Bills in the 2002–2003 Session, General Assembly.
Richard A. Merkt
Sponsored
Became law2
Limiting liability of dissolved limited liability companies to creditors in certain circumstances.
Removes occupational limitations for use of electric personal assistive mobility devices.
Passed the General Assembly1
Clarifies that crime victims' rights must be recognized by all courts in the State.
In committee48
Prohibits telephone solicitation of certain telephone subscribers.
Prohibits legislators from certain lobbying activities for two years after leaving office; provides additional civil penalities for violations.
Adopts the "Uniform Trade Secrets Act."
Amends statute concerning notary publics.
Provides exemption from liability at Superfund sites to certain persons.
Requires collection of data on whether firearm used in offense was illegally possessed.
Requires administrative rules adopted by State agencies to meet certain readability standards; creates Council on Administrative Rule Readability.
Permits municipalities to designate segments of certain highways as recreation or government facilities zones with 25 MPH speed limits.
Authorizes DEP to reduce or waive certain water pollution penalties.
Makes various changes to the law concerning damage to natural resources from contaminated property.
Empowers acting sheriffs to perform real estate sales in sheriffs' absences and empowers notaries public to take affidavits made attendant to those sales.
Replaces the New Jersey gross income tax with a New Jersey simplified income tax.
Exempts federally mandated safety-related activities at airports from freshwater wetlands permit requirement.
Authorizes county clerks to issue identification cards to county residents under age 18.
Establishes a grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students; appropriates $2,500,000.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $350,000 to DCA for a grant to National Burn Victim Foundation.
Permits municipalities to establish "Senior Citizen Affordable Housing Support Program;" combines property tax relief with COAH credit.
Exempts public entities operating public recreational facilities from liability for damages resulting from personal injury.
Narrows focus of uniform site improvement guidelines to engineering construction standards.
Provides property tax exemption for maximum of two parsonages of any congregation of any religious corporation in the State.
Bans intentional feeding of deer.
Eliminates transfer inheritance taxes on Class C beneficiaries and nieces and nephews of a decedent.
Establishes penalties for drunk and drugged supervising passengers under graduated driver license program.
Requires school districts to provide certain parents with the school report card.
Restricts the receipt of certain things of value by legislators or legislative staff and officers and staff members of the Executive Branch and limits certain gifts thereto.
Prohibits nepotism by public officials.
Allows a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and the recipient's dependent child and spouse to receive tuition-free postgraduate education at any public institution of higher education.
Concerns workers' compensation benefits and certain volunteer emergency personnel.
Establishes the required level of State aid for the Abbott districts.
Prohibits filling of vacancy among candidates if vacancy occurs within 51 days prior to day of general election.
Updates special license plates for emergency medical technicians from EMT-A to EMT.
Appropriates $85,000 to DEP for conservation officer for Split Rock Reservoir.
Provides for DNA testing on certain evidence in murder cases and requires DNA testing if death sentence imposed if identity was at issue.
Creates the crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability.
Authorizes establishment of trusts providing for deferred distribution of funds for minor beneficiaries of persons who die without a will.
Prohibits certain contributions by certain entities and individuals doing business with counties or municipalities; limits amount of contribution by principals and officers of such entities.
Provides for temporary police chief appointment when activated military reserve police officer cannot take promotional examination.
Requires DOT to abide by municipal zoning and signage regulations when placing motorist service and tourist-oriented directional signs on State property.
Empowers officers of Bureau of Border Security and Transportation Security Administration to make arrests for certain violations of New Jersey law.
Establishes "Tax Me More!" Fund.
Establishes child protective services investigation pilot program in Morris county; appropriates $90,000.
Clarifies that Governor and Governor's staff are subject to certain ethical standards.
Provides for vehicle forfeiture for certain convictions of driving with revoked license.
Authorizes Eagle Scout license plate.
Repeals certain restrictions on future retail sales of handguns.
Prohibits Legislature and members thereof from employing convicted criminals.
Deletes references to Drug Utilization Review Council and provides for use of federal Orange Book.
Authorizes county clerks to issue ID cards; requires Motor Vehicle Commission to give cards primary ID status.
Carried from the Senate
Became law1
Establishes driving while fatigued as recklessness under vehicular homicide statute.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Permits certain persons aged 16 or 17 to be appointed to district boards of elections in certain circumstances.
Requires wanted person check before release or transfer of inmates or suspects. *
Authorizes payment of sales taxes by vendors under the sales and use tax and the advertising of "we pay the tax" days.
Doubles the drug enforcement and demand reduction fines imposed for the possession or distribution of certain club drugs. *
Exempts from New Jersey gross income tax the income of victims who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States. *
Designates State office building in Asbury Park as "Thomas S. Smith, Sr. State Office Building."
