Bills in the 2002–2003 Session, in the General Assembly and then the Senate.
George F. Geist
General Assembly
Sponsored
Became law2
Concerns offenses related to unlawful use of personal identifying information.
Requires DHSS to establish list of animal control officers found guilty of or liable for violating any animal cruelty law; and prohibits persons on that list from being animal control officers for a municipality. *
Passed the General Assembly4
Authorizes actions for damages for computer information theft.
Prohibits sale or distribution of computer software under certain circumstances.
Authorizes actions for damages for computer embezzlement.
Authorizes actions for damages for unauthorized use of credit card information.
Out of committee5
Authorizes an increase in administrative penalties for prevailing wage violations.
Allows certain juvenile offenders to be placed in county jail.
Establishes driving while fatigued as recklessness under vehicular homicide statute.
Eliminates fee for certain firefighter certifications.
Requires at least one member of Pinelands Commission to possess training knowledge, or experience in wildfire management or fire safety.
In committee33
Requires e-mailed unsolicited advertising materials to meet certain requirements.
Prohibits dissemination of student personal information on the Internet without parental consent.
"Adolescents' Online Privacy Protection Act."
Exempts land used for farming purposes from transfer inheritance tax for decedents' transfers to immediate family members under certain conditions.
Prohibits public employer from changing terms and conditions of employment prior to reaching agreement with public employee representative.
Concerns subcontracting by public schools and higher education institutions.
Changes date of primary elections in year 2004 to first Tuesday in March.
Requires a cost analysis in certain cases when a State department contracts out work.
Permits a board of education to adopt a salary policy in excess of three years and requires the payment of increments pursuant to an expired policy in certain circumstances.
Concerns public works subcontractors.
Concerns arbitration of grievances of NJ Transit Corporation employees.
Authorizes State Lottery Commission to participate in joint lotteries with net proceeds to fund NJHOPE Scholarship program.
Provides for public access to government records; protects certain government records from public disclosure; establishes Privacy Study Commission and appropriates $95,000 to commission.
Permits tax credit against gross income tax for child and dependent care expenses.
Concerns employment rights of teaching staff at schools and programs subject to State takeovers.
Increases nonpublic pupil transportation to 30 miles from the pupil's residence.
Requires the State Board of Education to adopt core curriculum content standards for technology.
Provides relief to certain NJ Transit retirees.
Authorizes actions for damages for computer impersonation and electronic forgery.
Requires suspension of local elected officials indicted for certain offenses involving moral turpitude.
Prohibits erection of communications tower facilities in certain circumstances.
Prohibits a communications tower facility from being erected within 200 feet of a public or private school or a child care center.
Waives driver's license and motor vehicle registration fees for volunteer firefighters and volunteer members of first aid and rescue squads.
Requires certain State officials to reside in New Jersey.
Requires review of certain privatization contracts.
Permits the establishment of sick leave banks for school employees.
Designated as the Senior Property Tax Freeze Protection Act; extends annual deadline for filing application for homestead property tax reimbursement to June 30th.
Authorizes special license plates for military retirees.
Revises provisions of the "Open Public Meetings Act" to ensure greater compliance.
Deletes language provision in FY 2003 annual appropriation act that delays State school aid payments and makes final aid payment at the option of the State Treasurer.
Increases criminal and civil penalties for certain animal cruelty offenses.
Requires the Pinelands Commission to include the recommendations of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for protecting property from wildfire in all its future publications.
Excludes certain unemployment compensation recipients from paying civil service application fees.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 18
Permits public comment at meetings of municipal governing body.
Concerns paydays falling on nonwork days.
Prohibits use of cell phone while driving school bus.
Permits the establishment of athletic codes of conduct; requires anger management counseling prior to resuming attendance. *
Prohibits discrimination by landlords against tenants based on source of income or age of children under "Law Against Discrimination."
Prohibits unsolicited telemarketing sales calls to certain customers.
Concerns public works contracts and project labor agreements with labor organizations. *
Places certain juvenile offenders in adult county jails.
