Bills in the 2004–2005 Session, General Assembly.
Robert J. Smith II
Sponsored
Became law6
Empowers United States Department of Defense police officers to make arrests for certain violations of New Jersey law.
Provides that information about location of a shelter for victims of domestic violence shall not be a public record.
Requires removal of social security numbers from certain documents filed with county.
Clarifies sentencing provisions for certain drunk driving offenses.
Requires boat safety course to operate boat on State waters; revises other recreational boating laws.
Modifies catch and possession limits for taking of striped bass.
Passed the General Assembly2
Permits Municipal Court to waive marriage license waiting period in emergency.
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. *
Out of committee11
Revises qualifications to carry firearms for certain retired police officers. *
The "New Jersey Freedom to Fish Act."
Prohibits unilateral changing of terms and conditions of employment by public employers.
Requires pedestrians to yield right of way to authorized emergency vehicles and drivers to move over or slow down for parked authorized emergency vehicles.
Prohibits the use of cellular picture phone or other photographic or imaging technology to invade another person's privacy; prohibits the possession or distribution of such images. *
Requires health clubs to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
The "Prescribed Burning Act." *
Prohibits member of incorporated fish and game protective association or society from enforcing fish and game laws.
Clarifies that "entering" a public place for a drug deal is conduct included in N.J.S.2C:33-2.1. *
Authorizes deer hunting with bow and arrow on Sundays.
Changes striped bass catch and possession limits.
In committee44
Requires mandatory random drug testing for certain conditional release defendants.
Classifies burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree.
Increases fine for failure to use child passenger restraint in motor vehicle.
Prohibits siting or construction of underground storage tanks within 50 feet of drinking water wells, and within 100 yards under certain circumstances.
Appropriates $2,000,000 to DCA for expansion and refurbishment of fire training facilities at Gloucester County Fire Academy.
Supplemental appropriation of $100,000 to Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA to fund grant to Gloucester County for historic church cemetery clean-up.
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.
Establishes electronic system for monitoring dispensing of Schedule II through V controlled substances.
Authorizes free State park admission and free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for persons with certain types of military service.
Increases voluntary municipal pension to survivors of volunteer firefighters or first aid squad members and extends payment to widowers of such persons.
Authorizes a municipal court to impose certain sanctions on children with a pattern of repeated unauthorized absences from school.
Allows person to deduct alimony payments to determine eligibility for PAAD and Senior Gold prescription programs.
Requires payment in lieu of taxes to municipality when State college or university purchases property for use as student residence.
Clarifies that school bus for purpose of upgraded penalties in "school zone" criminal drug laws includes any bus owned and operated by board of education or by private contractor.
Criminalizes misrepresentation to law enforcement officer during a body search that defendant does not possess any potentially dangerous instrument.
Authorizes "Fallen Firefighter" license plates; establishes scholarship program for children of fallen firefighters.
Increases payment upon retirement for unused sick leave from a maximum of $15,000 to a maximum of $20,000.
Supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DCA for grant to Gloucester Township for municipal aid.
Clarifies provisions in "Law Against Discrimination" barring discrimination on the basis of familial status in employment.
Requires DYFS to take certain actions to ensure caseworker safety.
Requires owner to report theft of firearm to police within 72 hours.
Extends temporary registrations to 60 days for passenger vehicles of residents.
Provides that assisted living resident's security deposit is refundable if resident leaves facility.
Prohibits children under eight years or eighty pounds from riding motorcycles.
Requires posting of signs near lakes in State parks and forests warning of thin ice.
Creates striped bass license plates.
Clarifies Faulkner Act conflict of interest provision by excepting out certain professional services contracts.
Makes it a fourth degree crime to exhibit fraudulent motor vehicle insurance identification card to municipal prosecutor.
Extends civil service working test period for political subdivision employees to four months.
Clarifies that "entering " a public place for a drug deal is conduct included in N.J.S.A.2C:33-2.1.
Expands implied consent statute to include blood and urine testing.
