Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, Senate.
Ellen Karcher
Sponsored
Became law12
Prohibits solicitation and making of political contributions on State property by certain persons.
Prohibits member of Legislature from acting on legislation in which member or family member of that member has personal interest.
Expands definition of lobbyist and legislative agent to include those who influence governmental processes; defines governmental processes.
Appropriates $1,080,000 to DEP for the Intracoastal Waterway Feasibility Study.
Allows county or municipality to deposit funds from any source into open space trust funds and to enter agreements with certain nonprofit organizations for land and historic preservation purposes. *
Provides that violation of domestic violence order issued in another jurisdiction would constitute contempt of a domestic violence order in New Jersey.
Makes various changes to State contracting process; imposes certain disclosure on State officers and employees involved in contracting. *
Expands membership and mission of Council on Armed Forces and Veterans' Affairs.
Establishes notification requirements in connection with public and private development proximate to certain military facilities.
Appropriates $75 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $31,415,464 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for planning incentive grants to counties and municipalities for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $16,575,000 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 central NJ.
Passed the Senate4
Authorizes State Treasurer to sell surplus real property and improvements in the Township of East Windsor, Mercer County, to winning auction bidder.
Concerns unemployment benefits for certain employees who participate in an early retirement incentive program.
Prohibits payment of temporary disability benefits when disability is incurred as result of fourth degree crime or gross misconduct.
Permits certain contracting units to use schedules from additional federal procurement programs when purchasing goods and services.
Out of committee16
Changes minimum amount of campaign contribution which triggers obligation to report that contribution to ELEC to $200; requires reporting of all cash contributions.
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 insurers and SHBP to cover mammograms for women under 40 under certain circumstances. *
Designates Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center as State's specialty acute care children's hospitals for Monmouth and Ocean counties. *
Extends workers' compensation coverage under NJ Horse Racing Injury Compensation Board to thoroughbred exercise riders in certain circumstances.
Supplemental appropriation of $3.6 million in State and federal funds to expand the Traumatic Brain Injury waiver.
Appropriates $16,181,750 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in central NJ.
Appropriates $25 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for planning incentive grants to municipalities and counties for farmland preservation purposes.
Requires reporting of all cases of severe hyperbilirubinemia to DHSS. *
Prohibits Governor, Legislators and various State officers and employees from holding any financial interest in casino licensees or applicants, or their holding or intermediary companies. *
Expands definition of resident for purposes of State tuition aid grant eligibility to include a dependent child whose parent or guardian has been transferred to a military base in this State.
Authorizes increased fines for certain trucks violating truck route ordinances on steep grades.
Requires State Board of Education to include two hours of instruction in suicide prevention as part of professional development for public school teaching staff members and to revise the Core Curriculum Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Educ
Establishes Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in New Jersey.
Amends and clarifies the rights of handicapped, blind or deaf persons when accompanied by service or guide dogs.
In committee32
Prohibits members of Legislature from engaging in certain lobbying activities for two years after leaving office.
Prohibits awarding of certain types of public contracts to members of the Legislature.
Provides that legislators will not receive PERS credit for other simultaneous PERS-covered employment.
Prohibits members of the Legislature from holding appointive public offices.
Increases fines for violation of Open Public Meetings Act; provides for enforcement by certain parties.
Prohibits members of the Legislature form holding other elective public offices.
Prohibits certain relatives of employees in the Executive Branch from being employed in certain positions.
The "New Jersey Public Utility Service Extension Act."
Allows deduction against gross income for unreimbursed expenses incurred by organ donor.
Requires boat safety course to operate boat on State waters; revises other recreational boating laws.
Curbs contributions by certain public contractors and certain developers; curbs contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Designates Jersey tomato as State Vegetable.
The "Municipal Planning Tool Box Act of 2004."
Designates Jersey sweet corn as State Vegetable.
Revises lifeguard pension benefits.
Provides for penalty to defray costs of railroad police operations.
Requires small employer health insurance carriers to offer coverage for treatment of infertility.
Revises per pupil administrative cost limit for public school districts and allows districts to maintain 3% surplus.
Establishes New Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitation Licensing Study Commission, and temporarily expands scope of "cooperator permit" to include rehabilitation of other kinds of wildlife besides game animals.
