Bills in the 2008–2009 Session, General Assembly.
Joan M. Voss
Sponsored
Became law2
Requires that one member of the State Board of Medical Examiners be a practicing podiatric physician.
"Self-Directed Support Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Rights Act."
Passed the General Assembly3
Creates offense of impairing communications, which would constitute domestic violence in certain circumstances. *
Provides for Autism Advocate in Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled. *
Increases certain sentences and imposes bail restrictions on persons who violate domestic violence restraining orders under certain circumstances; authorizes the court to order evaluation and treatment. *
Out of committee2
Revises "Notaries Public Act of 1979."
Establishes a loan redemption program for certified technology education teachers employed in public schools in the State.
In committee29
"The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative."
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Prevents use of condemnation to acquire residential property under redevelopment laws.
Provides that schools may be used as polling places only under certain circumstances.
Establishes a loan redemption program for certified vocational-technical education teachers employed in public schools in the State.
Removes monk parakeet from list of potentially dangerous species.
Supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to DHSS for Office on Women's Health.
Increases fees charged for marriage licenses and dedicates monies to Displaced Homemakers Trust Fund.
Requires "just compensation" for condemnation of single-family residence to be based on cost of comparable relocation properties.
Permits a child who moves out of a school district due to a family crisis to remain enrolled in that district until the end of the school year.
Increases funding for compulsive gambling prevention, education, and treatment programs.
Establishes certain specific gambling offenses connected with animal fights under the animal cruelty laws; establishes minimum jail time for first offenders.
Exempts testing of cigarettes in tobacco businesses from "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act."
Prohibits convicted former elected or appointed public official from registering as governmental affairs agent.
Increases membership of the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry.
Creates Bergen County Transportation Trust Fund.
Increases amount of divorce filing fees to be allocated to displaced homemaker services.
Establishes the Preschool Through Grade 20 Council; appropriates $500,000.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to The College of New Jersey to expand technology education teacher preparation program.
Requires van accessible handicapped parking spaces be used exclusively by handicapped equipped vans.
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses paying a salary differential to National Guard members or reservists on active duty.
Appropriates $200,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grant to Save Ellis Island, Inc. to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Creates offense of animal incapacitation and increases and revises certain animal cruelty penalties.
Prohibits certain breeding and sales practices; requires persons selling cats or dogs to provide certain information; and provides penalties.
Requires simple majority for proposal to increase school tax levy above tax levy growth limit.
Provides for special Bronze Star license plates.
Increases New Jersey Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association payment cap to $250,000 for certain annuities.
Requires installation of low-flow toilets and low-flow showerheads in multiple dwellings having 3 or more units.
Clarifies that executive county superintendent's authorities regarding special education services do not allow him to require a child study team to make a specific determination on the special education placement for a student.
Filed1
Limits motor bus owner responsibility for no-fault medical expense benefits coverage for certain injured passengers.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 27
Authorizes parent or guardian to request use of individualized health care plan for student with diabetes and provides for the emergency administration of glucagon for certain students. *
Requires facility where patient dies to provide medical examiner with contact information for next-of-kin so medical examiner may obtain additional information about death. *
Establishes measures to provide employment stability for teaching paraprofessionals employed in school districts that receive federal funding under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Directs the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to establish adapted athletic programs.
Requires prompt parental and staff notification of contaminated soil found on school property. *
Reduces notice that school district is required to give superintendent of schools if district determines not to reappoint. *
Requires training program for and recognizes position of technical assistant to construction code official.
Revises statutes regarding acupuncturists; criminalizes unauthorized practice of acupuncture. *
Requires bittering agent to be added to certain engine coolants and antifreeze to render it unpalatable.
Permits parent of twins or higher order multiples enrolled in public school to select shared or separate classroom placement of their children.
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.
Enacts "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children."
Requires schools to notify certain students of potential eligibility for NJ STARS Program.
Establishes a "Silver Alert System." *
"New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act"; requires each four-year public institution of higher education to provide on its website certain information regarding its costs, faculty, and graduation rates.
Revises conditions to qualify for exemptions from electrical contracting permit requirements for electrical installation, repair and maintenance work done by public employees on public property. *
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Authorizes interception of wire or electronic communications of suspected computer trespasser under certain circumstances.
Creates "Computer Crime Prevention Fund"; imposes penalties on certain offenders.
The "New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lending Act"; concerns certain licensed mortgage and consumer lending practices, supervision and enforcement.