Prohibits municipalities from using State funds for installation, purchase, replacement or restoration of boardwalks using tropical wood.
Abolishes battleship commission and foundation; transfers funds to special account.
Provides enhanced penalties for persons driving while their license is suspended for driving under the influence when under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Provides for re-enrollment right or refund of fees for student who is called to active duty for certain military operations.
Authorizes payment of funeral expenses for certain qualified employees.
Increases penalty for unlawful tinting of motor vehicle windows.
Provides for automatic expungement when law enforcement officer not convicted of crime.
Empowers federal air marshals to make arrests for certain violations of New Jersey law.
Makes theft of donation container a fourth degree crime.
Directs AG to develop guidelines concerning police holsters; allocates $500,000.
Allows certain chiropractors licensed in other states to be licensed in New Jersey.
Ties threshold for filing boating accident report to federal standard.
Makes driver's license suspension for underage gambling discretionary.
Carried from the Senate
Became law2
Changes striped bass catch and possession limits. *
Requires health clubs to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 33
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.
Requires ELEC to review its Internet site and recommend improvements in format and content.
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.
"Kinship Legal Guardianship Notification Act."
Requires State Treasurer to provide long term care insurance plan for local public employers to offer to employees and retirees at own expense.
Changes laws governing financial liability for patients in psychiatric facilities and eliminates institutional liens for persons treated at State and county psychiatric facilities. **
Requires disclosure by contractor of cost of construction permits required for construction or reconstruction of residential premises.
Requires hospitals and nursing homes to compile and provide certain staffing information to the public. *
Prohibits sale or distribution of cigarettes in packs of less than 20.
Extends prevailing wage requirements to projects of county improvement authorities, the CRDA, the Educational Facilities Financing Authority, and the Health Care Facilities Financing Authority. *
Increases maximum bond amount filed with Department of Agriculture by certain purchasers of milk or cream and agricultural commodities.
Revises charity care distribution formula.
Authorizes $3 assessment on municipal court costs to upgrade Automated Traffic System.
Designates New Jersey Route No. 83 as "Trooper Bertram T. Zimmerman III Memorial Highway;" appropriates $2,500.
Revises outdoor advertising law and local tax treatment of certain outdoor advertising signs.
Reorganizes NJSPCA and county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Appropriates $75 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. *
Appropriates $39.8 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
"The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative."
Bans sale of certain mercury thermometers.
Increases liability limitation for owners or operators of vessels that discharge a hazardous substance.
Repeals air toxics surcharge. *
Creates World War II Veterans' Memorial Fund.
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
Passed the General Assembly · 11
Permits municipalities to appoint paid fire chiefs for paid and certain part-paid fire departments; clarifies duties and responsibilities.
Requires examinations of joint insurance funds and certain reporting by those funds.
Upgrades penalty for misusing public utility employee identification badge; establishes penalties for making, selling or possessing simulated public utility employee identification badge.
Prohibits sale to minors of anabolic androgenic steroids prohibited by World Anti-Doping Agency. *
Allows disabled veteran's surviving spouse to claim property tax exemption when veteran's disability declaration is granted after death.
Establishes "New Jersey Task Force on Long-Term Care Quality and Financing."
Provides for civil action against person committing act of cruelty against domestic companion animal.
Bans the sale of Yo-Yo Waterballs.
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
Concerns tax preparation services for certain clients.
Requires Attorney General to prepare pamphlet for parents on keeping children safe from predators. *
Out of committee · 47
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.
Expands definition of lobbyist and legislative agent to include those who influence governmental processes; defines governmental processes.
Establishes "Polling Place Accessibility Fund"; promotes polling place accessibility for elderly and individuals with disabilities.
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Establishes "Commission to Examine Strategies for Strengthening Familial Bond Between Children and Incarcerated Parents."
Clarifies that law enforcement agencies may access juvenile central registry information.
Affords emergency services peer counselors confidentiality privileges.
