Bills in the 2010–2011 Session, General Assembly.
Ruben J. Ramos Jr.
Sponsored
Passed the General Assembly3
Establishes "New Jersey Colorectal Cancer Research Fund"; provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns. *
Authorizes Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation for child in proceedings after parental rights have been terminated.
Exempts certain car-sharing programs from motor vehicle rental fees.
Out of committee10
Requires all wireless telephones and electronic communication devices issued by public entities to be activated to receive Amber Alerts.
Prohibits practice of requiring credit check as condition of employment.
Allows for five years corporation business tax and gross income tax deductions for net interest amount received on loans to certain qualified UEZ businesses.
Requires NJ Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program to give additional weight in ranking system to projects including green or blue roofs.
Requires construction of certain new State buildings, facilities, and structures to include green or blue roofs.
Requires DEP to adopt rules concerning blue roofs and green roofs and provides priority consideration for related permits and other authorizations.
Requires construction of new buildings, facilities, and structures using State, EDA, or NJ Schools Development Authority funds to include green or blue roofs.
Establishes program to provide financial assistance towards installation of blue roofs and green roofs, authorizes use of Global Warming Solutions Fund for certain such purposes.
Prohibits charging vehicle storage fees for days on which storage facility is closed.
Provides credits against corporation business and gross income taxes to small and medium-sized businesses for certain export and export promotion activity; designated as the Export Promotion Tax Credit Act.
In committee39
Provides for automatic enrollment in PAAD and Senior Gold programs under certain circumstances.
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.
Requires off-track wagering licensee to pay 4% of its wagering revenues to host municipality.
Limits rent increases in certain low income rental projects financed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.
Permits municipality to determine permissible parking distance from intersection, crosswalk or "stop" sign.
Expands homestead property tax rebate program for certain non-senior and non-disabled tenants based on revised income qualifications.
Prohibits businesses that outsource jobs overseas from receiving State contracts or grants; prohibits investment of State funds in such businesses.
Permits municipalities to transfer the responsibility for hiring adult school crossing guards to the local school district and any charter schools located in the municipality.
Regulates operation of low-speed electric bicycles.
Allows two elected members of pension commission of closed Hudson County Employees' Pension Fund to be active county employee or retired county employee.
Requires each general hospital that accepts public funds to hold monthly board meetings that include time for public participation.
Requires owner of multiple dwelling to eradicate infestation of bedbugs at own expense.
Allows firms, designated as qualified UEZ businesses, that experience economic hardship to lower employment levels without losing that designation.
Limits fee charged by hospital to patient for copy of treatment record.
Authorizes residential lease to allow prepayment of rent.
Enacts "Truth in Caller Identification Act"; prohibits manipulation of certain telephone caller identification information.
Requires written residential leases to be provided in both English and Spanish in certain municipalities.
Provides dedicated line item on property tax bill to fund municipal free public libraries and joint free public libraries.
Requires health care providers to observe certain practices concerning collection of outstanding balances on patient accounts.
Designates New Jersey Commuter Pass Credit Act; provides for temporary gross income tax credit for certain commuting passes.
Requires information on pay checks to be provided on the Internet for State employees who elect direct deposit.
Prohibits sale of merchandise designed to conceal license plates.
Prohibits attorney serving as elected local government officer in a municipality from representing campaign of candidate for elective office in that municipality to contest election results.
Prohibits imposition of the corporation business tax on certain foreign corporations that only store personal property in this State incident to its importation.
Requires Department of Education to biannually distribute a letter to school districts reminding districts of requirement to enroll resident students regardless of immigration status.
Requires assisted living residences and comprehensive personal care homes to ensure connection of emergency cords in residential units to facility staff.
Requires direct deposit for all State employee compensation on and after July 1, 2014.
Prohibits attorney spouse or domestic partner of elected local government officer in a municipality from representing campaign of candidate for elective office in that municipality to contest election results.
Consumer Electronics Warranty Lemon Law.
The "Digital Impersonation Prevention Act."
Limits applicability of vacancy decontrol under local rent control ordinances under certain circumstances.
The "Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act."
Provides that a homestead owner who is 65 years of age or older or disabled shall not receive a homestead rebate of less than $1,440.
Requires public schools to include instruction on oral health as part of core curriculum content standards.
Permits removal of State board, commission or independent authority member for failure to attend three consecutive meetings thereof without good cause.
Requires Attorney General to provide certain information regarding certain charitable organizations to public on Internet.
Prohibits insurers offering managed care plans from denying participation in network to health care providers willing to meet terms of contract.
Carried from the Senate
Became law1
Requires all wireless telephones and electronic communication devices issued by public entities to be activated to receive Amber Alerts.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 27
Permits hiring of certain laid off law enforcement officers without utilizing Civil Service lists. *
The "Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act."
