Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, Senate.
Andrew R. Ciesla
Sponsored
Passed the Senate2
Increases membership of certain municipal recreation commissions.
Clarifies that certain rents received by charitable and public service organizations are not subject to hotel and motel occupancy fees and taxes.
Out of committee7
Requires value engineering clause in specifications for certain construction contracts under Local Public Contracts Law.
Requires boat safety course to operate boat on State waters; revises other recreational boating laws. *
Adds two members to Water Supply Advisory Council.
Requires health clubs to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
Empowers United States Department of Defense police officers to make arrests for certain violations of New Jersey law.
Requires identification and record keeping for sales of certain fertilizers.
Permits local government units to grant Length of Service Award Program points to certain activated military members.
In committee61
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts.
Establishes Autism Registry in DHSS; appropriates $500,000.
Provides for annual adjustment in allowance paid to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities.
Creates Coastal Area Dredge Disposal Alternatives Task Force; appropriates $95,000 therefor.
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program beginning in tax year 2002.
"Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors; 65 years and older.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Permits municipality under State supervision to reduce operating costs through employee early retirement and termination incentive program.
Prohibits harvest, landing, processing or sale of wild sargassum in NJ.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $200,000 to the Department of State for a grant to Algonquin Arts.
Directs DHSS to adopt regulations prohibiting overcowding of animals in kennels, pet shops and other retail establishments; establishes penalties.
Prohibits sale of any dog by kennel, pet shop or other retail establishment without name, address and phone number of person providing dog thereto; establishes $500 fine for each violation.
Requires certain advertising disclosures by certain funeral establishments.
Provides four-year phase-in of boat safety requirements for operating personal watercraft.
Authorizes leave for parents and guardians of children with special needs.
Adds two members to Water Supply Advisory Council.
Establishes "Pharmaceutical Research to Combat Alcoholism Fund" and appropriates $1 million.
Eliminates certain domestic product requirements from public contracting laws.
Increases penalties for certain campaign advertising violations.
Excludes federal employee Thrift Savings Plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Authorizes the Ocean County Utilities Authority to conduct a demonstration study on the beneficial reuse of wastewater; appropriates $100,000.
Eliminates supplemental realty transfer fee, and clarifies the law with respect to realty transfer fees generally.
Requires NJ legislators to file detailed statement of financial affairs.
Extends certain benefits to members of U.S. Reserves and State organized militia who serve at least 180 continuous days.
Establishes the "Veterans Home Health Care Demonstration Program"; appropriates $1 million.
Extends eligibility for certain veterans' benefits to members of reserve components of US Armed Forces and NJ organized militia who serve at least 180 continuous days.
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits.
Permits public employees who are members of WAVES National or Sons of the American Legion to have paid leave to attend State or national conventions.
Concerns sale or rental of video games rated for mature and adults only audiences.
Adds certain forensic scientists to Prosecutors Part in PERS.
Decreases certain motor vehicle fines.
Requires certain NJ Transit Corporation employees to undergo criminal history background checks and wear photo identification.
Concerns intermodal equipment.
Revises the alternative minimum assessment under the corporation business tax.
Implements, upon voter approval, constitutional amendment establishing the office of Lieutenant Governor.
Exempts senior citizens and blind or disabled persons from certain realty transfer fees.
Terminates imposition of certain fees on transfers of real property.
Requires radiation detectors to be mounted on cranes within Port of New York District.
Requires Commissioner of DHSS to annually determine amount of influenza vaccine needed for State and obtain vaccines.
Increases annual income limits for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Appropriates $250,000 for asbestos removal at former Coast Guard station in Manasquan.
Creates New Jersey Clinical Trials Registry in DHSS.
Provides that expiration of all CAFRA coastal centers shall be extended.
Requires chimney sweeps to be registered.
Exempts senior citizens and blind or disabled persons from certain realty transfer fees.
Concerns penalty for use of wireless phone while driving.
