Bills in the 2006–2007 Session, General Assembly.
Richard A. Merkt
Sponsored
Passed the General Assembly1
Classifies victim impact statements as confidential communications.
Out of committee2
Clarifies certain provisions in the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights." *
Deletes references to Drug Utilization Review Council and provides for use of federal Orange Book.
In committee113
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.
Establishes limits on contributions county and municipal committees of a political party can give per election or per year to candidates and certain political committees.
Reduces limits on contributions to legislative leadership committees and to political committees and continuing political committees.
Eliminates legislative leadership committees.
Prohibits nepotism by public officials.
Limits county committees and chairs thereof from controlling placement of party members on primary ballot and use of party designation.
Prohibits legislators from representing local government entities, or persons before local government entities.
Requires candidate for Governor or member of Legislature to file copy of federal income tax return with ELEC; replaces certain existing financial disclosure requirements.
Reduces to $20 threshold for reporting political contributions to ELEC.
Clarifies that Governor and Governor's Staff are subject to certain ethical standards.
Increases statute of limitations for certain crimes involving political corruption from five years to seven years.
Changes membership of Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to increase number of public members.
Suspends contribution limits for candidates opposed by candidates who self-fund more than 20 percent of campaign costs.
Expands voter verification process used at polling place on election day; makes appropriation.
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.
Permits municipalities to establish "Senior Citizen Affordable Housing Support Program;" combines property tax relief with COAH credit.
Requires part-time service by new PERS members to be credited at one half the length of that service for certain benefit calculation purposes.
Provides that PERS member holding more than one position covered by PERS has to designate one position as the basis for enrollment.
Establishes Defined Contribution Public Employees' Retirement Program.
Establishes Public Employees' Defined Contribution Plan Study Commission.
Prohibits elected officials and public employees from enrolling for health benefits with more than one public entity; provides civil action for treble expenses by public entity providing additional coverage.
Replaces the New Jersey gross income tax with a New Jersey simplified income tax.
Requires administrative rules adopted by State agencies to meet certain readability standards; creates Council on Administrative Rule Readability.
Authorizes DEP to reduce or waive certain water pollution penalties.
Provides that DEP may only assess direct program costs in permit fees.
Exempts federally mandated safety-related activities at airports from freshwater wetlands permit requirement.
Exempts public entities operating public recreational facilities from liability for damages resulting from personal injury.
Requires DOT to abide by municipal zoning and signage regulations when placing motorist service and tourist-oriented directional signs on State property.
Revises fines for drivers unable to exhibit a driver's license, insurance card or registration certificate.
Creates the crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability.
The "New Jersey Self-Defense Law."
Provides for vehicle forfeiture for certain convictions of driving with revoked license.
Provides property tax exemption for maximum of two parsonages of any congregation of any religious corporation in the State.
Empowers acting sheriffs to perform real estate sales in sheriffs' absences and empowers notaries public to take affidavits made attendant to those sales.
"Attorney Licensing and Disciplinary Act."
Appropriates $170,000 to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for N.J. Highlands Preservation Project.
Amends statute concerning notary publics.
Provides for DNA testing on certain evidence in murder cases and requires DNA testing if death sentence imposed if identity was at issue.
Provides that the State collects 75 percent of punitive damages awarded in any civil action to be deposited in the General Fund.
The "Water Resources Protection Bond Act," authorizes bonds for $2.5 billion and appropriates $5,000.
Appropriates $90,000 to Division of Fish and Wildlife for Hunters Helping the Hungry program.
Appropriates $85,000 to DEP for conservation officer for Split Rock Reservoir.
Creates procedure for destruction of all records pertaining to juveniles who are arrested but subsequently not charged with delinquency.
Authorizes Eagle Scout license plate.
Establishes penalties for drunk and drugged supervising passengers under graduated driver license program.
Creates offense of eluding law enforcement officer on all-terrain vehicle, sets penalties, and outlines disposition of fines.