Allows commercial nonagricultural activities to occur, and personal wireless service facilities to be erected, on preserved farmland under certain circumstances. *
Provides for establishment of county offices for the disabled; making an appropriation.
Establishes toll-free telephone hotline for reporting guns and other weapons in public schools.
Requires nursing homes to compile and provide certain staffing information to the public. *
Provides credit under gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
Provides additional retirement benefits for certain police and firefighter members of PFRS.
Establishes Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in DEP and appropriates $200,000 therefor from Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund. *
Provides for re-enrollment right or refund of fees for students who are called to active duty for certain military operations. *
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Creates crime of victimization of persons with disabilities and senior citizens. *
Establishes New Jersey Rx Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Establishes "Alan M. Augustine Colorectal Cancer Research Fund"; appropriates $100,000. *
Provides compensatory time off for certain essential attendance State employees.
Establishes annual hunting license for hunting on semiwild and commercial shooting preserves; sets fee therefor.
Revises pilotage laws.
Requires services under State contracts to be performed in the United States. *
Increases PFRS disability, accidental death and special retirement benefits; increases members' contribution rate.
Prohibits possession of handcuff keys for unlawful purpose.
Affords exemption from "deadly force" justification standards for police using less-lethal ammunition.
Authorizes NJN to broadcast emergency information to law enforcement agencies and other emergency personnel.
Authorizes limited outside employment of assistant prosecutors.
Directs DEP to acquire certain obsolete vessels to use as artificial reefs; appropriates up to $250,000. *
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
Adds two employees to the boards of trustees of the State colleges. **
Establishes Prescription Monitoring Program in Division of Consumer Affairs. *
Creates credit card do-not-solicit list for certain persons.
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. *
Regulates certain rental-purchase agreements.
Establishes pilot program for satellite-based monitoring of certain sex offenders and authorizes certain sex offenders to submit to annual polygraph; appropriates $3 million. *
Establishes the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund in the NJHMFA to finance special needs housing projects through bond proceeds issued by the NJEDA; designated the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund Act.
Prohibits taking and processing of fish on certain vessels in marine waters.
Appropriates $75 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
In committee · 86
Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.
Places certain juvenile offenders in adult county jails.
Requires reporting by certain persons of attemped or completed suicides by youth and establishes NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council.
Establishes procedures for court and DYFS to determine safety of minor child whose child's caretaker is incarcerated.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize State services.
Concerns errors in estimating income for certain programs for aged and disabled persons.
Requires licensees in business of firearms repair to obtain ballistics identifiers before returning a rifle or handgun to its owner.
Establishes ten-member "New Jersey Clean Elections and Campaign Finance Study Commission."
Supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to DCA for expansion and refurbishment of fire training facilities at Camden County Fire Academy.
Authorizes free admission to State parks and forests and free hunting, fishing, and trapping licences for retired members of NJ National Guard.
Requires emergency first aid and first responder retraining for local law enforcement officers; establishes a "duty to act" in emergency situations for on-duty local law enforcement officers.
Establishes certain customer protection requirements for cable televison customers.
Extends limit for nonpublic school busing to 30 miles in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Salem, Sussex and Warren Counties.
Requires award of grants to remediate discharges from home heating oil tanks for applications filed prior to July 1, 2007.
Establishes the New Jersey Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Study Commission.
Establishes corporation business tax credit for certain remediation costs.
Establishes Task Force on Child Welfare.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Provides gross income tax deduction for three years of nursing pay for new enrollees in nursing education programs.
Provides PFRS members in federal or State military service who is injured or killed with disability or death benefits.
Revises provisions of the "Coastal Area Facility Review Act."
Requires DHSS investigation and provides for receivership and imposition of enforcement remedies of nursing homes under certain circumstances.
Requires DEP to implement Phase II of California Low Emission Vehicle program in the State in 2006.
Increases public members on New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education.
"Pharmacy Benefits Management Company Act."
Protects certain compliant municipalities from builder's remedy under "Fair Housing Act" pending readoption of methodologies, criteria and guidelines.