Designates Morristown Memorial Hospital as the State's specialty acute care children's hospital for Morris and Union counties.
Establishes procedures for court and DYFS to determine safety of minor child whose child's caretaker is incarcerated. **
"Michael's Law;" imposes mandatory jail time and rehabilitation for third or subsequent drunk driving offenses. *
"Danielle's Law"; requires certain staff working with persons with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury to call 911 emergency telephone service in life-threatening emergencies.
Establishes right of person engaged in military service for more than 90 days to cancel motor vehicle lease without penalty.
Passed the General Assembly · 4
Establishes hiring preference for children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty seeking appointment to municipal police forces.
Permits master deed of condominium to reflect proportional common and limited common elements interests of each owner as fractions.
Revises "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." *
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Out of committee · 29
Establishes new method of establishing financial liability for patients in psychiatric facilities and eliminates financial liability of certain family members. *
Appropriates $11.05 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in northern New Jersey.
Allows certain juvenile offenders to be placed in county jail.
Establishes driving while fatigued as recklessness under vehicular homicide statute.
Appropriates $28,820,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Establishes identification guidelines and record-keeping requirements for notaries public. *
Permits certain qualified nonprofit organizations to participate in State purchasing contracts.
Clarifies that a court may require the posting of full cash bail in cases involving serious crimes.
Provides for commencement of short term tax exemptions and abatements as of date of completion of project.
Amends and supplements the "New Jersey Parentage Act," establishing new procedures concerning blood or genetic testing.
Designates official entity constructing law enforcement memorial and museum.
Upgrades offenses involving use of false government documents.
Makes various changes to the automobile insurance laws; consolidates administrative functions relative to automobile insurance; provides for insurance fraud reforms. *
Revises and augments rules governing arbitration procedures in arbitration agreements.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints." *
Revises wills and estates.
Establishes the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission.
Repeals law creating State poet laureate.
Requires award of grants to remediate discharges from home heating oil tanks for application filed prior to July 1, 2007.
Provides victim of sexual assault with opportunity to consult with prosecutor on plea negotiations.
Authorizes, in cases where decedent died without a will, establishment of trusts for young beneficiaries providing deferred distribution of funds.
Provides immunity to volunteer architects, landscape architects, land surveyors, professional engineers, construction managers and contractors during certain emergencies. *
Appropriates $6,036,777 from the "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Permits parole board to prohibit certain parolees from harboring dangerous animals.
Appropriates $51,282,300 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," and appropriates or reappropriates certain other moneys, for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in "urban aid," densely or highly populat
Appropriates $12,377,500 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in northern NJ.
Appropriates $38,445,876 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $44,031,468 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $45,220,823 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" and certain farmland preservation bond funds for farmland preservation purposes.
In committee · 94
Supplemental appropriation of $8 million to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Tax Rate Reduction Award Program.
Classifies victim impact statements as confidential communications.
Creates matching grant program in DCA to assist counties in retrofitting county parks to enhance usage by handicapped children; approprates $525,000.
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.
Appropriates $90,000 to Division of Fish and Wildlife for Hunters Helping the Hungry program.
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.
Appropriates $1 million to DEP for grants for certain historic site preservation projects.
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Appropriates $7,000,000 for New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum.
Exempts State-chartered credit unions from sales and use tax.
Requires the award of Outstanding Scholars Recruitment Program scholarships to home-schooled students and prohibits the denial of a scholarship due to a student's lack of class rank.
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
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.
Exempts government-owned property from adverse possession and eliminates statute of limitation period for recovery.
Directs State acquisition of Troy Meadows Natural Area, Morris County, for recreation and conservation purposes.
Requires annual inspection of roads and bridges and authorizes remedial action concerning materials stored near roads or bridges.
Provides incentive grants for school districts to establish educational foundations.
Codifies Urban Home Ownership Recovery Program (UHORP) in NJHMFA to promote revitalization, redevelopment and stabilization of urban neighborhoods.
Requires text of model codes to be reprinted in State regulations rather than incorporated by reference.
Concerns pro rata exemptions from loss assessments under the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program.
Permits boards of education to establish comprehensive household safety education programs; appropriates $750,000.
Reduces sales and use tax rate from 6% to 5.5% on July 1, 1999 and to 5% on July 1, 2001.
Bars imposition of sanctions imposed personally on elected officials on grounds arising out of votes cast in furtherance of the duties of their office.
Modifies Fair Housing Act and State Planning Act to assist in provision of affordable housing.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Requires interpretive statements of State general obligation bond act public questions to include certain fiscal information.
