Legislator
Legislator > Shavonda Sumter
State Assemblymember
Shavonda Sumter
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 35
In Office - Started: 01/10/2012
contact info
Paterson Office
21 Mill St.
Suite 5
Paterson, NJ 07501
Suite 5
Paterson, NJ 07501
Phone: 973-925-7063
General Capitol Building Address
P.O. Box 068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
Phone: 609-847-3905
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Passed |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Passed |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Crossed Over |
| A4029 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | In Committee |
| A4194 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | In Committee |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Passed |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | Passed |
| A4915 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | In Committee |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Passed |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Passed |
| A5408 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | In Committee |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Passed |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism". The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. Nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. This bill also appropriates $100,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for the creation of a public awareness campaign to promote bias crime reporting. Through extensive community outreach, the citizens of New Jersey will be empowered to identify and report bias crimes using the existing bias crime reporting hotline within the New Jersey Bias Crimes Reporting Unit. This appropriation represents an investment in safety and collective action against bias crimes, including acts considered anti-Semitic. | In Committee |
| A4976 | Establishes crime of reckless discharge of firearm. | Establishes crime of reckless discharge of firearm. | Crossed Over |
| A3882 | Requires training of cosmetologists-hairstylists, beauticians, barbers, and hair braiders to include working on textured hair. | This bill requires the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to establish requirements, as part of the curriculum provided by schools licensed in the State to teach and train students in cosmetology-hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, and hair braiding, on working with textured hair. This includes training on working with hair with various coil, curl, and wave patterns; hair strand thickness; and volumes of hair. The training on textured hair is not intended to expand the number of hours for the training in each type of profession but instead, be included as part of the current curriculum. Additionally, the examination required of an applicant for licensure in cosmetology-hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, or hair braiding is to include textured hair as part of the subject matter within which the applicant is tested. The testing is to be part of the written and practical portions of the examination. Under the bill, "textured hair" is defined as hair that is coiled, curly, or wavy. | In Committee |
| A2255 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | In Committee |
| A682 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | In Committee |
| A2414 | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | In Committee |
| A4007 | Allows small employers to claim tax credit for paying certain health benefits plan premiums. | This bill allows taxpayers with fewer than 20 employees to claim a tax credit if they pay for their employees' health benefits plan premiums for a health benefits plan that is at least as comprehensive as the essential health benefits requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act. A taxpayer will be entitled to a credit up to $250 for each employee enrolled in a single plan and $500 for each employee enrolled in a family plan. The employer may only claim the full amount of the credit if the employer pays the full premiums. The bill provides a reduced credit if the employer pays at least half of the amount of the premium. The credit will also be reduced to account for employees that are not enrolled for the full taxable year. | In Committee |
| A4083 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | In Committee |
| A5775 | Appropriates $3 million annually to Freedom Schools in New Jersey using funds collected under Social Equity Excise Fee. | This bill appropriates $3 million annually, from funds collected from the Social Equity Excise Fee that is assessed on cannabis, to the Department of State to support funding for Freedom Schools in New Jersey. The Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Fund is the repository of several revenues the State collects within the confines of the regulated cannabis retail program. One of the revenues, the Social Equity Excise Fee, is the particular revenue stream to which the Freedom Schools appropriation would be charged. The New Jersey Office of Faith Based Initiatives Freedom School Project support New Jersey Freedom Schools. Freedom Schools provide education and character-building support to K-12 students and their families by implementing an intensive academic summer program as well as continuous follow up, homework, and tutoring services throughout the academic school year. | In Committee |
| A4857 | Extends anti-SLAPP protections to complainants of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination. | This bill extends the State's anti-SLAPP law, P.L.2023, c.155 (N.J.S.A.2A:53A-49 et seq.), to protect persons who make a report or complaint of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination. A SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) is typically a lawsuit, such as a defamation lawsuit, filed in retaliation against a victim, complainant, witness, whistleblower, advocate, or journalist in order to intimidate or silence the person from speaking out. As demonstrated by the #MeToo movement, victims of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination may be reluctant to come forward due to fear of retaliation, including fear of SLAPP suits. Under existing law, a person facing a SLAPP suit can file an order to show cause with the court to dismiss the SLAPP claim if it can be shown that the SLAPP claim was asserted based on the person's (1) communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (2) communication on an issue under consideration or review in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; or (3) exercise of the right of freedom of speech or of the press, the right to assembly or petition, or the right of association, guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the New Jersey Constitution, on a matter of public concern. If the SLAPP claim is dismissed, the person can recover litigation costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. Under the bill, anti-SLAPP protections are extended to persons who make a report or complaint, in good faith and without malice, of: a sexual offense pursuant to chapter 14 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes or N.J.S.2C:24-4, or a violation of the Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.10:5-1 et seq., or an incident of retaliation for the making of such a report or complaint, where the person has, or at any time had, a reasonable basis to make such a report or complaint, whether or not a criminal prosecution or civil or administrative action was actually initiated. The bill also allows a person who successfully dismisses a SLAPP claim to be awarded compensatory and punitive damages, in addition to litigation costs and attorneys' fees. | Crossed Over |
| A4899 | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee; establishes penalty. | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee; establishes penalty. | Crossed Over |
| A4618 | Requires official inspection facility employees covered by collective bargaining agreement to be offered employment following contract renewal or award of new contract; requires collective bargaining agreement to be binding in certain cases. | Requires official inspection facility employees covered by collective bargaining agreement to be offered employment following contract renewal or award of new contract; requires collective bargaining agreement to be binding in certain cases. | Crossed Over |
| A5709 | Requires BPU to prohibit electric and gas public utilities from charging residential customers certain types of payments based on certain billing practices. | Certain electric and gas public utilities offer equal payment plans that average a customer's estimated energy usage over 12 months to provide consistent billing. Customers may face lump-sum payments if actual usage exceeds the estimate. This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to require each electric public utility and gas public utility to offer an equal payment plan for residential customers. This bill prohibits electric and gas public utilities from: (1) charging lump-sum payments under equal payment plans; (2) recovering any outstanding balance due based on the difference between a residential customer's actual yearly usage and any forecasted yearly utility usage; and (3) increasing a residential customer's monthly bill under an equal payment plan except annually, based only on that customer's utility usage data. Further, separate from equal payment plans, at certain times electric and gas public utilities may charge customers using estimated meter bills, which are based on prior usage information or predictive modeling instead of the customers' actual usage. When a customer's estimated meter bill is lower than a later-obtained meter reading, the electric and gas public utility may bill the customer for the difference in a utility billing procedure known as underbilling. This bill also prohibits electric and gas public utilities from underbilling and further prohibits electric public utilities and gas public utilities from incorporating any outstanding balance due based on the difference between a customer's estimated meter bill and a later-obtained actual meter reading into that customer's future utility bills. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill provides a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill will safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. | In Committee |
| A5710 | Resets electric and gas public utility rates to 2020 levels for five-year period. | This bill resets electric public utility and gas public utility rates to 2020 levels for a five-year period. Specifically, the bill requires an electric public utility or gas public utility that does business in the State to file with the Board of Public Utilities (board) an updated schedule of rates for approval, which schedule is to reflect utility rates equal to or less than the electric public utility's or gas public utility's rates at any point during the calendar year 2020. The bill then requires the board to approve an updated schedule of rates within 30 days of its receipt of the updated schedule. Upon the board's approval, an updated schedule of rates is to remain in effect for a period of five years. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. This bill aims to safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. The bill is designed to prevent excessive rate hikes and ensure that essential energy services remain affordable and accessible. By temporarily resetting electric public utility and gas public utility rates, the bill seeks to: (1) provide financial relief for households experiencing rising expenses; (2) prevent unwarranted profit inflation by electric public utilities and gas public utilities; and (3) establish regulatory oversight to ensure fair rate adjustments that align with consumer needs. This measure is a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| A5681 | Establishes that State police officers assigned to certain positions are not to be excluded from promotion. | This bill provides that a State law enforcement officer is not to be excluded from promotion or otherwise penalized for engaging in detachment from service or from being assigned to a confidential position. The bill defines "detachment from service" as a temporary separation of a State law enforcement officer from the officer's assigned unit for a specific purpose or duty involving assignment to a different location or unit. "Confidential position" is defined as a position that requires a State law enforcement officer to have access to sensitive information and may include involvement in positions that provide protective services to members of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches. Under the bill, detachment from service positions or confidential positions are to be included in the accrued time that a State law enforcement officer earns for promotional purposes. | In Committee |
| A1841 | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | In Committee |
| A3025 | Exempts poll workers wages from affecting unemployment compensation. | Exempts poll workers wages from affecting unemployment compensation. | Crossed Over |
| AJR205 | Permanently designates last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey. | This resolution permanently designates the last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey in order to raise public awareness about eating disorders and the work the National Eating Disorders Association does in providing services to, and advocating for early intervention and improved access to treatment for, individuals with eating disorders and encourage those suffering from eating disorders and their families to seek the support they need to overcome these life-threatening illnesses. | Crossed Over |
| A4982 | Prohibits health insurance carriers from using human body weight as factor in determining coverage for treatment of eating disorders. | This bill prohibits health insurance carriers from using human body weight as a factor in determining coverage for treatment of eating disorders. For the purpose of this bill, "carrier" means an insurance company, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, health service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| A4983 | Requires certain athletic trainers and certain coaches of interscholastic sports, cheerleading and dance programs, and collegiate sports to complete student-athlete eating disorder training program developed by Commissioner of Education. | Requires certain athletic trainers and certain coaches of interscholastic sports, cheerleading and dance programs, and collegiate sports to complete student-athlete eating disorder training program developed by Commissioner of Education. | Crossed Over |