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. **
Establishes the "New Jersey Scenic and Historic Highways Program."
Permits adult with an autism spectrum disorder to voluntarily register with the State registry of reported diagnoses in children.
Clarifies provisions of "Law Against Discrimination" concerning persons with an autism spectrum disorder.
Prohibits use of electronic smoking devices in indoor public places and sale to minors. *
Establishes New Jersey Special Education and Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force.
Vetoed · 1
Lengthens service life of certain school buses to 15 years. **
Passed the General Assembly · 24
Revises New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act and other laws relating thereto. *
The "Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act."
Establishes Task Force to study the benefits of student recess and make recommendations on advisability of mandatory recess in school districts.
"Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
Directs the BPU to establish certain energy-conservation programs.
Regulates Internet pharmacies and electronic prescriptions.
Allows State agencies, counties and municipalities to comply with certain publication requirements by means of Internet. *
The "Consumer Telephone Records Protection Act of 2008." *
Permits person covered by certain managed care plans to receive covered services from network provider without obtaining written referral from primary care provider. *
Requires certain elected officials and appointed officers eligible for dual health benefits coverage to choose coverage by one public entity. *
Requires DHSS to establish "New Jersey Autism Website."
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to create identification card for use by persons with autism.
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.
Establishes "New Jersey Colon Cancer Research Fund;" provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns. *
Requires the adoption of nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools. *
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program.
Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program. *
Requires Public Advocate intervention, additional public participation, and health impact study as conditions of conversion of health service corporation to domestic stock insurer. *
Makes it a crime to communicate or transmit sexually suggestive communications to a minor under certain circumstances.
Upgrades certain sex crimes against minors.
Requires persons subject to Megan's Law registration to provide law enforcement with any Internet identifiers.
Authorizes wiretap orders for investigation of luring or enticing a child, identity theft, stalking and harassment under certain circumstances.
Provides that information technology professionals who find child pornography on computers must report the finding to law enforcement.
Out of committee · 38
Adds two employees to the boards of trustees of the State colleges and the county colleges.
Confers civil service status on police officers employed by UMDNJ, Rutgers University, and NJIT. *
Requires alternative testing arrangements be provided to certain students unable to attend tests at their regular administration due to religious observance.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance regulating where sex offenders may reside. *
"Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; provides credits against certain taxes for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Creates a credit card do-not-solicit list. *
"New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act." *
Establishes the "Municipal Court Prosecutors' Automated System." *
Consumer Electronics Warranty Lemon Law.
Requires DEP to develop and maintain an integrated computer system.
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.
Regulates sale of certain bicycles with quick release wheels. *
"Truth in Beef Packaging Act of 2008."
Requires DHSS to report certain patient safety indicators on a hospital by hospital basis and prohibits hospitals from charging for certain medical errors. *
Revises "lemon law" refund formula for consumers of certain new motor vehicles.
Prohibits boards of education from charging students a fee to participate in extracurricular activities.
Authorizes a board of education to reject the lowest bid for a school transportation contract based on the school bus safety inspection record of the bidder.
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.
Prohibits the use of a dog or other animal in a drug distribution scheme.
Makes use of an animal to carry illegal drugs or facilitate drug-related crimes an animal cruelty offense; provides for non-merger of criminal animal cruelty offenses.
Exempts certain renewable energy systems from real property taxation. *
Authorizes enhancement of State Uniform Construction Code's energy subcode based on anticipated energy savings; provides down payment assistance to certain purchasers of homes meeting enhanced energy subcode requirements.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" increases sentences for sex offenders and persons who harbor them.
Increases funding of Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program.
Revises statutory mental health coverage requirements and requires all health insurers and SHBP to cover treatment for alcoholism and other substance-use disorders under same terms and conditions as for other diseases or illnesses.
Regulates certain credentialing and trade practices of insurance producers, and provides private cause of action for insurance producer violations.
Permits student whose high school special education program requires instruction beyond four years to participate with his class in graduation ceremony and to receive certificate of attendance.
Authorizes Greenwood Lake Commission to charge fees. *
Establishes "Court Security Enhancement Fund" and increases court fees.
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensing Act."
Revises jurisdiction of Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission, and transfers administration of Historic New Bridge Landing State Park from DEP to Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission.
Enhances PFRS accidental death pension benefit for survivors of member serving in nonsupervisory rank.
Establishes a permanent Interdistrict Public School Choice Program.
