Bills in the 2002–2003 Session, Senate.
John O. Bennett
Sponsored
Became law8
Provides that disabled students at institutions of higher education are eligible for reasonable substitution of specific courses required for the completion of degree requirements.
Revises "Local Bond Law" provisions to simplify refunding bonds and permit electronic bid proposals.
Prohibits certain persons from advertising themselves as possessing safety professional certification.
Requires DHSS to prepare booklet on MMR vaccine and availability of blood test to determine immunity prior to administration of second dose. *
Authorizes establishment of trusts for young beneficiaries providing deferred distribution of funds. ***
Establishes the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission.
Requires DEP to implement California Low Emission Vehicle program beginning on January 1, 2009 under certain circumstances; establishes review commission; and establishes incentive for purchase or lease of zero emission vehicle. ***
Appropriates $16,038,250 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Passed the Senate10
Establishes the HOPE Scholarship Program Study Commission; appropriates $5,000.
Authorizes municipalities to provide free day care services to children of volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members.
Establishes School Asthma Protocol Task Force; appropriates $15,000.
Requires impact statement for any proposed regulation affecting volunteer ambulance squads and fire companies.
Designates September 11 in each year as "Red, White, and Blue Ribbon Day" in honor of victims of September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
Provides civil service preference to veterans of global war on terror. *
Provides for "grandfathering" of certain persons as licensed professional counselors.
Increases membership of PFRS board of trustees from 11 to 19 members.
Provides for continued health benefits coverage for certain persons covered under small employer health benefits plans in certain circumstances.
Permits monthly payment of interest on fire districts bonds.
Out of committee7
Waives $15 fee for Firefighters and First Aider special license plates for volunteers.
Establishes "Small Traditional Downtown Business District Incentive Program." *
Provides that portions of faculty residence building held by colleges, schools, academies or seminaries that are used in part for consultations with students and for similar school purposes are exempt from taxation and remaining portions of faculty housi
Requires public employers to deduct a representation fee in lieu of dues in certain circumstances.
Makes changes to the law concerning the cleanup of hazardous substances. *
Upgrades penalities for certain crimes involving children under 16 years of age.
Permits regional district with eight constituent municipalities to change apportionment method if the change is approved by a majority vote of the entire regional district.
In committee22
Provides individual cause of action for unfair practices in the settlement of insurance claims and makes unfair practices subject to consumer fraud law.
Requires adoption of emissions portfolio standard under certain conditions.
Requires DEP review of areawide plans and projects' consistency thereto within 90 days of submission.
Requires electric utilities to provide reduced rates to volunteer fire companies and volunteer first aid, rescue or emergency squads.
Increases certification period governing COAH from six to ten years under "Fair Housing Act."
Requires Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to establish guidelines for placement of defibrillators in State buildings.
Expands and clarifies law concerning crimes with bail restriction.
Increases aid-in-lieu-of transportation amount and requires certain review of pupil transportation contracts by county superintendent.
Provides New Jersey sales tax amnesty program for small business.
Increases voluntary municipal pension to survivors of volunteer firefighters or first aid squad members and extends payment to widowers of such persons.
Authorizes and directs DEP to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle program in the State beginning in calendar year 2006.
Authorizes leave for parents and guardians of children with special needs.
Amends wrongful death act to expand damages available to victims.
Reallocates certain weights and measure definitions to a different section of law.
Increases the tobacco products wholesale sales and use tax rate from 30% to 48% on smokeless tobacco products.
Restricts practice of midwifery to State-licensed registered professional nurse.
Requires DEP to delineate and designate certain reservoirs and streams as category one waters.
Establishes standards for State and State authority design-build contracts and design-build-operate and maintain contracts.
Requires State and State authorities to report to Legislature on certain contracts; requires State Auditor to review the financing of certain contracts.
Increases permissible percentage of fair share housing obligation transferrable through regional contribution agreements.
Permits up to 50 percent age-restricted affordable housing under Fair Housing Act.
Allows taxpayers to deduct adoption expenses from gross income.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 8
Repeals law creating State poet laureate. *
Directs BPU to provide for continuation of electrical service for certain residential customers during periods of excessive heat. **
Permits use of hands-free wireless phones in moving vehicles. *
Imposes restrictions on future retail sales of handguns; mandates sales of personalized handguns when found available for retail sales purposes. *
Appropriates $11.295 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in central New Jersey.
Appropriates $12.475 million from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects in southern New Jersey.
Permits municipalities to enact ordinance to hold DUI arrestees in protective custody. *
Appropriates $28,820,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
Passed the Senate · 7
Authorizes transfer of surplus from certain authority to certain municipality. *
Prohibits contributions by certain entities doing business with State; limits amount of contributions by principals and officers of such entities.
Provides civil immunity to public entities and public employees for acquisition, stockpiling, distribution and dispensing of certain drugs and vaccines to mitigate the effects of exposure to nuclear, chemical and biological agents. **
Limits contributions by certain public contractors; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees. *
Establishes the New Jersey Agroterrorism Commission.
Allows certain unions to participate in SHBP for elected officers and employees.
"Patient Safety Act"; establishes medical error reporting system and provides "Good Samaritan" protections to certain health care professionals.