| AJR211 | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5645 | Establishes Office of State Police Affairs in but not of Department of Treasury. | This bill establishes the Office of State Police Affairs (OSPA). The director will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and is required to be qualified by training and experience to direct the work of the office. The director will operate independently, without supervision or control by any other State department, division, or office. Under the bill, the Director of OSPA will have the power and duty to exercise supervision over the Superintendent of State Police within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The Superintendent of State Police is to report to the director on a regular basis, in a manner and frequency prescribed by the director. Under the bill, the director is to receive and investigate allegations concerning criminal complaints or complaints of misconduct against law enforcement officers employed by the Division of State Police. To this end, the director is to provide a confidential process for submitting complaints by both the public and government employees. The director is responsible for organizing the office, hiring staff, and engaging consultants as needed, using a fair, competitive process to ensure independence and effectiveness. Under the provisions of this bill, a law enforcement officer who is under investigation for allegations concerning a criminal complaint or complaint of misconduct is prohibited from using privilege or work-product protection to withhold information from the director. The bill grants the director authority to compel testimony and request documents through subpoenas, requiring that all investigations adhere to national and professional standards. Additionally, the director can request information, resources, and assistance from any State department or agency to fulfill its duties. The director is also authorized to collaborate with other State oversight entities, such as the State Auditor, the State Commission of Investigation, the State Comptroller, and the State Inspector General, and may participate in joint investigations with these agencies. Under the bill, OSPA is to review all Division of State Police internal affairs investigations and equal employment opportunity complaints to ascertain whether the Division of State Police has complied with applicable standard operating procedures, whether the outcomes of those investigations were supported by evidence, whether any discipline imposed was appropriate and proportionate, and to make recommendations to the Governor for appropriate disciplinary or remedial action. Additionally, the OSPA is to monitor, review, and evaluate the Division of State Police's procedures for handling internal affairs investigations and equal employment opportunity complaints, specifically to ensure that these complaints do not unduly or improperly impact the eligibility of a promotion for a law enforcement officer. The OSPA is to oversee the resolution of such complaints, ensuring they are resolved in a timely manner or within the prescribed timeline of the Division of State Police. Under the bill, the director will have the power and duty to oversee the appointment, employment, promotion, and removal of law enforcement officers employed by the Division of State Police. Additionally, the bill requires exit interviews to be conducted. The director is to annually prepare and submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature, a report that provides recommendations concerning the recruitment, hiring, and promotions of law enforcement officers. The report is to also include findings from the exit interviews required under the bill. The report is to be published on OSPA's website. The bill provides the director the discretion to decline certain investigations. In the course of conducting investigations, evaluations, inspections, and other reviews, the director may also refer matters for further civil and administrative action to an appropriate authority. Whenever a criminal complaint is made against a law enforcement officer employed by the Division of State Police, the director is required to notify the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. Additionally, the director is responsible for ensuring that such criminal complaints are documented as part of the law enforcement officer's personnel file. Under the bill, all criminal complaints made against law enforcement officers employed by the Division of State Police are to be managed, investigated, and prosecuted by OSPA. Any attorney appointed by the director to prosecute a criminal complaint is to serve as a State prosecutor with the same powers and authority as a county prosecutor, including the ability to bring criminal charges, represent the State in court, and exercise all other powers and responsibilities typically granted to county prosecutors under the laws of this State. Under the provisions of the bill, the director is required to maintain detailed records of complaints and outcomes and may disclose information as needed while safeguarding the confidentiality of ongoing investigations. The director is to meet at least twice annually with other State oversight bodies to coordinate efforts, share information, and prevent duplication of work. After concluding an investigation, the director is to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which is also to be published online for public access. | In Committee |
| A5633 | Ensures persons interested in filling certain vacancies in nominations for public office have access to certain information and to legal representation throughout selection process. | This bill makes changes to the process for filling vacancies in the nominations of political parties for candidates for public office. The bill allows qualified persons to submit their names for consideration to fill the vacancy, and ensures that all qualified persons who have notified the appropriate political committee or committees of their interest in being selected as a candidate for the nomination for which there is a vacancy will be permitted to seek and retain legal representation throughout the selection process. The bill also extends the timeframe for municipal clerks to certify to their respective county clerks an official list of the duly elected county committee members and an official list of the municipal committee chairs from 20 days after the meeting of each county committee that is held on the first Tuesday following the primary election at which committee members are elected. Under the bill, the municipal clerks will have 45 days following the meeting to certify the official list to the county clerk. This list is considered a government record accessible to the public, and this bill would require that the list include accurate email addresses and phone numbers for all committee members. The bill further requires that the list will be posted on the committee's Internet website and that it be provided to any person who has notified the committee of their interest in being selected as a candidate for a vacancy in a nomination for public office upon the committee's receipt of such notification. The bill also requires that a final and complete list of qualified members be provided to each person who has notified the committee of their interest in being selected as a candidate not later than seven days prior to the committee's vote to fill a vacancy. Any person being considered for selection as a candidate may object to the qualifications of any member appearing on the final list, to the extent permissible and in accordance with the applicable procedures, as established by the committee's bylaws. The bill provides that the meeting held to select a candidate to fill a vacancy in a nomination for public office will be held in accordance with rules for conducting such a meeting as established by the committee's bylaws, and requires that such rules be provided to any person who has notified the committee of their interest in being selected to fill the vacancy not later than 24 hours prior to the vote. Under current law, the rules for conducting such vote to fill a vacancy may be proposed by the chair of the meeting, at the meeting to fill the vacancy. Finally, the bill provides that the conduct of all contested votes to select a candidate for nomination will be held in accordance with ethical standards that ensure the integrity of the nomination process, as provided by the committee bylaws. | In Committee |
| A5643 | Prohibits State Police from requiring pregnant and postpartum troopers to take physical fitness exam. | This bill provides that pregnant and postpartum State troopers would not be required to take a physical fitness exam during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Under the bill, a pregnant or postpartum State trooper would not be required to complete a physical fitness exam in order to be classified as compliant with Division of State Police physical fitness standards. Additionally, the bill provides that a pregnant or postpartum State trooper would not be required to appear at a physical fitness testing site, complete any documentation related to non-participation in a physical fitness exam, or be subject to height and weight measurements or requirements. Further, a pregnant or postpartum State trooper would not be subject to discipline, excluded from promotion, or otherwise penalized for non-completion of a physical fitness exam. The bill defines "postpartum" to mean the period of time immediately following a pregnancy before a trooper has been cleared to take a physical fitness exam by the trooper's personal physician and a physician chosen by the Division of State Police. | In Committee |
| A5642 | Requires commencement of State Police recruit training class at least once every six months; establishes recruitment program. | This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish and maintain a schedule for the commencement of a State Police recruit training class at least once every six months. Under the bill, the superintendent, in consultation with the Attorney General, is required to establish recruitment goals for the succeeding fiscal year no later than 30 days after enactment of the annual State budget. The bill provides that recruitment goals are to be based on the availability of funds and the projected attrition of State Police members due to retirement, resignation, or other cause. In addition, the bill requires the superintendent, in consultation with the Attorney General, to develop and implement a recruitment program to attract a sufficient number of qualified applicants who reflect the diversity of the community the agency is charged with protecting. The bill provides that the program is to set specific goals for the recruitment of females and minorities. Under the bill, recruitment strategies are to include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) conducting outreach in low-income communities; (2) partnering with applicable local community organizations and educational institutions; and (3) using modern advertising strategies, social media, and other applicable online platforms to reach potential applicants. The bill provides that the superintendent is to evaluate the program annually and take action as necessary to increase the program's effectiveness and ensure that goals regarding the recruitment of females and minorities are being met. | In Committee |
| A5641 | Requires State Police to establish community policing unit. | This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish a community policing unit within the Division of State Police. The purpose of the unit would be to promote trust and transparency between the State Police and members of the communities in which they serve. The unit's responsibilities would include, but not be limited to: (1) developing and implementing strategies to increase community engagement by working with other State agencies, community groups, elected officials, the private sector, and local law enforcement agencies to address quality of life and crime issues identified by the residents within the area of each State Trooper road station; (2) establishing community engagement practices for the purpose of increasing gender, racial, and ethnic diversity in State Police recruitment (3) developing a community policing training curriculum to be administered biennially to each State trooper for the purpose of increasing awareness and understanding of inclusive communities within the State; and (4) developing guidelines that establish a mandatory minimum number of hours of participation in community engagement activities on an annual basis for each State Trooper. The bill requires the superintendent to issue a report annually to the Attorney General and the Legislature which includes a summary of the unit's activities. | In Committee |
| A5646 | Establishes Department of State Police. | This bill would establish the New Jersey State Police as the Department of State Police, a distinct department of the Executive Branch of State government. The Division of State Police would no longer be a division of the Department of Law and Public Safety. All functions, powers, and duties of the current division would be transferred to the department pursuant to the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.). This bill would ensure that the tenure, retirement, and other rights of employees of this division are maintained and protected. The functions, powers, and duties of the Superintendent of State Police would be transferred to the Commissioner of State Police, who would head the new department. Upon enactment of the bill, the person serving in the capacity of superintendent would assume the position of Commissioner of State Police. Under this bill, the Commissioner of State Police would report directly to the Governor. The Attorney General would no longer exercise supervisory authority over State Police operations. | In Committee |
| A5644 | Requires Superintendent of State Police to implement policy to diversify State Police Academy civilian instructors and contractors. | This bill requires the Division of State Police to develop a policy to diversify civilian instructor employment at the State Police Academy. Under the provisions of the bill, the Superintendent of State Police is required to create and implement a policy that seeks to recruit and prioritize the selection of women and minorities to serve as civilian instructors and contractors at the State Police Academy in order to diversify the instruction received by State Police recruits. The superintendent is required review the policy annually, and update it as necessary, to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill requires the superintendent to submit an annual report to the Attorney General and the Legislature which is required to include: (1) the age, gender, race, and ethnicity of each civilian instructor or contractor employed or otherwise compensated by the Division of State Police to provide recruit instruction at the State Police Academy; and (2) a summary of the annual review of the policy conducted pursuant to the bill which details any updates to the policy. | In Committee |
| A4586 | Establishes "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act." | Establishes "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act." | In Committee |
| A4486 | Establishes State contract goal for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. | This bill establishes a State contract goal for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. The bill establishes a goal that contracting agencies award at least 30 percent of their contracts to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. Socially disadvantaged businesses are defined as businesses owned by individuals who can demonstrate membership in a racial minority group or show personal disadvantage due to color, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical disability, long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society, or location in an area of high unemployment. Economically disadvantaged businesses are defined as businesses owned by individuals who can demonstrate their ability to compete for State contracts has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities compared to others in the same line of business who are not socially disadvantaged and a personal net worth below a certain level. | In Committee |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR217 | Designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in State of New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in New Jersey. Paul Leroy Robeson was born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey. As a gifted debater, scholar, linguist, athlete, actor, singer, author, and political activist, Robeson was the quintessential 20th-century renaissance man. Robeson attended Rutgers University on a four-year scholarship, becoming the third African-American student to attend the institution. As a standout student and athlete, Robeson earned his place as class valedictorian and a spot on the All-American football team. Robeson would later attend Columbia University Law School, continuing his success as a professional football player while pursuing a legal education. However, racial tensions and discrimination greatly limited his career as a lawyer, and he instead rose to fame as a widely acclaimed actor and singer in the late 1920s and 1930s. As Robeson's popularity grew, he broke barriers as one of the first African-American men to play significant roles in the predominantly white American theater. Robeson strongly believed in the responsibility of influential figures to advocate for justice and peace. This sense of responsibility led Robeson to advocate for the rights of African-Americans, workers, and colonized peoples around the world. Unfortunately, his political activism led to his blacklisting and the revocation of his passport, significantly hindering his career and obscuring his accomplishments and role in the history of civil rights. Despite these hardships and his death in 1976, Robeson remains a source of inspiration, and his remarkable life and legacy should be remembered and celebrated by the State of New Jersey. Designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in State of New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5215 | Concerns training for law enforcement officers. | This bill concerns training for law enforcement officers. Under the provisions of this bill, a private company or instructor is prohibited from offering or providing any training to law enforcement officers unless approved by the Police Training Commission on an annual basis and is required to comply with any requirements established by the commission with respect to oversight and monitoring of training that is offered or provided. The Attorney General is required to set forth the requirements and procedure for approval of a private company or instructor, including but not limited to any fees that may be charged to a private company or instructor to apply for or obtain approval to offer or provide training. In addition, the bill provides that a law enforcement officer is not to attend and an employing law enforcement unit is not to permit a law enforcement officer to attend training provided by a private company or instructor that has not been approved by the commission. This bill is in response to a report issued by the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller on December 6, 2023 entitled "The High Price of Unregulated Private Police Training to New Jersey." | In Committee |
