Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, Senate.
Leonard T. Connors Jr.
Sponsored
Became law2
Allows obtaining information from toll collection monitoring systems and photo-monitoring systems under certain circumstances. *
Promotes improved polling place accessibility for individuals with disabilities and the elderly. *
Passed the Senate4
Revises laws restricting operation of personal watercraft and permits local police enforcement.
Revises law governing emergency services volunteer length of service award programs.
Removes time restrictions on sale of poppies.
Authorizes mechanism for independent determination of legal sufficiency of initiated ordinances and referendum petitions.
Out of committee9
Extends veteran's property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
Provides State aid to municipalities for certain tax-exempt group homes.
Requires State reimbursement to municipalities of cost of disabled veterans' total property tax exemption.
Establishes the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in the DEP and appropriates $200,000.
Makes annual compensation paid to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans payable from date of veteran's death.
Creates requirement and grant program for power-assisted door openers on certain public buildings; appropriates $600,000.
Establishes municipal authority to supervise, disipline and terminate employment of construction code officials.
Changes membership of State Police Retirement System Board of Trustees.
Authorizes county to control greenhead fly population; appropriates $90,000. *
In committee103
Directs State acquisition of Heritage Minerals tract in Ocean county for new State park.
Increases penalties for driving while under the influence.
Directs DOE to provide to every public school a sign stating the national motto, "In God We Trust," and permits principals and teachers to display additional copies.
Establishes Task Force on the Oversight of DYFS.
Eliminates the New Jersey inheritance tax and repeals chapters 33 through 37 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes.
Clarifies that punitive damages may not be awarded against public entities or public employees acting within the scope of their employment in any action.
Exempts police from jury duty.
Excludes certain illegal aliens from workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits.
Requires municipal budgets to include fund for certain separation benefits.
Appropriates $6 million from "1996 Economic Development Site Fund" to DEP for Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum/Tuckerton Seaport Project.
Increases SPRS "special" retirement benefit from 65% to 70% of final compensation.
Appropriates $200,000 to DEP for erosion control project on Mordecai Island, Beach Haven.
Eliminates compulsory automobile insurance; reinstates financial responsibility laws; permits file and use of rates.
Requires public bidding or competitive contracting for award of professional service contracts and requires certain vendors to fully itemize bills to school districts and local units and prescribes sanctions.
Elevates certain animal cruelty crimes of third degree; increases civil penalties for animal cruelty; establishes registry of violators of animal cruelty laws.
Requires actions by NJ Sports and Exposition Authority for demolition of certain projects to be submitted to the Legislature for concurrence.
Prohibits use of remote control technology in rail operations except when operated by certified locomotive engineer.
Appropriates $26,140,000 for dredging projects and dredged material disposal projects related to navigational waterways.
Requires DEP assume responsibility for dredging of waterways providing boat access to lagoon communities; appropriates $6,000,000.
Extends supplemental workers' compensation benefits to workplace injuries and deaths occurring after December 31, 1979.
Imposes mandatory minimum terms of incarceration on juveniles who use guns to commit acts which, if committed by adults, would constitute serious crimes.
Imposes mandatory term of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole on persons who commit particularly brutal sexual assaults.
Increases penalties for receiving stolen property from a juvenile.
Creates new penalty for convictions or juvenile adjudications of arson; establishes Arson Investigation Fund.
Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $5,000 income tax deduction.
Exempts medical alarm equipment, services and telecommunications costs from the "Sales and Use Tax Act."
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and State park admission for persons with certain types of military service.
Appropriates $325,000 to the DEP for a grant to restore Hammonton Lake.
Allows municipalities to provide free or reduced fee beach badges to active military and NJ National Guard personnel.
Establishes "Seniors Helping Seniors Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Demonstration Program" in DHS; appropriates $300,000.
Increases personal needs allowance to $55 for low income persons residing in certain facilities.
Establishes "Ocean County Dialysis Transportation Demonstration Program"; appropriates $500,000.
Establishes a New Jersey Coordinating Council on the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Generating Facilities.
Requires tax delinquencies, including unpaid property taxes and tax sale certificates, be satisfied prior to appealing assessment in accordance with R.S.54:3-27 or R.S.54:51A-1.