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. *
Decreases certain public document copy fees; amount of fee dependent upon whether letter size page or legal size page. *
Provides for equal opportunity for businesses that pay societal benefits charges to apply for certain energy-related incentives and funding. *
Authorizes companies under BPU jurisdiction to bill customers electronically upon customers' request.
Authorizes public providers of utility services to bill customers electronically upon customers' request.
Authorizes county colleges and county vocational school districts to establish green job certification programs.
Eliminates use of rebate procedure for claims of sales and use tax exemption made in connection with certain sales to certain UEZ qualified businesses. *
Requires sports and entertainment facilities to submit emergency operations plan to municipal emergency management coordinator. *
Authorizes the court to include provisions for animals in domestic violence restraining orders.*
Permits advertising on exterior of school buses.
Clarifies school district eligibility to receive State funding for special education evaluation services for children enrolled in New Jersey nonpublic school and living out-of-State.
Modifies procedures available under the Drug Offender Restraining Order Act.
Requires development of interscholastic athletic head injury safety training program; requires certain measures to protect student athletes with concussions; and requires continuing education for athletic trainers.*
Eliminates various inactive boards, commissions, committees, councils, and task forces.
Authorizes sale and lease of unneeded public property to certain nonprofits for gardening and urban farming and exempts such urban farms from property taxation.
Establishes State Mental Health Facilities Evaluation Task Force.
Requires DHS to collect and disseminate data about persons with developmental disabilities.
Requires Department of State to create uniform application form for use by small businesses to apply for certain State financial assistance programs.*
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support the Boys and Girls Clubs in New Jersey.
Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by veterans.
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.
Requires State, regional, and local authorities, boards,and commissions to establish an Internet website and post information related to each entity's mission, finances, meetings, and employees.*
Vetoed · 9
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.
Extends increased fee for burial or removal, and transit permits.
Expands treatment of mixed use projects under urban transit hub tax credit. *
Creates "Back to Work NJ Program"; makes an appropriation.
Requires health care facilities to offer influenza vaccination to their health care workers.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support NJ SHARES.
Restores benefit under State earned income credit program to 25 percent of federal credit beginning in Tax Year 2011.
Passed the General Assembly · 20
Prohibits sending unsolicited advertising by text messaging, and requires companies offering text messaging services to allow customers to block all incoming and outgoing text messages. *
Prohibits certain unsolicited checks.
Directs the BPU to establish certain energy-conservation programs.
Requires retailers to post warnings of lead poisoning from improper paint removal.
Allows cosmetologist-hairstylists to operate mobile facilities when providing services.
"New Jersey Fair Debt Collection Practices Act."
"New Jersey Health Benefit Exchange Act." *
Invalidates consumer contracts which require a waiver of right to file a consumer complaint.
Establishes procedures to prevent and eradicate bedbug infestations in certain residential property.
Prohibits towing of motor vehicles displaying wheelchair placards or license plates under certain conditions, requires clear signage for restricted handicapped parking zones, and requires 24-hour access to certain towed motor vehicles.
Provides for the removal of a State Board of Education member for failure to attend three consecutive board meetings without good cause.
Requires alarm business licensee to maintain business office in this State.
Directs DOT to allow wineries to erect tourist-oriented directional signs on roads and highways. *
Provides State recognition of certain Indian tribes for certain limited purposes, establishes process for future recognition of tribes and revises membership and duties of New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs.
Requires appointments for safety-related recalls on vehicles to be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. *
Provides rental and lease protections for domestic violence victims.
Requires monitoring of prescriptions for human growth hormones.
The "Market Competition and Consumer Choice Act," alters State regulation of competitive services provided by telecommunications and CATV companies.
Requires insurance coverage in the individual and small employer markets and SHBP and SEHBP for "off-label" uses of certain drugs. *
Establishes linked deposit program allowing State Treasurer to deposit State funds at below market interest rates with certain banks.
Out of committee · 52
Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly.
Prohibits misleading use of senior-specific certifications or professional designations in connection with sales of securities.
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 the adoption of nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools.
Prohibits sale of products containing dextromethorphan to minors under 18 years of age.*
Requires breath or blood sample to be obtained from certain drivers involved in motor vehicle accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury.*
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research universities, colleges or research hospitals.
Authorizes creation of local renewable energy collaboratives and central renewable energy generation systems, and provides for sale of renewable power generation. **
Requires motorists operating vehicles to maintain minimum three foot safety distance when overtaking bicycles.
Requires the design of new public schools to incorporate the "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) guidelines.
Requires the incorporation of solar panels in design and construction of new public school facilities.
Grants EDA broader discretion to approve applications for corporation business tax certificate transfer program and business employment incentive program.
Permits adoptees and certain others access to adoptee's original birth certificate and other related information. *
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.