| A4543 | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| A4222 | Requires New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to establish public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services. | Requires New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to establish public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services. | In Committee |
| A3418 | Enters New Jersey in Women's Reproductive Health Care Compact. | Enters New Jersey in Women's Reproductive Health Care Compact. | In Committee |
| AJR159 | Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | This joint resolution designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the State of New Jersey. Ruby Bridges was born on September 8, 1954 and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana by parents Lucille and Abon Bridges. In the same year, the United States Supreme Court issued the landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ending racial segregation in public schools. However, states across the South, including Louisiana, failed to integrate their public schools. This led to a federal court order for Louisiana to desegregate their public schools beginning on November 14, 1960. On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges and her mother were escorted by federal marshals to the William Frantz Elementary School where Ruby faced violent protesters. The violence of the protestors, blatant racism from parents, and forced isolation plagued Ruby Bridges' first year of attendance at William Frantz Elementary. Despite these hardships, Ruby Bridges never missed a day of school and by the end of her first year, the school decided to admit more African American children the following year. Ruby Bridges' act of bravery inspired America and led to a commemorative piece by famous artist Norman Rockwell titled "The Problem We Must All Live With." Ruby Bridges became a lifelong activist for racial equality by establishing The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999, which uses educational initiatives to promote tolerance and unity among schoolchildren. Ruby Bridges has also gained numerous accolades for her life's work, including the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and the honorary title of deputy federal marshal. By setting aside November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, we can celebrate the courage of young Ruby Bridges and the impact her actions had on African American children across America. Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4365 | Establishes Council for Community Recovery and Family Success; appropriates $4.0 million. | This bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs, which will develop strategies to promote the well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and encourage family success. The council will consist of 25 members, including the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or their designees, who will serve ex officio, and 17 public members, who will be representatives of certain entities that provide services to children and families, or have certain experience with receiving family services in New Jersey. The council will manage the development and implementation of a Statewide initiative concerning the social and economic well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and the provision of holistic, age and developmentally appropriate services that support a child's development from birth to young adulthood. In order to implement the Statewide initiative, the council will: (1) advocate for a State Bill of Rights for Infants, Children, Youth, and Families, which will provide a framework for the initiative; (2) identify and develop policies, strategies, and financial priorities that promote family success; (3) recommend policies to improve the efficacy of existing State and community-based services and programs; (4) explore strategies to leverage public and private funding to provide preventive services; and (5) establish community recovery and family success councils in each county. The goal of the Statewide initiative will be to: promote positive family relationships, community connections, and preventive services to ensure financial security, quality education, health, safety, and permanency for infants, children, youth, and families through an integrated service planning and delivery system. The bill defines "distress services" to mean services to remediate circumstances that endanger the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of infants, children, and youth; and "preventative services" as those services that promote the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of the target populations and divert the need for distress services. The council will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature that will include recommendations for legislative and administrative actions on the use of public and private resources to support family success initiatives and preventive services for all families. The bill appropriates $4.0 million from the General Fund to the council to implement the provisions of the bill, and provides that the council may use any unexpended appropriations in the succeeding fiscal year. | In Committee |
| A4696 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| A3645 | Establishes low-carbon transportation fuel standard program in DEP. | Establishes low-carbon transportation fuel standard program in DEP. | In Committee |
| A5412 | Authorizes State Treasurer to appoint Garden State Preservation Trust acting executive director under certain conditions. | This bill would authorize the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Secretary of Agriculture, to appoint an acting executive director for the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) under certain conditions. Specifically, the bill would apply when the position of executive director has remained vacant for a period of one year or longer. An acting executive director appointed pursuant to the bill would serve for a minimum of one year, at an annual expense not to exceed $150,000, as established by the State Treasurer. The GSPT would retain all other oversight authority over the acting executive director. The position of GSPT executive director has been vacant since July 1, 2021. The GSPT is in charge of supporting important Statewide initiatives designed to enhance the efficient use of taxpayer's conservation dollars and is responsible for reporting to the Governor and the Legislature on the progress being made on achieving statutory goals and objectives concerning open space preservation and park development, farmland preservation, and historic preservation. | In Committee |
| A5407 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish standards for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to establish standards for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning at public institutions of higher education. Under the bill, the standards are to include policies and procedures for the: (1) assessment of prior learning completed by a student including: Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Program assessments; validated workforce learning; industry-valued credentials; institutionally-conducted examinations; and portfolio assessments; (2) awarding of academic credit for prior learning completed by a student, including a minimum limit of prior learning credits that a public institution of higher education shall be required to accept; (3) transfer of credits awarded based on prior learning completed by a student between public institutions of higher education; (4) implementation of an appeals process for students and public institutions of higher education to resolve disputes regarding the assessment and awarding of academic credit for prior learning; (5) annual review and update of the standards; and (6) collection of data by the secretary to ensure that all participating institutions of higher education are in compliance with the provisions of the bill and to ensure the standards are fostering the academic success of students. Additionally, the bill permits a public institution of higher education to establish a maximum limit of academic credits for prior learning that may be applied towards an associate or baccalaureate degree awarded by the institution, except that the maximum limit shall be no less than any limit of prior learning academic credits established by the secretary. Pursuant to the bill, each public institution of higher education is required to establish a policy for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning that is consistent with the standards established by the secretary. This requirement may be satisfied through the establishment of: (1) a credit reciprocity agreement with Thomas Edison State University; (2) a partnership between the public institution of higher education and Thomas Edison State University wherein Thomas Edison State University is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution of higher education; or (3) a partnership between a public institution of higher education and a qualified third party wherein the third party is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution. The bill permits an independent institution of higher education to establish a policy consistent with the standards. Finally, the bill stipulates that a public institution of higher education, or any other institution or organization conducting a prior learning assessment on behalf of a public institution of higher education, may charge a nominal fee for an assessment of prior learning to cover the administrative costs incurred during the assessment and prohibits an institution from charging the per-credit tuition rate of the institution for prior learning credits awarded pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A4451 | Establishes Task Force on Aging in State of New Jersey in DOH. | Establishes Task Force on Aging in New Jersey in DOH. | In Committee |
| A2437 | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Crossed Over |
| A5121 | Appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs. | An Act appropriating $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3881 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | An Act concerning the financing of environmental infrastructure projects in Fiscal Year 2025 and amending P.L.2024, c.35. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3922 | Appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the purpose of providing grants, as awarded by the New Jersey Historic Trust, for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3879 | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | An Act concerning the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to finance a portion of the cost of certain environmental infrastructure projects, and amending P.L.2024, c.41. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3880 | Amends list of hazard mitigation and resilience projects approved for funding by NJ Infrastructure Bank under FY2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program. | An Act concerning the financing of certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects in Fiscal Year 2025 and amending P.L.2024, c.45. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5214 | Permits spouses of certain State officers or employees to hold interest in certain regulated businesses. | This bill would permit the spouse of any State officer or employee who does not have responsibilities for matters affecting or regulating medical cannabis, personal use cannabis activities, or casinos to hold interest in those, directly or indirectly. Under current law, the "New Jersey Conflict of Interest Law" does not apply to the spouse of a State officer or employee who does not have responsibilities for matters affecting the cannabis market or casinos, and who becomes the spouse subsequent to the State officer's or employee's appointment or employment as a State Office or employee. The bill removes the requirement that the individual become spouses after the State officer or employee appointment or employment and clarifies that the State officer or employee spouse does not have responsibilities for matters regulating the cannabis markets or casinos. The bill would be retroactive to the effective date of the "Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act," P.L.2021, c.16. | In Committee |
| A2507 | Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS. | This bill requires the enrollment in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law, as a condition of employment for service as an administrative law judge for each judge enrolled after the effective date of the bill. Currently, administrative law judges are enrolled in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Administrative law judges will be subject to and governed by the laws and regulations of the Workers' Compensation Judges Part which was established in 2001 and reopened in 2021. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in the DCRP will be transferred out of the program to the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in PERS will be transferred into the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. The account in the DCRP for each judge will be transferred and each judge will be given service credit for service during participation in the program of administrative law judges. The unfunded liability for the benefits provided by the transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| A5193 | Renders contracts to provide criminal assistance unlawful; creates civil right of action for victims of certain criminal conduct. | This bill renders void certain agreements, and creates a statutory right of action for certain crime victims. Under the bill, an act of concealment, alteration, or destruction of evidence that is intended to thwart law enforcement detection of an alleged offender in exchange for money or non-monetary compensation is defined as rendering criminal assistance. The agreement itself, whether written or oral, express or implied, is rendered void. Moreover, the victim of the crime is granted a private right of action against the person or private entity who entered into the agreement. Under the bill, a person or private entity "renders criminal assistance" when, with the intent to prevent, hinder, or delay the discovery or apprehension of an alleged offender who such person or private entity knows or believes has committed a crime or is being sought by law enforcement for the commission of a crime, commits any act of concealment, alteration, or destruction of any physical evidence which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of the alleged offender in exchange for money or non-monetary compensation. This bill is based on legislation pending in the New York Legislature known as "Cassie's Law." | In Committee |
| A4266 | Provides that only registered design professionals or employees with certified fire escape contractors are authorized to install, service, repair, inspect, and maintain fire escapes. | Provides that only registered design professionals or employees with certified fire escape contractors are authorized to install, service, repair, inspect, and maintain fire escapes. | In Committee |
| A3899 | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | In Committee |
| A4554 | Requires DCA to survey and report on special improvement districts and downtown business improvement zones. | Requires DCA to survey and report on special improvement districts and downtown business improvement zones. | Crossed Over |
| A5175 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| A5158 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A3853 | Extends certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth until July 1, 2026. | An Act regarding telemedicine and telehealth and amending P.L.2021, c.310. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5123 | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | In Committee |
| A5122 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | In Committee |
