Bills in the 2000–2001 Session, General Assembly.
Neil M. Cohen
Sponsored
Became law3
Permits certain corporate mergers without shareholder approval or right of dissent.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to Department of State for a grant to NJIT for Smart Gun Technology Development program.
"Leonard Cohen's Law"; concerns hospital patient transfers.
Vetoed1
Concerns the sales and use tax on uncollectible credit sales.
Passed the General Assembly2
Provides for the registration and regulation of athlete agents.
Adds leader of firearms trafficking network to RICO statute.
Out of committee10
Provides tax credit for certain corporate taxpayers that provide health care benefits to employees.
Provides gross income tax credit for certain small business employers that provide health care benefits to employees.
Prohibits certain deceptive advertising concerning merchandise with a manufacturer's rebate.
Provides civil immunity for allegations of domestic violence made in good faith.
Concerns recovery of TDI payments from workers' compensation awards.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses incurred in diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
Provides budget authority for additional forest fire funding.
Requires child support order relating to health care coverage be enforced through National Medical Support Notice and indicate the party responsible for maintaining the coverage.
Establishes the crime of Bias Intimidation. *
Increases mayor's term of office in certain towns to four years.
In committee83
Allows gross income tax exclusion of $3,500 of interest and dividends.
Requires certain alcoholic beverage licensees to carry $1 million liability insurance.
Provides for license revocation and monetary penalties for occupancy and fire code violations by certain alcoholic beverage licensees.
Prohibits certain alcoholic beverage licensees from obtaining interest in another alcoholic beverage license.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tuition and fee expenses.
Prohibits privatization of State services unless specifically authorized by statute.
Provides corporation business tax credit for certain donations for adult day care center support.
"Home Improvement Contractors' Registration and Warranty Act."
Includes business broker in definition of real estate broker and salesperson.
Requires homeowner to disclose information concerning nearby sex offender to potential buyer.
Upgrades the crime of employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme; imposes a mandatory minimum term of ten years.
Provides that contributory death benefits for members of JRS shall be provided through group life insurance policy providing such benefits to members of PERS.
Exempts books from the sales and use tax.
The "Solid and Hazardous Waste Operator Registration Reform Act of 1998."
Clarifies intent of the Legislature to provide for mandatory driver's license suspension as a penalty for motor vehicle theft.
Provides for increased penalties for a crime committed in a church, synagogue, temple or other place of public worship.
Requires corrections officers to complete training course before assuming powers and duties.
Excludes from income for gross income tax and PAAD eligibility purposes victims' remuneration for involuntary internment received under judgments or settlement agreements.
Requires advance written directives for disposition of frozen human embryos.
Makes FY 1999 supplemental appropriation of $25,000 to DCA for a grant to Union County Committee Against Hate.
Requires Department of Health and Senior Services to prepare and distribute informational booklet about sickle cell anemia; appropriates $95,000.
Requires insurers which provide prescription drug benefits to cover costs of medications for treating sickle cell anemia.
Supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DHSS for grants to UMDNJ and Hackensack University Medical Center for sickle cell anemia research.
Requires health insurers to offer benefits for dose-intensive chemotherapy/bone marrow transplants and umbilical cord blood transplants for treatment of sickle cell anemia.
Increases certain workers' compensation benefits.
Increases workers' compensation benefits for dependents.
Concerns attorney's fees in workers' compensation cases.
Concerns witness fees in workers' compensation cases.
Reduces Second Injury Fund annual surcharge rate; appropriates $30 million.
Establishes Workers' Compensation Review Commission.
Provides 5% workers' compensation premium reductions for employers who permit workplace inspections by insurers.
Concerns confidentiality of workers' compensation records.
Prohibits accessing of encrypted and non-encrypted information under certain circumstances.
Provides for funding of county victim notification systems.
Allows Garden State Parkway motorists to pay toll by mail if exact change is required at toll booth when no toll collector is on duty; prohibits additional fee for person making payment.
Provides corporation business tax credit for certain support for adult day care centers.
Provides corporation business tax credit for adult day care center support benefiting employees.
Clarifies that purchase price of passenger automobile for calculation of sales tax due is amount on bill of sale.
Establishes a community service/loan redemption program for pharmacists.
The "New Jersey Pharmacist Business Assistance Act."
Requires HMOs to permit enrollees to continue to be treated by a physician no longer employed by or under contract with the HMO under certain circumstances.
Provides for civil action and treble damages for a violation of the "New Jersey Trademark Counterfeit Act."
Increases veteran's property tax deduction.
Provides for certain ex-spouses to receive a widow's pension.
Provides for a term of imprisonment for a conviction of aggravated arson under certain circumstances.
Bars tracking or speed monitoring of motor vehicles via cell phone signals.
Includes alimony as income in calculating child support.