Prohibits nonprofit organizations from disclosing information concerning person under age 18 to third party under certain circumstances.
Requires State contractors to provide employment information.
Provides for regulation of certain call center communications by Division of Consumer Affairs.
Establishes hiring preference for children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty seeking appointment to municipal police forces.
Provides that the State shall pay health insurance premiums for survivors of certain police officers in PERS.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Provides for posting of radon testing results in public schools.
Requires certain long-term care facilities to provide list of certain services related to care of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Extends eligibility for veterans' property tax deduction to residents of continuing care retirement communities.
Provides early childhood program aid to certain school districts contiguous to Abbott districts.
Provides increased demonstrably effective program aid to school districts contiguous to Abbott districts.
Requires State to pay expenses associated with nonpartisan municipal elections.
Establishes "weapons free" school zones.
Permits automotive collecting activities on residential property outside of ordinary public view.
Grants 90-day grace period for payment of property taxes by seniors and longer period for participants in senior freeze act.
Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for those persons currently residing in nursing facilities, State hospitals or State developmental centers.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Establishes school property tax freeze program for resident homeowners age 65 or older and disabled homeowners.
Permits immediate expungement of court records where the person is acquitted or discharged or where the charges have been dismissed.
Increases minimum PFRS special retirement allowance from 65% to 70% of final compensation.
Increases TPAF cost of living adjustment from 60% to 100% of Consumer Price Index.
Reduces vesting requirement under State-administered retirement systems to five years' service.
Provides that cash assistance from DHS kinship care programs shall not be considered income for certain State-funded programs.
Establishes guidelines for operating authorized emergency vehicles in emergency situations.
Establishes special license plates to fund diabetes research and education.
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Prescribes duties of drivers approaching police vehicle stopped along roadway and displaying flashing red light.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and higher education institutions.
Establishes new Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Exempts certain persons enrolled in public institutions of higher education from payment of undergraduate tuition at nonresident rates.
Revises criteria for eligibility to receive senior and disabled homestead property tax reimbursement.
Increases penalties for drunk driving with minor as passenger.
Requires public hearing by Commissioner of Transportation regarding certain highway construction projects.
Provides State matching funds to school districts in the amount of savings realized from the provision of educational or administrative services through an educational services commission.
Requires State aid for operating expenses of higher education institutions as a percentage of the State budget to equal national average.
Provides for review of State agency regulations by State Planning Commission for their consistency with State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
Establishes an agricultural tourism program and appropriates $95,000.
Requires retail food establishments to provide certain nutritional information for food or beverage items sold to its customers.
Makes employment matters not exempted by statute mandatory subjects of public employment collective bargaining.
Provides that impairing another person's means of communication may constitute an act of domestic violence.
Concerns stewardship of forests; appropriates $650,000.
Prohibits municipalities from requiring permits for certain voter registration drives.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Broadens eligibility for various veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specific dates or specific locations.
Provides for State income tax deduction to private well owners for water testing costs.
Establishes outreach procedures for NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid through school lunch application forms in public schools.
Provides motor fuels tax refunds for fuel used in recreational boats.
Prohibits pharmacists from refusing to dispense medication solely for philosophical, moral or religious reasons.
Allows access to housing, public facilities and transportation for certain working dogs, provides penalties for violation.
Repeals air toxics surcharge.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for New Jersey National Guard members and their families in need of assistance.
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.
Authorizes counties and municipalities to acquire real property, and to resell or lease it with agricultural deed restrictions attached, for farmland preservation purposes.
Revises the eligibility criteria under the State earned income tax credit to equal the eligibility criteria of the federal earned income tax credit.
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.
Excludes from PAAD income eligibility withdrawals from an IRA.
"Jessica Lunsford Act;" concerns sentencing of sex offenders and persons who harbor them; requires electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders and creates child protection zones.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in companies doing business in or with Zimbabwe.
Prohibits investment of certain public funds in financial institutions located in Delaware if that state does not amend its permitting laws to conform to the Compact of 1905.
Prohibits certain unsolicited checks.