| A5124 | Amends list of hazard mitigation and resilience projects approved for funding by NJ Infrastructure Bank under FY2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program. | This bill would add three new projects to the list of projects authorized for funding by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) under the fiscal year 2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP): one in Brick Township, one in Rochelle Park Township, and one in Highlands Borough. The CHAMP program was established by the "Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program Revolving Loan Fund Act," P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.), in order to implement the federal "Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act" (STORM act), Pub. L. 116-284, in New Jersey. In July 2024, P.L.2024, c.45 was enacted into law, which authorized the NJIB to expend up to $7,198,045 to provide low-interest loans to six project sponsors for a portion of the total costs of six eligible Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation projects for fiscal year 2025. As amended by this bill, P.L.2024, c.45 would authorize the NJIB to expend up to $13,813,000 to provide loans to project sponsors for a total of nine eligible hazard mitigation and resilience projects for fiscal year 2025. | In Committee |
| A5120 | Appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $18,518,738 to the New Jersey Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects contained in the bill and associated administrative expenses. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund" was established by section 9 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The funding contained in this bill will be used by the New Jersey Historic Trust to provide capital preservation grants for 43 projects, totaling $15,031,000 (listed in subsection b. of section 1 of the bill), and historic site management grants, including heritage tourism initiatives, for 34 projects, totaling $1,467,738 (listed in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill). In addition, of the funding, $100,000 will be used by the New Jersey Historic Trust to purchase a historic preservation easement. Lastly, the bill appropriates $1,920,000 to the New Jersey Historic Trust for administrative expenses incurred in the implementation of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Capital preservation grants fund the restoration, preservation, repair, and rehabilitation of historic sites for new or continued use by nonprofit organizations or local governments. There are three levels of capital preservation grants: Level I grants of $5,000 to $150,000; Level II grants of $150,001 to $750,000; and Multi-Phase Level II grants range of $500,000 to $750,000. Historic site management grants help fund preservation planning projects, such as condition assessments, historic structure reports, archaeological investigations, construction documents, and heritage tourism initiatives to improve visitors' experiences at historic sites. All of the grants require a match from the recipient. All of the properties are listed or eligible to be listed in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, either individually or within designated historic districts. The projects listed in this bill have been approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The bill also provides that any transfer of any funds to another project, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in the bill would require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. The bill further provides that, to the extent there are funds remaining after the projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the New Jersey Historic Trust, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, may use those funds to provide additional funding for historic preservation projects, provided those projects were previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws or approved for funding pursuant to this bill. | In Committee |
| A4043 | Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund. | An Act concerning worker contributions for unemployment insurance and amending R.S.43:21-7. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3446 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | An Act concerning public school libraries and public libraries and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3505 | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| S2652 | Revises statutory terms pertaining to sexual exploitation or abuse of children. | An Act concerning certain criminal offenses involving sexual exploitation or abuse of children and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5020 | Makes $3 million supplemental appropriation for bonus awards for certain COVID-19 emergency essential frontline State workers of Local 195 International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. | This bill provides for a supplemental appropriation of $3,000,000 from the General Fund to provide individual employee awards to the many essential frontline State workers of Local 195 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who provided emergency frontline workplace service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic completed on March 7, 2024 noted that one of the strengths of New Jersey State Government's response was that staff across government departments and agencies went above and beyond what they were expected or paid to do. Many state employees put their lives on hold to ensure that the important work of their department or agency continued amidst the uncertainty, additional workload, and safety challenges posed by the pandemic. Many frontline agency workers also reported experiencing significant trauma due to the panic and urgency of the response and the demands associated with their jobs. Personal losses and increased workloads caused many State workers to endure prolonged exhaustion and pandemic fatigue. Workers were overwhelmed by the sudden and dramatic increase in their responsibilities, which agencies had to process while being understaffed. Across departments and agencies, state employees demonstrated resilience and flexibility. Many state agencies worked closely with their respective unions to ensure their staff were well placed to continue their work during the pandemic. Agencies that had pre-existing relationships with union leaders were able to have proactive discussions and continuous dialogue in the early stages of the pandemic, enabling rapid decision making concerning workplace attendance by staff deemed essential for the health and safety of human life. The many frontline State workers of Local 195 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers ensured the continued operation and maintenance of the many crucial State facilities, which provide essential services to their clients and patients who could not survive a termination of services during the pandemic. This appropriation will ensure that the many thousands of these State employees receive additional compensation in the form of individual bonuses for their essential work during the most dangerous of times. | In Committee |
| A5042 | Requires public entities purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency; requires Division of Purchase and Property establish training protocols for all purchasing agents; grants Central Nonprofit Agency right of first refusal. | Under current law, State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State that are authorized to purchase goods and services are required to make a good faith effort to purchase five percent of such goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency, an agency established by the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." Under the bill, such State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State will be required to purchase five percent of goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The bill clarifies reporting and oversight requirements. Under the bill, the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury must submit a report of purchasing data to the Central Nonprofit Agency for the Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside program no more than six months after the effective date of this bill, and on a quarterly basis thereafter. In addition, the Department of the Treasury will be required to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the compliance of State and local government entities and political subdivisions with the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Division of Purchase and Property, in collaboration with the Central Nonprofit Agency, must establish training protocols for all purchasing agents employed by State or local government entities or political subdivisions required to meet the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Central Nonprofit Agency will have a right of first refusal for all goods and services that may otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog so long as the Central Nonprofit Agency can deliver the goods or services that would otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog at a price that is within 15 percent of fair market value. The "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" assists persons who are blind or have a severe disability with achieving maximum personal independence through productive employment by assuring a continuous market for their goods and services, which are produced at qualified rehabilitation facilities and distributed through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The Central Nonprofit Agency is designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to facilitate the distribution of orders received from various State agencies as provided in the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." This bill furthers the goals of the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" to assist in the productive employment of individuals with special needs. | In Committee |
| AR131 | Urges federal government to raise federal poverty line for public assistance programs. | This resolution urges the federal government to raise the federal poverty line for public assistance programs. The current federal poverty line was developed in the 1960s and was based on a household's ability to afford basic foodstuffs alone; it did not account for other living expenses such as housing, transportation, child care, and health care, which have all risen exponentially in price over the past sixty years. The federal government has not changed the original calculation for the poverty line since its inception, aside from adjusting for inflation. Consequently, nearly 53 million households cannot afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and health care, but only 37.9 million are officially recorded as living in poverty, as of 2022. The poverty threshold is used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs. As a result, the individuals and households who do not earn enough money to support their basic needs but do not meet the stringent limits of the current federal poverty line are without access to public assistance. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the rampant rate of inflation have only worsened the cost-of-living crisis, increasing the financial burden on many poor Americans who cannot access social welfare. In addition, recent policies to raise the minimum wage across the country have had unintended consequences for low-wage earners who have lost access to public assistance in exchange for a marginal, and often insufficient, increase in pay, resulting in a benefits cliff. By raising the federal poverty line, the federal government can more accurately report the number of impoverished Americans and, therefore, expand access to public assistance programs for the individuals and households who need it. [CM1]This number increased from 51 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. [CM2]This number decreased from 38.1 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR111 | Recognizes loneliness as public health crisis. | This resolution recognizes loneliness as a public health crisis. The United States Surgeon General declared a loneliness epidemic on May 3, 2023 due to an increase in the number of people experiencing loneliness and the adverse health effects that those individuals are prone to experience. Loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives and to experience premature death. While the epidemic of loneliness and isolation is widespread and has profound consequences for our individual and collective health and well-being, there is an available solution to the problem: social connection. Social connection is beneficial for individual health, improving the resilience of our communities, and decreasing the feeling of loneliness. With more than one in five adults and more than one in three young adults living with a mental illness in the United States, addressing loneliness and isolation is critical in order to fully address the mental health crisis in New Jersey. It is fitting to recognize the loneliness epidemic and its effects on the health of New Jerseyans throughout the State in effort to proactively take necessary action in curtailing its adverse public health outcomes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4027 | Requires health insurance coverage of preimplantation genetic testing with in vitro fertilization under certain conditions. | Requires health insurance coverage of preimplantation genetic testing with in vitro fertilization under certain conditions. | In Committee |
| A4987 | Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." | This bill creates a uniform code for State and local government entities, as well as health care facilities, regarding the use of resources to aid federal immigration law enforcement, and designates the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." Under the bill, the definition of government entities includes any of the principal departments of the executive branch of State government and any parts or creations thereof, any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The bill's definition also includes political subdivisions of the State and combinations of political subdivisions, independent authorities, commissions, instrumentalities and agencies created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions. Under the bill, government entities and healthcare facilities are prohibited from collecting certain personal and identifying information unless it is strictly necessary for program or service administration. Any record resulting from that collection, whether written or oral, would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act" unless an election agency requires it to ascertain the eligibility of a candidate when citizenship is required for an elected office. Any record also shall not be disclosed except as required to administer benefits or services pursuant to State or federal law, or valid court order or warrant, issued by a federal Article III judge or magistrate or the State equivalent. The bill provides that the prohibition on sharing information may be waived if the subject of the record or information provides written consent in that person's preferred language. The written consent shall include the following: (1) the exact record or information to be shared; (2) the purpose for sharing the record or information; (3) a statement clarifying that consent is voluntary and declining to consent shall not result in discrimination or retaliation by the government entity; (4) a statement clarifying that consent may be revoked, but that revocation does not impact a record or information already shared via prior written consent provided pursuant to this section; and (5) the person or agency to receive the record or information. The bill requires government entities to review their confidentiality policies, guidance and recommendations to identify any changes necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and make any changes as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one year after the bill becomes effective. The bill also requires these entities to share their policies prominently on their Internet websites. This bill also requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Public Defender, to prepare a written notice explaining in plain language the provisions of section 6 of the bill. Section 6 of the bill details the prohibition of certain actions by law enforcement. The bill requires the notice and all translations to be posted to the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety and to be considered vital documents pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.). The Attorney General is also required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities in the development of standardized training and guidance for law enforcement to comply with the bill's provisions. The AG also shall provide mandatory training to all State, county and local law enforcement agencies within one year of the bill's effective date. Any newly sworn officer is required to complete this training within a year of the officer's appointment. The Department of Human Services is required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities to develop and lead a multilingual campaign to promote public awareness of the bill's requirements for law enforcement agencies. As part of the awareness campaign, DHS is required to publish the text of section 6 of the bill's provisions and a plain language summary and explanation of those requirements on its Internet website within 180 days of the bill's