Bills in the 2000–2001 Session, General Assembly.
E. Scott Garrett
Sponsored
Became law3
Recognizes validity of trust funds for pets.
Allows school districts to administer certain surveys to students only after receiving written informed parental consent.
Appropriates $26.5 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation projects in northern NJ.
Vetoed1
Requires that school districts receive written informed parental consent prior to administering certain surveys to their students.
Passed the General Assembly4
Allows swimming in parks and forests without a lifeguard.
"Standards and Assessments Accountability Act."
Allows cap banking in the 2001-2002 budgets of certain school districts with increased special education costs.
Bars imposition of sanctions imposed personally on elected officials on grounds arising out of votes cast in furtherance of the duties of their office.
Out of committee12
Provides immunity to counties and municipalities for community service performed by certain juveniles; provides immunity to certain non-profit organizations for community service performed by adults and certain juveniles.
Requires insurers to notify employees if health coverage is terminated.
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 contact against minor or victim who suffered serious bodily injury. *
Appropriates $350,000 for Lake Hopatcong weed harvesters.
Provides sentence of life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of murder in certain circumstances.
Clarifies that tort option provisions of no-fault insurance law do not apply to motorcycles.*
Approves Sussex county locations for certain projects by the State and certain nonprofit entities to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes; and appropriates $1 million for additions to Stokes State Forest and High Point State Park.
Exempts certain motorcycle operators from helmet law.
Exempts certain sales by rural electric cooperatives from sales tax and corporation business tax.
Approves Sussex county locations for certain projects by the State and certain nonprofit entities to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes; and appropriates $1 million for additions to Stokes State Forest and High Point State Park.
Exempts campgrounds with swimming areas from DOH first-aid personnel and lifeguard requirements.
Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to finance the cost of new septic systems.
In committee16
Establishes the Professional, Occupational and Trades Licensing Review Commission.
Establishes a five-year tuition voucher pilot program and appropriates $5.5 million.
Amends "Family Leave Act" to apply only to employers with 50 or more employees in New Jersey.
Reduces sales and use tax rate from 6% to 5.5% on July 1, 1999 and to 5% on July 1, 2001.
Imposes mandatory term of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole on persons who commit particularly brutal sexual assaults.
Provides that DEP may only assess direct program costs in permit fees.
Permits corporation to be represented by officer or employee before planning board and county board of taxation.
"Vehicle Inspection Reform and Motorist Relief Act."
Prohibits unauthorized disclosure of personal health care information by health insurer to another financial institution with which it merges or which acquires it.
"Accountability and Safety in Employment Education Act."
Bans intentional feeding of black bear population.
Creates program and provides assistance for repair and remediation of significant and low level hazard dams.
Prohibits courts from ordering parent to administer Ritalin to child.
Allows school psychologists to treat minors in the private sector; provides for reimbursement therefor under health benefits coverage.
Permits defendants acquitted following appeal from municipal court to file for reimbursement of municipal court costs and transcript fees.
Eliminates mandatory county appropriation of amount certified by county college board of school estimate.
Filed1
Exempts certain sales by rural electric cooperatives from sales tax and corporation business tax.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 20
Appropriates $26.3 million in federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds.
Provides for presumption of death for persons exposed to catastrophic events.
Concerns certain public benefits available to persons affected by September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on US.
Makes decisions rendered by independent utilization review organizations under Independent Health Care Appeals Program binding on insurance carriers.
Permits establishment of small employer health benefits purchasing alliances. *
Imposes civil penalties on domestic violence offenders and establishes Domestic Violence Victims Fund. *
Allows candidate for school board to sign own nominating petition.
Eliminates corporation business tax on regular income of S corporations.
Removes requirement that two-thirds of a savings bank's board must reside in New Jersey.
Removes the requirement that a savings bank must use the word "savings" in its name.
Approves funding eligibility of certain farmland preservation projects in nothern NJ.
Permits religious or charitable organization to lease property to other tax-exempt entities without loss of property tax exemption.
"Leonard Cohen's Law"; concerns hospital patient transfers.
Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program beginning in tax year 2000.
Appropriates $14.9 million from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes in northern NJ.
