Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, General Assembly.
Frederick Scalera
Sponsored
Became law5
Prohibits employment or assignment in certain positions of relatives of certain officers of the Executive Branch, of independent authorities or of interstate agencies.
Provides for State and county coordination of emergency response programs. *
Makes it a crime to lure or entice another for the purpose of committing a crime via electronic or any other means including the Internet.
Permits certain lights on vehicles of members of volunteer emergency services. **
Appropriates $22,906,600 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Passed the General Assembly6
Requires New Jersey institutions of higher education to disseminate fire safety information about their facilities to students, parents or guardians, and employees.
Requires public school district to provide paid time off when certain volunteer emergency aid workers are called to alarm during work hours.
Establishes "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline. *
Makes temporary insurance and temporary domestic security local cap exceptions permanent; exempts pre-July 7, 2004 contract obligations from current, lower cap. ***
Regulates Internet pharmacies and electronic prescriptions.
Requires Internet-based telephone companies to connect 9-1-1 calls to appropriate emergency personnel; changes identification requirements concerning "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Assessment." *
Out of committee10
Authorizes appointment of unpaid deputy sheriffs in all counties. *
Authorizes creation of urban enterprise zones in Garfield, Harrison, Keansburg, and two joint urban enterprise zones, one in Cliffside Park and Fairview, and one in Buena Vista Township and Buena Borough. *
Upgrades unlawful possession and distribution of prescription legend drugs. *
Upgrades penalties for certain assaults committed against employees of public utilities, cable television or telecommunication services. *
Increases jurisdictional amount allowed for wage disputes heard by the Department of Labor.
Establishes licensing requirements and standards for pharmaceutical wholesale distribution.
Revises statutes governing New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
Adds requirement under "Uniform Fire Safety Act" for one and two-family residences to be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher to be enforced upon change of occupancy. *
Changes calculation of average weekly wage for TDI benefits.
Provides for creation of special permits to serve alcoholic beverages in certain smart growth development projects.
In committee11
Raises to $150,000 in gross contributions the threshold requiring charitable organizations to file audited financial statements under the "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act."
Allows gross income tax deductions for contributions to the "NJBEST college savings program."
Permits person entitled to bring action for wrongful death based upon the September 11, 2001 terroist attacks to commence action up until September 11, 2004.
Establishes certain consumer protection measures for cellular telephone customers.
Requires cellular telephone companies to itemize and explain certain charges on customer bills and prohibits them from identifying such charges as taxes.
Permits rehired public employees to purchase PERS credit for three years of layoff period.
Requires juvenile to be tried as adult for committing certain drug offenses on or within 1,000 feet of school property.
Authorizes new powers and contractual agreements to be entered into by New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.
Clarifies that certain local administrative agency decisions involving monetary penalties or awards shall be docketed judgments.
Restricts sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine and creates permissive inference for possession of certain amounts.
Requires all pools, spas and hot tubs to comply with barrier requirements of the State Uniform Construction Code.
Carried from the Senate
Became law5
Authorizes appointment of unpaid deputy sheriffs in certain counties.
Upgrades penalties for certain assaults committed against employees of public utilities, cable television or telecommunication services. *
Adds requirement under "Uniform Fire Safety Act" for one and two family residences to be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher to be enforced upon a change of occupancy.*
Upgrades unlawful possession and distribution of prescription legend drugs.*
Revises statutes governing New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 28
Changes minimum amount of campaign contribution which triggers obligation to report that contribution to ELEC to $300; requires reporting of all cash contributions. *
Requires professional campaign fund raisers to register and file quarterly reports with ELEC.
Expands campaign communications required to feature identification to include telephone calls featuring recorded messages made in regard to candidates and public questions.
Requires ELEC to review its Internet site and recommend improvements in format and content.
Increases monetary penalties for violating campaign contribution and expenditure limit and reporting requirements and remuneration restrictions.
Bars legislators, Governor and department heads from lobbying activities for one year after leaving office or employment.
Requires ELEC to conduct random audits of records kept by legislative agents.
Directs ELEC to collect $100 annual fee from legislative agents; dedicates moneys annually to ELEC. *
Prohibits legislative agents from accepting contingency fees to influence legislation or regulation.
Permits appointment of up to four alternate members to municipal zoning boards of adjustment.
Allows residential subscribers to designate third parties to receive CATV service termination notices.
Establishes certain hiring preference for children of firefighters and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. *
Prohibits display of students' social security numbers by institutions of higher education.
