Bills in the 2010–2011 Session, General Assembly.
Albert Coutinho
Sponsored
Became law1
Revises provisions of "Franchise Practices Act" relating to motor vehicle franchises.
Vetoed2
Establishes a closing fund to provide financial resources for certain economic development projects.
Creates New Jersey Business Action Center; requires center to provide competitive intelligence information to certain businesses.
Passed the General Assembly2
Extends suspension of Statewide non-residential development fee to October 30, 2010.
Modifies various aspects of charter school program including student enrollment procedures, revocation of charter, monitoring of charter schools, and collaboration between school districts and charter schools. *
Out of committee16
Revises provisions of "New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009" concerning public-private higher education construction and improvement projects and municipal ordinances to adopt stimulus measures.
Renames "New Jersey Trauma Center" at University Hospital as "Eric Munoz Trauma Center."
Authorizes counties to develop community based deer management plans and apply for special deer management permits for county-owned lands.
Requires local unit or authority to provide director of the Division of Local Government Services with report concerning law suits to which it is a party before budget is approved.
Expands existing film and digital media production tax credit programs; designated as the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act.
Exempts from payment certain taxes and energy charges for manufacturing facilities.
Authorizes any local unit to adopt an ordinance authorizing special emergency appropriations for the payment of contractually required severance liabilities, resulting from the layoff or retirement of employees, over 5 years.
Expands availability of general development plan approvals and long-term vesting of preliminary and final site plan approvals in Smart Growth areas.
Requires approval of extending special improvement districts every 10 years by majority of affected property owners.
Establishes preservation requirements for certain biological evidence.
Expands "urban transit hub" eligibility criteria under Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program to include sites of 100 or more contiguous acres within port district municipalities.
Makes varius changes to urban transit hub tax credit program concerning mixed use projects, in-State job relocation, tax credit and investment criteria, and affordable housing; makes certain NJ Meadowlands area properties eligible for incentive grants.*
Decreases the minimum corporation business tax on certain New Jersey subchapter S corporations by 25%.
Extends moratorium on the imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees; requires return of fees paid subsequent to June 30, 2010.
Establishes Grow New Jersey Assistance Program to provide tax credits to certain businesses; changes eligibility and certain other requirements for other business assistance programs; authorizes transfer of certain real property.*
Extends validity of wastewater service area and sewer service area designations, and revises certain aspects of wastewater management planning process.*
In committee28
Authorizes educational services commissions to purchase goods or services through nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreement.
Creates program for installing standby emergency power generators in new senior housing.
"Helen's Law;" establishes criminal penalty for causing death or serious bodily injury when violating hands-free cell phone law when driving.
Authorizes use of retail coupons for purchase of milk by consumers.
Increases motor fuels tax eight cents per year for three years with later CPI adjustment and requires all motor fuels taxes to be credited to Transportation Trust Fund.
Establishes five-year tax credit program to support expansion of preschool in school districts.
Clarifies duties and responsibilities of police directors and chiefs of police.
Prohibits contracts of executive directors of housing authorities from including incentive bonuses for certain achievements.
Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless.
Establishes advocacy pilot program for mentally ill offenders.
Establishes DCA oversight of Passaic Valley Sewerage Comissioners.
Prohibits municipalities from setting minimum fees for employment of its off-duty police officers.
Requires each public school to observe a period of silence on September 11 of each school year.
Authorizes Chief Administrator of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue permits for certain overweight trucks and charge fee for such permits.
Increases motor fuels tax and amount annually required to be credited to Transportation Trust Fund.
Increases compensation for persons wrongfully imprisoned.
Requires payment of certain attorney's fees, expenses and costs in identity theft cases; adds debit card numbers to definition of "personal identifying information".
Replaces existing pilot spay/neuter clinic program with Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic Program.
Permits cities of the first class to exercise priority in reappointing certain laid-off, nonpermanent police officers.
Designated the Equitable Disclosure Act of 2010, modifies provisions of MLUL concerning objectors to applications for development.
Requires that each school district conducting an interscholastic athletic program must employ one or more school athletic trainers.