Prohibits State from utilizing State Plan in permitting and funding determinations.
Permits certain county and municipal employees to waive benefits coverage under the State Health Benefits Program when covered by a spouse's benefits plan.
Allows Marine Corps League members to affix color license plate emblems to license plates.
Prohibits sale and possession of certain shields, badges and cards.
Authorizes special Distinguished Flying Cross license plates.
Authorizes special license plate for distinguished service medal recipients.
Authorizes Naval combat service license plate.
Provides for special Bronze Star license plates.
Requires permanent driver's license suspension for third drunk driving offense.
Authorizes county colleges to establish cafeteria plans; requires establishment of cafeteria plans and collective negotiation of waiver terms prior to offering employees incentive to waive health care benefits.
Establishes the Public School Educational Funding Commission.
Amends definition of veteran for certain military engagements to include any service during certain periods.
Phases in cost of living adjustment in pension allowances and survivor benefits payable to certain former public safety officers and their survivors.
Increases cost of living adjustment in pension allowances and survivor benefits payable to certain former public safety officers and their survivors.
Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens.
Increases senior citizen stabilization aid to $500 and makes certain regional districts eligible for senior citizen stabilization aid.
Requires any individual seeking elective public office to disclose when filing petition of nomination whether he or she has been convicted of a criminal offense.
Repeals "Fire Service Resource Emergency Deployment Act."
Concerns donations to certain charitable organizations.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Promotes polling place accessibility for certain individuals; appropriates $150,000.
Prohibits certain deceptive written advertising concerning merchandise offered with a guarantee.
Grants PFRS membership for certain Division of Parks and Forestry titles; allows current DEP employees in titles to transfer from PERS to PFRS.
Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
Establishes "Interfaith Volunteer Caregiving Pilot Program" in DCA; appropriates $2.25 million.
Establishes State security officer program to augment security at State's nuclear power plants; levies $1 surcharge on traffic fines for funding.
Permits conversion of fines for violation of certain municipal ordinances into tax liens.
Limits materials which may be used in sewer systems, storm drains, and water retention and detention systems to noncombustible materials.
Establishes special dredging account; directs $5,000,000 of sales tax collected annually be deposited therein; directs DEP to administer account and dredging program with certain requirements.
Makes suspension of driving privileges mandatory for persons, including juveniles, who are diverted for drug offenses.
Directs DEP to take over the ownership and maintenance of Pine Lake Dam, Manchester Township, Ocean county and investigate take over of similar dams; appropriates $2,000,000.
Prohibits use of property tax for school funding in 2004-05 and thereafter.
Establishes New Jersey Health Benefits Provider Network Study Commission.
Promotes improved polling place accessibility for certain individuals with disabilities and the elderly; appropriates $500,000.
Requires hospitals to report information about patient infections to DHSS.
Allows judgment for restitution of stolen public funds to be levied against convicted employee's retirement allowance or pension contributions.
Limits certain campaign contributions to $100 per year or per election; abolishes legislative leadership committees; makes various other changes to campaign finance law.
Requires removal of sodium azide from air bags prior to scrapping of vehicles.
Establishes a joint legislative and executive branch State Revenue Forecasting Integrity Commission to provide a revenue forecast for annual State budget purposes.
Permits certain charities to renew registration by verification statement.
Requires electric public utilities to notify interested parties upon petitioning BPU for approval to operate high power electric transmission line.
Establishes the level of State school aid for the 2004-2005 school year.
Establishes "Internet Predator Investigation and Prosecution Fund" with $200 assessment on persons convicted of certain offenses.
Supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to DLPS to assist local police departments in paying for new N.C.I.C. terminals.
Establishes procedure for conducting or nullifying special election following tie vote for candidates for public office.
Increases minimum period of imprisonment from 45 to 90 days for injuring someone while driving with revoked license.
Requires instruction in traumatic situations as part of police training courses and assessment of police training candidates.
Supplemental appropriation of $150 million to DOT for repair or construction of bridges on Route 72 connecting Long Beach Island to the mainland.
Extends payment of homestead property tax reimbursement to non-eligible surviving spouse for portion of tax year during which deceased spouse lived.