"Potential Life Protection Act."
Changes compensation base of SPRS accidental death benefit pension for surviving spouses and children.
Requires health insurers to provide coverage for treatment of social anxiety disorder.
Prohibits charging of municipal, county or State beach fees; establishes fund for beach maintenance; requires annual appropriation of $20,000,000 from realty transfer fees into fund; restricts other appropriations contingent on such funding.
Establishes the "Study of User Recreation Fees Commission."
Changes income criterion for qualifying for farmland assessment.
Authorizes creation of 28th UEZ in Roselle Borough, Union County.
Directs UEZA to establish extended enterprise zones.
Requires certain children to wear helmets when operating scooters.
Revises statutes concerning computer crime.
Establishes transporting of firearms into State for purpose of an unlawful sale or transfer as a crime of the second degree.
Requires defendants convicted of crime of "leader of firearms trafficking network" to serve 85% of sentence prior to parole eligibility.
Upgrades crime of theft of a firearm to make it a crime of the second degree.
Requires that Port Authority of NY & NJ notify vehicle owner within 30 days of alleged electronic toll system violation.
Requires health benefits coverage for abortifacients.
Upgrades crime of leaving the scene of a fatal accident to a crime of the second degree.
"Prescription Drug Cost Containment Act."
Establishes a five year after-school pilot program in the Department of Education to discourage delinquency; appropriates $5,000,000.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction and disabled veterans' property tax exemption to certain veterans who have served in Korean Demilitarized Zone.
Provides that pupils may not be prohibited from using sign language on school property.
Requires securities broker-dealers and investment advisers to prepare signed and notarized new account forms for each client.
Supplemental appropriation of $1 million to Department of State for grant to NJIT Smart Gun Technology Development program.
Concerns disclosure of credit scores to certain consumers.
Amends Punitive Damages Act to add Conscientious Employee Protection Act.
Establishes the Administrative Law Judges Retirement System.
Enacts the "September 11, 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act."
Provides for an attachment order to freeze certain funds or assets relating to terrorism.
Establishes the September 11, 2001 Scholarship Fund; appropriates $2 million.
Requires financial institutions and check cashing businesses to file a suspicious transactions report when they suspect terrorism.
Establishes special license plates for veterans.
Disqualifies certain persons from flight instruction; institutes background checks.
Provides for mile-based automobile insurance rating plan.
Supplemental appropriation of $100,000 to DHS for public awareness campaign concerning "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act."
Prohibits terrorism exclusion in insurance policies.
Provides for assignment of certain homeowners insurance policies under certain circumstances.
Establishes the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act."
Co-sponsored
Became law · 25
"New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act"; appropriates $500,000.*
Provides for presumption of death for persons exposed to catastrophic events.
Concerns certain public benefits available to persons affected by September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on US.
Requires proof of valid motor vehicle insurance before release of impounded motor vehicle in certain cases.
"Health Data Commission Act;" appropriates $94,000.
Criminalizes the unauthorized insertion of writings into consumer products.*
Allows PERS retiree to resume employment covered by PERS as teacher with higher education institution without suspension of benefits.
Permits establishment of small employer health benefits purchasing alliances. *
Designated the "Community Health Care Assets Protection Act."
Updates law concerning certain banks which the State Treasurer can select as custodian of funds, securities and assets of the State and as fiscal agent for State pension agencies.
Provides for payment of certain individual and provider claims against HIP Health Plan of New Jersey, Inc. and American Preferred Provider Plan, Inc.; appropriates $50,000,000 from the tobacco settlement proceeds.*
Provides that Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Infantile Autism shall be funded annually at $1.5 million.
Provides school districts with additional State aid for special education pupils if costs exceed a certain amount. *
Provides for expedited approval process for certain applications by financial institutions and updates parity provisions for financial institutions.
Provides for the merger of subsidiaries into financial institutions.
Provides enhanced benefits to survivors of certain PFRS members.
Creates new motor vehicle offense; clarifies municipal prosecutors' duties concerning plea agreements.
Permits real estate brokers, broker-salespersons and salespersons to engage in certain promotions offering free or discounted products and services.
Creates the crime of possession of forged or altered retail sales receipts, universal product code labels and counterfeit checks; clarifies forgery statute.*
Provides certain retirement benefits for workers compensation judges.*
Clarifies that fees are due in Special Civil Part on levy if judgment reinstated or case settled. *
Revises eligibility for and amount of contributory death benefit coverage in JRS.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to DMAVA for construction of the State World War II Veterans Memorial. *
"The Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act."
Creates Prosecutors Part with other benefits in PERS.
Passed the General Assembly · 18
Provides grants to county prosecutors to combat firearms trafficking; appropriates $5 million.*
Enacts the "Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001."
