Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, Senate.
Barbara Buono
Sponsored
Became law9
Amends the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriation act to implement certain components of the Executive's plan to offset shortfalls in State revenues.
Expands consumer protections under New Jersey's motor vehicle "lemon law."
"Grace's Law;" requires health insurers, State Health Benefits Program and NJ FamilyCare to provide coverage for hearing aids for covered persons 15 and younger.
Centralizes non-tax debt management functions for State government in Division of Revenue.
Requires DHS to verify income of applicants for Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare with Department of the Treasury records.
Revises calculation of Unemployment Trust Fund Reserve Ratio for experience rating year beginning July 1, 2008; appropriates $260,000,000 to unemployment compensation fund.
Regulates solicitation of credit cards on college campuses.
Makes changes to PERS and TPAF concerning retirement age, eligibility, purchase of service credit; makes various changes to SHBP administration; merges Washington and Lincoln holidays for State employees in Presidents Day. *
Revises New Jersey False Claims Act to comply with federal Deficit Reduction Act for purposes of entitling State to enhanced recovery in Medicaid fraud cases; establishes an annual reporting requirement for the Attorney General. *
Passed the Senate5
Requires NJ Transit to do report on rail station accessibility to the disabled.
Requires Treasurer and Division of Pensions and Benefits and Investment Directors to report on status of State-administered pension plans to Legislature by May 15 and November 15 each year. **
Prohibits sale of products containing dextromethorphan to minors under 18 years of age.
Provides Heritage Tourism Task Force with extension of time for submission of its heritage tourism master plan and inventory of historic sites.
Directs Medicaid to establish medical home demonstration project.
Out of committee21
Establishes the InvestNJ Business Grant Program in NJEDA to stimulate certain capital investment and job creation in New Jersey during a limited period, makes appropriations.
Abigail's Law; requires that newly-manufactured school buses be equipped with sensors. *
The "New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lending Act"; concerns certain licensed mortgage and consumer lending practices, supervision and enforcement. *
Requires matching of DOE and DOLWD data files to identify persons who are working in school districts despite having committed a disqualifying crime or having failed to undergo the required criminal history record check. *
Permits nonpartisan municipal elections to be held on same day as general elections. *
Amends stalking law to broaden protections for victims.
Permits municipalities and counties to make certain traffic engineering decisions without DOT approval.
Requires member of PERS or TPAF who holds concurrently more than one PERS-covered or TPAF-covered public position to designate one position as basis of membership.
Appropriates State and federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2008-2009.
Appropriates $28,990,484,000 in State funds and $13,859,752,122 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2009-2010. *
Makes FY 2009 supplemental appropriations totaling $20,768,000, reduces FY 2009 appropriations by $27,5000,000, and amends and supplements various language provisions affecting appropriations in FY 2009.
Temporarily increases income tax rates for taxpayers with income exceeding $400,000, temporarily adjusts property tax deduction for certain taxpayers with income exceeding $150,000 and taxes New Jersey Lottery Prizes exceeding $10,000. *
Requires health insurance coverage waiver to certain students enrolled at institutions of higher education.
Permits New Jersey Historic Trust to charge fees for publications and access to seminars; permits Trust to become tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Authorizes establishment of Dismal Swamp Preservation Commission. *
Repeals bidding requirement for local public contracts to allow bidders to avoid unresponsive bid if they inadvertently omit business registration from bid proposal provided that bidder was registered before bid submission deadline.
Extends transmittal date of fiscal year 2009-2010 gubernatorial budget message to Legislature to March 12, 2009.
Amends the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriation act to implement certain components of the Executive's plan to offset shortfalls in State revenues.
Requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a 45-day State tax amnesty period that ends no later than June 15, 2009.
Concerns payment of prevailing wage in certain construction undertaken with BPU financial assistance.
Requires a State tax expenditure report be included in the Governor's annual budget message.
In committee53
Increases minimum period of imprisonment from 10 to 30 days for driving while license revoked for DWI.
Eliminates downgrading of DWI offenses that occur more than 10 years after previous conviction.
Increases minimum loss ratio for individual and small employer-health benefits plans from 75% to 80%.
"New Jersey Financial Information Privacy Act."
Allows business tax credit to employers giving paid leave to employees for service with volunteer emergency services organizations.