Authorizes county clerks to issue ID cards; requires Motor Vehicle Commission to give cards primary ID status.
Authorizes county clerks to issue identification cards to county residents under age 18.
Extends validity of passenger motor vehicle and motorcycle registration certificates from 12 to 24 months; raises fees accordingly.
Requires enforcing agency to remove excessive accumulation of combustible materials inside a rental dwelling unit in certain cases.
Establishes a grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students; appropriates $2,500,000.
Adopts the "Uniform Trade Secrets Act."
Disqualifies workers from UI benefits for illegal workplace drug use.
Exempts Picatinny Arsenal conversion plan from the provisions of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Prohibits municipalities from adopting rent control ordinance; requires municipalities with rent control to submit 10-year phase out plan to the Department of Community Affairs.
Permits municipalities to designate segments of certain highways as recreation or government facilities zones with 25 MPH speed limits.
Narrows focus of uniform site improvement guidelines to engineering construction standards.
Exempts certain local public contracts from "buy American" requirement.
Permits two separate property tax bills to be sent to property tax payers.
Concerns pro rata exemptions from loss assessments under the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program.
Transfers Bureau of Securities to Department of Banking and Insurance.
Changes the voting requirements necessary to modify the method for apportioning costs in a regional district.
Empowers officers of Bureau of Border Security and Transportation Security Administration to make arrests for certain violations of New Jersey law.
Gives paratransit and special paratransit vehicles certain right of way privileges.
Requires collection of data on whether firearm used in offense was illegally possessed.
Eliminates redundant fingerprinting for certain gun permit applicants.
Revises New Jersey's firearms statutes to conform with federal Brady Law.
Repeals certain restrictions on future retail sales of handguns.
Updates special license plates for emergency medical technicians from EMT-A to EMT.
Prohibits legislators from certain lobbying activities for two years after leaving office; provides additional civil penalties for violations.
Creates "Comprehensive Anti-Nepotism Act."
Imposes additional penalty on candidates failing to file campaign finance reports required to be filed with county clerk.
The Election Petition Consistency Act.
Removes exemption for certain nonprofit organizations on limits for reimbursement or payment for travel or subsistence for Legislators and State officers and employees.
Terminates deposits to the Gubernatorial Election Fund for all taxable years after January 1, 2006.
Establishes enforcement and notice provisions for certain restrictions on distribution of election literature by school personnel.
Prohibits Legislature and members thereof from employing convicted criminals.
Requires use of electronic voting machines in elections; reimburses certain counties for funds spent on election equipment.
Revises law on property which may escheat to State to undo recent changes.
Recouples the New Jersey estate tax to the federal credit for state death taxes paid; provides statute of limitation for lien of tax.
Eliminates transfer inheritance taxes on Class C beneficiaries and nieces and nephews of a decedent.
Ends imposition of corporation business taxes on the regular income of subchapter S corporations.
Authorizes school boards to establish a firearm safety program.
Establishes the Public School Tuition Equity Study Commission.
Excludes certain contributions to SIMPLE retirement plans from gross income under the gross income tax.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tuition, fee, housing and board expenses.
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.
Permits conveyance of surplus State real property at no cost to a county or municipality for certain public purposes.
Provides for temporary police chief appointment when activated military reserve police officer cannot take promotional examination.
Bans intentional feeding of deer; establishes civil penalty and allows property damage claim.
Permits certain qualified nonprofit organizations to participate in State purchasing contracts.
Requires HIV testing for pregnant women and marriage license applicants.
Eliminates certain fees charged to adoptive parents in particular cases.
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.
"Medical Savings Account Option Act" for SHBP.
Eliminates general purpose supplemental and mansion realty transfer fees.
Abolishes Department of the Public Advocate.
Prohibits public and independent institutions of higher education from admitting any student who is not a United States citizen or who does not hold lawful immigration status.