Requires county colleges to award college-credits to firefighters for certain courses completed at county fire academies.
Requires permanent, full-time county fire marshals and assistant marshals authorized to coordinate, control or extinguish fires to be enrolled in PFRS.
Requires DLPS to establish policy for State Police and local law enforcement in working with Safe Return Program to recover lost individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders. *
Appropriates $300,000 to DHS for grant to Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. *
Expands bonding power authorized under P.L.2001, c.310 and extends scope of power to include projects undertaken under auspices of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.
Establishes requirements for reducing fine particle diesel emissions from certain vehicles and equipment; creates fund for financing costs associated therewith; increases penalties for idling and authorizes DEP to establish additional restrictions on sch
Delays implementation of "Contractors' Registration Act."
Supplemental appropriation of $5 million to Division of State Police for additional police recruit class and communication system upgrades.
"The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative."
Makes a supplemental appropriation of donations received by the State for the New Jersey September 11th Memorial at Liberty State Park.
Exempts dentists from requirement that needles and sharp devices used in health care facilities have integrated safety features.
Increase maximum fine for first violation of municipal ordinance.
Requires health insurers and SHBP providing dependent coverage to provide for election of coverage by certain dependents until their 30th birthday. *
Changes licensing requirements for home inspectors.
Concerns grievance arbitration clauses in public employment collective negotiation agreement.
Passed the General Assembly · 22
Requires NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to notify and receive input from Hackensack Meadowlands District municipalities concerning certain Meadowlands complex projects.
"Pharmacy Quality Improvement and Error Prevention Act." *
Authorizes a motion to dismiss in a cause of action (a "SLAPP" suit) arising from a defendant's valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech. *
Creates the "Emergency Management Act of 2004."
Concerns fire emergency procedures.
Establishes the Dana Christmas Scholarship for Heroism Program.
Authorizes payment of funeral expenses for certain public safety employees killed in line of duty.
Increases maximum LOSAP contributions and prospectively changes certain vesting requirements. *
Requires charge to nonresidents for E-ZPass transponders. *
Establishes defibrillator grant program in DCA.
Requires all State firefighter training to be accredited.
Provides for civil action against person committing act of cruelty against domestic companion animal.
Requires State to offer surplus State police vehicles to volunteer fire companies.
Skinner's Law; increases penalties for leaving scene of motor vehicle accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury.**
Concerns penalties for passing a school bus.
Requires appointing authority to perform criminal history record background check on applicant or employee for employment, appointment, retention or promotion in a position designated with a domestic security classification. *
Exempts members of fraternal benefit societies from insurance producer licensing requirements in certain circumstances.
Prescribes procedures and protocols for investigating fires involving firefighter fatalities and injuries.
Revises school district budget cap adjustment for courtesy busing, makes permanent adjustment for insurance and domestic security, provides adjustment for utility costs and an appeal on administrative cost limits, and authorizes 3% surplus for 2006-2007
Concerns tax preparation services for certain clients.
Clarifies police powers of certain sheriff's officers to enforce motor vehilce and traffic laws. *
"Rail Special Transportation District Act."
Out of committee · 62
Extends certain financial disclosure requirements to lobbying conducted through advertisements and direct mail to general public.
Prohibits solicitation and making of political contributions on State property by certain persons.
Requires certain campaign and organizational treasurers to be trained by ELEC. *
Changes memberships of Executive Commission on Ethical Standards and Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.
Requires candidates seeking office of Governor or member of Legislature to disclose prior conviction for criminal offense.
Expands definition of lobbyist and legislative agent to include those who influence governmental processes; defines governmental processes.
Requires written security plan when school is polling place and open to students; provides that schools may be used as polling places only under certain circumstances; makes appropriation.
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Provides for issuance of New Jersey Homeland Security Medals; appropriates $5,000.
Concerns notice of worker rights under the "Conscientious Employee Protection Act" to certain employees. *
Establishes Child Labor Law Enforcement Fund.
Requires that configuration of toll collection lanes be consistent throughout Garden State Parkway.
Establishes limits on resident's hours in hospitals.
Increases the maximum amount of bonds issued by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority for the Public Library Project Fund from $45 million to $95 million to provide library construction and technology grants.
Requires that chiropractic physicians, podiatric physicians, allopathic physicians, and osteopathic physicians be reimbursed at same rate as other health care providers under various health and accident plans. *
Prohibits bids for local public contracts and public school contracts from falling on certain days. *
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to Community Food Pantry Fund.