Expands the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program to include port district municipalities and makes other changes to the program.
Amends provisions NJ Economic Stimulus Act of 2009 concerning Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program of EDA.
Permits municipality to pay commercial and industrial property tax refunds for tax years 2010 through 2011 over subsequent three local budget years.
Allows for modifications to land use approvals because of changed economics.
"Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act."
Makes changes to urban hub tax credit program concerning mixed use projects, in-State job relocation in determining net positive benefits, tax credit and capital investment criteria, and affordable housing.
Authorizes Director of the Division of Investment to establish a program to invest a portion of State pension funds into New Jersey businesses in the form of venture capital.
Carried from the Senate
Became law10
Expands availability of general development plan approvals and long-term vesting of preliminary and final site plan approvals in Smart Growth areas.
Revises provisions of "New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009" concerning public-private higher education construction and improvement projects and municipal ordinances to adopt stimulus measures.
Renames "New Jersey Trauma Center" at University Hospital as "Eric Munoz Trauma Center."
Authorizes counties to develop community based deer management plans and apply for special deer management permits for county-owned lands.
Authorizes any local unit to adopt an ordinance authorizing special emergency appropriations for the payment of contractually required severance liabilities, resulting from the layoff or retirement of employees, over five years. *
Makes various changes to urban transit hub tax credit program concerning mixed use projects, in-State job relocation, tax credit and investment criteria, and affordable housing; makes certain NJ Meadowlands area properties eligible for incentive grants.*
Extends moratorium on the imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees; requires return of fees paid subsequent to June 30, 2010.
Decreases the minimum corporation business tax on certain New Jersey subchapter S corporations by 25%.
Establishes Grow New Jersey Assistance Program to provide tax credits to certain businesses; changes eligibility and certain other requirements for other business assistance programs; authorizes transfer of certain real property.*
Extends validity of wastewater service area and sewer service area designations, and revises certain aspects of wastewater management planning process.
Vetoed2
"Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act"; expands existing film and digital media production tax credit programs.
Requires local unit or authority to provide director of the Division of Local Government Services with report concerning law suits to which it is a party before budget is approved.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 21
Permits hiring of certain laid off law enforcement officers without utilizing Civil Service lists. *
Increases specialized care nursing facility beds for persons with Huntington's Disease. *
Disqualifies member of board of education or member of charter school board of trustees for conviction of certain crimes and requires member to undergo criminal history background investigation. *
Authorizes public providers of utility services to bill customers electronically upon customers' request.
Requires State entities to purchase biofuels in place of fossil fuels when reasonable, prudent and cost effective. *
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to the "American Red Cross-NJ Fund".
Makes sundry changes to taxicab laws. *
Eliminates use of rebate procedure for claims of sales and use tax exemption made in connection with certain sales to certain UEZ qualified businesses. *
Permits advertising on exterior of school buses.
Extends time period during which municipal fire departments may hire certain laid off firefighters.
Permits certain members of Junior Firemen's Auxiliaries to perform non-hazardous support duties at fire sites.
Establishes "Blue Ribbon Panel to Review New Jersey's Inmate Policy." *
Exempts sales of certain homes and seasonal rentals from the bulk sale notification requirements. *
Permits local units to participate in cooperative purchasing agreements.
Permits the conversion of high-performing nonpublic schools located in failing school district into charter schools.*
Streamlines process for State and local agency business permits related to economic development projects.
Requires DHS to collect and disseminate data about persons with developmental disabilities.
The "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act."
Requires DCF to develop and adopt Statewide youth suicide prevention plan.
Requires birthing facilities to screen newborns for congenital heart defects prior to discharge.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2012.
Vetoed · 12
Creates Juvenile Transfer Task Force.
Provides single sales fraction for corporation business tax income allocation formula and establishes airline-specific sales fraction.
Establishes a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program under the New Jersey gross income tax for home purchases during a qualified period. *
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Permits developer to qualify for low-interest loan from NJEDA when building a high performance green building.
Expands treatment of mixed use projects under urban transit hub tax credit. *
Expands education requirements for special learner's and examination permits.*
Creates "Back to Work NJ Program"; makes an appropriation.
