Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, General Assembly.
Ruben J. Ramos Jr.
Sponsored
Became law1
Provides for automatic enrollment in PAAD and Senior Gold programs under certain circumstances.
Out of committee2
Permits municipality to determine permissible parking distance from intersection, crosswalk or "stop" sign.
Makes changes to certain grants for wastewater treatment system projects provided under P.L.2005, c.301.
In committee18
Authorizes assessment maintenance and abatement program for vacant property in certain municipalities.
Equalizes payments received by relatives who provide care for children placed in their homes by DYFS.
Excludes certain winnings from consideration for PAAD eligibility.
Requires State reimbursements to county be computed from first day State inmate is housed in its correctional facility.
Establishes "Regional Network Health Benefits Plan Pilot Program."
Provides for continuation of health insurance coverage in group and SHBP health plans for unlimited period of time for certain former employees and their dependents.
Requires DEP to hold local public hearing for certain major developments located in a State park or forest.
Eliminates a parent's right to inherit under certain circumstances.
Requires off-track wagering licensee to pay 4% of its wagering revenues to host municipality.
The "New Jersey Board of Health Care Management Act"; appropriates $10,000,000.
Limits rent increases in certain low income rental projects financed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.
Authorizes certain counties and State agencies to submit report to Governor and PANYNJ conerning economic development and competitiveness of Port of New York.
Expands homestead property tax rebate program for certain non-senior and non-disabled tenants based on revised income qualifications.
Strengthens public disclosure and monitoring requirements of "Open Public Meetings Act".
Authorizes creation of 33rd urban enterprise zone in Hoboken City.
Exempts sale of recreational safety helmets from sales and use tax.
Requires all wireless telephones and electronic communication devices issued by public entities to be activated to receive Amber Alerts.
Strengthens State construction code.
Carried from the Senate
Became law2
Permits municipality to determine permissible parking distance from intersection, crosswalk or "stop" sign.
Makes changes to certain grants for wastewater treatment system projects provided under P.L.2005, c.301.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 26
Prohibits individuals from purchasing more than one handgun in a calendar month.
Requires boards of education to permit public participation at board meetings.
Regulates operation of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and dirt bikes, and certain other vehicles and off-road vehicles; requires DEP to designate three sites on State-owned land where snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and dirt bikes may be used. **
Requires certain persons to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation against vulnerable adults.
Revises laws concerning pedestrian safety and traffic control; requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians under certain conditions.
Authorizes municipal planning boards to adopt green buildings and environmental sustainability municipal master plan element.
Establishes pilot program in Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to high school seniors.
Permits use of overseas absentee ballots for all elections; authorizes transmission of ballots by electronic means. *
Requires health benefits coverage for certain therapies for the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. *
Imposes moratorium on harvest and possession of horseshoe crabs.
Requires installment payments for maternity services covered by certain health benefits plans.
Authorizes EDA to develop and finance parking structures in certain urban and suburban areas. *
Broadens small qualified business exception under UEZ sales tax rebate program. *
Establishes a "Silver Alert System." *
Requires DHS to report physical assaults and deaths at State psychiatric hospitals on its website and report deaths to Public Advocate. *
Revises cosmetology and hairstyling statutes. *
Creates Solar and Wind Energy Commission.
Provides increased time frame for issuing summons pursuant to traffic control signal monitoring systems and for destruction of records; establishes certain payment methods.
Adds non-voting member to NJT board.
Establishes the Troops to College Program in the Commission on Higher Education to assist veterans in making the transition into the college classroom.
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.
Makes sundry changes to limousine laws.
The "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," authorizes bonds for $400 million; appropriates $5,000. **
"New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009"; appropriates $15 million to "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund." *
Brings State law into conformity with federal law concerning sharing of certain mental health information relating to the purchase and possession of firearms.
Vetoed · 1
The "Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act."
Passed the General Assembly · 30
The "Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act."
Requires municipality to post sign on property subject of development application.
"Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research universities, colleges or research hospitals.
Provides for equal opportunity for businesses to apply for certain energy-related incentives and funding.
Directs the BPU to establish certain energy-conservation programs.
Provides for the expeditious roadway removal of certain disabled vehicles.