Requires residential mortgage lenders to provide debtors with certain information about curing default prior to initiation of mortgage foreclosure action.
Requires test agencies to offer post-examination products and services in a uniform manner to all test subjects.
Concerns collective bargaining agreements and subcontracting.
Requires chain restaurants to provide calorie information for food or beverage items offered for sale.
In committee · 132
Includes adult with onset physical disabilities as eligible criteria for assistance through Special Needs Housing Trust Fund.
"Patricia's Law;" model Missing Persons Legislation.
The "Smart Container Act."
Establishes "Domestic Violence Health Care Response Act."
Directs the Division on Women to conduct an audit of the coordination of community responses to domestic violence.
Provides that PERS member holding more than one position covered by PERS has to designate one position as the basis for enrollment.
Requires board of education to unseal and announce contents of bids for certain subcontracting only at regularly scheduled, public meetings of the board.
Requires criminal history background check for certain persons working at schools.
Requires Local Finance Board approval for proposed loan agreements between local authorities and for-profit entities.
Requires mandatory sexual violence training for law enforcement, judicial and prosecutorial personnel.
Provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations.
Sets State's mileage reimbursement rate at IRS rate for business use of automobile.
Exempts municipal clerk from penalties for Open Public Records Act violations under certain circumstances.
Establishes pilot program in Department of Education to provide instruction in personal finance to high school seniors.
Increases membership of PFRS board of trustees from 11 to 13 members.
Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
Provides gross income tax deduction for health care plan costs.
Requires the State to provide State aid for public school adult high school programs.
Requires informational posters about safe placement alternatives for newborn infants be posted in public restrooms used by females.
Adds two student representatives to board of governors of Rutgers University.
"Group Home Fire Safety Act."
"Steven's Law;" prohibits use of non-wood bats in certain organized games.
"Billy's Law"; establishes Council on Out-of-State Placement of Children and registry of qualified out-of-State residential schools and programs in DCF.
Prohibits municipal prosecutors from making certain recommendations to the court.
The "New Jersey Academically Gifted and Talented Student Education Act"; appropriates $5 million.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Establishes professional standards for county sheriffs and their employees.
Requires health care facilities to report certain information about their health care staff to their respective professional boards or DHSS.
Makes it a crime of the third degree to practice psychology without a license and prohibits certain unlicensed employees of nonprofit community agencies from using title of psychologist.
Prohibits certain sex offenders from selling from ice cream trucks.
Requires State Board of Education to include two hours of instruction in suicide prevention as part of professional development for public school teaching staff members.
Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard.
Establishes the "Veterans Home Health Care Demonstration Program"; appropriates $1 million.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement for claimants affected by eminent domain.
"Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act"; appropriates $75,000.
The "Najeeb Green-Lewis Law," requires motor vehicle rental companies to confirm driving status of driver as condition of renting certain vehicles.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Removes two license limit on plenary retail distribution license holders.
Abolishes Landscape Architect Examination and Evaluation Committee; transfers powers to New Jersey State Board of Architects.
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
Establishes Nursing Student Support Program.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Establishes school property tax freeze program for resident homeowners age 65 or older and disabled homeowners.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Establishes Commission on Women Veterans.
Regulates operation of sweepstakes in New Jersey.
Provides mandatory fines and community service for theft of headstones, headstone markers, flags or flag holders from grave sites.
Authorizes assessment of development impact fees by municipalities.
Authorizes adoption of timed-growth ordinances by municipalities.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Directs AG to develop guidelines for law enforcement cooperation with municipal prosecutors.
"Electronic Waste Recycling Act."
Requires forfeiture of public office upon conviction of fourth degree crime or higher; disqualifies person from future office upon conviction of fourth degree crime or higher or conviction of crime involving dishonesty.
Increases mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain repeat sex offenders.
Permits police officer to impound uninsured motor vehicle.
Requires annual review of all released sex offenders to determine if they were registered and tiered.
Establishes animal cruelty offenses pertaining to chaining or other restraint of animals.
"Toy Safety Act."
Removes limousine services from sales and use tax imposition.
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 an appropriation.
"Transportation Trust Fund Renewal and Reform Act of 2005."
Requires the reporting of criminal offenses occurring on school property to law enforcement authorities.
Requires State budget to include funds for annual cost-of-living adjustment to certain contracted providers of services.
Repeals cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
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.