Authorizes local public contract set-aside program for employers who hire former prisoners.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support NJ SHARES.
Increase gross income tax rate on income exceeding $1,000,000 for taxable years 2011 and 2012 and expands gross income tax exclusion for pensions, annuities and other retirement income for certain taxpayers beginning in 2011.
Restores benefit under State earned income credit program to 25 percent of federal credit beginning in Tax Year 2011.
Passed the General Assembly · 6
Establishes crime of entering into certain restricted airport areas.
Provides for the designation of new charter school authorizers. *
Allows licensing authorities to grant a license to certain child support obligors under certain circumstances.*
The "Market Competition and Consumer Choice Act," alters State regulation of competitive services provided by telecommunications and CATV companies.
Establishes real property assessment demonstration program.
Establishes "Study Commission on E-Licensing."
Out of committee · 41
"Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority Act." *
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research universities, colleges or research hospitals.
Permits physicians and veterinarians to earn continuing education credits by providing certain free medical or veterinary services.
Requires the incorporation of solar panels in design and construction of new public school facilities.
Requires applicants for liquor licenses and license transfers to notify residents within 200 feet of licensed premises.
Provides that 20% of fee charged for initial certified copy of birth certificate shall be used to support certain activities of NJ Cord Blood Bank. *
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.
Expands jurisdiction of municipal arson investigators.
Authorizes court to waive certain fees, offer mediation as sentence; authorizes defendant information in presentence report; reduces certain expungement waiting periods; requires benefits be considered in juvenile plan. *
Permits publication of legal notices by governments and individuals on official government website instead of newspaper.
Authorizes waiver of license revocation process for certain child support obligors.*
Establishes measures to deter steroid use among students.
Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain investment in manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation, modernization and expansion.
Requires certain public officers and employees to reside in State. *
Delays effective date of provision authorizing certain inmates to be released on parole six months early.
Allows municipalities adjacent to two or more municipalities having urban enterprise zones to qualify for NJ Redevelopment Authority financing assistance. *
Expands DNA database to include samples from certain violent arrestees.
Changes references of "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" or "developmental disability" and uses person-first language for persons with disabilities.
"Kulesh and Kubert's Law;" establishes violation of hands-free cell phone law as reckless under vehicular homicide and assault by auto statutes.
Permits Legislature to void closing of State psychiatric hospital or developmental center.
Reverses certain changes to laws governing State treatment of unclaimed property.
Restores income eligibility level for AIDS Drug Distribution Program to 500% of the federal poverty level.
Revises financial assistance under Business Retention and Relocation Assistance Grant Program; repeals requirement to study implementation.
Provides certain exemptions from disclosure requirements for licensing of solid waste and hazardous waste operations.
Establishes lease guaranty assistance program in NJEDA for use by certain eligible emerging technology and biotechnology companies.
"Revised State Medical Examiner Act"; establishes Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner in DHSS.
Consolidates certain business-related categories of gross income and provides 20 year carryforward of certain net losses under gross income tax.
"New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act;" provides credits against corporation business and gross income taxes for investing in New Jersey emerging technology businesses.
Directs New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Commission on Higher Education to promote the establishment of higher education and business partnerships.
Concerns creation of benefit corporations.
Requires services be provided for sexually exploited juveniles charged with certain offenses; creates an affirmative defense regarding prostitution.*
The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers, and certain schools, playgrounds, and recreational fields.*
Expands treatment of mixed use projects under urban transit hub tax credit and requires developers utilizing State funds to reserve affordable units under certain conditions.
Appropriates $45 million from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and $12 million from "2009 Blue Acres Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects.
Appropriates $14,818,787 from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $84,495,199 from "2009 Green Acres Fund" and "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Extends for three years application submission deadline to EDA for review and approval of certain construction projects involving public institutions of higher education.
Concerns UEZ funding to qualifying municipalities.
Establishes Small Business Loan Program in EDA allowing certain small businesses to be eligible for low interest rate loans of up to $250,000 to expand their businesses.
