Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, Senate.
Sharpe James
Sponsored
Became law2
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. *
Clarifies mayor's authority to determine conditions of transfer, exchange, lease, acquisition, and sale of real property in certain cities. **
Passed the Senate2
Upgrades penalties for motor vehicle theft offenses.
Removes limitation on amount counties may appropriate in support of performing arts centers.
Out of committee2
Authorizes $3 assessment on municipal court costs to upgrade Automated Traffic System.
Clarifies public entities' immunities under the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act" for traffic signs and signals.
In committee24
Supplemental appropriation of $2 million from the General Fund for the Social Services for the Homeless program.
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain elective public offices.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,500,000 to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Newark City's plane crash costs.
Requires State Police to maintain and make available certain records for at least 10 years.
Requires State Police applicants to undergo psychological testing for racial bias.
Prohibits 4-year college requirement for appointment to State Police.
Authorizes certain municipalities to impose alcoholic beverages tax under "Local Tax Authorization Act."
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $50,000 for an endowment to the Wynona Moore Lipman Ethnic Studies Center to be established at Kean University.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 to DHS for creation of domestic violence services unit in Essex County.
Increases pension benefits for certain retirees in certain municipal retirement systems.
Establishes "Public Confidence-Police Integrity" telephone hotline.
Supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to DHS for grant to Babyland Family Services, Inc.
Allows reduced sales tax rate for sales of motor vehicles in certain urban enterprise zones and UEZ-impacted business districts.
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits; increases members' contribution rate.
Permits certain municipalities to provide five years of revaluation relief abatements and revises restriction on Newark's use of payroll and parking tax revenue.
Prohibits any person from simultaneously holding more than one State, county, municipal, or school district elective office.
Provides $250 homestead property tax credit to senior citizens in first class cities.
Requires school districts receiving at least 51% of net budget through State aid to adopt dress code.
The "Responsible Pit Bull Ownership Licensing Act"; authorizes municipalities to require a license for a person to own, keep or harbor a pit bull.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $13,000,000 from the General Fund for renovations at UMDNJ's University Hospital, Newark, for Labor, Delivery, Recovery suite renovations and neonatal and intermediate care nursery equipment.
Supplemental appropriation of $400,000 to DHS for grant to Integrity, Inc.
Establishes Police Institute at Rutgers.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $4 million from General Fund to Department of Environmental Protection for Lincoln Park/Coast Cultural District, LLC for redevelopment project in Newark.
Provides a credit to certain life insurance companies against the insurance premiums tax for retaliatory costs paid to other states.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 8
Establishes Inmate Education and Vocational Training Study Commission.
Extends certain benefits to veterans of Operations Northern and Southern Watch.
Establishes NJ STARS Program to provide scholarships for county college students. *
Revises pilotage laws.
Establishes New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJ QSAC), a new State monitoring system for public school districts.
Authorizes DHSS to reallocate flu vaccine to high-risk persons.
Repeals local parking and payroll tax sunset provisions and "Revaluation Relief Act of 1999."
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. *
Passed the Senate · 2
Excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation.
Permits adopted person and certain others access to adopted person's original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $1,000,000. *
Out of committee · 18
Appropriates $2 million to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC); imposes one-time assessment on legislative agents for ELEC Internet upgrade.
Allows a gross income tax credit to certain taxpayers for capital improvements made to a principal residence.
Establishes Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education and Research Program in DHSS; appropriates $1 million.
Establishes State rental assistance program patterned after federal section 8 program; permits allocation of funds under the Fair Housing Act to program as permitted purpose. *
Requires acquisition of defibrillators for use in public and nonpublic high schools and training of certain personnel in usage; appropriates $900,000. *
Requires school districts to notify DYFS of certain pupil absences.
Establishes "Police Officer, Firefighter, Public School Teacher and Sanitation Worker Home-buyer Assistance Act." *
Revises charity care distribution formula.
Increases the amount of bonds issued for county college capital projects which qualify for State debt service aid support.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of donations received by the State for the New Jersey September 11th Memorial at Liberty State Park.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in foreign companies doing business in Sudan. *
Establishes the "School Construction Review Commission."
Provides for municipal regulation of liverycar service; establishes livery and taxicab license plates.
Revises certain procedures for real property tax appeals.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the New Jersey World Trade Center Scholarship Fund.
Supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to DHSS for Office on Women's Health.
Establishes prevailing wage standards for State building service contracts.
Makes FY2006 supplemental General Fund appropriations of $4 million to DHS for home heating assistance and $9 million for energy assistance programs. *
In committee · 25
The "Scrap Tire Management Act."
Permits municipalities hosting UEZs to establish set-aside programs favoring local businesses for construction projects using State funds.
Requires State institutions of higher education and associated hospitals or medical facilities to obtain legislative approval of any name change.
Increases penalties for illegally posted signs; specifies that local units are entitled to certain fine moneys.
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.
Permits granting residency credit points to candidates taking certain municipal police and fire promotional examinations.
Increases the maximum amount of bonds issued by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority for the Public Library Project Fund from $45 million to $95 million to provide library construction and technology grants.
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.
Requires DYFS district offices to adjust office hours and establish staggered work weeks for caseworkers.
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility Act."
Expands provisions of law requiring child-protection window guards in multiple dwellings.
Requires drug testing of foster parents and DYFS caseworkers.
Requires criminal history record background checks for DYFS caseworkers.
Allows adopted person access to his original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
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 ATM facilities to be equipped with access to emergency telephone service.
Authorizes certain leave for parents and guardians of children attending a public school.
Supplemental appropriation to FY04 budget of $250,000 for publication of Truth in Renting booklet by DCA.
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.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in companies doing business in countries that sponsor terrorism.
Establishes "The Essex County Prosecutorial Unification Pilot Program Act of 2004."
Repeals law expediting certain State permits.
Authorizes special "Born to Run" license plate with proceeds to benefit Community FoodBank of New Jersey.