Regulates advertising of manufacturer's rebates by retail mercantile establishments.
Protects property taxpayers by requiring removal of certain property tax deduction and credit information from documents available for public inspection and provides for homestead property tax benefit in form of credit.
Allows students with disabilities to bring service animal to school.*
Authorizes special Gold Star Family motor vehicle license plates for certain family members of military personnel who died while on active duty.*
Establishes registry of offenders of individuals with developmental disabilities in DHS.
Allows municipalities to provide free or reduced fee beach badges to active military and NJ National Guard personnel.
Establishes "New Jersey Property Assessment Clean Energy (NJ PACE) Municipal Financing Program."
Allows municipalities adjacent to two or more municipalities having urban enterprise zones to qualify for NJ Redevelopment Authority financing assistance. *
Establishes "Veteran to Veteran Peer Support Program" telephone helpline. *
Requires health insurers to cover oral anticancer medications on no less favorable basis than intravenous anticancer medications.*
Provides dedicated line item on property tax bill to fund municipal free public libraries and joint free public libraries. *
Requires that the monetary equivalent of any wage or benefit concession agreed to by a collective bargaining unit be used by the school district to offset any reduction in force initiated for economic reasons.
Changes references of "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" or "developmental disability" and uses person-first language for persons with disabilities.
Permits certain patient data to be reported to DHSS under "Health Care Facility-Associated Infection Reporting and Prevention Act".
Expands existing film and digital media production tax credit programs; designated as the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act.
Permits sale of motorcycles on Sunday.
Provides for development of searchable "Bulletin NJ" local public bidding and employment database.
Permits development of solar and wind facilities and structures on landfills and resource extraction operations under certain circumstances. *
Allows corporation business tax credits as incentives for redevelopment of distressed shopping centers.
Requires public institutions of higher education to waive application fees and transcript fees for veterans and members of the military.
Authorizes county and municipal consumer affairs directors to conduct administrative hearings, assess civil and other penalties, and issue cease and desist orders.
Requires DHSS to establish uniform standard for retail food establishment health and sanitary evaluation placards.
Revises financial assistance under Business Retention and Relocation Assistance Grant Program; repeals requirement to study implementation.
Limits forum of consumer contract disputes to New Jersey.
"Revised State Medical Examiner Act"; establishes Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner in DHSS.
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.
Enhances penalty for killing police dog or dog engaged in search and rescue efforts.
Prohibits drilling technique of hydraulic fracturing.*
Repeals obsolete statutes concerning the status of women.
Requires signs posted by retail motor fuel dealers to indicate motor fuel prices for cash and credit card customers.
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 $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.
Requires surgical practices to be licensed by DHSS as ambulatory care facilities.
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.
Establishes three categories for investigative findings of allegations of child abuse or neglect, and requires DCF to track and report certain unfounded cases that subsequently are substantiated.*
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.*
Bars solicitation of professional employment for 30 days after date of accident or disaster under certain circumstances.
In committee · 94
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.
Requires that automated external defibrillators be located on every floor of State House and State House Annex; requires training for State Police.
Provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations.
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.
Requires DOE to submit evaluation report to Legislature prior to fully implementing secondary education redesign proposal.
Concerns urban enterprise zones.
Creates new offenses and penalties regarding animal fighting.
Creates "New Jersey Senior Labor Task Force."
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 annual sales tax holiday for certain sales of personal computers and certain sales of school supplies and equipment during first full weekend of August.
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.
Requires persons subject to Megan's Law registration to provide law enforcement with any Internet identifiers.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Requires certain persons to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation against vulnerable adults.
Permits in-person wagering at casinos on results of professional sports events, subject to voter approval.
Chloe and Samantha's Law; requires notice to consumers of availability of products to prevent tip-over accidents involving certain furniture or televisions.
Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old.
Establishes "Court Security Enhancement Fund" and increases court fees.
Provides prescriber or health care facility with discretion to number prescription blank forms consecutively.
Requires staff of shelters for victims of domestic violence and emergency shelters for homeless to undergo criminal history record background checks.
Requires specific reduction of sulfur content in heating oil, and scheduled increase of blending biofuels therein after July 1, 2011, unless requirements are waived by Governor pursuant to Executive Order.
Authorizes assessment of development impact fees by municipalities.
Permits certain sheriffs to enforce truck weight limits.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tuition and fee expenses.
Prohibits the use of certain fishing gear on artificial reefs.
Revises laws concerning pedestrian safety and traffic control; requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians under certain conditions.
Requires each school district to adopt a dating violence policy to prevent and address incidents involving dating violence.
Prohibits certain sales of alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of schools or religious institutions.
Requires mandatory registration of family day care providers.
Requires public bodies to provide funds for outreach and training programs for minority group members and women in connection with certain construction contracts.
Requires registration of certain additional securities investment advisers.
