissioner of registration or county board of elections.
Mandates NICS check be the exclusive method law enforcement uses to determine whether an applicant is qualified to purchase and possess a firearm.
Establishes in DEP the Environmental Science Review Board to review proposed environmental regulations for consistency with science.
Exempts contaminated and industrially-zoned sites from affordable housing rules.
Prohibits the imposition of affordable housing need and related fees upon the local transfer or move of a business.
Requires breath or blood sample to be obtained from driver involved in motor vehicle accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Decreases sales and use tax rate from 7% to 6%.
Expands scope of review of Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission.
Excludes certain contributions to deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings under the gross income tax.
Repeals law allowing PFRS member to retire with PFRS pension and continue to receive salary for current PFRS-covered elective office.
Provides certain limits on benefits coverage by health insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP for certain services related to infertility.
Provides that certain absentee ballots will be counted if received within ten days of election.
Provides single sales fraction for corporation business tax income allocation formula and establishes airline-specific sales fraction.
Provides that sales by UEZ retailers of items delivered to location outside of the UEZ shall not qualify for partial exemption from the sales tax.
Changes membership of Lake Hopatcong Commission and requires DEP to develop water level management plan for Lake Hopatcong to be approved by commission.
Grants municipal courts discretion to assess court costs for certain dismissals and changes court costs for certain violations.
Appropriates $17.45 million in 1992 and 2003 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects.