Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, General Assembly.
Albert Coutinho
Sponsored
Became law2
Increases EDA bonding limit for State share of school facilities projects; specifies debt service for these bonds will first be payable from revenues received from gross income tax; establishes priority categories for non-SDA district projects. *
Provides for programs and services for inmates and formerly incarcerated persons; and institutes certain administrative procedures. *
Passed the General Assembly1
Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless.
Out of committee4
Authorizes certain municipalities to impose and securitize a motor vehicle rental tax funding certain redevelopment activities, and to impose parking and ticket surcharges at certain facilities to fund senior and youth health and recreation purposes. **
Expands eligibility, clarifies qualifications and limits certain provisions under the "Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act."
Repeals the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium statute.
Revises State share calculation for debt service aid for new school facilities projects of county vocational school districts.
In committee11
Allows certain members of PFRS to serve until age 70 upon approval by municipal governing body.
Exempts TPAF retirees reemployed as mentor teachers or part-time science or math teachers from TPAF reenrollment.
Indexes minimum appropriations required to continue imposition of State hotel and motel occupancy fee to consumer Price Index.
Offers surviving spouse of TPAF or PERS member with 25 or more years of service choice of deferred pension instead of current return of contributions and non-contributory life insurance.
Authorizes Commissioner of Education to enter into a contract with a public entity for the operation of Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.
Establishes advocacy pilot program for mentally ill offenders.
Permits municipalities hosting UEZs to establish set-aside programs favoring local businesses for construction projects using State funds.
Requires newly manufactured handguns be micro-stamped.
Allows firms, designated as qualified UEZ businesses, that experience economic hardship to lower employment levels without losing that designation.
Increases compensation for persons wrongfully imprisoned.
Authorizes Commissioner of Education to increase the State share of certain county vocational school district school facilities projects.
Carried from the Senate
Became law2
Repeals the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium statute.
Revises State share calculation for debt service aid for new school facilities projects of county vocational school districts. *
Co-sponsored
Became law · 38
Prohibits individuals from purchasing more than one handgun in a calendar month.
Revises laws concerning the provision of affordable housing.
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. *
Revises eligibility for expungement of criminal and juvenile delinquency records.
Establishes pilot program in Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to high school seniors.
Adds contact via electronic device to prohibited contact enumerated in permanent restraining orders for convicted stalkers. **
Permits siting of NJ Hall of Fame project anywhere in State; clarifies responsibility of NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to establish corporation to operate project and specifies membership of corporation. *
Requires health benefits coverage for certain therapies for the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. *
"Self-Directed Support Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Rights Act."
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to Community Food Pantry Fund and to Cat and Dog Spay/Neuter Fund. *
"Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program Act." *
Authorizes EDA to develop and finance parking structures in certain urban and suburban areas. *
Requires each general hospital and State psychiatric hospital to annually conduct public meeting for community it serves. *
Enacts "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children."
Requires schools to notify certain students of potential eligibility for NJ STARS Program.
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. *
Authorizes court to waive or reduce parole ineligibility or grant probation for drug-free school zone violations under certain circumstances.
Permits municipalities to set strict absentee policies for service on authorities, boards, and commissions.
Allows director of corporation to provide notice of resignation, which resignation is only effective upon occurrence of certain event.
Provides that corporate by-laws may allow corporation to eliminate plurality voting for corporate directors.
Makes revisions to personal assistance services program in DHS.
Establishes licensing program for site remediation professionals; changes laws concerning site remediation. *
Creates Solar and Wind Energy Commission.
Concerns on-site generation facilities.
Makes FY 2009 supplemental appropriations totaling $22,500,000 to provide food, energy and legal aid assistance to individuals and families under the "New Jersey Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan."
Establishes the "Main Street Business Assistance Program;" appropriates $50 million.
Requires DHS to develop procedures to enable hospitals to promptly transfer emergency department patients with mental illness to appropriate treatment setting. *
The "New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lending Act"; concerns certain licensed mortgage and consumer lending practices, supervision and enforcement.
Appropriates funds to DEP for clean water environmental infrastructure projects.
"New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009"; appropriates $15 million to "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund." *
Directs EDA to transfer up to $22 million in unencumbered reserves to qualifying capital investment grant component of InvestNJ Business Grant Program.
Concerns taxation of certain lines of insurance and dedicates certain additional revenues to the Health Care Subsidy Fund.
Establishes "Women and Families Strengthening Act."
Concerns parole eligibility and supervision, prison visitation, and training and education standards for incarcerated persons.
"New Jersey Basic Skills Training Program for Economic Growth Act."
Establishes NJ PLACE program to facilitate college credit for registered apprenticeship programs.
Authorizes increased grant funding to local governments for site remediation for redevelopment of contaminated property for renewable energy projects.
Extends pilot program in DOE to address State's shortage of mathematics and science teachers by 12 months.
Passed the General Assembly · 12
Permits physicians and veterinarians to earn continuing education credits by providing certain free medical or veterinary services. *
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research universities, colleges or research hospitals.
Authorizes the court to credit an indigent person under certain circumstances.
Provides for Autism Advocate in Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled. *
Requires DHSS to establish "New Jersey Autism Website."
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to create identification card for use by persons with autism.
Authorizes public providers of utility services to bill customers electronically upon customers' request.
Prohibits sale of certain products using advertisements alluding to controlled dangerous substances or analogs.
Permits payments in subsidized adoption until child becomes 21 years of age under certain circumstances.
Concerns continuing education for dentists. *
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program. *
Out of committee · 42
Allows certain undocumented aliens to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education.
Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old. *
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in amount of Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance payment.
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Creates a credit card do-not-solicit list. *
Renames the Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program and makes various other changes to the program.
Allows gross income tax deductions for contributions to the "NJBEST college savings program."
Provides triggers for reductions of employer unemployment insurance taxes.
"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.
Grants $250,000 military death benefit to survivors of New Jersey National Guard members killed on active duty; makes appropriation.
Bars certain sex offenders from positions in youth serving organizations. *
Expands consumer protections under New Jersey's motor vehicle "lemon law."
Establishes Re-entry Coordinating Council in the Office of the Attorney General. *
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
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.
"New Jersey Hero Act"; concerns organ and tissue donation. *
Appropriates $54,917,725 from various Green Acres funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Requires certain cities of the second class to establish a Second Chance Council to develop a plan to increase jobs for released criminals and high school dropouts.
Regulates certain credentialing and trade practices of insurance producers, and provides private cause of action for insurance producer violations.
Requires assisted living facilities to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
Allows the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority to finance working capital loans for institutions of higher education and revenue-generating projects through institution affiliates. *
Requires newly hired State employees be New Jersey residents. *
The "New Jersey Homeownership Preservation Act."
Authorizes enhanced DHSS monitoring of hospital financial performance and intervention in management of identified distressed hospitals.
Requires DHS to assess $25 annual fee for collection of certain child support payments and authorizes DHS to increase child support pass through.
Clarifies that certain sports and entertainment projects are an essential public and governmental use and purpose and exempt from property taxation.
Establishes "Court Security Enhancement Fund" and increases court fees.
Revises calculation of Unemployment Trust Fund Reserve Ratio for experience rating year beginning July 1, 2008; appropriates $260,000,000 to unemployment compensation fund.
Revises certain eligibility requirements and employment incentive limitations and provides for extension of certain grant agreements under Business Employment Incentive Program.
Defines "inherently beneficial use" for purposes of zoning variance and specifically includes facilities and structures that supply electrical energy produced from wind, solar, or photovoltaic technologies. *
Revises certain restrictions on permit holders and provisional driver's licensees; renames provisional license "probationary."
Requires DOC to transfer certain payments of restitution to VCCB.
Allows persons on parole and probation to vote; provides registration assistance to persons on probation, parolees, and persons completing sentences.
Enhances PFRS accidental death pension benefit for survivors of member serving in nonsupervisory rank.
Upgrades unlawful possession of a machine gun or assault firearm to a crime of the second degree.
Concerns urban enterprise zones.
Requires gradual replacement of incandescent light bulbs in public school buildings with compact fluorescent light bulbs whenever possible.
Establishes a pilot program in DOE to address the State's shortage of mathematics and science teachers.
The "Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act."
Modifies laws concerning inmate income and complaints; creates uniform identification cards for attorneys to enter State correctional facilities. *
Authorizes courts to revoke fees at sentencing, include mediation as an alternative sentence, consider testimony from a defendant's family, and reduce the waiting period for certain expungements.
