Bills in the 2000–2001 Session, General Assembly.
Richard A. Merkt
Sponsored
Became law7
Permits local units to establish snow removal funds.
Allows certain disabled voters to receive absentee ballots automatically in certain circumstances.
Requires DCA to facilitate negotiations between municipalities and apartment owners for solid waste collection.*
Permits counties to increase the maximum daily compensation for members of election boards from $100 to an amount not to exceed $150.
Allows association libraries to apply for certain library grant funds. *
Expands membership of county multidisciplinary teams to include representatives of child advocacy centers.
Regulates operation of electric personal assistance mobility devices.
Passed the General Assembly6
Permits conveyance of surplus State real property at no cost to a county or municipality for certain public purposes. *
Eliminates certain fees charged to adoptive parents in particular cases.
Empowers acting sheriffs to perform real estate sales in sheriffs' absences and empowers notaries public to take affidavits made attendant to such sales.
Permits certain senior citizens to receive absentee ballots under certain circumstances.*
Permits master deed of condominium to reflect proportional common and limited common elements interests of each owner as fractions.
Limits liability of dissolved limited liability companies to creditors in certain circumstances. *
Out of committee18
Clarifies that punitive damages may not be awarded against public entities or public employees acting within the scope of their employment in any action.*
Makes certain amendments to the law establishing the comprehensive enforcement program.
Permits person registering to vote to declare political affiliation on voter registration form. *
Prohibits driving while under the influence of inhalants or other substances containing toxic fumes or vapors.
Excludes certain contributions to SIMPLE retirement plans from gross income under the gross income tax.
Approves State funding for certain "planning incentive" local government open space acquisition projects in northern NJ.
Requires collection of data on whether firearm used in offense was illegally possessed.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $200,000 to Department of Human Services for grant to provide supplemental reimbursement to certain Medicaid provider agencies for the provision of home health services.
Establishes a grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students; appropriates $2,500,000.
Provides mechanism for provision of municipal trash collection services or reimbursement to apartment buildings and complexes.
Appropriates $170,000 to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for N.J. Highlands Preservation Project.
Supplemental appropriation of $100,000 to DHS for DYFS violence prevention training grant.
Appropriates $12 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Provides property tax exemption for maximum of two parsonages of any congregation of any religious corporation in the State.
Appropriates $85,000 to DEP for conservation officer for Split Rock Reservoir.
Supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to fund grant for New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum in Madison Borough.
Revises law delineating cigarette packages to which tax stamp may not be affixed.
Provides credit for participation rates in small employer health benefits plans to employees who are covered under another group health benefits plan or Medicare.
In committee23
Exempts certain local public contracts from "buy American" requirement.
Requires part-time service by new PERS members to be credited at one half the length of that service for certain benefit calculation purposes.
Eliminates transfer inheritance taxes on Class C beneficiaries and nieces and nephews of a decedent.
Prohibits telephone solicitation of certain telephone subscribers.
Supplements and repeals certain statutes dealing with evidence and service of process.
Amends statute concerning notary publics.
Eliminates tax on certain litter generating products.
Narrows focus of uniform site improvement guidelines to engineering construction standards.
Establishes separate presidential primary on last Tuesday in February.
"Medical Savings Account Option Act" for SHBP.
Permits certain former police officers to be appointed and enrolled in PFRS regardless of age.
Exempts federally mandated safety-related activities at airports from freshwater wetlands permit requirement.
Requires use of electronic voting machines in elections; reimburses certain counties for funds spent on election equipment.
Permits municipalities to establish "Senior Citizen Affordable Housing Support Program;" combines property tax relief with COAH credit.
Allocates $600,000 from the ElderCare Initiatives account to Easter Seals New Jersey for costs of providing services to certain senior citizens.
Supplemental appropriation of $770,000 to DHSS for grant to Daytop Village for capital improvements.
The Election Petition Consistency Act.
Requires administrative rules adopted by State agencies to meet certain readability standards; creates Council on Administrative Rule Readability.
Permits certain qualified nonprofit organizations to participate in State purchasing contracts.
Designates Madison Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum as official State facility.
Authorizes county clerks to issue identification cards to county residents under age 18.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tutition, fee, housing and board expenses.
Provides exemption from liability at Superfund sites to certain persons.
