Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, General Assembly.
Albio Sires
Sponsored
Became law30
Increases voting and voter penalties.
Increases homestead rebates for certain homestead owners, folds NJ SAVER rebates into the Homestead Rebate program and increases gross income tax rate for taxpayers with taxable income over $500,000 and temporarily adjusts withholding tax.
Requires regional municipal and county utilities and the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to provide reduced sewer and water connection fees for certain affordable housing projects. *
Prohibits sale or distribution of cigarettes in packs of less than 20.
Concerns procedures with respect to placement, replacement or removal of public utility poles and underground facilities under certain circumstances. *
Increases the amount of bonds issued for county college capital projects which qualify for State debt service aid support.
Appropriates $300,000 to DHS for grant to Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. *
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. *
Creates Health Enterprise Zones in certain municipalities to encourage establishment of certain primary care practices in medically underserved areas.
Provides that non-bank may use "bank" in its name under certain circumstances.
Establishes four-year registration period for new passenger automobiles.
The "Cigarette Tax Securitization Act of 2004."
Decouples corporation business tax and gross income tax from changes in federal depreciation and certain expensing; provides incentives for business relocation and retention. *
Appropriates $22,468,700 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in northern NJ.
Appropriates $120,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grant to Save Ellis Island, Inc. to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Supplemental appropriation of $5 million to Division of State Police for additional police recruit class and communication system upgrades.
Bans sale of certain mercury thermometers.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of donations received by the State for the New Jersey September 11th Memorial at Liberty State Park.
Appropriates $18,000,000 to provide grants for certain historic preservation projects; approves $4,979,092 thereof for certain historic preservation projects in northern NJ.
Permits construction of traffic calming measures on certain roads near schools. *
Repeals air toxics surcharge. *
Permits NJ Transit authority to acquire and operate passenger ferries and ferry operations and to construct ferry capital facilities.
Increases term of office of mayor and council in towns to four years.
Designates ten collective negotiations unit categories for State Executive Branch employees.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for the New Jersey World Trade Center Scholarship Fund.
Establishes date of initial employment with board of education as effective date of provisional teaching certificate and provides that novice teacher will be a teaching staff member for all purposes.
Eliminates for certain high income taxpayers the New Jersey gross income tax exclusion for pension and other retirement income.
Authorizes counties to increase the number of appointed board members on county vocational school district boards of education.
Reduces penalty for early retirement imposed under Employees' Retirement System of Jersey City.
Increases motor vehicle registration fees to cover capital and operational costs of State's emergency medical helicopter program and fund new State Police trooper class. *
Passed the General Assembly7
Establishes Joseph V. Doria, Jr., Ed.D New Jersey Legislative Fellows Program; appropriates $50,000.
Appropriates $4,245,551 to DOC for the renovation of food service facility at Northern State Prison.
Permits limited pharmacy sales of syringes and needles without prescription.
Provides NJ STARS scholarship to certain students who had been enrolled in a dual enrollment program established by the students's high school and a county college.
Requires air conditioners in certain HMFA sponsored housing units be utilized in hot weather; provides penalties for noncompliance.
Lowers cap on finder's fee for property escheated to State.
Provides liability protection to municipalities under Spill Compensation and Control Act under certain circumstances.
Out of committee16
Establishes NJ STARS Program to provide scholarships for county college students. *
Streamlines certain permitting in smart growth areas.
Supplemental appropriation of $6 million to DHSS for grant to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Establishes Office of the Inspector General. *
Concerns rental assistance grants and employment and training services and makes an appropriation. *
Increases the minimum wage; creates New Jersey Minimum Wage Advisory Commission.
Allows participation in SHBP for certain union elected officers and employees. *
Expands certain powers of New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to acquire and develop a soccer and multipurpose stadium project.
Changes criteria for continued receipt of NJ STARS scholarship after first year of enrollment in a county college.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Appropriates $150,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grant to Save Ellis Island, Inc. to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Provides a credit under the corporation business tax and gross income tax for film production expenses incurred in New Jersey and provides for the transfer of those tax credits to other taxpayers. *
Establishes NJ STARS II Program for NJ STARS scholars who advance to a New Jersey four-year public institution of higher education; appropriates $1,000,000 to Higher Education Student Assistant Authority. *
Expands certain powers of New Jersey Sports and Exposition authority to establish and develop professional football league training facilities.