Allows State agencies, counties and municipalities to comply with certain publication requirements by means of Internet. *
The "Consumer Telephone Records Protection Act of 2008." *
Establishes "New Jersey Council on Child Poverty."
Requires retail mercantile establishment to provide manufacturer's rebate at time of consumer purchase.
Provides DYFS caseworkers with personnel and law enforcement assistance when conducting DYFS investigations.
Permits in-person wagering at casinos on results of professional sports events, subject to voter approval.
Requires retailers to post warnings of lead poisoning from improper paint removal.
Chloe and Samantha's Law; requires notice to consumers of availability of products to prevent tip-over accidents involving certain furniture or televisions.
Requires registration of certain additional securities investment advisers.
Provides that reports and publications produced by State be primarily available on Internet, provides for notice of availability of reports and publications.
"New Jersey Fair Debt Collection Practices Act."
Establishes "New Jersey Colon Cancer Research Fund;" provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns. *
Authorizes public providers of utility services to bill customers electronically upon customers' request.
Creates "New Jersey Senior Labor Task Force."
Requires the adoption of nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools. *
Establishes procedures to prevent and eradicate bedbug infestations in certain residential property.
Requires victims of the criminally insane to be notified upon release, escape, or transfer of offender from mental health facility.
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Makes Housing Assistance and Recovery Program effective immediately.
Requires persons subject to Megan's Law registration to provide law enforcement with any Internet identifiers.
Requires motorists operating vehicles to maintain minimum three foot safety distance when overtaking bicycles.
Establishes the "Domestic Violence Victim Protection Pilot Program."
Adds criminal coercion to offenses that may constitute domestic violence.
Out of committee · 49
Requires insurers to inform insureds whether certain coverages extend to rental automobiles.
Requires 45 days' notice to affected municipalities of discontinuance of certain bus and train service.
Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old. *
Provides for allocation of $25 million from available balances from societal benefits charge revenues for utility assistance grants for qualified households. **
Creates a credit card do-not-solicit list. *
Decreases certain public document copy fees to up to $0.10 or less per letter size page and up to $0.15 or less per legal size page.
Imposes conditions on drivers approaching stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks or highway maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights.
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. *
Eliminates inheritance rights and the right of recovery in certain civil actions for a surviving parent who abandoned a decedent child.
"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.
Requires drivers to make all reasonable efforts to remove ice or snow from vehicle; creates fine.
Requires creditor to provide certain disclosures to borrower prior to residential mortgage loan closing.
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Permits developer to qualify for low-interest loan from NJEDA when building a high performance green building.
The "Green Building Tax Credit Act."
Revises definition of destructive device to include weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
Requires assisted living facilities to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
Extends from 14 days to 28 days length of first permitted adjournment of sale of real property by sheriff or other officer selling real estate by virtue of an execution. *
The "New Jersey Homeownership Preservation Act."
Allows credit against certain charges to CATV customers opting out of premium service within 30 days of CATV company notice of network or programming change.
Requires training for all trustees of general hospitals.
Expands NJ FamilyCare, establishes mandate for health care coverage of children, makes various reforms to individual and small employer insurance markets and certain dependent coverage; appropriates $1 million. *
Requires DHS to verify income of applicants for Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare with Department of the Treasury records.
Establishes "Court Security Enhancement Fund" and increases court fees.
Provides for random drug testing and testing for cause of employees of State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and veterans homes and requires applicants for employment to undergo drug testing. *
Concerns DEP government records requests.
Strengthens enforcement against employers for failure to provide workers' compensation coverage.
Requires staff of shelters for victims of domestic violence and emergency shelters for homeless to undergo criminal history record background checks.
Requires State to purchase energy efficient and hybrid vehicles; provides for phase-in of the requirement.
Provides for improved structure and fiscal management of higher education in New Jersey. *
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.
"Mortgage Stabilization and Relief Act;" creates Mortgage Stabilization Program and Housing Assistance and Recovery Program; imposes additional requirements on lender foreclosing mortgage; appropriates $40 million from "Long Term Obligation and Capital E
Requires licensure as insurance producer to sell certain funeral insurance policies; prohibits financing of certain preneed funeral arrangements with reverse mortgage.