Requires the State Board of Education to adopt core curriculum content standards for technology.
Makes changes in the law concerning the cleanup of hazardous substances.
Allows groups authorized to conduct bingo or raffles to use proceeds for capital improvements in certain instances.
Designates State office building in Asbury Park as "Thomas S. Smith, Sr. State Office Building."
Revises procedures for issuance of bail bonds in this State.
Increases criminal and civil penalties for certain animal cruelty offenses; and increases penalty for certain repeat offenders.
Establishes procedures for court and DYFS to determine safety of minor child whose child's caretaker is incarcerated. **
Provides collective negotiation procedures for school employee contracts, prohibits imposition of such contracts.
Allows part-time State employees and part-time faculty members at public institutions of higher education in this State to purchase SHBP coverage.
"Danielle's Law"; requires certain staff working with persons with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury to call 911 emergency telephone service in life-threatening emergencies.
Passed the General Assembly · 8
Establishes Child Labor Law Enforcement Fund. *
Adds leader of firearms trafficking network and weapons training for illegal activities to RICO statute. *
Regulates contractors engaging in home improvements. *
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize State services.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize county services.
Extends certain benefits to veterans of Operation "Enduring Freedom".
Clarifies procedures for closing active child protective services cases.
Out of committee · 30
Authorizes special license plates for Office of Emergency Management volunteers.
Permits school districts to exceed the aid-in-lieu-of transportation amount when accepting bids for nonpublic school transportation in the case of subscription busing.
Revises method of computing seniority for certain law enforcement officers transferred to the State Police.
Provides for certification for emergency medical technicians to administer epinephrine.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. *
"Tattooing and Body Piercing Practice Act."
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Appropriates $11.105 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $56 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $18,725,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Authorizes payment of funeral expenses for certain public safety employees killed in line of duty.
Establishes identification guidelines and record-keeping requirements for notaries public. *
Grants PFRS membership for certain Division of Parks and Forestry titles; allows current DEP employees in titles to transfer from PERS to PFRS.
Provides compensatory time off for certain essential attendance State employees.
Concerns workers' compensation for occupational disease claims and workers' compensation benefits rates for surviving dependents.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for certain literacy advocacy programs. *
The Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act. *
Exempts certain investment clubs from certain partnership fee and payment requirements.
Requires State payment of survivor's pension when volunteer fire fighter or emergency services worker suffers accidental death on duty.*
Designated as the Senior Property Tax Freeze Protection Act; extends annual deadline for filing application for homestead property tax reimbursement to June 1. *
Authorizes a municipal court to impose certain sanctions on children with a pattern of repeated unauthorized absences from school. *
Permits gaming investigator to carry firearm.
Makes various changes to casino gambling and use of proceeds thereof. *
Grants certain rights, privileges and protections to investigators in the county prosecutors' offices.
Revises statutes regarding physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.
Establishes publicity program for senior and disabled citizens property tax freeze reimbursement program.
Provides non-forfeitable right to post-retirement medical benefits provided by law to certain public employees with 25 years of service.
Requires breath or blood test of drivers in fatal accidents. *
Repeals law creating State poet laureate.
The "New Jersey Freedom to Fish Act."
In committee · 106
Creates Coordinating Committee on Youth in Department of State; appropriates $50,000.
Supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to DCA for expansion and refurbishment of fire training facilities at Camden County Fire Academy.
Increases membership of Executive Commission on Ethical Standards to fifteen through addition of eight public members.
Provides that certain special education treatment options or teaching methods shall be discontinued.
Provides for a mandatory minimum term without eligibility of parole for sexual assault.
Supplemental appropriation of $2.2 million to DHS for domestic violence programs.
Permits a tax deduction under the New Jersey gross income tax for taxpayers who operate or maintain for their employees a licensed child care center or who have paid the cost of outside child care.
Provides a corporation business tax credit for day care center support benefiting children of employees.
Concerns reemployment services and training programs.
Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $1,000 income tax deduction.
Supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DHSS for defibrillator training for police and firefighters.
Permits paid and unpaid leave of absence for certain public employees and purchase of PERS credit for such absences.
Revises provisions of the "Coastal Area Facility Review Act."
Authorizes adoption of municipal transfer of development rights programs.
Authorizes and directs DEP to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle program in the State beginning in calendar year 2006.
Establishes the "Alan M. Augustine Colon Cancer Research Fund," appropriates $100,000.
Appropriates $100,000 to DEP for Monroe Township water contamination study.
Provides for mandatory life imprisonment for certain sexual assaults upon a minor.
Establishes the crime of Bias Intimidation.
Waives driver's license and motor vehicle registration fees for volunteer firefighters and volunteer members of first aid and rescue squads.
Allows worker selection of treatment providers under workers' compensation.
Establishes the NJ Defense Industry Retention Program in the EDA; appropriates $15,000,000.
Provides for establishment of county offices for the disabled; making an appropriation.
Excludes from gross income under the gross income tax certain United States military compensation paid to members of units of the NJ National Guard.
Makes persons imprisoned for crimes against law enforcement officers ineligible for good time and work credits.
Requires DOC to notify prosecutor and victim whenever an inmate is transferred to an out-of-state correctional facility.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Imposes civil penalty for the exhibition or use in a performance of a living bear, elephant, lion or tiger.
The "Steep Slope Protection Act."
Requires prescription drug labels to bear brand name of prescribed drug as well as name of any generic drug substituted for brand name drug.
Increases 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.
Increases minimum amount of PFRS ordinary disability retirement allowance from 40% to 50% of average final compensation.
Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $5,000 income tax deduction.
"Home Improvement Contractors' Registration Act."
Requires State reimbursement to municipalities of cost of disabled veterans' total property tax exemption.
Provides grants to educational technology training centers to establish satellite facilities and maintain and upgrade equipment; appropriates $2.8 million.
Codifies Urban Home Ownership Recovery Program (UHORP) in NJHMFA to promote revitalization, redevelopment and stabilization of urban neighborhoods.
Requires text of model codes to be reprinted in State regulations rather than incorporated by reference.
Requires nurses and home health aides to be tested annually for tuberculosis.
Imposes mandatory life imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault against minor or victim who suffered serious bodily injury; imposes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual conta
Appropriates $200,000 to New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education for programs to promote an environmentally responsible citizenry.
Requires health insurers to cover Lyme disease treatment costs.
Establishes a gross income tax credit for enrollment at a New Jersey College or university.
Punishes certain acts involving invasion of privacy of child.
Permits certain federal Bureau of Prison officers to carry firearms at all times.
Permits absence from school resulting from suspension to be counted as unexcused absence.
Changes car and booster seat and seat belt requirements for certain children traveling in motor vehicles.
Provides additional retirement benefits for certain county and county college employees and certain municipal employees who retire between July 1, 2000 and July 1, 2001.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Amends wrongful death act to expand damages available.
Concerns treatment of and penalties for certain truant and incorrigible pupils.
"Family Home Occupation Act;" classifies certain home-occupations as accessory uses needing no use variances in residential zone; authorizes municipalities to limit or exclude certain warehousing, manufacturing or retailing activities.
Entitles representatives of WACS, WAVES, Women Marines and Vietnam Veterans of America to leave of absence with pay to attend conventions.
Establishes an "Export Mentor and Matchmaker Program;" appropriates $250,000.
Provides credit against gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain qualified mentors in "Export Mentor and Matchmaker Program."
Permits automotive collecting activities on residential property outside of ordinary public view.
Includes custom fabrication work under the prevailing wage act.
Upgrades disorderly persons offense of shoplifting under certain circumstances.
Allows vendors to retain 1% of sales tax collected as consideration for collecting and promptly remitting the same.
"The 10-20-Life Law."
Provides tax credit for certain corporate taxpayers that provide health care benefits to employees.