Makes fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriation of $22,000,000 to Department of Corrections for grants to counties housing State inmates and amends certain language provisions of the fiscal year 2006 appropriations act concerning certain grants.
Provides title of person who serves as Acting Governor for continuous period of at least 180 days will be "Governor of the State of New Jersey" for official and historical purposes.
In committee4
Increases the amount of bonds issued by EDA for county vocational school district school facilities projects.
Modifies powers of HMFA and New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA).
Makes law enforcement agencies that hire new police officers away from their initial employers within three years liable for certain training costs.
Establishes dedicated aid for New Jersey State Police trooper classes.
Carried from the Senate
Became law15
Establishes NJ STARS Program to provide scholarships for county college students. *
Streamlines certain permitting in smart growth areas. *
Supplemental appropriation of $6 million to DHSS for grant to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Increases the minimum wage; creates New Jersey Minimum Wage Advisory Commission. *
Concerns rental assistance grants and employment and training services and makes an appropriation. *
Establishes Office of the Inspector General. *
Allows participation in SHBP for certain union elected officers and employees.
Changes criteria for continued receipt of NJ STARS scholarship after first year of enrollment in a county college.
Provides a credit under the corporation business tax and gross income tax for film production expenses incurred in New Jersey and provides for the transfer of those tax credits to other taxpayers. *
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Appropriates $150,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grant to Save Ellis Island, Inc. to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Provides title of person who serves as Acting Governor for continuous period of at least 180 days will be "Governor of the State of New Jersey" for official and historical purposes. *
Establishes NJ STARS II Program for NJ STARS scholars who advance to a New Jersey four-year public institution of higher education; appropriates $1,000,000 to Higher Education Student Assistant Authority. *
Expands certain powers of New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to establish and develop professional football league training facilities.
Makes fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriation of $22,000,000 to Department of Corrections for grants to counties housing State inmates and amends certain language provisions of the fiscal year 2006 appropriations act concerning certain grants.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 3
Establishes "New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project."
Appropriates $2 million to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC); imposes one-time assessment on legislative agents for ELEC Internet upgrade.
Establishes prevailing wage standards for State building service contracts.
Passed the General Assembly · 2
Prohibits public school districts from joining under certain circumstances voluntary associations which oversee Statewide interscholastic sports programs.
Authorizes creation of sports and entertainment districts and imposition of additional taxes therein to finance development of sports and entertainment facilities.
Out of committee · 7
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to Community Food Pantry Fund.
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Establishes "Alan M. Augustine Colorectal Cancer Research Fund"; appropriates $100,000. *
Establishes pilot program in DOE to provide laptop computers and support services to pupils and teachers in public school districts.
Permits in-person wagering at casinos on results of professional sports events, subject to voter approval.
"New Jersey Advance Directives for Mental Health Care Act."
Authorizes redevelopment agreements for reimbursement of remediation costs for projects that have already begun. *
In committee · 18
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Provides family leave insurance.
Establishes procedures for court and DYFS to determine safety of minor child whose child's caretaker is incarcerated.
Requires firearms identification cards display color photo; mandates firearms safety training for first-time applicants.
Regulates rates for certain pay telephone calls.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of the Treasury for a publicity program for the senior and disabled citizens property tax freeze reimbursement program.
Revises provisions of the "Coastal Area Facility Review Act."
Permits municipality, local board of health or regional health commission to prohibit indoor smoking in public premises to protect public health.
Increases penalty for illegal firearms' sale within 1,000 feet of school.
Establishes hiring preference for children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty seeking appointment to municipal police forces.
The "Steep Slope Protection Act."
Regulates issuance of honorary law enforcement badges.
Provides additional funds for local units awarded federal grants for firefighting personnel, equipment, and fire safety education and enforcement.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DCA for a grant to ASPIRA.
Concerns standards for the groundwater remediation of contaminated sites.
Authorizes the conferral of certain academic degrees by religious corporations.