Establishes Division of Public Integrity in DLPS.
"Part-time Public Employees and Elected Officials Pension Reform Act" ends retirement system enrollment for Legislators and part-time public employees and elected officials commencing service after enactment.
Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.
Requires State Lottery Commission to establish responsible advertising guidelines; subjects violators to penalties under the New Jersey consumer fraud act.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention; appropriates $15 million.
Allows for certain variances, exemptions, and waivers under "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Establishes the "Corrupt Gains Restitution Act."
Limits retirement allowance of new enrollees in JRS to two-thirds of final salary.
Authorizes handicapped parking privileges for certain healthcare workers transporting handicapped persons.
Eliminates "New Jersey Tax and Fiscal Policy Study Commission."
Requires county board of chosen freeholders to approve, by resolution, county tax board expenditures of revenues generated from fees charged for property tax appeals.
Abolishes the School Ethics Commission.
Deems expression of political views by school board members to not constitute action that may form the basis of a school ethics complaint.
Increases juror compensation.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Eliminates various inactive commissions, committees, councils and boards.
Eliminates fee imposed for certified copy of veteran's discharge papers.
Appropriates $8,279,750 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $9,066,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and various Green Acres bond funds for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in northern NJ.
Provides for the transfer of certain college credits.
Appropriates $11 million from "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Appropriates $45.15 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $15,375,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for planning incentive grants to counties and municipalities for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $6 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Vetoed · 1
Repeals cosmetic medical procedure gross receipts tax.
Passed the General Assembly · 2
Permits the appointment of joint municipal court judges by agreement of affected municipalities.
Decreases certain motor vehicle fines and lengthens time to provide proof of insurance.
Out of committee · 12
Establishes identification guidelines and record-keeping requirements for notaries public.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act;" increases sentences for sex offenders and persons who harbor them. *
Clarifies the law concerning the emergency administration of epinephrine to students for anaphylaxis. *
Directs State acquisition of Troy Meadows Natural Area, Morris County, for recreation and conservation purposes and designates it as natural area and wildlife sanctuary. *
Provides for commencement of short term tax exemptions and abatements as of date of completion of project.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
Appropriates $1,263,166 from "Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund" to provide historic site management grants for certain historic preservation projects.
Appropriates moneys from the "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003" for loans for lake dredging and restoration projects, or stream cleaning and desnagging projects.
Appropriates $48.5 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $15 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes in Highlands Region.
"Steven's Law;" prohibits use of non-wood bats in certain organized games. *
Revises vicious and potentially dangerous dog law; designated Congo's Law.
In committee · 84
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."
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.
Requires impact statement for any proposed regulation affecting volunteer ambulance squads and fire companies.
Immunizes employers from civil liability for certain disclosures regarding employees and former employees.
Eliminates the alternative minimum assessment under the corporation business tax.
Supplemental appropriation of $75,000 to DHSS for grant to Sunrise House Foundation, Inc.
Requires annual written authorization of payroll deductions for political contributions.
Prohibits Governor from appearing in certain State-funded advertisements.
Permits use of deadly force against black bears in certain cases.
Appropriates $1.5 million to the DEP for the Lake Hopatcong Commission.
Provides that no more than four of the seven public members appointed to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council may be of the same political party.
Establishes a pothole repair and research program in the Department of Transportation and provides funding from new motor vehicle tire fee revenue.
Creates matching grant program in DCA to assist counties in retrofitting county parks to enhance usage by handicapped children; approprates $525,000.
Provides for recoupling of the computation of the New Jersey estate tax in accord with the federal estate tax.
Removes income limit for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Discontinues use of phrase "usual, customary and reasonable" or other words of similar import, on health insurance policies, contracts or related forms.
Upgrades offenses involving use of false government documents.
Eliminates public school district budget reduction appeals to Commissioner of Education.
Establishes criminal penalties for operating or participating in pyramid promotional schemes.