Permits volunteer firefighters and emergency services personnel to participate in health benefits program in municipality in which they volunteer.
Permits municipalities without full-time police forces to appoint Class I Special Law Enforcement Officers.
Creates continuing education and nurse recruitment pilot program in DMVA; appropriates $348,000.
Increases maximum death benefit of group life insurance policies paid for by fire district maintaining a volunteer fire department.
Creates PFRS deferred retirement option program (DROP).
Requires relatives seeking custody or guardianship of child under DYFS' care or custody to undergo criminal history record background checks.
Creates consumer complaint office in DCA regarding new home construction; requires publication of booklet explaining rights and warranties.
Establishes New Jersey General Accounting Office.
Increases minimum PFRS special retirement allowance from 65% to 70% of final compensation.
Prevents use of verbal threshold as a defense in damage claim for noneconomic loss if defendant was convicted of DUI in connection with claim.
Increases maximum UCJF claim for personal injury damages from $15,000/$30,000 to $50,000/$100,000.
Designates September 11 in each year as "Red, White, and Blue Ribbon Day" in honor of victims of September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
Increases amount recoverable from certain insurance guaranty funds.
Establishes the HOPE Scholarship Program Study Commission; appropriates $5,000.
Increases to $15,000 amount that counties may contribute annually to volunteer fire companies.
Provides for recoupling of the computation of the New Jersey estate tax in accord with the federal estate tax.
Exempts certain investment clubs from certain partnership fee and payment requirements.
Establishes mandatory minimum terms of imprisionment without parole eligibility for crimes of criminal sexual contact committed against children.
Establishes publicity program for senior and disabled citizens property tax freeze reimbursement program.
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.
"Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Relief Act of 2001."
Concerns fire management and fire education in the pinelands area.
Allows Governor to appoint poet laureate who will serve at pleasure of Governor.
Appropriates $11.105 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $56 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Decreases and eliminates certain fees and penalties.
Provides State extended UI benefits.
Prohibits municipalities from adopting zoning ordinances to prohibit construction or use of antenna structures by federally licensed amateur radio operators.
Appropriates $18,725,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Eliminates the industrial arts endorsement to the instructional certificate for public school teachers and replaces it with a technology education endorsement.
Prohibits certain contributions by certain entities and individuals doing business with counties or municipalities; limits amount of contribution by principals and officers of such entities.
Expands responsibilities of "New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect."
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Grants immunity from civil liability to persons who give good faith report of terroristic activity or threats.
Requires professional campaign fund raisers to register and file reports with ELEC.
Requires local public, educational, and governmental access channels and New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority to provide free airtime for legislative candidates.
Prohibits solicitation of political contributions on State property.
Requires ELEC to review its Internet site for format and content; imposes one-time assessment on legislative agents for ELEC Internet upgrade; makes an appropriation.
Prohibits campaign contributions by certain business entities performing certain State or county contracts.
Regulates telephone customer service practices.
Requires State Parole Board to keep records of communications with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches; provides that such records shall be open to public.
Criminalizes interference with parole decisions.
Expands definition of special State officer or employee to include any person serving as employee or advisor of Governor-elect; prohibits such officer or employee from serving as representative before local public body.
Senate
Sponsored
Passed the Senate1
Imposes certain ethical standards on members of the Governor-elect's transition staff. *
Out of committee1
Specifies misconduct offense and penalities for local government officials transferring employees to "no-work" jobs.
In committee13
Requires suspension of local elected officials indicted for certain offenses involving moral turpitude.
Concerns workers' compensation for firefighters with cancer.
Provides a corporation business tax credit for day care center support benefiting children of employees.
Limits amount of contributions county and municipal committees of political party can give to candidates and other political committees.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize county services.
Concerns certain contracts to privatize State services.
Provides that certain information received or possessed by legislators will be available to the public.
Establishes a procedure for the diagnosis of reading ability of kindergarten, first and second grade pupils.
Requires NJ legislators to file detailed statement of financial affairs.