enactment. Under the bill, the Attorney General is also required to consult with other government entities and stakeholders in the development of model policies for sensitive locations. These locations include health care facilities, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and any other locations deemed appropriate by the Attorney General to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with government entities. The model policies prohibit the request or collection of certain information regarding a person's immigration status, place of birth or taxpayer identification except to determine eligibility for services or program benefits. The model policies prohibit assistance or participation of immigration enforcement, and prohibit the permission of immigration enforcement on entity premises that are not open without restriction to the general public. The Attorney General is required to publish the model policies on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires government entities with authority to regulate sensitive places to adopt the model policies within 180 days of issuance by the Attorney General's office and encourages facilities not regulated by government entities to adopt the policies. The bill prohibits certain actions by law enforcement. Specifically, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officials shall not: (1) stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law; (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number; (3) make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants; (4) use agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin; or (5) make agency or department databases available to anyone or any entity for the purpose of immigration enforcement or investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin. The bill nullifies any agreement, policy or practice in place that is in conflict with this clause. Law enforcement agencies in the State are also prohibited from: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; (2) providing to federal immigration authorities any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular person; (3) providing access to any State, county, or municipal law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property; (4) providing access to a detained individual for an interview; (5) facilitating or complying with immigration detainers, notification requests, and transfer requests from federal immigration authorities; (6) continuing to detain a person past the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant; (7) entering into, modifying, renewing, or extending any agreement to exercise federal immigration authority or conduct immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g), or otherwise exercising federal civil immigration authority or conducting immigration enforcement outside of the purview of 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g); or (8) providing or sharing funds, property, equipment, personnel, or access to facilities or real property not open to the general public for purposes of engaging in, assisting, supporting, or facilitating immigration enforcement. The bill provides that violations of the prohibitions on police conduct in the bill would be enforceable under the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143. If an agency or law enforcement official intends to comply with an immigration detainer, notification request, civil immigration warrant, or transfer request concerning a person in custody, a written explanation specifying the legal basis for that action is required to be given to the person is custody. Lastly, the bill requires each State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to submit to the Attorney General a report that includes: (1) the number of detainer requests, transfer requests, and notification requests made by immigration authorities, and the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency. For any request that was granted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting that request; (2) the number of interviews requested and the number of interviews conducted, either in person or telephonically, by immigration authorities of people in State, county, or municipal law enforcement custody. For each interview conducted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting the interview; (3) any other requests made by immigration authorities for the agency's participation in immigration enforcement, the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and the legal basis for granting the request; and (4) to the extent the law enforcement agency has knowledge, any information about State, county, and municipal databases to which immigration authorities have had access to at any time in the course of the year, including: the name of the database; an overview of information available on the database; the purpose for which immigration authorities have access to this database; the process through which immigration authorities requested access and agencies reviewed this request, if applicable; any legal basis for providing immigration authorities access to the database; and the frequency with which immigration authorities accessed the database over the course of the year. Law enforcement agencies have 180 days after the effective date of the bill to produce the first report and must then annually submit a report within 30 days of the end of the State's fiscal year. The Attorney General is initially required to publish the report on the office's website within 90 days of receipt, and then within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year thereafter. The Attorney General is also required to annually submit to the Governor and Legislature a report on each law enforcement agency's compliance with the provisions of this act. | In Committee |
| A4811 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, P.L.2024, c.22. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4008 | Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and registration of motor vehicle; requires motor vehicle manufacturers to pay annual fee to MVC in certain circumstances. | Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and registration of motor vehicle; requires motor vehicle manufacturers to pay annual fee to MVC in certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| A4021 | Requires Medicaid coverage for community violence prevention services; Requires DOH to approve training and certification program for violence prevention professionals. | This bill requires Medicaid coverage for community violence prevention services to an individual who has: 1) received medical treatment for an injury sustained as a result of an act of community violence, and 2) been referred by a certified or licensed health care provider or social services provider to receive community violence prevention services from a certified violence prevention professional, after such provider determines such beneficiary to be at elevated risk of a violent injury or retaliation resulting from another act of community violence. This bill also requires that Department of Health, within six months of the effective date of the bill, to approve at least one accredited training and certification program for certified violence prevention professionals. A program approved by the department is to include: 1) At least 35 hours of initial training, collectively addressing all of the following: the effects of trauma and violence and the basics of trauma-informed care; community violence prevention strategies, including, but not limited to, conflict mediation and retaliation prevention related to community violence; case management and advocacy practices; and patient privacy and the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," P.L.104-191; and 2) At least six hours of continuing education every two years. Any entity that employs or contracts with a certified violence prevention professional to provide community violence prevention services will be required to: 1) maintain documentation that the certified violence prevention professional has completed a training and certification program approved by the department; and 2) ensure that the certified violence prevention professional is providing community violence prevention services in compliance with any applicable standards of care, rules, regulations, and governing law of the State or federal government. No person, unless certified as a violence prevention professional pursuant to the bill, may use the title "certified violence prevention professional" or make use of any title, words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the person is a certified violence prevention professional. Furthermore, nothing in the bill is to be construed to alter the scope of practice for any health care professional. Under the bill, "community violence prevention services" means evidence-based, trauma-informed, supportive and non-psychotherapeutic services provided by a certified violence prevention professional, within or outside of a clinical setting, for the purpose of promoting improved health outcomes and positive behavioral change, preventing injury recidivism, and reducing the likelihood that individuals who are victims of community violence will commit or promote violence themselves. "Community violence prevention services" may include the provision of peer support and counseling, mentorship, conflict mediation, crisis intervention, targeted case management, referrals to certified or licensed health care professionals or social services providers, patient education, or screening services to victims of community violence. Additionally, "community violence" is defined to mean any intentional act of physical force against one or more other persons by an individual or small group of individuals committed in one or more public areas, where no actor is a family member or intimate partner of any victim. | In Committee |
| A4900 | Requires Department of Treasury and DHS to annually identify State funds available for NJ FamilyCare, evaluate program, and create prioritized list of initiatives to improve quality of care under program. | This bill directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury and the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to annually prepare and submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature that: 1) identifies all unencumbered or unallocated State funds that are available to be appropriated in the current fiscal year to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services for the purposes of NJ FamilyCare; and 2) evaluates the quality of care for beneficiaries across NJ FamilyCare and compiles a prioritized list of the 12 most urgent policy changes and legislative actions, along with the associated State funds necessary to implement those initiatives, that are required to address any quality of care deficiency identified in the evaluation. The NJ FamilyCare provides health insurance to certain low-income residents of the State via the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program. | In Committee |
| A4901 | Establishes Commission on Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education. | This bill establishes the Commission on the Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Under the bill, the commission would examine and report on the structure of public higher education and recommend ways to improve financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of the public institutions of higher education in the State. The commission would consist of 12 members. The members would include: the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee, serving ex officio; the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, or a designee, serving ex officio; two members appointed by the Governor, including the president of a State college or university, or a designee, and the president of a public research university, or a designee; the following four members appointed by legislative leadership including: the president of a county college, or a designee, appointed by the Senate President; the president of a county college, or a designee, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; a member representing a public-sector higher education labor union, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a full time faculty member employed by a public institution of higher education, appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; one member with expertise, knowledge, or experience in the fiscal management of institutions of higher education, appointed by the Governor; one student representative from a public research university; one student representative from the State colleges or universities; and one student representative from the county colleges. The student representatives would be appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Higher Education through an application process. The purpose of this commission is to bring together management of public institutions of higher education, students, faculty, staff, and union leadership to make recommendations on higher education, with a special emphasis on financial transparency, accountability, and oversight. The commission is responsible for examining issues related to the financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of public institutions of higher education. The commission would meet a minimum of three times. This bill requires the commission to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the commission's recommendations to improve the structure of higher education in the State. The commission would issue the report to the Governor and the Legislature within 180 days after the commission organizes. The commission, and its enabling legislation, would expire 30 days after the issuance of its report to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| A2607 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | An Act concerning paratransit services. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2029 | Directs DOE and DOH to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education concerning student vaping awareness campaigns. | This bill directs the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Health (DOH), to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education that will help facilitate the implementation of on-campus anti-vaping awareness campaigns that target student populations. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist school districts, colleges, and universities in equipping adolescents and young adults with research backed material on the dangers of vaping in effort to combat the increased use of e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults. The DOE and DOH are to review and update the guidelines annually. The guidelines, at a minimum, are to include recommendations for: (1) implementing an in-school and on-campus multi-tiered anti-vaping campaign that focuses on theories that promote age-appropriate positive behavior change among adolescents and young adults; (2) disseminating research backed materials on the dangers of vaping, as it relates to: its effects on the users' lungs, effects on mental health, how it compares to cigarette smoking, dangers to pregnant women, and its impact on people in the workplace and small children; (3) using decision-making models and decision-making aids to help students make healthy decisions and overcome peer pressure that encourages vaping; and (4) incorporating marketing materials, such as pamphlets, to promote on-campus age-appropriate anti-vaping information to middle school students, high school students, and college age adults. Under this bill, the DOE and DOH are to post the guidelines on the respective website of each department. | Crossed Over |
| A2835 | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | Crossed Over |
| A3366 | Establishes Women's Menstrual Health Program to identify and assist patients with symptoms related to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. | Establishes Women's Menstrual Health Program to identify and assist patients with symptoms related to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. | Crossed Over |
| A1925 | Modifies languages that examinations are to be conducted in for applicants seeking professional license issued by New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. | Modifies languages that examinations are to be conducted in for applicants seeking professional license issued by New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. | Crossed Over |
| A4134 | Requires homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations to be translated into multiple languages. | Requires homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations to be translated into multiple languages. | Crossed Over |