The "Safe Schools and Communities Violence Prevention and Response Plan Act of 2000;" appropriates $5,100,000.
Requires school districts to provide transportation to public school pupils living along hazardous routes.
Requires school bus safety instruction in all school districts which provide pupil transportation.
Prohibits use of involvement in non-at-fault accidents and selection of collision and comprehensive coverages as tier rating factors.
Revises health wellness insurance benefits.
Regulates certain activities of pharmacy benefits management companies.
Permits deferred payment for six months of financial obligation incurred by member of National Guard killed on active duty.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Requires certain health care facilities to adopt certain infection control strategies.
Requires installation of lock on inside of classroom doors at public and independent institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic schools.
Directs MVC to implement certain State Auditor recommendations to enhance integrity of driver database.
Removes licensing requirement for recreational senior citizen bingo games.
Permits new residential owner or occupant to pay average municipal authority residential sewerage service charge in first year when billing based on previous year's water usage by former owner or occupant.
Requires carbon monoxide detectors in all school buildings.
Authorizes two-year property tax exemptions for facade and frontage improvements in certain older municipalities.
Authorizes municipality to require enhanced notice of applications for development under MLUL by posting signs and expanding scope of individual notice to property owners within 300 feet of subject property.
Repeals law establishing Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission.
Increases annual funding of Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund.
Establishes defibrillator grant program in DHSS for placement of defibrillators in senior citizen centers.
Authorizes actions for damages for computer impersonation and electronic forgery.
Authorizes actions for damages for computer embezzlement.
Requires health benefits coverage for bone mass measurement.
Authorizes State and local governments to enter into group purchasing agreement for alternative fueled vehicles.
Provides that public schools will not be in session on general election days when Office of President of the United States is on ballot.
Requires State aid for operating expenses of higher education institutions as a percentage of the State budget to equal national average.
Allows municipalities to double fines for moving motor vehicle violations in school zones.
Establishes "CARE Unit" in Division of Criminal Justice to fight crime against the elderly; makes an appropriation.
Requires breath or blood sample to be obtained from driver involved in motor vehicle accident resulting in death.
Establishes "In Case of Emergency Contact Program."
Increases drunk driving enforcement surcharge.
Imposes surcharge on drunk drivers to establish Drunk Driving Prevention and Education Grant Fund.
Provides credit against corporation business tax for taxpayers supporting child care facilities for employees.
Allows corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credit for certain costs of operating sick child care centers.
Allows corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credit for employer expenditures to provide certain physical fitness benefits to employees.
Allows gross income tax credits for certain dependent and child care expenses.
Restricts use of certain pesticides at certain schools, child care centers and family day care homes.
"Adolescents' Online Privacy Protection Act."
Requires 10 percent premium discount for good drivers who are with same insurer five or more years.
Requires acquisition of defibrillators for use in public and nonpublic high schools and training of certain personnel in usage; appropriates $900,000.
Regulates credit card solicitations on campuses of institutions of higher education.
Requires State Treasurer to organize and publish certain contract and grant data and information on State expenditure Internet website.
Directs DHS to prepare plan to establish primary care case management pilot program.
Allows gross income tax deductions for contributions to the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program.
Prohibits smoking at public parks and beaches.
Requires Commissioner of Education to determine if the estimated total costs of certain school facilities projects are reasonable.
Increases reimbursement rate for certain special education costs.
Provides for minor and her child to remain together as family unit in DYFS placement.
"Tax Preparers Licensing Act."
Co-sponsored
Became law · 17
Provides for gubernatorial appointment without requiring advice and consent of Senate for teenage members of Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
Requires local government officer to file financial disclosure statement within 30 days of taking office.
Exempts certain renewable energy systems from real property taxation. **
Requires drivers to make all reasonable efforts to remove ice or snow from vehicle; creates fine.
Bars certain sex offenders from positions in youth serving organizations.
Prohibits sale of certain flavored cigarettes.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive senior and disabled homestead property tax reimbursement.
Authorizes enhancement of State Uniform Construction Code's energy subcode based on anticipated energy savings; provides down payment assistance to certain purchasers of homes meeting enhanced energy subcode requirements.
Requires anatomical research recovery organizations to register with DHSS.