Permits a tax deduction under the New Jersey gross income tax for taxpayers who operate or maintain for their employees a licensed child care center or who have paid the cost of outside child care.
Defines municipal powers to remove graffiti from buildings. **
Establishes programs through NJ KidCare for State financial assistance and subsidies to purchase employer-sponsored health benefits plans for certain dependent children.
Establishes the crime of assault by animal.
Requires a dealer to disclose missing or defective emission control equipment in a used motor vehicle under certain circumstances, and exempts certain motor vehicles from regulation.
Establishes toll-free telephone hotline for reporting guns and other weapons in public schools.*
Provides for extended terms of imprisonment for certain crimes committed in places of worship and cemeteries.*
Authorizes renegotiation of solid waste contracts.
Requires DOT to conduct mosquito abatement on storm water drainage facilities; appropriates $1.25 million. *
Places five-year moratorium on distribution and sale of irradiated food.
Expands the power of banks to include buying and selling platinum bullion.
Exempts State-chartered credit unions from sales and use tax.
Establishes a grant program in the Department of Human Services to provide start-up funding for the creation of after-school programs; appropriates $1,500,000. *
Establishes a quality enhancement grant program in the Department of Human Services to assist after-school programs; appropriates $3,500,000. *
Establishes the Commission on After-School Programs in DHS; appropriates $100,000. *
Establishes the "Alan M. Augustine Colon Cancer Research Fund," appropriates $100,000.
Out of committee · 34
Directs UEZA to establish extended enterprise zones and UEZ-impacted business districts; creates three additional urban enterprise zones, one a joint zone. *
Provides tuition assistance for children and spouses of the victims of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. *
Establishes the Amistad Commission to coordinate educational and other programs on slavery and African-American history.
Provides a corporation business tax credit for day care center support benefiting children of employees.
Requires licensure of third party administrators of health and dental benefits plans and certification of third party billing services.*
Adds new causes of action for divorce based on irreconcilable differences.*
Establishes collateral requirements for certain deposits in and sets standards for certain investments by the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund.
"Gray Market Electronic Goods Warranty Disclosure Act."**
Provides for a tax exemption on certain improvements to dwelling houses to facilitate their use by disabled persons.
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility Act." *
Requires certain contracts and warranties to be printed in at least 10-point type. *
Exempts all pension income from gross income tax.
"Home Improvement Contractors' Registration Act."
Increases veteran's property tax deduction.
Designates portion of State Highway Route No. 82 as the "Jewish War Veterans Memorial Highway;" appropriates $2,500.
Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to establish staffing level ratios for DYFS caseworkers; appropriates $12,000,000.
Requires managed care plans to contract with providers that meet certain standards when providing services for hemophiliacs.
Prohibits denial of PIP benefits on basis of consumption of alcohol.
Requires insurers that provide certain prescription drug benefits to cover costs of contraceptives.
Allows physicians and dentists to jointly negotiate with carriers over contractual terms and conditions. *
The "New Jersey Women's Micro-Business Credit Act"; appropriates $750,000.
Permits aid to State supervised municipalities to eliminate structural deficit.
"Congestion Reduction and Transportation Trust Fund Renewal Act."
Permits eviction for good cause of tenants who are creating nuisance; requires court to notify landlord when restraining order has been issued barring tenant from residential rental property.*
Requires scooter riders under 14 years old to wear helmets.
Creates 24-hour hotline to receive complaints of computer crime.
Directs Medicaid to establish community spouse resource allowance and income limits at highest levels permitted by federal law.
Allows consumer lenders under the "New Jersey Licenses Lenders Act" to make consumer loans up to $50,000.
"Health Care Carrier Accountability Act."
Requires notification for potential license revocation of child care providers and certain health care facilities.
Requires boards of education to file information on violence and vandalism in the schools with the DOE.
Designates annual "School Violence Awareness Week" and prescribes certain activities.
Prohibits sale of gasoline containing MTBE; directs DEP to seek waiver from EPA oxygen requirements for purpose of discontinuing use of MTBE; and establishes Transportation Energy Security Council to monitor good faith compliance effort. *
Provides benefit coverage to certain police, fire and emergency personnel.
In committee · 78
Prohibits hospital from denying admission or services to patient based on patient's HMO coverage, and requires HMO's to cover legitimate emergency health care.
Requires health benefits coverage for prescription drugs for treatment of epilepsy.
Establishes State Pediatric Epilepsy Resource Program; appropriates $50,000.
Directs Medicaid to establish community spouse resource allowance and income limits at highest levels permitted by federal law; appropriates $9 million in State funds and $9 million in federal funds.
"Job Destruction Penalty Act."
Concerns disqualification from unemployment benefits.
Requires carriers which offer managed care plans to permit covered person to continue treatment for limited time with a physician no longer employed by or under contract with the carrier for certain health conditions.