Prohibits certain health care professionals from charging patients for their records.
Terminates imposition of certain fees on transfers of real property.
Upgrades penalties for certain crimes involving children under 16 years of age.
Includes screening for toxoplasmosis in newborn screening program.
Restores fiscal integrity and enhances funding to Transportation Trust Fund.
Requires assisted living facilities to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
Increases penalties for drunk driving with blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher.
Permits certain lights on emergency service volunteers' vehicles.
Prohibits certain sex offenders from working in ice cream trucks and amusement parks.
Concerns telemarketing political calls.
Recodifies offenses against animals under State criminal code; increases degree of crime for certain offenses.
Establishes offense of soliciting image of minor with unlawful purpose.
Increases monetary penalties for violation of certain laws regulating the retail sale of motor fuels.
Eliminates use of vaccines containing mercury over three years.
Establishes Autism Education Council.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 14
Extends certain financial disclosure requirements to lobbying conducted through advertisements and direct mail to general public.
Clarifies that cruelty to animals includes the use of an animal to injure another animal or the use of any direct or indirect means to inflict the cruelty. *
Revises "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act."
Excludes housing and subsistence allowances of members of active and reserve components of U.S. Armed Forces, and of National Guard members on State active duty, from taxable gross income. *
Requires scheduled revisions to New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan; appropriates $2.5 million from "Water Supply Fund" therefor. *
Provides for re-enrollment right or refund of fees for student who is called to active duty for certain military operations.
"Patient Safety Act"; establishes medical error reporting system. *
Provides exemption from cleanup liability at Superfund sites to certain persons.
Creates study commission on the death penalty and imposes moratorium on imposition of death penalty. *
Provides that TPAF and PERS veterans' retirement with 35 years of service shall be based on highest benefit year rather than last year of service.
Appropriates $1,080,000 to DEP for the Intracoastal Waterway Feasibility Study.
Designates bridge over Raritan River carrying southbound U.S. Highway Route No. 1 between Edison Township and New Brunswick City as "Donald Goodkind Bridge," appropriates $2,500.
Revises pilotage laws.
Promotes improved polling place accessibility for individuals with disabilities and the elderly. *
Passed the Senate · 7
Creates offense of animal incapacitation and increases and revises certain animal cruelty penalties. *
Concerns the location of hazardous substances in flood plains.
Directs Drinking Water Quality Institute to reevaluate maximum contaminant level for MTBE in drinking water; directs DEP to adopt certain standard for arsenic in drinking water; appropriates $100,000. *
Expands responsibilities of "New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect."
Expands eligibility for NJ Distinguished Service Medal and commemorative Vietnam service medal and ribbon to certain former State residents.
Establishes Office of Environmental Law Enforcement in the Division of Criminal Justice in Department of Law and Public Safety; establishes Environmental Prosecutor. *
Concerns lost or stolen E-ZPass transponders. *
Out of committee · 16
Extends veteran's property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
Establishes the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in the DEP and appropriates $200,000.
Makes various changes to the Garden State Preservation Trust Act.
Requires two-way communications equipment on school buses.
Establishes a program to provide college scholarships to the spouses and children of those killed, missing in action or disabled in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Concerns hours of service of commercial motor vehicles operating in intrastate commerce.
Authorizes bars and restaurants to offer special discounts based on sex under certain circumstances. *
Modifies catch and possession limits for taking of striped bass.
Requires permanent, full-time county fire marshals and assistant marshals authorized to coordinate, control or extinguish fires to be enrolled in PFRS.
Permits certain lights on vehicles of members of volunteer emergency services. *
The "Identity Theft Prevention Act" *
Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding.
Supplemental appropriation of $5 million to Division of State Police for additional police recruit class and communication system upgrades.
Changes title of State park ranger to State park police officer.
Authorizes deer hunting with bow and arrow on Sundays.