Concerns franchisors' assignment of interest relating to franchisees engaged in the retail sale of motor fuel.
Expands membership of Police Training Commission to include representative from Northern New Jersey and South Jersey chapters of National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
Requires residential mortgage lenders to provide debtors with certain information about curing default prior to initiation of mortgage foreclosure action.
Establishes New Jersey Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Task Force.
Establishes "New Jersey Lung Cancer Research Fund"; provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns.
Establishes a pilot program in DOE to address the State's shortage of mathematics and science teachers.
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.
Prohibits misleading use of senior-specific certifications or professional designations in connection with sales of securities.
Establishes additional investigative and enforcement powers in Division of Consumer Affairs to deter individuals from engaging in unauthorized practice of professions and occupations.
Requires telecommunications companies to provide certain information to law enforcement officials in emergency situations. *
Requires public bodies to provide funds for outreach and training programs for minority group members and women in connection with certain construction contracts.
Extends service prevailing wage requirements to food service contracts and to local units and State authorities.
In committee · 56
Establishes deadline and notice requirements for processing of teacher certification applications.
Provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations.
The "New Jersey Academically Gifted and Talented Student Education Act"; appropriates $5 million.
Permits transcript or videotape of testimony before local issuing authority to be admissible in ABC appeal.
Permits public high school student athletes to opt out of physical education during their athletic seasons.
Increases firearm permit and license fees.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
Authorizes assessment of development impact fees by municipalities.
Permits certain sheriffs to enforce truck weight limits.
Requires NJT to purchase alternative fuel vehicles.
Establishes annual sales tax holiday for certain sales of personal computers and certain sales of school supplies and equipment during first full weekend of August.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Requires retail food establishments to provide certain nutritional information for food or beverage items sold to its customers.
Requires criminal history record background checks on certain volunteer sports personnel.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Makes employment matters not exempted by statute mandatory subjects of public employment collective bargaining.
Reduces municipal library tax levy cap from 15% to 4%.
Creates new offenses and penalties regarding animal fighting.
Requires affordable housing be built to green building standards; requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to issue standards.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for New Jersey National Guard members and their families in need of assistance.
"Kyleigh's Law"; revises laws concerning provisional driver's licenses.
Authorizes Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation for child in proceedings after parental rights have been terminated.
Requires handgun ammunition to be encoded with serial number.
Provides that practice of chiropractic includes diagnosis and adjustment of articulations of spinal column and other joints.
Authorizes certain police officers to possess and use stun guns while on duty.
Excludes certain federal employee Thrift Savings Fund contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Permits direct shipping of wine to New Jersey consumers.
Commences payment in lieu of taxes for tax exempt real property owned by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Requires that automated external defibrillators be located on every floor of State House and State House Annex; requires training for State Police.
"Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of the Treasury to provide tax credits for contributions to entities which provide tuition scholarships to children in certain urban enterprise zone municipalities.
"Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Reform Act."
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.
Enacts the "Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act."
Permits advertising on exterior of school buses.
Increases various fees charged by the sheriff's office and dedicates additional revenue to transportation costs of the sheriff's office.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tuition and fee expenses.
Provides for an extended term of imprisonment, supervision for life and sex offender registration for the crime of human trafficking under certain circumstances.
Prohibits businesses that outsource jobs overseas from receiving State contracts or grants; prohibits investment of State funds in such businesses.
Provides prescriber or health care facility with discretion to number prescription blank forms consecutively.
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals and physicians from charging patient for certain medical errors.
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 each school district to adopt a dating violence policy to prevent and address incidents involving dating violence.
Requires Secretary of State to provide voter registration forms to newly naturalized citizens.
Requires installation of low-flow toilets and low-flow showerheads in multiple dwellings having 3 or more units.
Permits municipality, fire district or authority to approve transfer of certain firefighters from PERS to PFRS.
Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues.
Prohibits certain sales of alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of schools or religious institutions.
Requires mandatory registration of family day care providers.
Provides for spend-down eligibility category for Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program.
Requires certain DOC, county and municipal prison physicians to acquire certain training.
Prohibits certain unsolicited checks.