Requires State to reimburse counties and municipalities for salary and fringe benefit costs of employee on official leave of absence for military service in war on terror; makes an appropriation.
Requires that certain schools, child care centers and playgrounds be notified of hearing concerning issuance or place-to-place transfer of liquor store license.
Revises regulation of the practice of notaries public.
Requires notaries public to be U.S. citizens.
Offsets disability pension allowances against workers compensation in certain cases.
Requires that public officers or public employees convicted of crimes involving their office or employment be sentenced to mandatory prison terms and forfeit pension benefits.
Directs DEP to establish beach access program; authorizes the use of shore protection funds and other public moneys therefor.
Repeals State and local hotel and motel occupancy taxes and voids existing municipal implementing ordinances.
Requires additional fines for certain crimes against minors to fund Amber Alert system.
Requires Attorney General to establish global positioning system to track high risk sex offenders.
"Identity Theft Prevention Act."
Requires assessment of bay scallop resource, and authorizes DEP to establish a bay scallop fishery.
Requires addition of bittering agent to certain engine coolants and antifreeze to render it unpalatable.
Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly.
Establishes State-Administered Retirement Systems Study Commission.
Prevents use of condemnation to acquire residential and other private property under redevelopment laws.
Requires prosecutors to determine risk of re-offense under Megan's Law prior to offender's release from incarceration.
Allows worker selection of treatment providers under workers' compensation.
Changes standard for valuing certain properties in granting zoning variances.
Allows PERS ordinary disability retiree to earn up to $3,000 in PERS-covered employment annually before cancellation of disability benefit and reenrollment in PERS.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 10
Extends certain financial disclosure requirements to lobbying conducted through advertisements and direct mail to general public.
Requires certain campaign treasurers and all organizational treasurers to be trained and certified by ELEC.
Clarifies that cruelty to animals includes the use of an animal to injure another animal or the use of any direct or indirect means to inflict the cruelty. *
Establishes pilot program for satellite-based monitoring of certain sex offenders and authorizes certain sex offenders to submit to annual polygraph; appropriates $3 million. *
Authorizes DHSS to reallocate flu vaccine to high-risk persons.
Increases penalties for damaging property and for certain other violations committed on DEP or Palisades Interstate Park Commission lands.
Authorizes early termination of residential lease by senior citizen tenant accepted into assisted living facility, nursing home, continuing care retirement community, or low or moderate income housing. *
Makes various changes to State contracting process; imposes certain disclosure on State officers and employees involved in contracting. *
Revises membership of Executive Commission on Ethical Standards; renames commission; makes various other changes concerning ethics. *
Permits elections in municipalities with fewer than 500 residents to be conducted by mail.
Passed the Senate · 1
Clarifies that certain rents received by charitable and public service organizations are not subject to hotel and motel occupancy fees and taxes.
Out of committee · 12
Requires ELEC to review its Internet site and recommend improvements in format and content.
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Returns portion of realty transfer fee to beach municipalities for certain shore protection projects.
Concerns certain workers' compensation survivor benefits and certain supplemental benefits.
Empowers United States Department of Defense police officers to make arrests for certain violations of New Jersey law.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,793,000 to Judiciary to expand the drug court program Statewide.
Authorizes bars and restaurants to offer special discounts based on sex under certain circumstances. *
Modifies catch and possession limits for taking of striped bass.
Establishes crime of human trafficking; adds to racketeering; authorizes victim compensation and services; provides certain affirmative defenses. *
Supplemental appropriation of $5 million to Division of State Police for additional police recruit class and communication system upgrades.
Clarifies public entities' immunities under the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act" for traffic signs and signals.
Revises certain procedures for real property tax appeals.
In committee · 55
Supplemental appropriation of $1,500,000 to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Newark City's plane crash costs.
Reconstitutes Executive Commission on Ethical Standards with public members; requires certain public officers and employees to file financial disclosure statements and dispose of certain prohibited interests.
Limits contributions to legislative leadership committees, State political party committees, political committees and continuing political committees.
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Provides for mandatory terms of imprisonment for certain sexual assaults upon a minor; amends murder statute; requires lifetime parole supervision for certain sex offenders.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Directs DHSS to adopt regulations prohibiting overcowding of animals in kennels, pet shops and other retail establishments; establishes penalties.