Allows vendors to retain 1% of sales tax collected as consideration for collecting and promptly remitting the same.
Death Tax Phase-Out Act; phases out the transfer inheritance tax over three years.
"The 10-20-Life Law."
Provides that certain municipal records concerning persons under age 18 will not be publicly accessible.
Establishes a sales tax holiday in New Jersey from August 26 through September 1, 2001.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct their own pension plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
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.
Allows certain individuals and private small business employers to purchase SHBP coverage.
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.
Requires impact statement for any proposed regulation affecting volunteer ambulance squads and fire companies.
Transfers Bureau of Securities to Department of Banking and Insurance.
Permits certain senior citizens to receive absentee ballots under certain circumstances.
Permits person registering to vote to declare political affiliation on voter registration form.
Eliminates certain fees charged to adoptive parents in particular cases.
The Election Petition Consistency Act.
Exempts from New Jersey gross income tax the victims who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States.
Designates New Jersey as "Bill of Rights State" on license plates.
Allows for a gross income tax deduction for any honorably discharged member of the US Armed Forces, reserve unit or national guard.
Dedesignates portions of Route 24.
Provides for a presumption of joint physical custody in a child custody determination; addresses relocation.
Extends certain benefits to veterans of Operation "Enduring Freedom" and members of reserve and State organized militia who serve at least 180 continuous days.
Prohibits public and certain private affirmative action programs based upon race, ethnicity, sex, color or national origin.
Immunizes employers from civil liability for certain disclosures regarding employees and former employees.
Supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to fund grant for New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Reorganizes NJSPCA and county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Designates September 11 in each year as "Red, White, and Blue Ribbon Day" in honor of victims of September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
Provides that the amount of damages to be awarded in medical malpractice cases would be determined by a judge of workers' compensation.
Eliminates entitlement to workers' compensation cash benefits during imprisonment.
Authorizes business entities to designate representatives in court proceedings without the necessity for representation by an attorney.
Provides for recoupling of the computation of the New Jersey estate tax in accord with the federal estate tax.
Provides that doctors providing emergency care in hospitals are immune from civil liability under the Good Samaritan Act.
Allows individuals a credit against gross income tax equal to 50 percent of fair market value of school supplies and equipment donated to a public school.
Removes restrictions on purchase of apparel by State agencies; voids Executive Order No. 20 of 2002.
Appropriates $1.5 million to the DEP for the Lake Hopatcong Commission.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
Provides tax credits for certain participants in federal Environmental Performance Track Program.
Eliminates the alternative minimum assessment under the corporation business tax.
Allows Governor to appoint poet laureate who will serve at pleasure of Governor.
Protects certain compliant municipalities from builder's remedy under "Fair Housing Act" pending readoption of methodologies, criteria and guidelines.
Appropriates $11.05 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in northern New Jersey.
Decreases and eliminates certain fees and penalties.
Exempts vanpool rentals from domestic security fee imposed under P.L.2002, c.34.
Supplemental appropriation of $10 million to Department of Treasury for the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology to administer certain programs.
Amends "Three Strikes" law to clarify that it applies to crimes committed on separate occasions regardless of the dates of conviction.
Establishes a juror voluntary charitable contribution system.
Supplemental appropriation of $75,000 to DHSS for grant to Sunrise House Foundation, Inc.
Prohibits members of Legislature from holding more than one elective office.
Appropriates $28,820,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Expands responsibilities of "New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect."
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Establishes the Graduate Student Loan and Loan Redemption Program; appropriates $500,000.
Provides gross income tax exclusion for distributions from deferred compensation plans of New Jersey State and local governments, their authorities, school boards, and public institutions of higher education, and the federal government.
The "Dam, Lake, Stream, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003," authorizes bonds for $200,000,000 and appropriates $5,000.
Requires annual written authorization of payroll deductions for political contributions.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention; appropriates $15 million.
Provides immunity against "wrongful birth" and "wrongful life" suits.
Restores the phase-out of corporation business taxes on the regular income of subchapter S corporations.
Supplemental appropriation to DHSS for $30 million for comprehensive tobacco control programs.
Removes income limit for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Raises to $150,000 in gross contributions the threshold requiring charitable organizations to file audited financial statements under the "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act."
Removes tolls from the Garden State Parkway.
"Tabitha's Law"; requires parent or guardian to notify school administrators if pupil will be absent; requires school to notify parent in event of unexcused pupil absence.
Discontinues use of phrase "usual, customary and reasonable" or other words of similar import, on health insurance policies, contracts or related forms.
Permits use of deadly force against black bears in certain cases.
Increases State supplementary payment for residential health care facilities.
Requires members of NJ Legislature to file statement of financial affairs.