Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, General Assembly.
David R. Mayer
Sponsored
Became law4
Permits voting by absentee ballot for any reason; requires increased identification when requesting and returning absentee ballots; authorizes automatic transmission of absentee ballot application for general election. **
Revises outdoor advertising law and local tax treatment of certain outdoor advertising signs.
Appropriates $39.8 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
"The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative."
Passed the General Assembly3
Decreases certain motor vehicle fines and lengthens time to provide proof of insurance.
Bans the sale of Yo-Yo Waterballs.
Authorizes special license emblems for Fraternal Order of Police members.
Out of committee8
Expands definition of lobbyist and legislative agent to include those who influence governmental processes; defines governmental processes.
Establishes early voting procedure; makes appropriation.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for active duty members of U.S. Armed Forces who are residents of, or who are based or stationed in, NJ. *
Provides legislative authorization for a certain project of the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
Prohibits pet cemeteries from charging maintenance fees retroactively.
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. *
Provides that violation of domestic violence order issued in another jurisdiction would constitute contempt of a domestic violence order in New Jersey.
Appropriates $13,845,980 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 southern NJ.
In committee15
Establishes confidential data base to assist State Police in issuance of firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits.
Makes failing to report insurance fraud a crime of third degree.
Permits children to obtain county-issued digital photo identification cards.
Establishes new Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Provides minimum retirement benefit to TPAF and PERS members with 20 or more years of service.
Imposes $50 surcharge on intoxicated drivers; establishes county sheriffs or prosecutors educational program in secondary schools concerning dangers of impaired driving.
Bans sale of mercury thermometers.
Allows corporation business tax credit for value of supplies and equipment donated to public schools.
Provides that impairing another person's means of communication may constitute an act of domestic violence.
Provides for State income tax deduction to private well owners for water testing costs.
Creates yellow and blue Fraternal Order of Police plates.
Prohibits discharge of untreated or pre-treated wastewater from Superfund former landfill sites into publicly owned treatment works; and imposes certain remediation requirements on Superfund former landfill sites with radionuclide pollutants.
Requires health insurers to cover medical transportation services under certain circumstances.
Prohibits sex offenders from using or possessing erectile dysfunction drugs; prohibits provision or sale of erectile dysfunction drugs to sex offenders.
Makes unauthorized use of military medals or insignias a crime of the fourth degree.
Carried from the Senate
Became law5
Expands definition of lobbyist and legislative agent to include those who influence governmental processes; defines governmental processes.
Provides legislative authorization for a certain project of the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
Authorizes DHSS to reallocate flu vaccine to high-risk persons.
Provides that violation of domestic violence order issued in another jurisdiction would constitute contempt of a domestic violence order in New Jersey.
Appropriates $13,845,980 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 southern NJ.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 38
Establishes "New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project."
Changes minimum amount of campaign contribution which triggers obligation to report that contribution to ELEC to $300; requires reporting of all cash contributions. *
Requires professional campaign fund raisers to register and file quarterly reports with ELEC.
Expands campaign communications required to feature identification to include telephone calls featuring recorded messages made in regard to candidates and public questions.
Increases monetary penalties for violating campaign contribution and expenditure limit and reporting requirements and remuneration restrictions.
Requires certain election committees and certain other persons to file report with ELEC within 48 hours of making certain expenditures in excess of $800 during certain periods.
Bars legislators, Governor and department heads from lobbying activities for one year after leaving office or employment.
Prohibits employment or assignment in certain positions of relatives of certain officers of the Executive Branch, of independent authorities or of interstate agencies.
Requires ELEC to conduct random audits of records kept by legislative agents.
Directs ELEC to collect $100 annual fee from legislative agents; dedicates moneys annually to ELEC. *
Prohibits legislative agents from accepting contingency fees to influence legislation or regulation.
Requires Attorney General and county boards of elections to produce certain elections training materials, and produce and display certain information pertinent to voters.
Regulates assignment of slot machine annuity jackpot periodic payments; provides for offset of annuity jackpots for child support arrearages. **
Changes laws governing financial liability for patients in psychiatric facilities and eliminates institutional liens for persons treated at State and county psychiatric facilities. **
Establishes certain hiring preference for children of firefighters and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. *
Regulates expiration dates and dormancy fees for gift certificates and cards. *
Exempts veteran's discharge certificate from State's open public records law; permits veteran and veteran's spouse to access discharge certificate.