Filed1
Allows life insurers to use forms in this State if approved in 40 other states.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 35
"New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act"; appropriates $500,000.*
Appropriates $26.3 million in federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds.
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.
Establishes a New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit.
Appropriates $12 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Permits a State employees' salary reduction program for qualified transportation benefits and increases the Travel Demand Management Program gross income tax exclusions for commuter transportation benefits.*
Requires insurers to provide certain notice concerning flood insurance.*
Permits establishment of small employer health benefits purchasing alliances. *
Establishes required funding level for charter school students and revises procedure for evaluation of the charter school program.*
Grants to certain probation officers in new unit certain powers of enforcement and authority to carry firearms subject to Supreme Court rule. **
Allows candidate for school board to sign own nominating petition.
Concerns prompt payment of and accrual of interest on life insurance proceeds.
Eliminates corporation business tax on regular income of S corporations.
Establishes Statewide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program; increases penalty for commission of certain sex offenses.**
Establishes the "New Jersey Individual Development Account Program," appropriates $2 million from federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds. **
Removes requirement that two-thirds of a savings bank's board must reside in New Jersey.
Removes the requirement that a savings bank must use the word "savings" in its name.
Permits municipalities to amend zoning ordinances without COAH approval under certain circumstances.
Establishes offenses concerning the protection of railroad property and interference with transportation.*
Eliminates possible price-driven rate increase in petroleum products gross receipts tax and sets tax rate at the current minimum rate floor.
Approves funding eligibility of certain farmland preservation projects in nothern NJ.
Appropriates $7.35 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for planning incentive grants to counties and municipalities for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $150 million from "1999 Statewide Transportation and Local Bridge Fund."
Permits religious or charitable organization to lease property to other tax-exempt entities without loss of property tax exemption.
"Leonard Cohen's Law"; concerns hospital patient transfers.
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program beginning in tax year 2000.
Specifies the crimes encompassed by the provisions of the "No Early Release Act," including murder.
Limits cost of Y2K examinations of domestic fraternal benefit societies and appropriates an amount necessary to pay balance of costs. *
Removes requirement that a public utility employee's Social Security number appear on employee's identification badge.
Appropriates $26.5 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation projects in northern NJ.
Appropriates $21,014,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
"The Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act."
Requires State to sell and convey portion of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital property to Morris County.
Appropriates $1,056,120 from "Garden State Historical Preservation Trust Fund" to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Vetoed · 3
Requires impact statement for any proposed regulation affecting volunteer ambulance squads and fire companies.
Requires that school districts receive written informed parental consent prior to administering certain surveys to their students.
Amends "The New Home Warranty and Builders' Registration Act" to enhance oversight and accountability.
Passed the General Assembly · 16
Supplemental appropriation of $8 million to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Tax Rate Reduction Award Program.
Increases miles of highway eligible for 65 MPH designation; specifies segments for such designation.
Provides incentive grants for school districts to establish educational foundations.
Directs State acquisition of Troy Meadows Natural Area, Morris County, for recreation and conservation purposes.
Specifies use of actual enumeration of State's population by Apportionment Commission and Redistricting Commission to establish legislative and congressional districts.
Exempts government-owned property from adverse possession and eliminates statute of limitation period for recovery.
Requires DOT to conduct mosquito abatement on storm water drainage facilities; appropriates $1.25 million. *
Authorizes payment of sales taxes by vendors under the sales and use tax and the advertising of "we pay the tax" days.
Expands the power of banks to include buying and selling platinum bullion.
Exempts State-chartered credit unions from sales and use tax.
Supplemental appropriation of $45 million to DOT for road repair grants to counties and municipalities, for State road repair, and for State and local road and bridge repair with concrete.*
Establishes driving while fatigued as recklessness under vehicular homicide statute.
Establishes State Capital Coordinating Council on Emergency Evacuation Routes and Procedures.
Requires surcharge for passenger restraint violation; establishes Child Safety Seat Distribution Program Fund.
Establishes the "Alan M. Augustine Colon Cancer Research Fund," appropriates $100,000.
Bars imposition of sanctions imposed personally on elected officials on grounds arising out of votes cast in furtherance of the duties of their office.
Out of committee · 49
Revises PFRS funding to reduce local employers' contributions by $150 million for FY 2001.
Provides tuition assistance for children and spouses of the victims of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. *
Allows vendors to retain 1% of sales tax collected as consideration for collecting and promptly remitting the same.