Permits master deed of condominium to reflect proportional common and limited common elements interests of each owner as fractions.
Appropriates $2,000,000 for New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum.
Exempts State-chartered credit unions from sales and use tax.
Provides incentive grants for school districts to establish educational foundations.
Requires breath or blood test of drivers in fatal accidents.
Revises calculation of budget caps and increases allowable surplus for public school districts.
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Establishes "Matthew's Law Limiting the Use of Restraints."
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.
Concerns affordable housing in the Highlands Region.
Holds retailers harmless for pre-packaged slack-filled goods.
Exempts construction, expansion or renovation of buildings or other structures for police departments, fire departments, and volunteer first aid, emergency, ambulance or rescue squads from "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Clarifies that Fish and Game Council has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Establishes the offense of incest.
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.
Authorizes business entities to designate representatives in court proceedings without the necessity for representation by an attorney.
Requires award of grants to remediate discharges from home heating oil tanks for applications filed prior to July 1, 2007.
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
"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.
Permits person registering to vote to declare political affiliation on voter registration form.
Allows a corporation business taxpayer recognizing income, gain or loss pursuant to a plan of complete liquidation to deduct its net operating loss carryovers notwithstanding the limitations on such deductions during the 2002-2005 tax years.
Prohibits local governments from acquiring by condemnation any airport that has had its development rights purchased.
Dedesignates portions of Route 24.
Designates New Jersey Route No. 15 as "Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway;" appropriates $2,500.
Allows for a gross income tax deduction for any honorably discharged member of the US Armed Forces, reserve unit or national guard.
Creates Division of Probation in DOC; transfers all probation functions and employees to DOC.
Clarifies applicability to primary elections of campaign contribution and expenditures reporting act.
Requires members of NJ Legislature to file statement of financial affairs.
Authorizes MVC to give refunds for unexpired portions of motor vehicle registration periods in certain cases.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Prohibits certain political activity by governmental employees and by public employee unions.
Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets and capital gains under the gross income tax.
Changes perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around occupied building.
Repeals Highlands planning and environmental permitting provisions of "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," and amends various statutes to reflect repeal thereof.
Prohibits certain political activity by governmental employees and by public employee unions.
Limits compensation and contracts of State and local government officers and employees.
Revises Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act; repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Eliminates urban enterprise zones.
Revises method of determining reimbursement costs when a law enforcement entity hires a recently trained officer from another law enforcement entity.
Establishes universal credit equivalency program to provide seamless transfer of college credits by institutions of higher education.
Imposes mandatory terms of imprisonment and forfeiture of pension and retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes involving or touching their office or employment.
Requires reduction in number of State employees to FY2000 level; establishes procedure to control creation of new State positions and filling of vacancies.
Decreases sales and use tax rate from 7% to 6%.
Exempts membership fees, initiation fees, or dues for access to health and fitness, athletic, or sporting clubs of certain charitable organizations from sales and use tax.
Revises certain exemptions to "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act."
Appropriates $500,000 to DEP for Waterloo Village.
Defines compensation for calculation of PERS contributions and benefits as amount taxed for Social Security purposes for new members.
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.
Exempts certain lake association membership fees and dues from sales and use tax.
Repeals statute setting forth public policy of State on stem cell research.
Prohibits use of public funds for embryonic stem cell research.
Provides for philosophical exemption to mandatory immunizations.
Requires school districts to inform the parent or guardian of a student recommended to use certain medications of the possible side effects and potential negative consequences of those medications.
Authorizes certain law enforcement officers and corrections officers to possess and use stun guns while on duty.
Authorizes probation officers to exercise police powers.
Transfers all probation functions and employees to Bureau of Probation in State Parole Board.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $300,000 to DCA for grant to Urban League of Morris County.
Eliminates the death penalty for certain murders; retains the death penalty for murder of law enforcment officer, murder of a child during the commission of a sex crime, murder by terrorism and multiple murders.