Requires disclosure by contractor of cost of construction permits required for construction or reconstruction of residential premises.
Requires county colleges to award college-credits to firefighters for certain courses completed at county fire academies.
Prohibits campaign contributions by business entities seeking or holding State contracts in certain circumstances.
Amends and clarifies the rights of handicapped, blind or deaf persons when accompanied by service or guide dogs.
Upgrades criminal trespass under certain circumstances. *
Permits certain pupils to participate in interscholastic athletic programs.
Revises charity care distribution formula.
Establishes domestic violence public awareness campaign.
Establishes crime of human trafficking; adds to racketeering; authorizes victim compensation and services; provides certain affirmative defenses. **
Makes the unlawful use or possession of a scanning device or reencoder a crime. *
Designates New Jersey Route No. 83 as "Trooper Bertram T. Zimmerman III Memorial Highway;" appropriates $2,500.
Provides Standard for registered professional guardians; appropriates $95,000. **
Permits certain lights on vehicles of members of volunteer emergency services. **
Permits units of local government to limit award of public contracts to business entities that make political contributions; requires certain business entities to file annual disclosure statement. **
Authorizes issuance of bonds for refurbishment of certain public safety vehicles.
Appropriates $75 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. *
Bans sale of certain mercury thermometers.
Approves $6,585,306 in grants for certain historic preservation projects in southern New Jersey.
Creates World War II Veterans' Memorial Fund.
Expands State tuition aid grant eligibility to include dependent child whose parent or guardian has been transferred to a military installation in this State. *
The "Identity Theft Prevention Act" *
Passed the General Assembly · 18
Prohibits sale or lease of unsafe or recalled children's products and their use by licensed child care facilities.
Prohibits public colleges from charging tuition to students who are parents, spouses or children of those killed, missing in action or disabled in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom or in Operation Iraqi Freedom. *
Requires private and public employers to provide unpaid leaves of absence or reassignment of hours for National Guard members and Reservists engaged in training.
Authorizes payment of funeral expenses for certain public safety employees killed in line of duty.
Allows disabled veteran's surviving spouse to claim property tax exemption when veteran's disability declaration is granted after death.
Affords DRPA police officers authority to inspect hazardous materials carriers and cargoes.
Provides for civil action against person committing act of cruelty against domestic companion animal.
Creates "Task Force to Improve the Treatment of Offenders with Mental Illness."
Requires State to offer surplus State police vehicles to volunteer fire companies.
Skinner's Law; increases penalties for leaving scene of motor vehicle accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury.**
Concerns penalties for passing a school bus.
Authorizes bars and restaurants to offer special discounts based on sex under certain circumstances. *
Revises school district budget cap adjustment for courtesy busing, makes permanent adjustment for insurance and domestic security, provides adjustment for utility costs and an appeal on administrative cost limits, and authorizes 3% surplus for 2006-2007
Establishes innovation zone program to stimulate technology industry clusters around New Jersey's research universities, colleges or research hospitals. *
Concerns tax preparation services for certain clients.
Creates New Jersey Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act of 2005.
Requires Attorney General to prepare pamphlet for parents on keeping children safe from predators. *
Extends burial of indigent veterans to those who did not serve in time of war; clarifies role of DMVA in identifying deceased veterans; provides additional funding for burial of indigent veterans.
Out of committee · 51
Prohibits campaign contributions by certain business entities performing State, county and local contracts; prohibits certain contributions by county committee of political party.
Extends certain financial disclosure requirements to lobbying conducted through advertisements and direct mail to general public.
Prohibits solicitation and making of political contributions on State property by certain persons.
Requires certain campaign and organizational treasurers to be trained by ELEC. *
Prohibits member of Legislature from acting on legislation in which member or family member of that member has personal interest.
Changes memberships of Executive Commission on Ethical Standards and Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.
Increases monetary penalties for violations of "New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law."
Requires candidates seeking office of Governor or member of Legislature to disclose prior conviction for criminal offense.
Reestablishes "Parents' Education Program" as "Children First Education Program;" requires parties involved in custody and parenting time proceedings to attend program.
Provides liability protection to organizations which lend child passenger restraint systems.
Establishes NJ STARS Program to provide scholarships for county college students. *
Provides for establishment of county offices for the disabled; making an appropriation.
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
"New Jersey Identity Theft Prevention Act".
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to Community Food Pantry Fund.