Modifies economic redevelopment and growth grant program for projects involving redevelopment of certain hospitals.
Extends expiration date of certain permits pursuant to the "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
In committee · 123
Establishes "New Jersey Commission on Government Efficiency and Cost Control" to recommend measures for efficiency and cost reduction in State government.
Prohibits sale of certain products using advertisements alluding to controlled dangerous substances or analogs.
Authorizes creation of 33rd urban enterprise zone in Belleville Township.
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 DOE to submit evaluation report to Legislature prior to fully implementing secondary education redesign proposal.
Permits the conversion of nonpublic schools into charter schools.
Requires DHSS to establish "New Jersey Autism Website."
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.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for certain infant formulas.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Requires appointed board of education members and candidates for an elected board to reveal criminal convictions prior to assuming or running for office.
Concerns urban enterprise zones.
Provides for Autism Advocate in Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled.
Allows State agencies, counties and municipalities to comply with certain publication requirements by means of Internet.
Requires reporting of public high school, district and Statewide drop-out and graduation rates.
Adds contact via electronic device to prohibited contact enumerated in permanent restraining orders for convicted stalkers.
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.
Requires DHS to develop procedures to enable hospitals to promptly transfer emergency department patients with mental illness to appropriate treatment setting.
Establishes the "Healthy Workplace Act."
The "Toxic-free Children's Products Act."
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Allows charitable contribution tax deductions under New Jersey gross income tax.
Establishes conditional intervention program in municipal court for certain first-time offenders.
Increases mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain repeat sex offenders.
Permits in-person wagering at casinos on results of professional sports events, subject to voter approval.
Requires notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of automobile and homeowners insurance policies to be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old.
Authorizes the court to credit an indigent person under certain circumstances.
Establishes "Court Security Enhancement Fund" and increases court fees.
Provides prescriber or health care facility with discretion to number prescription blank forms consecutively.
Requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes.
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.
Allows property taxpayers an additional 90 days to file tax appeal after revaluation.
Requires DOC to transfer certain payments of restitution to VCCB.
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.
Waives certain motor vehicle fees for religious or charitable organizations that offer transportation for after school programs.
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.
Allows persons on parole and probation to vote; provides registration assistance to persons on probation, parolees, and persons completing sentences.
Clarifies intent of Legislature to protect certain senior tenants; aligns housing age restrictions with federal law.
Requires the State and local contracting units to purchase biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel manufactured in NJ.
Provides for automatic expungement of criminal records under certain circumstances.
Permits payments in subsidized adoption until child becomes 21 years of age under certain circumstances.
Establishes a pothole repair and research program in the Department of Transportation and provides funding from new motor vehicle tire fee revenue.
Modifies laws concerning inmate income and complaints; creates uniform identification cards for attorneys to enter State correctional facilities.
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Concerns transfer of PANYNJ contracts related to marine terminals.
Authorizes creation of 33rd urban enterprise zone in Borough of Seaside Heights.
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.
Prohibits certain sales of alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of schools or religious institutions.
Requires mandatory registration of family day care providers.
Prohibits requiring school and county college employees to search for or handle explosive devices.
Concerns continuing education for dentists.
The "Residential Distressed Property Leaseback Act."
The "Residential Property Lease-Purchase Act."
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Changes definition of "small qualified business" in UEZ statute from having less than $3,000,000 to having less than $5,000,000 in annual gross receipts in that business.
Requires public notice of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey board meetings.
Prohibits supplemental compensation for unused sick leave for public school and municipal employees with annual compensation of $100,000 or more.
Requires suicide prevention continuing education courses for physicians and podiatrists.
Allows gross income tax deductions for contributions to the "NJBEST college savings program."
Enhances PFRS accidental death pension benefit for survivors of member serving in nonsupervisory rank.
Authorizes the issuance of $2,705,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance the construction and renovation of higher education facilities; appropriates $5,000.
Prohibits the use or possession of cellular picture phones to invade another person's privacy and prohibits camera or picture cell phones in schools.
Requires the State Police to establish a recently relocated offenders section within the Megan's Law sex offender Internet registry.