Prohibits sale of any dog by kennel, pet shop or other retail establishment without name, address and phone number of person providing dog thereto; establishes $500 fine for each violation.
Extends limit for nonpublic school busing to 30 miles in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Salem, Sussex and Warren Counties.
Requires issue advocacy organization using certain candidate information in advertisement to disclose certain financial and other information.
Provides for recoupling of the computation of the New Jersey estate tax in accord with the federal estate tax.
Authorizes assessment of development impact fees by municipalities.
Limits certain supplemental compensation upon retirement for local government employees to a maximum of $15,000.
Reconstitutes Executive Commission on Ethical Standards with public members; requires certain public officers and employees to file financial disclosure statements and dispose of certain prohibited interests.
Prohibits solicitation or acceptance of political contributions on public property, certain uses of campaign contributor information, and certain uses of information about persons doing business with public entities.
Extends certain financial disclosure requirements under "Legislative Activities Disclosure Act of 1971" to "grass roots" lobbying conducted through direct mail and advertisements to general public.
Requires greater disclosure by lobbyists engaged in certain types of lobbying; appropriates $150,000.
Establishes a joint legislative and executive branch State Revenue Forecasting Integrity Commission to provide a revenue forecast for annual State budget purposes.
Limits certain campaign contributions to $1,800 per year or per election; abolishes the formation and use of legislative leadership committees.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Provides $100,000 military death benefit to State citizens killed on federal active duty; establishes "Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund."
Establishes single personal financial disclosure form for local government officers, candidates for Governor and member of Legislature, members of Legislature and school officials; revises criminal law on gifts to public servants.
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Clarifies that responsibility for investment of assets under management of Division of Investment vests in State Investment Council.
Requires ATM facilities to be equipped with access to emergency telephone service.
Extends certain benefits to members of U.S. Reserves and State organized militia who serve at least 180 continuous days.
Establishes the "Veterans Home Health Care Demonstration Program"; appropriates $1 million.
Extends eligibility for certain veterans' benefits to members of reserve components of US Armed Forces and NJ organized militia who serve at least 180 continuous days.
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits.
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
The "New Jersey Freedom to Fish Act."
Prohibits filling of vacancy among candidates nominated at primaries after 48th and before 14th day before general election, except due to death; prohibits filling subsequent vacancies before elections.
Establishes involuntary outpatient commitment for certain persons who are mentally ill or gravely disabled and provides for involuntary inpatient commitment for certain persons who are gravely disabled.
Extends reduced or discounted cable television rate provisions to persons eligible for "Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program."
Requires dissemination of organ and tissue donation by State Treasurer, Personnel Commissioner, State contractors, and preparers of advanced health care directives; designates April of each year as Donate Life Month.
Authorizes counties and municipalities to adopt regulations limiting political contributions by contractors.
Provides for State income tax deduction to private well owners for water testing costs.
Establishes new crimes of forced labor or services, sexual servitude, and human trafficking.
Provides for continuous, satellite-based monitoring and polygraph testing of high risk sex offenders; appropriates $2 million.
Prohibits the inclusion of printed individual social security numbers on homestead rebate applications provided to potential claimants.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in companies doing business in countries that sponsor terrorism.
Prohibits sale of flu vaccine at excessive prices during shortage.
Requires health benefits coverage for expenses incurred in purchase and administration of flu vaccine.
Exempts from realty transfer fees, sales of homes of certain New Jersey members of the military.
Provides for regional economic impact report and review by affected municipalities for certain proposed large scale retail developments.
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Restricts sale of yellow ribbons; dedicates proceeds to veterans.
Permits local units to fund local chapters of the American Legion or VFW.
Creates an Official Corruption Unit in the Division of State Police.
Recodifies offenses against animals under State criminal code; increases degree of crime for certain offenses.
Requires line item disclosure of all State revenues and appropriations in the Governor's budget proposal, and in bills pending in the Legislature or enacted in this State; eliminates off-budget State spending.
Implements the economic indicator recommendations of the Commissioner of Education on Abbott district designation.
Authorizes special "Born to Run" license plate with proceeds to benefit Community FoodBank of New Jersey.