Removes requirement that a public utility employee's Social Security number appear on employee's identification badge.
Exempts children and victims for the payment of costs related to the maintenance and support of certain institutionalized individuals. *
Appropriates $21,014,000 from "Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund" for farmland preservation purposes.
"The Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act."
Requires State to sell and convey portion of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital property to Morris County.
Vetoed · 1
Requires impact statement for any proposed regulation affecting volunteer ambulance squads and fire companies.
Passed the General Assembly · 3
Directs New Jersey Highway Authority to designate Garden State Parkway as memorial highway to ex-POWs.
Exempts land used for farming purposes from transfer inheritance tax for decedents' transfers to immediate family members under certain conditions.
Establishes the "Alan M. Augustine Colon Cancer Research Fund," appropriates $100,000.
Out of committee · 29
Authorizes criminal background checks for au pairs and nannies.
Allows vendors to retain 1% of sales tax collected as consideration for collecting and promptly remitting the same.
Permits sentencing as repeat sex offender if adult defendant had been previously adjudicated delinquent as a juvenile for a sex offense.
Appropriates $1,350,000 to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Provides for awarding of certain costs to certain defendants who prevail in DEP enforcement actions. *
Provides full PFRS credit for transferred PERS service of certain PFRS members.**
Provides for license plates identifying amateur radio operators.
Provides for the continuity of certain contracts, securities and instruments affected by introduction of the Euro.
Exempts all pension income from gross income tax.
Increases veteran's property tax deduction.
Appropriates $34,000,000 from budgeted appropriations under the State Partnership Agreement Program for grant to Warren County Pollution Control Financing Authority to pay solid waste facility debt service costs. *
Provides for life sentence without parole eligibility for persons convicted of murder under certain circumstances.
Requires that administrative rules be written in simple language. *
Appropriates $38,154,000 from "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and approves funding of certain local government open space acquisition projects.
Requires collection of data on whether firearm used in offense was illegally possessed.
Directs the Commissioner of Education to develop and implement a grade 1 Statewide diagnostic reading assessment. *
Permits regional school boards to provide voters with information on the ballot as to the constituent municipality's share of district's budget.
Accelerates by one year phase-in of veteran property tax deduction increase.
Appropriates $50 million to the DEP for dam repair assistance and dam safety enhancement.
Appropriates $135 million to the DEP for dam, lake, and stream projects.
Provides a gross income tax credit for 6% of certain charitable contributions that are deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Prohibits basing fees for certification of radon testers upon number of measurement devices used.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct their own pension plan contributions from gross income under the gross income tax.
Allows certain self-employed business owners to deduct one-half of their federal self-employment taxes from gross income under the gross income tax.
Prohibits sale of gasoline containing MTBE; directs DEP to seek waiver from EPA oxygen requirements for purpose of discontinuing use of MTBE; and establishes Transportation Energy Security Council to monitor good faith compliance effort. *
Approves Sussex County locations for certain projects by the State and certain nonprofit entities to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes; and appropriates $2 million for additions to Stokes State Forest and High Point State Park.
Provides property tax exemption for maximum of two parsonages of any congregation of any religious corporation in the State.
Exempts 1996 and subsequent model year motor vehicles equipped with on-board diagnostic systems from emissions testing; requires check of functioning of on-board diagnostic system.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
In committee · 62
Upgrades simple assault committed against domestic violence victims to aggravated assault.
Permits DMV to authorize private driver training facilities to administer any portion of the exam for a driver's license or endorsement.
Permits school boards to contract with certain organizations for education management services.
"Property Tax Reduction Work Act"; permits local units to recruit residents to perform services in return for property tax vouchers.
Exempts boat and marine product sales from certain retail sales tax exemptions.
Requires voter approval of a school district lease purchase agreement.
Limits liability for the unauthorized use of certain financial institution account access devices.
Revises New Jersey's firearms statutes to conform with federal Brady Law.
Prohibits the sale of any gasoline containing methyl tertiary butyl ether after enactment of certain federal legislation.
"The 10-20-Life Law."
Provides for mandatory life imprisonment for sexual assault upon a minor; makes "good behavior" credits at ADTC contingent on cooperation with treatment.