Increases penalty amounts to $1,500 and $3,000 for violations of certain laws regulating retail sale of motor fuel.
In committee · 96
Limits contributions to legislative leadership committees, State political party committees, political committees and continuing political committees.
Reduces certain contribution limits for candidates and committees; establishes separate contribution limits for county and municipal candidates; requires disclosure by certain candidate-associated organizations.
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Exempts police from jury duty.
Requires public bidding or competitive contracting for award of professional service contracts and requires certain vendors to fully itemize bills to school districts and local units and prescribes sanctions.
Elevates certain animal cruelty crimes of third degree; increases civil penalties for animal cruelty; establishes registry of violators of animal cruelty laws.
Provides State-paid SHBP benefits in retirement to certain former State employees with 25 or more years State service.
Requires identity check for flight instruction.
Provides automobile insurance premium reduction of 10% for completion of medical and safe driving program for senior citizens.
Establishes Smart Growth Research and Education Center at Rutgers; appropriates $250,000.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for hearing aids.
Provides benefits for family temporary disability leave.
Excludes from taxation income from certain sales of land for open space and farmland preservation purposes.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Encourages consistency of municipal planning documents with the State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
Limits school district per pupil administrative spending to 130% of the median per pupil administrative spending for districts of the same operating type, enrollment range, and district factor group.
Establishes Clean Car Division to administer Clean Car Program in DOT; appropriates $250,000.
Authorizes assessment of educational facilities construction fees by boards of education under certain circumstances.
Creates crime of criminal negligent homicide, negligent assault with a firearm and reckless endangerment.
Provides additional State school aid to school districts with significant enrollment growth and low per pupil property and income wealth.
Permits counties to establish a central municipal drug court.
Makes changes to the "Comprehensive Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act."
Requires child to DYFS caseworker ratio of no greater than 25 to 1.
Requires DYFS district offices to adjust office hours and establish staggered work weeks for caseworkers.
Establishes specialized child abuse and neglect investigation units in DYFS district offices.
Requires DYFS to inform county boards of social services when children receiving assistance under Work First New Jersey are placed in foster care.
Supplemental appropriation of $2 million to DHSS to expand Respite Care for the Elderly Program.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Permits municipalities to withdraw from certain county library systems.
Increases Hearing Aid Assistance for the Aged and Disabled Program allowance to $500 per year.
Requires voter approval when State funds are appropriated to finance construction of certain professional sports facilities.
Makes certain reforms in the process of estimating and certifying State revenues for the annual State budget.
Requires installation of protective fencing along certain overpasses.
Requires that configuration of toll collection lanes be consistent throughout New Jersey Turnpike.
Requires drug testing of foster parents and DYFS caseworkers.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Requires vendors of legal services to fully itemize bills to public entities and prescribes penalties.
Clarifies and strengthens disclosure requirements for certain complimentary tickets received by candidates, officeholders, political party officials, political committees and continuing political committees.
Reconstitutes Executive Commission on Ethical Standards with public members; requires certain public officers and employees to file financial disclosure statements and dispose of certain prohibited interests.
Extends certain financial disclosure requirements under "Legislative Activities Disclosure Act of 1971" to "grass roots" lobbying conducted through direct mail and advertisements to general public.
Prohibits political contributions by persons or businesses investing or rendering advice regarding investment of certain State funds.
Extends State veterans' benefits eligibility to those New Jerseyans who served on active duty missions related to the war on terror since September 11, 2001.
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.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
Repeals "Fire Service Resource Emergency Deployment Act."
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Requires physicians to inform patients diagnosed with breast cancer of treatment options.
Allows certain co-owners of homesteads on which property taxes have been paid to receive full and not proportionally reduced property tax deduction under the gross income tax.
Establishes the Academic Achievement Award Pilot Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority; appropriates $500,000.
Prohibits members of Legislature from engaging in certain lobbying activities for two years after leaving office.
Prohibits awarding of certain types of public contracts to members of the Legislature.