Establishes pilot program in DOC for removal of certain tattoos.
Requires reporting of public high school, district and Statewide drop-out and graduation rates.
Establishes grant program for school districts to develop in-district and collaborative special education programs and services to reduce need to place classified students out-of-district.
Imposes mandatory terms of imprisonment for contempt for violation of domestic violence orders.
Requires dogs licensed out of state that are brought into NJ to be licensed in NJ within 60 days, and raises penalties for violations of law requiring licensing of dogs and of kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds.
Limits rent increases for certain senior citizens.
Provides for the election of school board members at November general election.
Provides NJ STARS II Program eligibility to certain students who attained an associate's degree through a joint program offered by a school district and a county college.
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.
Revises procedures for securing a permit to carry a handgun.
Establishes limits on resident's hours in hospitals.
Requires health benefits coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances and provides reimbursement therefor.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Meadowlands Conservation Trust.
Requires retail food establishments to provide certain nutritional information for food or beverage items sold to its customers.
Lowers the minimum full-time jobs requirement for business relocation and retention tax credits.
Requires Attorney General to prepare pamphlet for parents on keeping children safe from predators.
Requires public schools to include instruction on humane treatment of animals as part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
Authorizes courts to include animals in domestic violence restraining orders.
Prohibits school districts from hiring governmental affairs agents.
Permits wineries to produce and sell certain distilled alcoholic beverages.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
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.
Establishes the authority of the court to order electronic monitoring of certain convicted domestic violence offenders.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Expands offense of computer criminal activity to include accessing computer data for an unlawful purpose by means of a knowing misrepresentation as to identity of person requesting information.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Requires school bus safety instruction in all school districts which provide pupil transportation.
Makes employment matters not exempted by statute mandatory subjects of public employment collective bargaining.
Exempts charges for residential storage space and dues for residential health and fitness facilities from the sales and use tax.
Requires MVC to immediately suspend driver's license of alleged drunk drivers who cause a death.
Clarifies certain standards for regulation of recreational vehicles as housing.
Requires insurers and State health care coverage programs to cover cost of HPV vaccine.
Increases income eligibility limits for PAAD program and Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program by $5,000.
"Kyleigh's Law"; revises laws concerning provisional driver's licenses.
The "Animal Cruelty Recodification and Modernization Act."
Requires hearing loss sensitivity training for public school pupils and teaching staff members.
Authorizes "100 percent Disabled Veteran" license plates for qualified veterans; entitles holders to handicapped parking privileges.
Expands DNA database to include samples from disorderly persons and certain violent arrestees.
Removes licensing requirement for recreational senior citizen bingo games.
Expands definition of abused child to include youths between the ages of 18 and 21 who receive services from DCF.
Requires school districts to disseminate information that stresses the importance of rigorous coursework.
Authorizes special Gold Star Family license plates.
Excludes financial benefit received by volunteer emergency responder from gross income.
Allows adoptees access to nonidentifying family medical history information.
Permits advertising on exterior of school buses.
Provides that public schools will not be in session on general election days when Office of President of the United States is on ballot.
Expands the provisions of Operation Recognition to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Increases fine for student truancy and requires truant student to attend court-ordered truancy counseling program or other appropriate program.
Establishes loan redemption program for certain teachers under which they are permitted to redeem loan amounts received under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program through employment in public schools.
Extends the statute of limitations for certain sexual abuse cases.
Provides for an extended term of imprisonment, supervision for life and sex offender registration for the crime of human trafficking under certain circumstances.
Creates feral cat public education program.
Creates Feral Cat Health Commission.
Authorizes creation of local animal health and population control commissions.
Provides exception to local cap law for purchases of fuel efficient vehicles and permits loans by New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust for those purchases.
Removes confidential employee status of certain Casino Control Commission employees.
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.
Provides that MIA-OON flag be displayed at certain public buildings annually for 30 days beginning September 11.
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 newly licensed registered professional nurse to attain baccalaureate degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure.
Imposes a one-year moratorium on the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association reorganization of certain school athletic conferences under certain circumstances.
Provides that MIA-OON flag be displayed at certain public buildings annually for 30 days beginning September 11.
Requires each school district to adopt a dating violence policy to prevent and address incidents involving dating violence.
Requires each county to establish and maintain veterans service office.
Requires premium sharing for health care benefits for elected officials and certain appointed officials.
Prohibits use of electronic smoking devices in indoor public places and workplaces.