Provides marketing, information disclosure, and suitability requirements for certain annuities directly solicited to consumers. *
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Increases carryover period of net operating loss deduction under corporation business tax.
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. **
Requires public bodies to provide funds for outreach and training programs for minority group members and women in connection with certain construction contracts.
Appropriates $120,123,420 from various Green Acres funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Passed the Senate · 4
Revises criminal history record check process undergone by public and nonpublic school employees and school bus drivers.
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information. *
Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.
Expands type of school bus driver required to undergo DOE criminal record check process and requires matching of data files to ensure school bus drivers remain qualified pursuant to records maintained by DOE and MVC. *
Out of committee · 18
Establishes the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in the DEP and appropriates $200,000.
Revises laws concerning local redevelopment, relocation assistance and eminent domain. *
Revises statutory mental health coverage requirements and requires all health insurers and SHBP to cover treatment for alcoholism and other substance-use disorders under same terms and conditions as for other diseases or illnesses.
"Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program Act." **
Requires BPU financial incentives for photovoltaic equipment for residences that are Energy Star compliant receive preferred treatment.
Requires certain elected officials and appointed officers eligible for dual health benefits coverage to choose coverage by one public entity. *
"Janet's Law"; requires public and nonpublic schools, recreational fields and youth camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events, and public school to train pupils in use thereof and in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. *
Establishes "Bleeding Disorders Treatment Fund."
The "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
Enacts the "Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act."
Provides for adjustment and notice of date on which certain elections can occur if date coincides with period of religious observance.
Provides authorized emergency vehicles protection under lemon law.
Concerns prevailing wage in construction projects connected with Board of Public Utilities financial assistance.
Permits counties to create County Homelessness Trust Funds.
Adds non-voting member to NJT board.
Makes several changes to the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program.
Requires railroad company to negotiate in good faith with certain entities for sale of railroad right of way proposed for abandonment.
Increases penalties for loaning motor vehicle to person with suspended driver's license in certain circumstances.
In committee · 35
Establishes "Domestic Violence Health Care Response Act."
Clarifies goal of domestic violence public awareness campaign pertaining to risk factors; requires public awareness notices include language used by substantial segments of local populations.
Directs the Division on Women to conduct an audit of the coordination of community responses to domestic violence.
Enacts the "Civil Marriage and Religious Protection Act."
Requires dissemination of organ and tissue donation by State Treasurer, Personnel Commissioner, State contractors, and preparers of advanced health care directives; designates April of each year as Donate Life Month.
Disqualifies member of board of education for conviction of certain crimes and requires member to undergo criminal history background investigation.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Creates New Jersey Clinical Trials Registry in DHSS.
Eliminates use of vaccines containing mercury over three years.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Amends "Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act" to address terrorist and criminal acts.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Eliminates ambulatory care facility gross receipts assessment.
Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.
Permits State Lottery Commission to authorize 5,000 video lottery terminals at Meadowlands horse racetrack; preserves Casino Revenue Fund at FY2005 level; provides for benefits to horse racing industry.
Creates a Business Court.
Repeals cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
Increases the maximum amount of bonds issued by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority for the Public Library Project Fund from $45 million to $95 million to provide library construction and technology grants.
Removes confidential employee status from investigators in Division of Criminal Justice and Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Requires mandatory sexual violence training for law enforcement, judicial and prosecutorial personnel.
Expands scope of implied consent for BAC testing to include certain underage drivers who have consumed alcohol.
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Authorizes provision of interest-free loans from new home warranty security fund for homeowners to replace polybutylene water piping.
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Requires DHSS to make reported information about certain adverse events publicly available.
Confers civil service status on police officers employed by UMDNJ and Rutgers University.
"Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
Increases regulatory oversight and consumer protections concerning certain mortgage products, mortgage lending, and mortgage foreclosure practices.
Prohibits sale of food and beverage packaging and containers made with bisphenol A.
Authorizes DHSS to recover monies from certain charity care claims through contracted entity.
Requires certain appointed public officials to work 35 hours or more per week to be eligible for PERS and SHBP; requires termination of PERS and SHBP participation of certain appointed officials whose term of appointment expires.
Extends service prevailing wage requirements to food service contracts and to local units and State authorities.
Limits NJBEST asset-based fees and requires that program offer multiple age-based investment options.