Includes local emergency management volunteers in Emergency Services Volunteer Length of Service Award Program.
Directs Commissioner of Community Affairs to promulgate certain fire safety regulations concerning furnishings purchased by public and independent institutions of higher education.
Requires employer notifications to workers regarding temporary disability benefits.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Revises pilotage laws.
Requires services under State contracts to be performed in the United States. *
Directs Attorney General to include information on criminal street gang activities in annual "Uniform Crime Report."
Permits municipality to create drug free zone around project-based housing. *
Makes certain volunteer firefighters who were appointed to paid positions and currently in PERS eligible for transfer to PFRS. *
Requires certain ATM operators to register and undergo criminal history record background checks.
Requires telemarketers to have signed consent form or written request before making telemarketing sales calls to customer on NJ Do Not Call List.
Grants tenure or permanent status to certified fire officials and inspectors under certain conditions.
Requires certain persons to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation against vulnerable adults. *
Directs DHSS to adopt regulations prohibiting overcowding of animals in kennels, pet shops and other retail establishments; establishes penalties.
Creates study commission on the death penalty.
Revises "New Jersey Money Transmitters Act"; provides consumer protections; increases reporting and record keeping requirements.
Upgrades the crime of criminal mischief under certain circumstances; creates new offense.
Establishes transportation planning district for Meadowlands District and permits fees to be assessed for transportation purposes. *
Authorizes municipal governing body to create and maintain list of municipal residents in need of special assistance in case of emergency for public safety purposes.
Requires Medicaid program to pay recipients' Medicare prescription drug copayments.
Provides circumstances when housing nonprofits may join with local units in joint insurance funds.
Establishes "The Prosecutorial Cost Relief Pilot Program Act of 2005." **
Combines separate stock and mutual workers' compensation insurance security funds into a single fund.
Deters State unemployment tax avoidance by penalizing knowing avoidance of unemployment tax payment. *
Establishes arson investigation unit in Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs.
Expands law providing penalty against teacher who leaves job prior to expiration of contract to include teachers at approved private schools for the disabled.
Requires certain public entities to competitively bid in order to provide pupil transportation services to a local school district.
Revises "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act."
Creates credit card do-not-solicit list for certain persons.
Credits coverage under Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare towards employer's minimum participation rate under NJ Small Employer Health Benefits Program.
"Health Claims Authorization, Processing and Payment Act." *
"Emergency Health Powers Act."
"Christopher's Law;" makes it a crime for unlicensed driver to be involved in motor vehicle accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury. *
Requires creditor to provide mortgage payoff balance to borrower within five business days after request. **
"Family Health Care Coverage Act"; reestablishes NJ FamilyCare Program, expands eligibility for Medicaid program for parents and adults without dependent children and provides for pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates for GA program. *
"New Jersey Advance Directives for Mental Health Care Act."
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. *
Requires newly constructed affordable housing units to be adaptable for use by elderly and disabled persons. **
Restricts sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine and criminalizes possession of anhydrous ammonia under certain circumstances. *
Changes criteria for continued receipt of NJ STARS scholarship after first year of enrollment in a county college.
Establishes the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund in the NJHMFA to finance special needs housing projects through bond proceeds issued by the NJEDA; designated the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund Act.
Provides additional State school aid to school districts which are bordered by at least three Abbott districts.
Requires costs of contract for construction be revealed to municipal construction office for construction permit.
Permits law enforcement officers, including county sheriff and corrections officers, to participate in intergovernmental transfer program; permits waive of accumulated sick leave and seniority privileges by such officers.
Establishes NJ STARS II Program for NJ STARS scholars who advance to a New Jersey four-year public institution of higher education; appropriates $1,000,000 to Higher Education Student Assistant Authority. *
In committee · 68
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize State services.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize county services.
Defines "mobile home park" as "multiple dwelling" for inspection purposes.
Requires emergency first aid and first responder retraining for local law enforcement officers; establishes a "duty to act" in emergency situations for on-duty local law enforcement officers.
"Michael's Law;" imposes mandatory jail time and rehabilitation for third or subsequent drunk driving offenses.
Establishes Task Force on Child Welfare.
Directs the State Lottery Commission to establish video lottery at not more than three horse racetracks; provides for NJ Casino Control Commission and NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement oversight.
"Pharmacy Benefits Management Company Act."
Establishes criminal penalties for failure to pay the minimum wage.
Provides non-forfeitable right to post-retirement medical benefits provided by law to certain public employees with 25 years of service.