Permits certain urban police training schools that train at least one class of recruits annually to continue operating.
In committee · 108
Requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes.
Requires public and nonpublic schools to adopt a Code Adam program.
Requires the State to provide State aid for public school adult high school programs.
Establishes NJ FamilyCare coverage buy-in program for certain small employers.
Requires insurance coverage for magnetic resonance imaging for women at high risk for breast cancer.
Provides that public schools will not be in session on Veterans' Day of each year.
Requires school board member and local elective office candidates to file financial disclosure statements; requires criminal background disclosure for school officials and school board member candidates.
Adds two student representatives to board of governors of Rutgers University.
"Steven's Law;" prohibits use of non-wood bats in certain organized games.
The "New Jersey Academically Gifted and Talented Student Education Act"; appropriates $5 million.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Increases license fee for owning or operating rooming or boarding house.
Requires telephone and cable companies to schedule installation and service calls within four-hour period and reschedule missed calls promptly; establishes penalties for failure to keep appointments in certain cases.
Requires appointed board of education members and candidates for an elected board to reveal criminal convictions prior to assuming or running for office.
Establishes the Higher Education Study Commission.
Imposes mandatory minimum term of 10 years on defendant convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.
Increases eligible compensation level for enrollment in TPAF to $10,000.
Permits municipalities to adopt aesthetic standards as part of zoning ordinance.
Allows a gross income tax credit for textbook purchases by full-time undergraduate students at four year institutions of higher education, county colleges and accredited post-secondary schools in New Jersey.
Requires State Board of Education to include two hours of instruction in suicide prevention as part of professional development for public school teaching staff members.
Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard.
Prohibits supplemental compensation for unused sick leave for public school and municipal employees with annual compensation of $100,000 or more.
Increases firearm permit and license fees.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Requires social studies teachers to complete training in African-American studies.
Prohibits possession of ammunition capable of penetrating body armor.
Establishes Office of Minority Teacher Recruitment in Department of Education.
Provides enhanced penalties for certain crimes when victim is 65 years of age or older, or disabled.
Establishes a gross income tax credit for full time enrollment at four year institutions of higher education, county colleges and accredited post-secondary schools in New Jersey.
Requires State aid for operating expenses of higher education institutions as a percentage of the State budget to equal national average.
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.
Requires the State Police to establish a recently relocated offenders section within the Megan's Law sex offender Internet registry.
Increases mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain repeat sex offenders.
Provides reimbursement to municipalities for taxes lost due to totally disabled veterans' tax exemption.
Exempts certain persons enrolled in public institutions of higher education from payment of undergraduate tuition at nonresident rates.
Establishes pilot program in Department of the Treasury to provide tax credits for contributions to entities which provide tuition scholarships to children residing in Camden, Elizabeth, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Paterson and Trenton.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
Requires the Commissioner of Education to study the issue of school district consolidation and to develop a plan to eliminate local school districts and establish a county-based educational system.
The "Public School Employee Collective Bargaining Reform Act."
Permits municipalities to use auxiliary police in non-emergency situations.
Prohibits the sale of stolen goods on websites governed by Internet based resale companies.
Requires reporting of public high school, district and Statewide drop-out and graduation rates.
Permits certain motor vehicle offenders to apply for a restricted use license.
Provides NJ STARS II Program eligibility to certain students who attained an associate's degree through a joint program offered by a school district and a county college.
Concerns transfer of PANYNJ contracts related to marine terminals.
Supplemental appropriation of $4,000,000 to fund CeaseFire pilot program in Camden, Jersey City, Newark, and Trenton.
Requires retail food establishments to provide certain nutritional information for food or beverage items sold to its customers.
Requires one half of natural resource damage payments to State to be remitted to municipality where damage occurred.
Establishes the "Healthy Workplace Act."
Directs NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to conduct feasibility study of Meadowlands convention center project.
Provides financial assistance for higher education expenses of former Work First New Jersey recipients after leaving program.
Establishes the New Jersey Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Study Commission.
Provides for an annual inflation adjustment to the income eligiblity limit under the State earned income tax credit.
Establishes "Prisoners' Reentry Bill of Rights."