Amends "Law Against Discrimination" concerning gender identity or expression discrimination.
Requires DHSS to review standard of care at health care facilities in which 40% or more of direct patient care nursing staff are temporary hires.
Revises and updates statutes governing compensation for victims of crime.
Clarifies designation of district of residence for pupils who reside on certain federal property.
Increases the presumed marked-up rate for a retailer selling cigarettes.
Prohibits public entities from engaging certain governmental affairs agents.
Prohibits taking and processing of fish on certain vessels in marine waters.
Prohibits political contributions by all State and local public agencies.
Requires DHSS to apply for federal Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid waiver for certain early intervention services.
Increases percentage of parimutuel pool for horse races at certain racetracks that is dedicated to support of N. J.'s thoroughbred breeding industry.
Establishes registry of community agency employees providing services to persons with developmental disabilities.
Establishes the "Public Corruption Profiteering Penalty Act."
Requires that medical gas cylinders, containers and vessels used in health care facilities be color-coded to identify contents.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 15
The "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act"; creates Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council; and dedicates a portion of realty transfer fee revenue annually for certain State aid purposes in the Highlands Region and the pinelands area. *
Ends automatic adjustment of campaign contribution limits for committees; adjusts limits for candidate committees.
Provides for primary and comprehensive stroke centers at acute care hospitals; appropriates $3 million. *
Requires insurers that provide outpatient prescription drug benefits and State Health Benefits Program to cover costs of prescription female contraceptives. *
Authorizes NJN to broadcast emergency information to law enforcement agencies and other emergency personnel.
Provides that label of bottled water contain date on which water was bottled.
Revises pilotage laws.
Establishes "NJ Express Enrollment for Children's Health Care Coverage" pilot program; appropriates $90,000.
"New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act"; prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.
Provides that the chairmanship of the State Athletic Control Board would be a part-time position.
"Family Health Care Coverage Act"; reestablishes NJ FamilyCare Program, expands eligibility for Medicaid program for parents and adults without dependent children and provides for pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates for GA program. *
Permits elections in municipalities with fewer than 500 residents to be conducted by mail.
Changes striped bass catch and possession limits. *
Requires DHS to apply for Home and Community-Based Services waiver for DDD and provide status reports to Legislature. *
Updates provisions in Titles 9 and 30 of the Revised Statutes to conform with DYFS child welfare reform plan.
Passed the Senate · 6
Creates offense of animal incapacitation and increases and revises certain animal cruelty penalties. *
Establishes registry of stroke cases in State.
Establishes Office of Environmental Law Enforcement in the Division of Criminal Justice in Department of Law and Public Safety; establishes Environmental Prosecutor. *
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $1,000,000. *
Establishes procedures for placement of individuals in Division of Developmental Disabilities Moderate Security Unit.
Authorizes NJEDA to issue cigarette tax revenue bonds to fund stem cell research facilities, biomedical research facilities, and State park, forest, and wildlife management area capital projects; designated the Capital Facilities Financing Act of 2005."
Out of committee · 30
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Requires boat safety course to operate boat on State waters; revises other recreational boating laws. *
Allows corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credit for certain costs of operating sick child care centers.
Revises statutory mental health coverage requirements and requires all health insurers and SHBP to cover treatment for alcoholism and other substance-use disorders under same terms and conditions as for other diseases or illnesses.
Extends prevailing wage requirements to projects of county improvement authorities, the CRDA, the Educational Facilities Financing Authority, and the Health Care Facilities Financing Authority. *
Allocates $75,000 from the Cancer Screening - Early Detection and Education Program for lung cancer in women activities.
Permits physician assistants to prescribe controlled dangerous substances.
"Cigarette Sales Act;" facilitates collection of taxes on retail sales of cigarettes shipped from outside this State. *
Clarifies sentencing provisions for certain drunk driving offenses.
Provides for annual cost-of-living increase in Lifeline benefits. *
Establishes Safe Haven Awareness Promotion Task Force.
Revises outdoor advertising law and local tax treatment of certain outdoor advertising signs.
Establishes NJ Elderly Person Suicide Prevention Advisory Council in DHSS.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Appropriates $75 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. *
Establishes certain nutritional restrictions on food and beverages served, sold or given away to pupils in public and certain nonpublic schools. **
The "Identity Theft Prevention Act" *
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. *
Prohibits campaign contributions by business entities seeking or holding State contracts in certain circumstances.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of donations received by the State for the New Jersey September 11th Memorial at Liberty State Park.