Provides for regulation of certain call center communications by Division of Consumer Affairs.
Allows State or State authority to terminate construction contract upon transfer of contractor's ownership or control; requires advance approval of subcontractor changes.
Establishes pilot program for CDL training.
Provides for accidental disability retirement for certain PFRS members who participate in off-duty firefighting activities in a municipality other than the one in which they are employed.
"New Jersey Fair Market Drug Pricing Act"; establishes New Jersey Rx Card Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Requires permanent handicapped person identification cards and parking placards to be renewed every five years.
Designates "New Jersey, U.S.A." as State song.
Requires certain malls to provide motorized carts to customers.
Increases penalties for drunk driving with minor as passenger.
Authorizes Boy Scouts license plate.
Increases pensions for certain PFRS retirees when special retirement benefit for active PFRS members increases to 70%.
Establishes a civil action for the eviction or removal of persons who commit drug-related crimes on leased residential property.
Provides State matching funds to school districts in the amount of savings realized from the provision of educational or administrative services through an educational services commission.
Provides for review of State agency regulations by State Planning Commission for their consistency with State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
Extends payment of sales tax revenues into UEZ assistance fund in those zones designated pursuant to P.L.1993, c.367.
Permits exemptions from certain medical examination and testing, vaccination and medical treatment requirements during public health emergencies.
Requires health benefits coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances and provides reimbursement therefor.
Exempts commercial requests for geographic information systems maps from OPRA access.
Directs Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for instruction by public school districts on child abduction prevention.
Permits public employers to pay health insurance premiums for survivors of PFRS members.
Allows law enforcement officers in PERS to transfer to and enroll in PFRS; requires all law enforcement officers to be enrolled in PFRS.
Provides that impairing another person's means of communication may constitute an act of domestic violence.
Requires use of luminescent materials in exit pathways of high-rise structures.
Revises school district budget cap adjustments for special education and courtesy busing, makes permanent adjustment for insurance and domestic security, and provides adjustment for utility costs.
Eliminates certain components of realty transfer fee.
Establishes $2 surcharge upon building permits for payments to Community Health Law Project.
Increases annual funding of Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund.
Repeals the death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without eligibility for parole in certain circumstances.
Provides a temporary budget cap adjustment for salary increments or salary adjustments for school district employees that exceed 2.5% or the CPI, whichever is greater.
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Establishes Office of Inmate Advocacy in the Office of the Public Defender.
Extends payment of accidental death benefit in PFRS to survivors of certain members of reserve component of Armed Forces and National Guard.
Prohibits price gouging during a declared state of emergency.
Allows access to housing, public facilities and transportation for certain working dogs, provides penalties for violation.
Requires the State to provide State aid for public school adult high school programs.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in financial institutions located in Delaware if that state does not reverse its Coastal Zone Act ruling that impacts a proposed New Jersey facility.
Revises the eligibility criteria under the State earned income tax credit to equal the eligibility criteria of the federal earned income tax credit.
Requires disclosure to subscribers of certain cable television costs.
Limits increase in annual license fees for radon businesses.
Permits State Lottery Commission to authorize 5,000 video lottery terminals at Meadowlands horse racetrack; preserves Casino Revenue Fund at FY2005 level; provides for benefits to horse racing industry.
Requires firefighters to obtain "firefighter 1" certification.
Excludes from PAAD income eligibility withdrawals from an IRA.
Requires the expungement of certain moving violations after three years.
Requires breaks from work for certain employees.
Requires health insurers to cover diagnostic testing and long-term antibiotic treatment of chronic Lyme disease and co-infections of Lyme disease.
Establishes privilege for certain communications between legislator and constituent.
Reduces years of law enforcement experience required for certain law enforcement officers to establish right to carry a firearm.
"Jessica Lunsford Act;" concerns sentencing of sex offenders and persons who harbor them; requires electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders and creates child protection zones.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in financial institutions located in Delaware if that state does not amend its permitting laws to conform to the Compact of 1905.
Authorizes special high school hockey team license plates.
Prohibits certain unsolicited checks.
Creates Meadowlands Economic Development Trust; provides for sharing of tax revenues generated by developments of regional economic significance to improve local quality of life.
Allows gross income tax credit for unreimbursed hearing aid expenses.
Provides for residency requirement for name change applications.
Requires criminal background check for name change and prohibits persons convicted of certain crimes from changing their name.
Makes unauthorized use of military medals or insignias a crime of the fourth degree.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Meadowlands Conservation Trust.