Requires parental consent prior to the tattooing or body piercing of minors.
Creates 12 additional Superior Court judgeships; establishes a Special Business Part in the Superior Court; provides for appropriations. *
Modifies maximum age for police and fire department hires and for PFRS enrollment by permitting subtraction from actual age of up to five years for certain service.*
Provides full PFRS credit for transferred PERS service of certain PFRS members.**
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility Act." *
Provides for the continuity of certain contracts, securities and instruments affected by introduction of the Euro.
Increases veteran's property tax deduction.
Provides for life sentence without parole eligibility for persons convicted of murder under certain circumstances.
Permits disclosure of certain patient information by organized delivery systems for research purposes.
Appropriates $1 million to DEP for grants for certain historic sites preservation projects. *
Establishes 10 year limitation on surveyor's liability with exception for adverse possession cases.
Requires that administrative rules be written in simple language. *
"Congestion Reduction and Transportation Trust Fund Renewal Act."
Creates Lake Hopatcong Commission; appropriates $3 million.
Requires ignition interlock device or registration revocation for repeat drunk driving; prohibits possession of unsealed alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle.
Appropriates $7,000,000 for New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum.
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Requires law enforcement agencies to impound vehicles of persons arrested for DWI and to issue responsibility warnings to persons assuming custody of persons arrested for DWI. *
Appropriates $50 million to the DEP for dam repair assistance and dam safety enhancement.
Appropriates $135 million to the DEP for dam, lake, and stream projects.
Increases Public Health Priority Funding by $480,000.
Makes supplemental grants-in-aid appropriation of $1.5 million to the New Jersey Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs for expansion of delinquency programs. *
Expands law enforcement powers of certain DEP personnel.
Appropriates $7.65 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and various Green Acres bond funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Approves State funding for certain "planning incentive" local government open space acquisition projects in northern NJ.
Provides for aggregation of pension credit to qualify for paid SHBP benefits in retirement.
Provides a gross income tax credit for 6% of certain charitable contributions that are deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Excludes certain State education funds from the calculation of proportionate share under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Appropriates $6,871,462.01 from "Garden State Historic Preservaton Trust Fund" to provide capital preservation grants from certain historic preservation projects in northern New Jersey.
Appropriates $145 million from "1999 Statewide Transportation and Local Bridge Fund."
Repeals law relating to transportation development districts and provides for establishment of transportation enhancement districts.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct their own pension plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct one-half of their federal self-employment taxes from gross income under the gross income tax.
Provides single sales fraction for corporation business tax income allocation formula, eliminates "regular place of business" requirement to allocate less than 100% of income to New Jersey, provides airline-specific sales fraction. *
Creates matching grant program in DCA to assist counties in retrofitting county parks to enhance usage by handicapped children; approprates $525,000.
"Local Bridge Bond Act of 2001"; authorizes bonds for $250 million, appropriates $5,000.
Approves State funding for certain "planning incentive" local government open space acquisition projects in northern NJ.
Appropriates $58 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Codifies Urban Home Ownership Recovery Program (UHORP) in NJHMFA to promote revitalization, redevelopment and stabilization of urban neighborhoods.
Excludes refunding bonds from calculation of annual limit of debt issued by Transportation Trust Fund Authority.
Appropriates $90,000 to Division of Fish and Wildlife for Hunters Helping the Hungry program.
Appropriates $10.8 million from various Green Acres bonds funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects.
Designates U.S. Highway Route No. 9 southbound bridge over Raritan River as the "Ellis S. Vieser Memorial Bridge"; appropriates $2,500.
Requires four year digitized picture driver's license; tightens requirements for issuance of driver's license to legal aliens; appropriates $1.5 million. *
Imposes liability on employers who discharge or discriminate against employees for displaying the American flag.
Limits contributions to legislative leadership committees and to certain political committees and continuing political committees; permits contributions by certain business entities. *
In committee · 65
Requires interpretive statements of State general obligation bond act public questions to include certain fiscal information.
Revises New Jersey's firearms statutes to conform with federal Brady Law.
Death Tax Phase-Out Act; phases out the transfer inheritance tax over three years.
Revises membership of U.S.S. New Jersey Battleship Commission; expands powers to operate the berthing site.
"The 10-20-Life Law."
Requires public school districts to provide instruction on the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Establishes penalties for purchase and possession of tobacco by persons under age 18.