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses employing qualified ex-offenders.
"Kyleigh's Law"; revises laws concerning provisional driver's licenses.
Establishes measures to deter steroid use among students.
Appropriates $1,000,000 to Department of State to continue the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative Statewide database program.
Requires inmates in State correctional facilities to earn high school equivalency certificate prior to parole or discharge.
Prohibits State Board of Education from authorizing use of special review assessment as an alternative for meeting graduation requirements.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for certain infant formulas.
Requires health insurers to provide benefits for Pap smears at least annually.
Prohibits price gouging during a declared state of emergency.
Requires notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of automobile and homeowners insurance policies to be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
The "Toxic-free Children's Products Act."
Prohibits requiring school and county college employees to search for or handle explosive devices.
Requires certification and establishes registry in DHS of community agency employees working with persons with developmental disabilities.
Requires handgun ammunition to be encoded with serial number.
Increases gross receipts assessments on ambulatory care facilities to 7%, or $400,000, or whichever is less.
Requires nursing homes and ambulatory surgical facilities to implement infection prevention programs.
Authorizes SDA school districts to construct school facilities projects and receive State debt service aid.
Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain investment in manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation, modernization and expansion.
Authorizes certain municipalities to impose a tax on the storage of empty shipping containers to fund redevelopment plan activites.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $30,000,000 to UMDNJ for expansion and renovation of clinical facilities at New Jersey Dental School.
Provides for licensing and regulation of private process serving businesses.
Requires at least 30% of snacks sold in State vending machines be appropriate for consumption by individuals with diabetes.
Permits advertising on exterior of school buses.
Requires applicants for liquor licenses and license transfers to notify residents within 200 feet of licensed premises.
Allows property taxpayers an additional 90 days to file tax appeal after revaluation.
Directs Department of Corrections to provide employment assistance to inmates prior to release.
Authorizes creation of 33rd urban enterprise zone in Belleville Township.
Increases various fees charged by the sheriff's office and dedicates additional revenue to transportation costs of the sheriff's office.
Clarifies intent of Legislature to protect certain senior tenants; aligns housing age restrictions with federal law.
Requires the incorporation of solar panels in design and construction of new public school facilities.
Provides $3,000 income tax deduction for certain families providing home care for an elderly relative.
Authorizes the State, with prior approval by the State House Commission, to use eminent domain power to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes provided lands are protective of drinking water sources.
Establishes financial incentives for certain energy providers to conduct energy audits.
Allows school boards to offer incentive to waive SHBP coverage to employees eligible for spouse's health care coverage.
Permits electric public utilities, electric power suppliers and basic generation service providers to enter into certain agreements with building owners for use of solar energy systems for such buildings.
Provides support for obstetric services by certain health care facilities.
Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran.
Modifies "Revenue Allocation District Financing Act" and "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law" to increase availability of revenue allocation district financing; modifies "Redevelopment Area Bond Financing Law" and authorizes special assessments for envi
Reduces interest rate charged to senior citizen delinquent property taxpayers to 5%.
Provides prescriber or health care facility with discretion to number prescription blank forms consecutively.
Provides additional penalties for certain crimes involving cemeteries and other property.
Requires DOE to submit evaluation report to Legislature prior to fully implementing secondary education redesign proposal.
Establishes an urban job training and resource center for certain women.
Expands eligibility under "Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act."
Permits counties, municipalities, and school districts to issue bonds to pay a portion of PERS and PFRS liability and other purposes under certain conditions for up to three budget years.
Requires the New Jersey Schools Development Authority to biannually compile information on school facilities project contracts awarded to minority and female contractors.
Requires the State and local contracting units to purchase biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel manufactured in NJ.
Requires State entities to purchase biofuels in place of fossil fuels when it is reasonable, prudent and cost effective to do so.
Disqualifies member of board of education for conviction of certain crimes and requires member to undergo criminal history background investigation.
Allows point of sale sales tax exemption for certain UEZ business purchases made by certain zone-located qualified businesses.
Prohibits certain sales of alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of schools or religious institutions.
Requires mandatory registration of family day care providers.
Waives certain motor vehicle fees for religious or charitable organizations that offer transportation for after school programs.
Addresses various concerns affecting post-release employment.