Requires certain health insurers to provide coverage for prescription contraceptives.
Prohibits demonstrating or picketing the residence or dwelling of health care providers.
Allows gross income tax filers to designate contributions for services to crime victims.
Requires restitution be made under certain circumstances.
Prohibits construction of a new major hazardous waste facility within a 3-mile radius of a solid waste incinerator.
Prohibits construction of a major hazardous waste disposal facility pending completion of analysis of State's existing hazardous waste generation and disposal capacity by DEP.
Exempts certain nonprofit organizations from liability for damages to an offender performing community service.
Prohibits certain deceptive advertising practices, known as "slamming," with regard to long-distance telecommunications services.
Limits amounts patients must pay to obtain copies of treatment records from health care professionals.
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Establishes "Health Care Investment Trust Fund."
Appropriates $4.6 million for emergency projects at Ellis Island.
Establishes additional criterion for BPU approval of certain regulatory petitions by local exchange telecommunication companies.
The "Health Care Insurer Accountability Act of 1998."
"Brain Injury Research Act."
Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to establish staffing level ratios for DYFS caseworkers.
The "New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act."
Provides enhanced penalties for certain crimes when victim is 65 years of age or older, or disabled.
Provides for public inspection of plans to prevent and respond to discharges of certain hazardous substances at certain facilities.
Provides that committing a domestic violence-related crime in the presence of a child would constitute an "aggravating factor" to be considered by the court in sentencing.
Directs UEZA to establish permanent enterprise zones.
Prohibits picketing the residential dwelling of another.
Provides for immunity concerning receipt of notice and State payment of notification costs under Megan's law.
Provides free tuition at college or university in New Jersey for surviving spouse or child of murder victim.
Restores certain exceptions to county and municipal cap laws for recycling.
Establishes "Families First" license plate to benefit domestic violence shelters.
Increases penalties for assaults committed by gangs.
Concerns unfair insurance claim settlement practices.
Creates corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain costs of long-term care insurance policies.
Permits pharmacists to change prescription dosage forms.
Prohibits use of not at-fault accidents as a tier rating factor for automobile insurance.
Makes various changes in civil service system concerning titles, compensation and layoffs.
Provides that an area surrounding a church, synagogue, temple or other place of public worship shall be designated a drug free zone.
Requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide rebates to Medicaid for lower drug prices in foreign countries.
Concerns bank services and fees.
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Provides corporation business tax credit for certain investments in small New Jersey-based high-technology businesses.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Directs DEP to phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether as a component of gasoline.
Requires insurance rate reduction for automobile equipped with fire extinguisher.
Phases out the transfer inheritance tax over two years.
Withholds payment to operator of State's Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance Program in amount equal to damages levied by contract for failure to meet certain performance standards.
Requires inclusion of right of first refusal and reverter clauses in local government land sale contracts.
Reimburses private garages for cost of inspection equipment.
Prohibits BPU regulation of certain district heating and cooling systems.
Prohibits the idling of a train engine for more than 20 minutes.
Provides special license plates for clergy.
Makes vehicle title fraud a third degree crime.
Deprivatizes motor vehicle agencies.
Permits municipality under State supervision to reduce operating costs through employee early retirement and termination incentive program.
Concerns traffic control trucks.
Clarifies who shall be licensed as an insurance producer.
"21st Century Transportation Trust Fund Extension Act."
Requires State and local civil service entities to grant paid leave of absence to members of certain law enforcement and firefighters' associations who attend State or national conventions.
Permanently denies convicted criminals access to public records containing victim's information; protects certain criminal investigatory files and crime victim information from public access.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $50,000 for an endowment to the Wynona Moore Lipman Ethnic Studies Center to be established at Kean University.
Prohibits unsolicited telemarketing sales calls to certain customers.
Authorizes payment of unemployment benefits during leave related to birth and adoption.
Provides for issuance of receipt to voter at primary or general election; allows receipt to be used as proof of eligibility to vote in subsequent election.
"The New Jersey Electronic Voting Machine Act"; requires use of electronic voting machines in elections.
Authorizes Casino Control Commission to permit Atlantic City casinos to offer Internet casino gambling.
Supplemental appropriation of $22.9 million in General and federal Funds to DHSS for supplemental charity care.
Concerns reemployment services and training programs.
Expands Medicaid to cover additional disabled children.
Expands and clarifies scope of "Retail Installment Sales Act of 1960."
Requires health insurers to cover Hepatitis B vaccination costs.
Exempts certain motor vehicles from inspections.
Requires Superintendent of State Police to report directly to Governor.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
"Dental Claims Processing and Payment Responsibility Act."
Requires licensure of hospital in Union County to provide adult cardiac surgery services.
Filed · 1
The "New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Act;" appropriates $8.98 million.