Out of committee · 26
Appropriates $27,242,400 in federal funds for bioterrorism preparedness.
Permits children to obtain digital photo identification cards.
Prohibits unsolicited telemarketing sales calls to certain customers. *
"New Jersey Home Ownership Security Act of 2002." *
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Provides for mandatory terms of imprisonment for certain sexual assaults upon a minor; amends murder statute; requires lifetime parole supervision for certain sex offenders. *
Permits local governments to restrict smoking in public places. *
Prohibits firearm possession by persons convicted of domestic violence crime or domestic violence disorderly persons offense, convicted of stalking, or subject to domestic violence restraining order. *
Reduces blood alcohol level at which a person is considered to be guilty of drunk driving from 0.10% to 0.08%.
Supplemental appropriation of $1,500,000 to Division of Local Government Services in DCA to fund Newark City's plane crash costs.
Creates the "September 11th, 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act." *
Provides credit under gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties.
"Brain Injury Research Act."
Requires certification of persons installing medical gas piping in licensed health care facilities.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects.
Raises N.J. Environmental Infrastructure Trust's statutory debt ceiling to $1.6 billion.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.
Requires parents to secure certain children in restraint system or booster seat when riding in limousines. *
Creates "Statewide Tuition Waiver Program" for certain students under care and custody of DYFS.
Exempts biodiesel from motor fuels tax.
Establishes "Autism Medical Research and Treatment Fund." *
Adds two members chosen by public employees' labor organizations to State Health Benefits Commission.
Designates State office building in Asbury Park as "Thomas S. Smith, Sr. State Office Building."
Authorizes expansion of certain nonconforming uses under the "Municipal Land Use Law."
Supplemental appropriation of $7 million to Department of Treasury for the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology to administer certain programs.
Allows school boards to establish 457 deferred compensation plans for employees.
In committee · 43
Establishes the level of State school aid for the 2002-2003 school year; establishes the Save Our Schools Fund to finance increased State aid.
Establishes "Child Care Center Capital Project Grant Fund Program" in DHS; appropriates $1.5 million.
Establishes lead-safe housing grant and loan program and registry plan; appropriates $2 million.
Requires designated employees trained in the use of defibrillators to be available for high school athletic events; appropriates $1.2 million.
Requires criminal history record background checks on certain volunteer sports personnel.
Allows adopted person access to his original birth certificate and other related information; appropriates $90,000.
Prohibits unsolicited telephone sales calls to certain consumers.
Eliminates automatic liens and removes financial liability for certain family members of patients in psychiatric facilities, developmental centers or receiving other residential functional service.
Supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to DMVA for grant to Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.
Supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to DHSS to promote women's awareness about heart disease and stroke.
Excludes income of school district residents who rank in the top 5% of income as reported on State Income Tax forms from calculation of district income for school aid purposes.
Upgrades the crime of terroristic threats to a crime of the second degree.
Provides single sales fraction for corporation business tax income allocation formula, eliminates "regular place of business" requirement to allocate less than 100% of income to New Jersey; provides airline-specific sales fraction.
Prohibits unsolicited telemarketing sales calls to certain customers.
Redefines meaning of campaign contribution to be net after deduction for fund-raising event expense.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $2 million to the Department of State for a grant to the John Harms Center for the Arts for debt reduction.
Requires hospitals and nursing homes to compile and provide certain staffing and patient care information to the public.
Directs DHSS to adopt regulations establishing certain minimum nursing staff ratios for general hospitals and nursing facilities and sets limits on medical residents' hours.
"Health Care Claims Payment Responsibility 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.
Establishes twelve-member "Election Law and Procedures Study Commission;" appropriates $150,000.
Supplemental appropriation of $6 million to DHS for Social Services for the Homeless grant program and $2 million to DMVA to assist homeless veterans.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to DMVA for construction of the State World War II Veterans Memorial.
Requires voter approval when State funds are appropriated to finance construction of certain professional sports facilities.
Extends tax on litter-generating products; makes available recycling grants to counties and municipalities.
Supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to fund grant for New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum in Madison Borough.
Imposes restrictions on future retail sales of handguns; mandates sales of personalized handguns when found available for retail sales purposes.
Establishes civil commitment procedure for violent predators.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions made for efforts in relief of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The "Home Loan Protection Act."
Provides for legislative review and approval of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Permits medical malpractice liability insurance purchasing alliances among physicians.
Establishes minimum standards for thoroughbred live race schedules through 2007.
Authorizes expansion of certain nonconforming uses under Municipal Land Use Law.
Permits a student to participate in a voluntary survey if the district sends prior written notification to the student's parents.
Authorizes Fish and Game Council to allow Sunday hunting of game animals.
Establishes a joint legislative and executive branch State Revenue Forecasting Integrity Commission to provide a revenue forecast for annual State budget purposes.
Supplemental appropriation to DHSS of $1,560,000 to provide grants for rodent control programs in municipalities with Abbott school districts.
Concerns sale or rental of video games rated for mature and adults only audiences.
Increases DCA's portion of divorce filing fee from $25 to $50; requires annual report describing DCA's disposition of fee revenue.
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Prohibits Governor from appearing in certain State-funded advertisements.