Revises experience requirements for eligibility to be licensed as a marriage and family therapist.
"The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative Act."
Approves $6,585,306 in grants for certain historic preservation projects in southern New Jersey.
Approves $6,435,602 in grants for certain historic preservation projects in central New Jersey.
Creates the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act" to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. *
Imposes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment and forfeiture of pension and retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of crimes involving or touching their office or employment.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the New Jersey World Trade Center Scholarship Fund.
Concerns contributions to special funds made through the gross income tax return.
Establishes prevailing wage standards for State building service contracts.
Revises outdoor advertising law and local tax treatment of certain outdoor advertising signs.
In committee · 52
Requires health insurers, State Health Benefits Program and NJ FamilyCare to provide coverage for hearing aids for covered persons 18 years of age and younger.
Requires health benefits coverage for certain therapies and applied behavioral analysis for the treatment of certain autism disorders.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Designated the "Clean Indoor Air Act."
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Requires school bus driver to inspect bus, activate safety device at end of transportation route to ensure that no pupil has been left on board.
Requires health benefits coverage for bone mass measurement.
Requires DHSS to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures for physicians and facilities concerning women with bleeding disorders.
Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Requires that configuration of toll collection lanes be consistent throughout New Jersey Turnpike.
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility Act."
Establishes limits on resident's hours in hospitals.
Limits school bus idle time to five minutes with certain exceptions.
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
"Nursing Student Incentive Loan and Loan Redemption Program Act"; appropriates $5 million.
Prohibits investment of certain public employee pension funds in tobacco manufacturers and distributors; provides for divestiture of existing holdings in such businesses.
Permits a student to participate in a voluntary survey if the district sends prior written notification to the student's parents.
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."
Requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in or waiting to enter crosswalks.
Authorizes the issuance of restraining orders in situations where the domestic violence statutes do not apply; repeals section 2 of P.L.1999, c.47.
Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer.
Establishes Medication Management, Outreach and Support Program in DHS; appropriates $8 million.
Requires NJ legislators to file detailed statement of financial affairs.
Requires ATM facilities to be equipped with access to emergency telephone service.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
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.
Requires inclusion of resident of continuing care retirement community as member of facility's local governing body and discussion of certain matters with resident representatives.
Permits counties and municipalities to impose limits on politicals contributions made by business entities that receive contracts; requires disclosure of political contributions by certain business entities.
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.
Imposes 6% tax on certain political contributions.
Prohibits sale of certain high-calorie beverages in public schools.
Requires mandatory sexual violence training for law enforcement, judicial and prosecutorial personnel.
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Revises procedures for independent review of mandated health benefits bills.
Revises definition of destructive device to include weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
Supplemental appropriation of $200,000 to DHSS for grant for Hemophilia Services.
Establishes "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" pilot program; appropriates $250,000.
Establishes $2 surcharge upon building permits for payments to Community Health Law Project.
Establishes uniform campaign contribution limit of $2,000 in connection with campaigns for State or local elective public office.
Requires ELEC to provide ethics training for governmental affairs agents.
Requires all elected or appointed local government officers to receive ethics training.
Requires completion of legislative ethics training program for legislators and State officers or employees and special State officers or employees in Legislative Branch.
Changes reimbursement structure for various transportation services provided to Medicaid recipients.
Requires interactive computer service to remove images, information, or data which depicts child engaged in prohibited sexual act from computer server or other storage device controlled or owned by the interactive computer service.
Designates November 3 in each year as "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Day."
Upgrades offense of simple assault to aggravated assault when victim is employee of DHS and clearly engaged in duties conducting investigation.
Directs Division of Developmental Disabilities to prepare plan to ensure persons with developmental disabilities recommended for community placement move from institutions to community within five years.
Makes it a crime of the third degree to practice psychology without a license and prohibits certain unlicensed employees of nonprofit community agencies from using title of psychologist.
Establishes the crime of corruption of public resources.
Establishes public school district budget cap adjustment for utility and energy costs.
Authorizes special "Born to Run" license plate with proceeds to benefit Community FoodBank of New Jersey.