| A3539 | Revises statutory terms pertaining to sexual exploitation or abuse of children. | This bill updates terminology in statutory law pertaining to the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. Current state law prohibits the creation, manufacture, distribution, sale or viewing of child pornography. Among child protection advocates, however, terms such as "child sexual abuse material" and "child sexual exploitation material" have come into wider use, replacing the general description of "child pornography" because these terms more accurately reflect the suffering of the children who are victims of these crimes. When used in the context of depictions of children, the term "pornography" may be understood to legitimize or trivialize the sexual abuse or exploitation of those children. In addition, the term "pornography" carries with it the implication that the acts are performed with the consent of the child, and represent legitimate sexual material. This bill replaces the term child pornography with the term "trade in child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in Title 2A. In Title 2C, the definition of "item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child" is amended to include "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" and the acronym "CSAEM." The bill replaces the term child pornography with "network to share child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in various sections of Title 2C concerning the definition, degrees of crime, examination referrals, registration of sex offenders, and special sentencing for parole supervision for life for a leader of a network distributing depictions of child sexual abuse or exploitation. The bill further clarifies that online distribution or possession of sexual abuse or exploitation material is to be included in the schedule of penalties pertaining to offenses involving computer criminal activity in Title 2C. In Title 9, the term pornography is replaced with "any crime involving child sexual abuse or exploitation material" concerning disqualification of employment pursuant to N.J.S.9:3-40.5. In Title 18A, the word pornography is replaced with the term "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" with regard to the practice of "sexting," or sending sexually explicit messages pursuant to N.J.S.18A:35-4.32. This bill replaces the term pornography in various parts of Title 30 with "any crime involving child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in the statutes concerning revocation of a day care center's registration, criteria for permanent disqualification from employment, disqualification from adopting a child or being a resource family parent, and disqualification of employment at, or ownership or sponsorship of, a child day care center. In Title 52, the term pornography is replaced with "online distribution or possession of child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in the statutes concerning the Department of Law and Public Safety's efforts to receive and respond to inquiries or complaints from members of the public reporting computer crimes pursuant to N.J.S.52:17B-193. This bill also updates the terminology used in current law to replace outdated references to certain crimes that involve the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. According to the sponsor, the changes made in this bill are not intended, nor should they be construed, to have any substantive impact on the applicability of the affected provisions; the changes are intended to render the terminology consistent with the rest of the current statutory scheme and the broader international trend. The bill also corrects technical inconsistencies in the statutes. | In Committee |
| A3577 | Provides CBT credit for development of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste. | This bill would incentivize the development and construction of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste within the State by providing a tax credit against the corporation business tax to compensate a taxpayer for the costs incurred during the development and construction of the anaerobic digestion facility. The tax credit would be available for a period of six years. The bill defines "anaerobic digestion facility" as a facility that operates and hosts an anaerobic digester. The bill defines "anaerobic digester" as a device that promotes the decomposition of organic material into simple organics and gaseous biogas products, in the absence of elemental oxygen, by means of controlling temperature and volume, and that includes a methane recovery system. The bill also defines "food waste" to mean food processing vegetative waste, food processing residue generated from processing and packaging operations, overripe produce, trimmings from food, food product over-runs from food processing, soiled and unrecyclable paper generated from food processing, and used cooking fats, oil, and grease. "Food waste" does not include food donated by the generator for human consumption, any waste generated by a consumer after the generator issues or sells food to the consumer, or any waste regulated by 7 C.F.R. ss.330.400 through 330.403 and 9 C.F.R. s.94.5. The amount of the tax credit provided by the bill may not exceed the lesser of: (1) 50 percent of the costs incurred to develop and construct the anaerobic digestion facility, or (2) $250,000. The bill would also limit the cumulative total of tax credits awarded pursuant to the bill to $15 million. To qualify for the tax credit allowed pursuant to this section, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection (commissioner) for a certification that provides: (1) that the anaerobic digestion facility developed by the taxpayer is eligible for the tax credit; and (2) the amount of the tax credit. The application to the commissioner would be required to demonstrate that the anaerobic digestion facility was developed and constructed prior to applying for the tax credit. The application would also be required to include a receipt demonstrating the total cost of the development and construction of the anaerobic digestion facility, a certification that the anaerobic digestion facility will be used to process food waste, and any other information determined relevant by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill would require the DEP, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation, to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the bill's provisions Finally, the bill would require, no later than six years after the bill's effective date, the DEP to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature, a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the development and construction of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste in the State. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, between 30 and 40 percent of food in the United States is wasted. In 2017, nearly 41 million tons of food waste was generated and only 6.3 percent of that food waste was diverted from landfills and incinerators for composting. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that unwanted and discarded food squanders resources, including water, land, energy, labor, and capital, and that when food waste is dumped into a landfill, it rots and creates methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Food waste also contributes to approximately 8 percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. A valuable way to divert waste food waste from landfills is anaerobic digestion. Food waste can be converted through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, which can be used to generate heat and electricity, or can be injected into the natural gas pipeline. According to the DEP, electricity produced from the combustion of biogas from food waste qualifies for Class I Renewable Energy Certificates from the Board of Public Utilities. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are three types of anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste, such as stand-alone food waste digesters, on-farm digesters that co-digest food waste, and digesters at water resource recovery facilities that co-digest food waste. A 2017-2018 report by the EPA concerning anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste in the United States, reported that there are only four anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste in New Jersey. The EPA also reports that there are many anaerobic digestion facilities in the country that currently do not accept or process food waste. Overall, this bill would incentivize the development of anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste in the State in an effort to reduce food waste, limit the amount of food waste being dumped into landfills and incinerators, and further protect the environment from the adverse effects of climate change. | In Committee |
| A4648 | Provides for State agencies to issue advanced payments to certified business enterprises awarded State contracts. | The purpose of this bill is to assist certified business enterprises that wish to bid on public contracts or work as subcontractors, but lack the capital to initiate the work required for such contracts. This bill allows a State agency responsible for awarding any public contract for construction, goods and services, or professional services to issue an advanced payment of up to 10 percent of the total value of the contract, if the business being awarded the contract is a certified business enterprise in this State. The bill also requires that the contractor share this advanced payment with its subcontractors, if a subcontractor is also a certified business enterprise. The subcontractor will receive an amount equal to the proportion of the value of the contract for which they are responsible, and the contractor is required to provide this amount to the subcontractor within 60 days of the contractor receiving an advanced payment. Under the terms of the bill, any contractor or subcontractor that does not begin or complete the work for which the advanced payments were issued and received will be liable for repayment of such amounts. The Division of Revenue Business Certification Program in the Department of the Treasury issues certifications to enterprises that are small businesses, LGBTQ+ businesses, minority and women-owned businesses, veteran and disabled veteran-owned businesses, and businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. | In Committee |
| A4548 | Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for employers of certain persons with disabilities. | This bill provides corporation business and gross income tax credits to taxpayers that employ certain persons with disabilities. The credit would be for up to 15 percent of the wages paid by the taxpayer during a taxable year to a qualifying employee with a disability, not to exceed $2,000 per qualified employee. To claim the credit, a taxpayer would be required to submit an application to the Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for certification that the employee has a disability for purposes of qualifying for the credit. A copy of the certification would be included with the taxpayer's tax return. The contents of the certification would only state the fact the employee has a qualifying disability and not disclose any private or confidential health information. The bill requires the director to establish an application process and prescribe the form and manner through which a taxpayer may submit an application to obtain a certification from the director that an employee is a qualified employee with a disability for purposes of the tax credit. The bill provides that applications would be deemed approved and written authorizations are deemed issued if the director fails to make a determination regarding within 90 calendar days of the date a complete application is received or if the director fails to issue a written authorization within five calendar days of the date a determination is made. The bill defines a "qualified employee with a disability" as a person with a disability recognized under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," Pub.L.101-336 (42 U.S.C. s. 12102). A qualified employee is also required to be employed by the taxpayer for at least 35 hours a week and paid wages at a rate of no less than $15 per hour. A taxpayer would be unable to claim the credit for the wages paid to a person with a disability who works for the taxpayer as an independent contractor or on a consulting basis. | In Committee |
| A4487 | Requires State Contract Managers to monitor work conducted by subcontractors on State contracts. | Requires State Contract Managers to monitor work conducted by subcontractors on State contracts. | In Committee |
| A4827 | Requires DOH and DEP to develop best practices, and certain health care providers to develop plan, concerning medical waste management. | This bill requires the Departments of Health and Environmental Protection to identify and develop best practices for hospital and medical offices concerning medical waste management that promote public health and environmental stewardship. The bill requires each hospital and medical office to develop a written plan on medical waste management based on the best practices developed pursuant to the bill. The plan will include, but not be limited to: guidelines for the rational use of personal protective equipment; methods to implement effective waste sorting; and instructions for accurately identifying and sorting waste at the point of generation. Each hospital and medical office will be required to ensure that the hospital's and medical office's employees receive training on the implementation of the plan developed pursuant to the bill to the extent that such training is necessary to comply with the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A4150 | Permits certified nurse aides to be employed as personal care assistants. | Permits certified nurse aides to be employed as personal care assistants. | Crossed Over |
| A3800 | Bans certain children's products containing excessive amounts of lead, mercury, or cadmium. | Bans certain children's products containing excessive amounts of lead, mercury, or cadmium. | Crossed Over |
| A3508 | Requires child abuse reporting hotline maintained by DCPP to provide information on resources available to victims and families. | This bill requires that the child abuse reporting hotline maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) provide information on resources available to the victims of child abuse or neglect and their families. DCPP regularly contracts with community-based agencies throughout the State to provide a variety of services to children and families, including counseling, parenting skills classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home services, foster care, and residential placement. It is critical for families to be made aware of these services so that they are empowered to break the cycle of abuse and protect the most vulnerable residents of New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| A3060 | Permits designation of special event zones for traffic regulation purposes during certain large events. | This bill permits the designation of "special event zones" for the purpose of regulating traffic during certain "special events," which the bill defines as any automotive or motor vehicle events occurring on or near a roadway, which events either have been approved by the county or municipality in which the event is located, or are expected to have 25 or more persons in attendance. When a special event occurs, or is expected to occur, on any roadway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation (DOT), the bill permits the Commissioner of Transportation to designate all or part of the roadway, including any parking structures or other property located within the designated area, as a special event zone. Similarly, when a special event occurs, or is expected to occur, on a roadway under the jurisdiction of a county or municipality, the county or municipality may also designate the area as a special event zone. In either case, the special event zone would remain in effect for the duration of the special event, and including a reasonable period of time before and after the special event. While the special event zone remains in effect, the DOT, municipality, or county, as applicable, would be required to maintain appropriate signage on or along the special event zone. Under the bill, certain traffic regulations would be altered within the special event zone while the zone remains in effect, including: (1) an allowance for the DOT, county, or municipality, as applicable, to reduce the established speed limitations, as such reductions are deemed necessary to ensure public safety; and (2) the prohibition of "exhibition driving," which the bill defines to include certain forms of disruptive or erratic driving; and (3) the imposition of increased penalties for certain traffic offenses. Specifically, the bill provides that a person would be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 after committing the following traffic offenses within a special event zone: (1) operating a motor vehicle in excess of the posted speed limitation; (2) careless driving; and (3) operating a motor vehicle for a wager, in a race, or for the purposes of making a speed record. Additionally, a person who engages in exhibition driving or reckless driving within a special event zone would be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to 60 days, or both. Under current law, the Commissioner of Transportation is required to approve certain types of local traffic regulations before those regulations may take effect. Under the bill, the designation of a special event zone by a county or municipal would take effect without requiring the approval of the commissioner. | Crossed Over |