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.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Prohibits boards of education from charging students a fee to participate in extracurricular activities.
Provides financial assistance for higher education expenses of former Work First New Jersey recipients after leaving program.
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses employing qualified ex-offenders.
Requires newly hired State employees be New Jersey residents.
Addresses various concerns affecting post-release employment.
Establishes innovation zone program and creates innovation zone around Aviation Research and Technology Park in Atlantic County.
Permits municipalities to use auxiliary police in non-emergency situations.
Allows New Jersey gross income taxpayers to elect to deduct certain losses from certain investment arrangements discovered to be criminally fraudulent.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $30,000,000 to UMDNJ for expansion and renovation of clinical facilities at New Jersey Dental School.
Bars certain officials from elective office and political activity for certain time periods.
Establishes financial incentives for certain energy providers to conduct energy audits.
Provides DYFS caseworkers with personnel and law enforcement assistance when conducting DYFS investigations.
Requires lowest possible price for inmate telephone calls.
Permits State Lottery Commission to authorize video lottery terminals at Meadowlands horse racetrack, subject to voter approval.
Permits State Lottery Commission to authorize video lottery terminals at Meadowlands racetrack, upon voter approval; dedicates 1/3 net proceeds to General Fund, 1/3 to State education aid, and 1/3 to horse racing industry.
Requires incarcerated persons be counted as residents of their previous address, not prison, for redistricting purposes.
Consolidates certain business-related categories of gross income and provides 20 year carryforward of certain net losses under gross income tax.
Revises certain provisions of farmland assessment law.
Provides $3,000 gross income tax deduction for certain taxpayers providing home care for an elderly relative.
Creates new taxable category of alcoholic beverages called flavored malt beverages, imposes separate rate of taxation on new category pursuant to alcoholic beverages tax and allocates associated revenue.
Provides energy and utility service sales tax relief benefit to certain manufacturers throughout the State.
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.
Eliminates certain prohibitions to expungements of criminal records.
Provides criminal penalties for unauthorized use of images or likeness of minors and establishes civil action.
Expands category of lists from which a single juror source list is compiled to include recipients of cash assistance or food stamps.
Requires boards of education to calculate body mass index for students in first, fourth, seventh, and tenth grades.
Requires all personal audio players distributed in New Jersey to contain warning about volume and hearing loss.
Increases additional penalty assessment for drunk driving; dedicates revenue to VCCB.
Establishes real property assessment demonstration program in Monmouth County.
Requires person in business of selling all-terrain vehicles to properly register vehicle prior to delivery to buyer; increases penalties for violating all-terrain vehicle restrictions.
Allows tax credits for development of qualified wind energy facilities in port district of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Establishes "Pretrial Release Program" for certain defendants.
Permits appointment of certain nonpermanent firefighters laid off for reasons of economy to vacant paid positions.
Excludes appropriations to reserve for uncollected taxes in excess of two percent from calculations of municipal adjusted tax levy.
Creates "Earn Your Way Out of Prison Into Supervision, Treatment, and Recovery Program."
Provides for transfer and sale of inactive liquor licenses for use in qualifying smart growth municipalities.
Temporarily renames NJ Advisory Council on Traumatic Brain Injury as NJ Advisory Council on Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury; establishes Acquired Brain Injury Fund.
Expands DNA database to include samples from certain arrestees; designated "Katie's Law."
Creates New Jersey Business Action Center.
Exempts electric vehicle charging systems from real property taxation.
Excludes gains on sales of certain real estate purchases from taxation under corporation business tax and gross income tax.
Increases gross income tax rate on income exceeding $1,000,000 and dedicates revenue from tax rate increase for direct real property tax relief for taxpayers.
Provides tax credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax for certain small businesses receiving qualifying loans.
Requires direct deposit for all State employee compensation on and after July 1, 2014.
Provides affirmative defense to prostitution charge for persons under 16.
Revises current juror compensation.
Creates "Inmate Community Service Program" in DOC.
Decriminalizes possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana.
Concerns determination of allocated net operating losses for corporation business tax benefit certificate transfer program.