Excludes veterans' entitlements from income for determination of PAAD eligibility.
Requires health clubs to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Excludes housing and subsistence allowances of members of active and reserve components of U.S. Armed Forces, and of National Guard members on State active duty, from taxable gross income. *
Provides compensatory time off for certain essential attendance State employees.
Provides that TPAF and PERS veterans' retirement with 35 years of service shall be based on highest benefit year rather than last year of service.*
Revises pilotage laws.
Requires services under State contracts to be performed in the United States. *
Prohibits public institutions of higher education from imposing nonresident tuition fees on members of New Jersey National Guard and surviving children and spouses of Guard members killed in line of duty.
Requires telemarketers to have signed consent form or written request before making telemarketing sales calls to customer on NJ Do Not Call List.
Requires certain persons to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation against vulnerable adults. *
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits; increases members' contribution rate.
Prohibits possession of handcuff keys for unlawful purpose.
Prohibits dry cutting and grinding of masonry in certain cases.
Authorizes NJN to broadcast emergency information to law enforcement agencies and other emergency personnel.
Implements portions of federal "Help America Vote Act of 2002."
Upgrades the crime of criminal mischief under certain circumstances; creates new offense.
Extends certain hazardous material inspection and enforcement powers to police officers of the Delaware River Port Authority.
Designates bridge over Raritan River carrying southbound U.S. Highway Route No. 1 between Edison Township and New Brunswick City as "Donald Goodkind Bridge," appropriates $2,500.
Reduces from 0.10% to 0.08% the blood alcohol content at which a person is considered guilty of operating a boat while under the influence.
Eliminates downgrading of DWI offenses that occur more than 10 years after previous conviction.
Adds two employees to the boards of trustees of the State colleges. **
Upgrades unlawful possession and distribution of prescription legend drugs. *
Revises statutes governing New Jersey State Firemen's Association.
Creates credit card do-not-solicit list for certain persons.
Prohibits the sale of gasoline containing MTBE.
Imposes additional penalties on sex offenders; creates the "Sex Crime Victim Treatment Fund" to provide counseling and treatment to sex crime victims and their families.
Allows certain persons in military service to receive suspension of interest on mortgage loan. *
Appropriates moneys from the "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003" for loans for dams restoration and repair projects and to finance the costs of State dam restoration and repair projects.
"New Jersey Advance Directives for Mental Health Care Act."
Regulates certain rental-purchase agreements.
Requires clinical laboratories to calculate glomerular filtration rate when testing patient's creatinine level for diagnosis of kidney disease.
Establishes pilot program for satellite-based monitoring of certain sex offenders and authorizes certain sex offenders to submit to annual polygraph; appropriates $3 million. *
Requires portion of State rental assistance grants be reserved for graduates of State veterans' transitional housing program.
Changes criteria for continued receipt of NJ STARS scholarship after first year of enrollment in a county college.
Appropriates $31,415,464 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for planning incentive grants to counties and municipalities for farmland preservation purposes.
In committee · 74
Establishes a gross income tax credit for full time enrollment at four year institutions of higher education, county colleges and accredited post-secondary schools in New Jersey.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize State services.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Authorizes free State park admission and free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for persons with certain types of military service.
Authorizes "Fallen Firefighter" license plates; establishes scholarship program for children of fallen firefighters.
Increases civil penalty payable to the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" by persons who commit domestic violence.
Increases annual income limitation to receive senior and disabled citizens' property tax deduction to $15,000.
Provides PFRS death benefit of 3 1/2 times the annual rate of compensation in the event of accidental death occurring in the first year of creditable service.
Creates crime of committing offense in senior citizen zone.
Provides that, when candidacy for party nomination to public office or for political party office is uncontested, no primary election vote upon such nomination or party office shall be held.
Makes use of emergency ballots optional in each county.
Establishes "weapons free" school zones.
Directs that one sample ballot shall be delivered to each residence address where at least one resident thereof is registered to vote.
Permits certain war-time veterans and military surviving spouses to receive enhanced homestead rebate amounts similar to the homestead rebate amounts allowed for senior and disabled residents.
Grants 90-day grace period for payment of property taxes by seniors and longer period for participants in senior freeze act.
Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by disabled veterans.
Increases penalties for intoxicated drivers under age 21.
Increases cost of living adjustment in pension allowances and survivor benefits payable to certain former public safety officers and their survivors.
Supplemental appropriation for $5 million to DHSS for a grant to the Coriell Institute for Medical Research.