Establishes additional investigative and enforcement powers in Division of Consumer Affairs to deter individuals from engaging in unauthorized practice of professions and occupations.
Permits transcript or videotape of testimony before local issuing authority to be admissible in ABC appeal.
Provides for the expeditious roadway removal of certain disabled vehicles.
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Requires licensure as insurance producer to sell certain funeral insurance policies; prohibits financing of certain preneed funeral arrangements with reverse mortgage.
Makes sundry changes to limousine laws.
Permits municipality, fire district or authority to approve transfer of certain firefighters from PERS to PFRS.
Requires criminal history record background checks on certain volunteer sports personnel.
Commences payment in lieu of taxes for tax exempt real property owned by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Establishes New Jersey Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Task Force.
Requires for-profit hospitals to report certain information to DHSS.
Requires State to purchase energy efficient and hybrid vehicles; provides for phase-in of the requirement.
Enhances PFRS accidental death pension benefit for survivors of member serving in nonsupervisory rank.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Permits direct shipping of wine to New Jersey consumers.
Extends service prevailing wage requirements to food service contracts and to local units and State authorities.
Excludes certain federal employee Thrift Savings Fund contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Establishes sales tax holiday for certain energy efficient products during third week of April and October.
Requires Police Training Commission to develop accelerated training course for certain corrections officers.
Bars direct solicitation letters from attorneys to accident victims and other persons.
Adds three members to New Jersey Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Task Force.
Provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations.
Permits State Lottery Commission to authorize video lottery terminals at Meadowlands horse racetrack, subject to voter approval.
Changes "board of chosen freeholders" to "board of county commissioners" and "freeholder" and "chosen freeholder" to "county commissioner" in new sections of law and revisions to current law; requires counties to change terms on website.
Requires DHSS to authorize Jersey City to issue certified copies of birth certificates by December 31, 2010.
Prohibits use of certain accidents involving certain insureds during the course of employment with a government entity as rating factor in automobile insurance underwriting.
Concerns DEP government records requests.
Prohibits smoking in automobiles when children are present.
Requires certain motor vehicle reinspections be conducted at licensed private inspection facilities.
Requires public agencies to set printers and computers to default to most cost effective fonts for printing to conserve ink and paper.
Increases rate of tax imposed on little cigars under tobacco products wholesale sales and use tax to equal tax rate imposed on cigarettes under cigarette tax.
Modifies requirements for local unit to dissolve certain authorities.
Provides sales and use tax exemption for wind energy equipment.
Establishes alcoholic beverage license for certain restaurants in redevelopment areas.
Requires counseling for certain domestic violence offenders.
Provides for uniform basic structure of taxicab fares in certain municipalities.
Prohibits retail dealer from charging in excess of five cents more per gallon for credit purchase of fuel than for cash purchase; requires certain price disclosures.
Provides grants to eligible businesses equal to 5% of annual base salary of new employees hired under employment grant component of Invest in New Jersey Business Grant Program.
Provides tax credit under corporation business tax and gross income tax for certain costs incurred in purchase and installation of certain environmentally responsible business equipment.
Eliminates DOT approval of municipal traffic calming measures in business districts.
Requires municipal agency under MLUL to notify prospective applicant of potential need for additional governmental approvals.
Permits a student to participate in a voluntary survey if the district sends prior written notification to the student's parents.
Establishes Inspector General of Statewide Interscholastic Sports to monitor the operating and financial activities of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Prohibits retail motor fuel dealer from charging customer more for debit card purchase of fuel than for cash purchase.
Modifies certain procedures for the assignment of franchise interests regarding the retail sale of motor fuel.
Provides for termination of child support obligation upon certain conditions.
Prohibits possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on private property by persons under 21 years of age.
Imposes limitations on attorney fees awards against public entities.
Provides refundable gross income tax credit for amount of annual homestead property tax that exceeds 7 percent of homestead owner's New Jersey gross income.
Increases filing threshold for the New Jersey estate tax.
Lowers several corporation business tax rates, increases withholding rate on nonresident noncorporate partners and establishes separate gross income tax rate on gross income in excess of $500,000 but not including foremost categories of business income.
Requires State Comptroller to perform compliance audit to verify municipal implementation of corrective action plan following performance audit.
"Internet Service Provider Customer Bill of Rights."
Provides tax credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax for certain small businesses receiving qualifying loans.
Permits direct shipping by wineries and creates Out-of-State Winery license.
Concerns repayment of unemployment compensation overpayments.
Decriminalizes possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana.
"Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Transparency and Accountability Act."
Establishes teacher residency as component of a higher education teacher preparation program; requires teachers who serve as mentors in residency program to meet certain qualifications.
Increases domestic violence civil penalty and surcharge; imposes new civil penalties under certain circumstances; provides funds to Legal Services.