| S2607 | Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes. | An Act concerning requirements for certain private bus operators and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3097 | Modifies requirements for certain projects under Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program. | An Act concerning the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program and amending P.L.2009, c.90 and P.L.2022, c.75. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4533 | Revises certain sections of law concerning financing mechanisms for school facilities projects of regular operating districts. | An Act concerning the financing of school facilities projects and amending P.L.2023, c.311. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4718 | "New Jersey Motorcycle Awareness and Safety Act"; requires DOT to develop public awareness campaign for motorcycle day. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety to develop and annually update a motorcycle safety public awareness campaign for the purpose of promoting motorcycle safety, encouraging vigilant driving, and reducing the number of motorcycle-related accidents on New Jersey roads. The public awareness campaign is required to include, at a minimum: (1) educational materials on the importance of motorcycle safety; (2) information on the risks associated with distracted driving; and (3) variable message signs to promote best practices for sharing the road safely with motorcyclists. | In Committee |
| AR150 | Recognizes historical importance and cultural significance of Hinchliffe Stadium and annual football game between Montclair State University and William Paterson University at Hinchliffe Stadium. | This Assembly resolution recognizes the historical importance and cultural significance of Hinchliffe Stadium to the State of New Jersey. This resolution also recognizes the significance of an annual football game between Montclair State University and William Paterson University at Hinchliffe Stadium as a sporting event that honors the history and legacy of the stadium. Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey is one of only two surviving Negro League stadiums in the nation and holds immense historical significance as a landmark of sports culture. The stadium, built in 1932, was renovated and reopened in 2023 as a 10,000 seat stadium, and features the Charles J. Muth Museum, a treasure trove of baseball's past. The preservation of historic sites like Hinchliffe Stadium is vital for educating future generations about the contributions of African American athletes to American sports and society. Montclair State University and William Paterson University have a longstanding football rivalry. The annual game between the two institutions is a celebrated event that brings together students, alumni, and the community. Plans to hold the annual rivalry game at Hinchliffe Stadium will not only honor the legacy of the stadium, but also promote its historical and cultural significance. | In Committee |
| S2875 | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | An Act concerning minimum loss ratios for certain health benefits plans and amending P.L.1992, c.161 and P.L.1992, c.162. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2837 | Authorizes school districts to submit separate proposals for additional spending for subsequent budget year at special school election. | An Act concerning separate proposals for additional school district spending and amending P.L.1996, c.138 and P.L.2007, c.62. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4619 | Modifies certain provisions of Historic Property Reinvestment and Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive programs. | An Act concerning the "Historic Property Reinvestment Act" and "Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act" and amending P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2869 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | This bill provides that if the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development finds that an employer has, for the purpose of concealing any violation of State wage, benefit and tax laws, disclosed or threatened to disclose to a public body an employee's immigration status, the commissioner is, in addition to imposing any other remedies or penalties authorized by law, authorized to assess and collect an administrative penalty against the employer. Specifically, the bill provides for administrative penalties as follows: (1) for the first violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000; (2) for the second violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $5,000; and (3) for any subsequent violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000. When determining the amount of the administrative penalty imposed pursuant to the bill's provisions, the commissioner may consider factors which include the history of previous violations by the employer, the seriousness of the violation, the good faith of the employer and the size of the employer's business. The commissioner may not levy an administrative penalty pursuant to the bill's provisions unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator with notification of the violation and of the amount of administrative penalty, and unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator an opportunity to request a hearing before the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3861 | "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act." | An Act concerning the report and collection of medical debt and supplementing P.L.1997, c.172 (C.56:11-28 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4572 | Appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to help local government units acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4478 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for transportation infrastructure projects for FY2025; makes appropriation. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance the cost to construct transportation infrastructure projects, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4458 | Establishes exemptions and revises implementation timeline for requirement that newly constructed townhouses be installed with automatic fire sprinkler system. | An Act concerning the installation of certain fire sprinkler systems for newly constructed townhouses and amending P.L.2023, c.265. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2792 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | An Act appropriating $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to the State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2793 | Appropriates $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | An Act appropriating $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to the State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3698 | Appropriates $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would appropriate $1.723 million to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation purposes. Specifically, the bill would appropriate funds for grants to one qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization for projects for five farms. The grants provided by the bill are for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes, or up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions approved by the SADC. Of the total appropriated, $896,678.23 is from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues, pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act. In addition, of the total appropriated, $826,321.77 is from the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund," established pursuant to section 18 of the "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," P.L.2009, c.117. All the funds in the bill are made available due to the reallocation of previously appropriated monies. The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| A1669 | Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility. | An Act concerning teacher certification, supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing P.L.2023, c.180. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1446 | Modifies down payment assistance program for benefit of first-generation and first-time homebuyers; makes an appropriation. | An Act concerning housing assistance for certain homebuyers and amending P.L.2023, c.78. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2824 | Modifies down payment assistance program for benefit of first-generation and first-time homebuyers. | Modifies down payment assistance program for benefit of first-generation and first-time homebuyers. | In Committee |
| A4226 | Modifies requirements for certain projects under Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program. | Modifies requirements for certain projects under Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program. | In Committee |
| AR138 | Designates June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey. | This Assembly resolution designates June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey, in recognition of the achievements, contributions, struggles, and humanity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary, and pansexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals. Public officials and citizens of New Jersey are respectfully urged to commemorate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2024 with appropriate activities. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4084 | Authorizes school districts to submit separate proposals for additional spending for subsequent budget year at special school election. | This bill authorizes school districts without a board of school estimate to submit to the voters of the district at a special school election a separate proposal or proposals for permission to raise additional funds for the subsequent school budget year beyond the district's authorized tax levy for that year. Under current law, a school district may submit to the voters at the annual school election, a separate question or proposal for permission to raise additional funds for the budget year beyond the district's authorized tax levy. This bill would allow districts to submit proposals to voters at a special school election to raise such additional funds for the subsequent school budget year. Special school elections may occur in January, March, September, and December. A separate proposal or proposals may only be submitted on a date of a special election once during a school year. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to prohibit the submission to the voters of a question for the approval of capital projects on the same special election date as the submission of a separate proposal for additional funds. | In Committee |
| AR141 | Urges generative artificial intelligence and content sharing platforms to make voluntary commitments to prevent and remove harmful content. | This resolution urges generative artificial intelligence platforms to make voluntary commitments to remove harmful content from their websites. "Deepfake" and "cheapfake" media involve artificially produced content which often manipulate public understandings of evidence and truth. This resolution defines deceptive audio or visual media as "any video recording, motion picture film, sound recording, electronic image, photograph, or any technological representation of speech or conduct substantially derivative thereof that appears to authentically depict any speech or conduct of a person who did not in fact engage in the speech or conduct and the production of which was substantially dependent upon technical means, rather than the ability of another person to physically or verbally impersonate the person." Cheapfakes are any software-generated audiovisual alteration. Examples of such content include face-swapping imagery, voice synthesis, and altered videos. These audiovisual manipulations have become easier to produce, with open-source animation technology allowing even inexperienced creators to forge media. With available software, authors may create convincingly realistic depictions of individuals saying or doing things they never actually did. Generative artificial-intelligence platforms may anticipate and prevent the creation of harmful content. The proliferation of social media and other digital communication platforms increase viewership of tailored deepfakes and cheapfakes, furthering the spread defamatory information. Social media and other content sharing forums may take steps to remove harmful media. Deepfakes and cheapfakes have led to impersonation, fraud, blackmail, harassment, and political misinformation. Such depictions of individuals in compromising or harmful situations can lead to significant reputational damage. Artificial intelligence and its products also offer immense promise if used responsibly. Audiovisually altered media may advance frontiers of learning, technology, and social engagement. Responsible commercialization of artificial intelligence systems requires security testing, threat protection, and monitoring of potential harms. Reports catalogue the impact of high-fidelity synthetic media on public information and understanding. Policymakers recommend collecting a library of deepfake imagery to train detection models, building tracking systems, and utilizing content provenance for AI- and human-generated content. Deliberate oversight would increase the credibility and opportunity of artificial intelligence generation. The federal government and twelve other states have drafted accountability and transparency standards for artificial intelligence companies and in some circumstances have arranged such voluntary commitments for secure artificial intelligence use. In following suit with these national legal trends, New Jersey could establish itself as a pioneer of responsible media technology. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3972 | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | In Committee |
| A3872 | Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes. | This bill establishes several requirements for a private entity that operates motorbus regulator route service. Specifically, these private entities would be required to: (1) provide at least four months written notice to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) and the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; (2) provide at least three months written notice to the service's customers prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; and (3) hold at least one public meeting in the affected area, as close as possible to the highest trafficked stop on the route, within 15 days after providing notice to the service's customers. Prior to holding the public meeting, the private entity is required to provide written notice of the public meeting to the commission, NJ Transit, as well as the State legislators representing any legislative district, the mayor and governing body of any municipality, and the board of county commissioners of any county that will be affected by the substantial curtailment of such service. A private entity found to be in violation of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, which penalty is to be in addition to any other penalties that may be available pursuant to law. The bill requires the commission to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill and to take any action necessary to ensure that private entities are in compliance with the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A3697 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would appropriate $500,000 to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for a municipal planning incentive grant, pursuant to a program established by P.L.1999, c.180 (C.4:1C-43.1), for farmland preservation purposes. Of the $500,000 provided in section 1 of the bill, $200,000 is to be provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues received pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of New Jersey in November 2014, and $300,000 is to be provided from the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund," made available due to the reallocation of monies previously appropriated to the SADC. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 18 of the "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," P.L.2009, c.117. Under the bill, Washington Township, in Warren County, will receive a "base grant" of $500,000, as specified in the bill. In addition, this municipality would also be eligible to compete for an additional grant from the SADC's competitive grant fund, to be financed with monies previously appropriated to the SADC pursuant to P.L.2019, c.450 and P.L.2020, c.139. The maximum amount of such competitive grant funding award would be $1 million, including up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2019, c.450 and up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2020, c.139. The allocations and projects listed in the bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| A4081 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | In Committee |