Requires fire and casualty insurers to provide certain notices concerning flood insurance.
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Immunizes employers from civil liability for certain disclosures regarding employees and former employees.
Provides for unlimited length of stay in free-standing special care nursing facilities for certain Medicaid recipients.
Exempts public entities operating public recreational facilities from liability for damages resulting from personal injury.
Authorizes DEP to reduce or waive certain water pollution penalties.
Reduces number of peremptory challenges allowed in criminal cases.
Establishes certain guidelines for post-conviction proceedings.
Imposes surtax on certain New Jersey wages and income of residents of a state that imposes taxes on New Jersey residents that it does not impose on its own residents.
"Brain Injury Research Act."
Includes same sex marriages among marriages declared void; provides that New Jersey will not recognize marriages in other jurisdictions which are void in New Jersey.
Establishes a five-year tuition voucher pilot program and appropriates $5.5 million.
Reduces sales and use tax rate from 6% to 5.5% on July 1, 1999 and to 5% on July 1, 2001.
Provides that DEP may only assess direct program costs in permit fees.
Excludes certain deferred compensation of public school and charity employees from current taxation under the gross income tax.
Makes vehicle abandonment on limited access highways unlawful.
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Provides supplemental appropriation of $3 million for regional tourism councils and $500,000 for cultural tourism campaign.
Clarifies definition of "a place of public accommodation" under the Law Against Discrimination.
Repeals the "Federal Clean Air Mandate Compliance Act."
Requires annual inspection of roads and bridges and authorizes remedial action concerning materials stored near roads or bridges.
Establishes the level of State school aid for the 2000-2001 school year.
Establishes pilot investment program for funds of minors under certain circumstances.
Provides for a presumption of joint physical custody in a child custody determination; addresses relocation.
The "Dormitory Fire Safety Act."
Appropriates $7.5 million annually in tobacco settlement monies for cancer research.
Authorizes school boards to establish a firearm safety program.
Clarifies who shall be licensed as an insurance producer.
Concerns pro rata exemptions from loss assessments under the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program.
Provides for DNA testing on certain evidence in murder cases and requires DNA testing if death sentence imposed if identity was at issue.
Provides for nonbinding referendum as to the permanent berthing of the Battleship U.S.S. New Jersey; makes an appropriation.
Permanently denies convicted criminals access to public records containing victim's information; protects certain criminal investigatory files and crime victim information from public access.
Directs Commissioner of Transportation to issue permit for a certain sign.
Dedesignates portions of Route 24.
"The New Jersey Scouts Honor Act of 2000."
Provides that certain municipal records concerning persons under age 18 will not be publicly accessible.
Permits boards of education to establish comprehensive household safety education programs; appropriates $750,000.
Increases PAAD income eligibility levels.
Supplemental appropriation of $10 million to UMDNJ for The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Supplemental appropriation of $2.5 million in tobacco settlement funds to N.J. State Commission on Cancer Research.
Increases penalties for lying about conduct of law enforcement officer.
Requires New Jersey Turnpike Authority to establish memorial program for members of the State Police who were killed in line of duty.
Establishes a sales tax holiday in New Jersey from August 26 through September 1, 2001.
Creates program and provides assistance for repair and remediation of significant and low level hazard dams.
Allows for a gross income tax deduction for any honorably discharged member of the US Armed Forces, reserve unit or national guard.
Prohibits discriminatory rental practices of government funded premises.
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for contributions to certain entities providing educational scholarships to low-income children in New Jersey; provides an Educational Option Act.
Permits gaming investigator to carry firearm.
Establishes hiring preference for children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty seeking appointment to municipal police forces.
Allows certain individuals and private small business employers to purchase SHBP coverage.
Permits tax credit against gross income tax for child and dependent care expenses.
Requires text of model codes to be reprinted in State regulations rather than incorporated by reference.
Establishes World Trade Center Memorial Commission.
Permits certain persons aged 16 or 17 to be appointed to district boards of elections in certain circumstances.
Modifies Fair Housing Act and State Planning Act to assist in provision of affordable housing.
Authorizes the Director of the Division of Taxation to implement a federally-reimbursed State sales and use tax holiday.
Appropriates $13.3 million to the DEP for Clean Communities grants.
Filed · 1
The "New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Act;" appropriates $8.98 million.