Regulates gifts and other things of value given to legislators, legislative staff and Executive Branch officers and staff.
Restricts receipt of multiple health coverages by legislators.
Regulates employment of legislators' family members in legislative offices.
Restricts legislators in dual office holding.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 23
Repeals law creating State poet laureate. *
Provides for certification for emergency medical technicians to administer epinephrine.
The Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act. *
Authorizes an increase in administrative penalties for prevailing wage violations.
Designated as the Senior Property Tax Freeze Protection Act; extends annual deadline for filing application for homestead property tax reimbursement to June 1. **
Requires State payment of survivor's pension when volunteer fire fighter or emergency services worker suffers accidental death on duty.*
Concerns workers' compensation for occupational disease claims and workers' compensation benefits rates for surviving dependents.
Grants certain rights, privileges and protections to investigators in the county prosecutor's offices.
Establishes driving while fatigued as recklessness under vehicular homicide statute.
Makes various changes to casino gambling and use of proceeds thereof. *
Regulates receipt of things of value by members and staff of Legislature and officers and staff of Executive Branch; recodifies criminal provisions concerning acceptance or offer or receipt of unlawful benefit by public servant. *
Exempts certain investment clubs from certain partnership fee and payment requirements.
Revises method of computing seniority for certain law enforcement officers transferred to the State Police.
Appropriates $11.105 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Appropriates $56 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Requires the Delaware River and Bay Authority to hold hearings prior to increasing tolls, charges or fares, requires submission of yearly reports, declares authority records to be public and requires a limit on authority expenses.
Revises statutes regarding practice of physical therapy.
Appropriates $18,725,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
The "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003," authorizes bonds for $200,000,000 and appropriates $5,000. *
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.
Prohibits production of key based on motor vehicle identification number alone without certain identification. **
Requires staff members of residential child care facilities to undergo criminal history record background and child abuse record information checks.
Clarifies various provisions of law establishing the State's "no telemarketing call list."
Passed the Senate · 6
Specifies additional pre-layoff actions to avoid civil service layoffs.
Permits boards of education to establish prepaid lunch programs.
Designates the Homestead Rebate Payment Protection Act; requires the payment of homestead rebates on or before July 31 annually.
Extends certain benefits to veterans of the global war on terror. *
Establishes the Commission on After-School Programs in DHS; appropriates $25,000. *
Allows hunters, anglers, and trappers to cover over or mask Social Security Numbers displayed on hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses.
Out of committee · 5
Provides for convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of property taxation.
Allows part-time State employees and part-time faculty members at public institutions of higher education in this State to purchase SHBP coverage.
Increases criminal and civil penalties for certain animal cruelty offenses; and increases penalty for certain repeat offenders.
Revises procedures for issuance of bail bonds in this State.
"Danielle's Law"; requires certain staff working with persons with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury to call 911 emergency telephone service in life-threatening emergencies.
In committee · 14
Requires hospitals and nursing homes to compile and provide certain staffing and patient care information to the public.
Concerns private entities that own, operate or manage correctional facilities or jails.
Requires a cost analysis in certain cases when a State department contracts out work.
Provides for the convening of State constitutional convention to reform the system of property taxation for funding the public schools; appropriates $7 million.
"County Corrections Officers Act."
Requires physicians to inform patients diagnosed with breast cancer of treatment options.
Prohibits members of Legislature from holding more than one elective office.
Prohibits legislators from employing or supervising certain relatives in certain positions.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Provides for regulation of certain call center communications by Division of Consumer Affairs.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $135,000 for FY2004 to the Department of Education to restore funding to FY2003 level for the Commission on Italian American Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs.
"New Jersey Fair Market Drug Pricing Act"; establishes New Jersey Rx Card Program to reduce prescription drug prices.
Supplemental appropriation of $5,000,000 to DLPS to be allocated to the State Office of Emergency Management to fund a satellite telephone grant program.
Prohibits use of certain underwriting guidelines pertaining to dogs harbored on property insured under homeowners policies.