Permits court to order defendant to post probation bond as condition of suspension or probation in criminal cases.
Revises certain sections of the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" concerning municipal providers of utility services and rural electric cooperatives.
Creates the "New Jersey Religious Freedom Act."
Amends the eligibility for additional supplemental stabilization aid for school districts with high senior citizen concentration.
Ensures the confidentiality of the location of domestic violence shelters.
Makes certain revisions of SHBP concerning local government employees and retirees; establishes cafeteria plans for such employees under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Exempts public entities operating public recreational facilities from liability for damages resulting from personal injury.
Increases number of available beaver trapping permits, and authorizes DEP to control beaver by regulation.
Amends law regarding motor vehicle speed limits.
Disqualifies individuals who commit theft from their employers from receiving unemployment compensation.
Reduces number of peremptory challenges allowed in criminal cases.
Establishes certain guidelines for post-conviction proceedings.
Allows jury in death penalty case to consider defendant's prior criminal history.
Requires applicants for driver's licenses be able to read and understand English; directs DMV to offer examinations only in English.
Requires State compensation of property owners for certain property devalued due to certain environmental laws; and requires State agencies to evaluate proposed administrative rules for potential to constitute taking of real property.
Includes same sex marriages among marriages declared void; provides that New Jersey will not recognize marriages in other jurisdictions which are void in New Jersey.
Makes various changes to the individual and small employer health benefits programs.
Requires State responsibility for the educational costs of children in foster homes.
Provides for life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for murderers whose death sentences are not upheld.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as the State song.
Authorizes counties and municipalities to charge inmates' and detainees' incarceration costs and to place a lien to ensure payment.
Directs DEP to phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether as a component of gasoline.
Prohibits public and certain private affirmative action programs based upon race, ethnicity, sex, color or national origin.
Revises procedures for securing a permit to carry a handgun.
Clarifies definition of "a place of public accommodation" under the Law Against Discrimination.
Establishes special license plates to fund promotion of NJ's skiing industry.
Requires registered voters to present photo ID when voting at polling place.
"Ban on Trafficking in Baby Body Parts Act."
Requires State to reimburse counties for housing juvenile offenders at rate equal to their actual cost.
"Post-Viability Protection Act."
Exempts federally mandated safety-related activities at airports from freshwater wetlands permit requirement.
Permits boards of education to establish comprehensive household safety education programs; appropriates $750,000.
Increases penalties for lying about conduct of law enforcement officer.
Requires New Jersey Turnpike Authority to establish memorial program for members of the State Police who were killed in line of duty.
Revises State funding formula for public education.
Provides full PFRS credit for transferred PERS service of certain PFRS members at State cost.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $3.4 million from the General Fund to the DEP for Spruce Run Creek projects in Hunterdon county.
Establishes special license plates to fund certain programs for pregnant women.
Prohibits DEP from imposing certain requirements on residential or nonresidential developments utilizing septic systems.
Clarifies the use of external indices by the Director of the Division of Taxation in estimating certain sales tax liabilities.
Permits corporation with only one or two employees who are the only shareholders to opt out of workers' compensation.
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for contributions to certain entities providing educational scholarships to low-income children in New Jersey; provides an Educational Option Act.
Allows gross income tax credits for certain dependent educational expenses; provides a Parental Control and Involvement Act.
Permits home-schooled students to participate in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program.
Establishes nine-member Title 19 Revision Commission; appropriates $175,000.
Establishes hiring preference for children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty seeking appointment to municipal police forces.
Allows certain individuals and private small business employers to purchase SHBP coverage.
Directs DEP acquisition of Hamburg Mountain in Sussex County for conservation purposes, and makes an appropriation.
Supplemental appropriation of $30,000 to DLPS for grant to Borough of Stanhope to purchase an emergency services vehicle.
Abolishes the formation and use of legislative leadership committees.
Modifies Fair Housing Act and State Planning Act to assist in provision of affordable housing.
Filed · 2
The "New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Act;" appropriates $8.98 million.
Allows life insurers to use forms in this State if approved in 40 other states.