Provides that legislators will not receive PERS credit for other simultaneous PERS-covered employment.
Establishes "Volunteer Emergency Services Highway Reimbursement Fund."
Promotes the performance of environmental audits.
Regulates use of after market collision parts for motor vehicle repairs.
Establishes State security officer program to augment security at State's nuclear power plants; levies $1 surcharge on traffic fines for funding.
Establishes New Jersey Health Benefits Provider Network Study Commission.
Promotes improved polling place accessibility for certain individuals with disabilities and the elderly; appropriates $500,000.
Requires hospitals to report information about patient infections to DHSS.
Allows judgment for restitution of stolen public funds to be levied against convicted employee's retirement allowance or pension contributions.
Limits certain campaign contributions to $100 per year or per election; abolishes legislative leadership committees; makes various other changes to campaign finance law.
Requires removal of sodium azide from air bags prior to scrapping of vehicles.
Establishes a joint legislative and executive branch State Revenue Forecasting Integrity Commission to provide a revenue forecast for annual State budget purposes.
Permits certain charities to renew registration by verification statement.
Prohibits filling of vacancy among candidates nominated at primaries after 48th and before 14th day before general election, except due to death; prohibits filling subsequent vacancies before elections.
Establishes "Internet Predator Investigation and Prosecution Fund" with $200 assessment on persons convicted of certain offenses.
Establishes involuntary outpatient commitment for certain persons who are mentally ill or gravely disabled and provides for involuntary inpatient commitment for certain persons who are gravely disabled.
Extends reduced or discounted cable television rate provisions to persons eligible for "Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program."
Requires dissemination of organ and tissue donation by State Treasurer, Personnel Commissioner, State contractors, and preparers of advanced health care directives; designates April of each year as Donate Life Month.
Authorizes counties and municipalities to adopt regulations limiting political contributions by contractors.
Provides for State income tax deduction to private well owners for water testing costs.
Authorizes marriages by proxy for certain persons serving overseas in the Armed Forces or National Guard.
Requires a dealer to disclose missing or defective emission control equipment in a used motor vehicle under certain circumstances.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in companies doing business in countries that sponsor terrorism.
Supplemental appropriation of $150 million to DOT for repair or construction of bridges on Route 72 connecting Long Beach Island to the mainland.
Clarifies that Fish and Game Council has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Prohibits use of Social Security numbers for identification purposes except for internal verification.
Prohibits business entities or institutions of higher education from using or displaying certain social security numbers under certain circumstances.
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Restricts sale of yellow ribbons; dedicates proceeds to veterans.
Extends veteran's tax deduction to certain persons undergoing training for deployment in Operation "Iraqi Freedom."
Requires ELEC to provide ethics training for governmental affairs agents.
Requires all elected or appointed local government officers to receive ethics training.
Requires completion of legislative ethics training program for legislators and State officers or employees and special State officers or employees in Legislative Branch.
Requires that public officers or public employees convicted of crimes involving their office or employment be sentenced to mandatory prison terms and forfeit pension benefits.
Repeals State and local hotel and motel occupancy taxes and voids existing municipal implementing ordinances.
Establishes "Pharmaceutical Assistance Savings for Senior Services Fund" and specifies use of savings to State from Medicare Part D.
Requires release of bid list prior to bid date under "Local Public Contracts Law."
Requires assessment of bay scallop resource, and authorizes DEP to establish a bay scallop fishery.
Establishes State-Administered Retirement Systems Study Commission.
Requires line item disclosure of all State revenues and appropriations in the Governor's budget proposal, and in bills pending in the Legislature or enacted in this State; eliminates off-budget State spending.
Implements the economic indicator recommendations of the Commissioner of Education on Abbott district designation.
Establishes New Jersey State Building Green Building Technology Task Force.
Authorizes special "Born to Run" license plate with proceeds to benefit Community FoodBank of New Jersey.