Extends property tax reimbursement benefits to certain low income veterans.
Establishes school property tax freeze program for resident homeowners age 65 or older and disabled homeowners.
Repeals law enforcement powers of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and requires State to provide support to municipalities and counties in administering and enforcing animal control, animal welfare, and animal cruelty laws.
Reduces vesting requirement under State-administered retirement systems to five years' service.
Establishes special license plates to fund diabetes research and education.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and higher education institutions.
Concerns sex discrimination in wage payment.
Requires cellular telephone companies to itemize and explain certain charges on customer bills and prohibits them from identifying such charges as taxes.
Establishes special license plates for World War II veterans.
Requires Commissioner of Education to designate a day in April on which 12th grade students will be provided a class on the importance of voter participation.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive senior and disabled homestead property tax reimbursement.
Authorizes special Save Retired Racehorses license plate.
Provides immunity to former employers for disclosure of health care employee performance information to prospective employers.
Increases penalties for drunk driving with minor as passenger.
Increases pensions for certain PFRS retirees when special retirement benefit for active PFRS members increases to 70%.
Makes it a fourth degree crime to exhibit fraudulent motor vehicle insurance identification card to municipal prosecutor.
Prohibits unauthorized disclosure of personal health care information by health insurer to another financial institution with which it merges or which acquires it.
Establishes the NJ STARS Scholarship Program for county college students; appropriates $10 million.
Extends certain hazardous material inspection and enforcement powers to police officers of the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
Provides immunity to counties and municipalities for community service performed by certain juveniles; provides immunity to certain non-profit organizations for community service performed by adults and certain juveniles.
Provides for review of State agency regulations by State Planning Commission for their consistency with State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
Authorizes free State park and forest admission for veterans.
Requires that driver education curriculum include information on automobile insurance.
Establishes New Jersey Borough Enterprise Zone Program to encourage business development in small, highly developed municipalities.
Requires county colleges to award college credits to emergency medical technicians for certain training courses.
Requires Public Guardian for Elderly Adults to serve as guardian for elderly person adjudicated incompetent in cases where the person's spouse or heirs do not assume the guardianship.
Provides that certain disabled veterans may purchase special automobile insurance policies.
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.
Exempts from realty transfer fees, sales of homes of certain New Jersey members of the military.
"Toy Safety Act."
Revises school district budget cap adjustments for special education and courtesy busing, makes permanent adjustment for insurance and domestic security, and provides adjustment for utility costs.
Eliminates certain components of realty transfer fee.
Requires SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for prostate cancer.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Establishes outreach procedures for NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid through school lunch application forms in public schools.
Provides that schools may be used as polling places only under certain circumstances.
Provides for temporary voluntary deduction from compensation of State employees for donation to American Red Cross for disaster relief in Southeast Asia.
Allows access to housing, public facilities and transportation for certain working dogs, provides penalties for violation.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in financial institutions located in Delaware if that state does not reverse its Coastal Zone Act ruling that impacts a proposed New Jersey facility.
Provides for issuance of a uniform identification card for all law enforcement officers.
Excludes from PAAD income eligibility withdrawals from an IRA.
Establishes "New Jersey Council on Child Poverty."
Requires public schools to include instruction on humane treatment of animals as part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
Requires candidates for school board member and local elective office to file financial disclosure statement on or before 10th day following deadline for filing nominating petitions for that office.
"County College Nursing Student Loan and Loan Redemption Program Act"; appropriates $2 million.
Allows judge to admit evidence of prior sexual offenses in current sexual offense actions.
Requires responsible business practices by large employers regarding wages and benefits.
Permits certain senior citizens or disabled persons to qualify as " eligible claimant" for homestead property tax reimbursement even if fourth quarter property taxes are delinquent.
Requires Division of Taxation to provide certain information to applicants deemed ineligible.
Requires county welfare agency directors to develop plan prohibiting sex offenders from admittance to or remaining in emergency shelters for homeless where children reside.
Prohibits Medicaid, General Assistance and NJ FamilyCare programs from covering drugs for erectile dysfunction for recipients who are convicted sex offenders.
Prohibits certain unsolicited checks.
Establishes the authority of the court to order electronic monitoring of certain convicted domestic violence offenders.
Requires carbon monoxide detectors in all school buildings.
Filed · 1
Authorizes DHSS to reallocate flu vaccine to high-risk persons.