| A4656 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| A2369 | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | In Committee |
| A4561 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| A4555 | Requires DOLWD to provide assistance and education to small businesses in special improvement districts; establishes outreach campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to identify small businesses that are located in special improvement districts throughout the State for the purpose of notifying each small business of the business's location within a special improvement district and of certain benefits that are available to businesses within a special improvement district. Further, the bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Department of Environmental Protection, the Business Action Center in the Department of State, to create and implement an outreach program to inform small businesses which are located in special improvement districts about key issues that small businesses might face including, but not limited to: (1) small business grants and loans; (2) State wage, benefit and tax laws; and (3) climate change resiliency. The program will develop and distribute written materials to small businesses which are located in special improvement districts, and will engage in regular outreach to these businesses to notify and educate small businesses on the key issues that small businesses may face. | In Committee |
| ACR137 | Amends State Constitution to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude. | This constitutional amendment prohibits slavery or involuntary servitude in the State of New Jersey, including as punishment for a crime. Involuntary servitude is the coerced service of one individual for the benefit of another. Currently, the State Constitution does not include any language concerning slavery or involuntary servitude. The 1776 and 1844 versions of the Constitution also did not include any mention of slavery or involuntary servitude. This amendment adds language to Article I expressly prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. The amendment also directly prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Prisoners in New Jersey are required to engage in labor, for a minimal pay, while they are incarcerated. The State should not have the power to compel individuals to labor against their will. This amendment ensures that no prisoner in this State would be involuntarily forced into labor, even if the labor performed by the prisoner would be compensated. However, this amendment would not take away voluntary opportunities to work for individuals who have been convicted of a crime. The State recognizes that work can assist in an individual's rehabilitation, improve practical and interpersonal skills that may be useful upon their reintegration with society, and contribute to healthier and safer penal environments. | In Committee |
| A4497 | "Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Act." | This bill, the "Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Act," requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Program to purchase menstrual hygiene products and provide such products at no cost to Haitian migrants who have arrived in the State at least two years prior to the effective date of the bill. Under the bill's provisions, the DOH is to contract with community-based, faith-based, and non-profit organizations specifically serving Haitian migrants to distribute sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and other menstrual hygiene products deemed necessary by individuals who menstruate. The DOH is also directed to conduct outreach activities to ensure that eligible Haitian migrants are made aware of the program and the organizations contracted to distribute menstrual hygiene products. The program is to be funded by and subject to annual appropriations allocated to the DOH from the General Fund for the purchase and distribution of menstrual hygiene products, and the DOH may apply for and accept any grant of money from the State or federal government or other sources, which may be available for programs related to period inequity and menstrual health services. The bill requires the DOH to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of, and any recommendations for legislative or administrative action necessary to improve, the program. Period inequity and period poverty significantly impacts the health, dignity, and overall well-being of individuals, especially among marginalized and newly arrived migrant populations. Haitian migrants, as part of these vulnerable groups, often face substantial challenges in accessing basic menstrual hygiene products due to economic, cultural, and logistical barriers. Recent data from the American Community Survey indicates that approximately 46,000 Haitian migrants reside in New Jersey, making up six percent of the State's immigrant population. Addressing the availability of menstrual hygiene products for Haitian migrants is essential for ensuring this population's health and promoting the dignity of a community that has made and continues to make important contributions to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of this State. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the State to support the health and dignity of, and mitigate the economic, cultural, and logistical barriers challenges faced by, Haitian migrants through the creation of a program that ensures the provision of necessary menstrual hygiene products to help this population thrive in the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A4485 | Increases bid advertising threshold on certain purchases, contracts, or agreements. | This bill increases, from $25,000 to $150,000, the bid advertising threshold on certain State contracts. This bill would allow smaller construction and repair projects under $150,000 to be informally bid by the using agency without full advertising thereby reducing the time and cost required to complete these smaller projects. Under current law, any purchase, contract, or agreement may be made, negotiated, or awarded by the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property or the Director of the Division of Property Management and Construction without advertising if the aggregate amount involved including labor and construction materials does not exceed $25,000 or the amount adjusted by the Governor, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury as permitted by current law. This threshold applies to certain contracts or agreements for the erection, construction, alteration or repair of any public building or facility. The most recent adjustment to the amount was made in 2021 and is currently $71,000. This bill increases the bid advertising threshold in the case of purchases of labor and construction materials to $150,000. | In Committee |
| A2883 | Allows gross income tax deduction for union dues paid to labor organizations. | This bill allows a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for union dues paid to labor organizations. The bill defines "union dues" as the total amount of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges or expenses required of members of or public employees represented by a labor organization. The bill also defines "labor organization" as any organization of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work. To claim the deduction allowed under the bill, a taxpayer would be required to provide, in a form and manner prescribed by the Director of the Division of Taxation, verification of the union dues paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year. | In Committee |
| A4464 | Removes mandatory minimum sentences for certain non-violent drug crimes. | This bill would eliminate mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses. The bill incorporates the non-violent drug crimes that the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission (CSDC) recommended, in an annual report, to have the mandatory minimum terms eliminated. These include the following crimes: (1) N.J.S.A.2C:35-3 (Leader of Narcotics Trafficking Network); (2) N.J.S.A.2C:35-4 (Maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility); (3) N.J.S.A.2C:35-5 (Manufacturing, distributing or dispensing); (4) N.J.S.A.2C:35-6 (Employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme); (5) N.J.S.A.2C:35-7 (Distribution on or within 1,000 feet of school property); (6) N.J.S.A.2C:35-8 (Distribution to persons under age 18; enhanced punishment); and (7) N.J.S.A.2C:43-6 (Sentence of imprisonment for crime; ordinary terms; mandatory terms). | In Committee |
| A1679 | Requires health insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP to cover mammograms for women over 35 and women under 35 under certain circumstances. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and the State Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for mammograms for women age 35 or older, rather than age 40 and older as is required under current law. In addition, the bill also adds a new requirement for health benefits plans issued pursuant to the School Employees' Health Benefits Program to provide mammogram coverage under the same circumstances. | In Committee |
| A3854 | Regulates use of automated employment decision tools in employment decisions to minimize discrimination in employment. | Regulates use of automated employment decision tools in employment decisions to minimize discrimination in employment. | In Committee |
| AR139 | Expresses sincere appreciation to staff of New Jersey General Assembly. | This resolution expresses sincere appreciation to the staff of the New Jersey General Assembly. Each legislative session, the General Assembly of New Jersey elects officers and administrative personnel to serve the vital functions of the General Assembly. These staff members play a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of the legislative process in this State, and their experience and diverse backgrounds contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the General Assembly's operations. Despite any challenges faced during each legislative session, the General Assembly staff uphold exemplary standards of professionalism and expertise within the constitutionally mandated timeframes. It is essential to recognize the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their unwavering dedication and service to the State of New Jersey. Therefore, the General Assembly wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation to the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their outstanding dedication, cooperation, and excellent work. | In Committee |
| A4387 | Allows students to use portion of opportunity grant awards under Educational Opportunity Fund program during summer session. | This bill provides that a student may elect to use a portion of an opportunity grant funded through the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), during the summer session following the academic year for courses that fulfill graduation requirements or award credits in the student's academic major. The student would be responsible for notifying the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of the intent to use a portion of the award during the summer. The Secretary of Higher Education would adjust the amount of the student's award that will be disbursed during the academic year, and notify the student that using a portion of the grant during the summer session will reduce the amount of the award that will be disbursed during the academic year. The secretary would also be required to annually report the number of students who did and did not use a portion of a grant award to enroll in courses during the summer, and the number and percent of these students who graduated within 100 percent and 150 percent of average completion time. This bill implements a recommendation of the College Affordability Study Commission which released its final report in September 2016. | In Committee |
| A4030 | Regulates use of automated tools in hiring decisions to minimize discrimination in employment. | This bill regulates the use of automated employment decision tools during the hiring process to minimize employment discrimination that may result from the use of the tools. Under the bill, "automated employment decision tool" means any system the function of which is governed by statistical theory, or systems the parameters of which are defined by systems, including inferential methodologies, linear regression, neural networks, decision trees, random forests, and other learning algorithms, which automatically filters candidates or prospective candidates for hire or for any term, condition or privilege of employment in a way that establishes a preferred candidate or candidates. The bill prohibits the sale of automated employment decision tools in the State unless: (1) The tool is the subject of a bias audit conducted in the past year prior to selling the tool or offering the tool for sale; (2) The sale of the tool includes, at no additional cost, an annual bias audit service that provides the results of the audit to the purchaser; and (3) The tool is sold or offered for sale with a notice stating that the tool is subject to the provisions of the bill. In addition, the bill provides that any person who uses an automated employment decision tool to screen a candidate for an employment decision is required to notify each candidate of the following within 30 days of the use of the tool: (1) That an automated employment decision tool, which is subject to an audit for bias, was used in connection with the candidate's application for employment; and (2) The tool assessed the job qualifications or characteristics of the candidate. The bill provides for civil penalties to be collected for violations of its provisions. The bill is intended to affirm certain rights of candidates for employment under the circumstances specified in the bill, and will not be construed to reduce, limit, or curtail any rights of any candidate provided by law, or to limit the authority of the State or its agencies to investigate and enforce rights relating to bias and discrimination in employment, or to promulgate rules and regulations relating to bias and discrimination in employment. | In Committee |
| A1896 | Adopts Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. | Adopts Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. | In Committee |
| A618 | Concerns requirements for local purchasing agents. | This bill would allow a contracting unit under the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), to designate its municipal finance officer, county finance officer, or county purchasing official to serve as a purchasing agent only if the person is a certified municipal finance officer, a certified county finance officer, or a certified county purchasing official, and the person will perform the actual day to day work of a purchasing agent. The bill also provides that the work experience required for certification as a qualified purchasing agent must be performed under the direct supervision of a purchasing agent, or, in the case of a certified municipal finance officer, certified county finance officer, or certified county purchasing official, two years of full-time governmental experience performing duties relative to those of public procurement. Additionally, the bill would specify the content and length of the courses an individual must complete to earn a qualified purchasing agent certificate. Under the Local Public Contracts Law, a contracting unit that designates a holder of a qualified purchasing agent certificate as its purchasing agent may award contracts without public advertising at a higher threshold amount than a contracting unit that designates as its purchasing agent a person who does not hold a qualified purchasing agent certificate. | In Committee |
| A4221 | Requires DHS to conduct review of reimbursement rates paid by State's child care assistance program to certain child care providers. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a review of the reimbursement rates paid by the State's child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program to ensure that the reimbursement rates adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours. If, based on the review, the DHS determines that the reimbursement rates are not adequate to compensate child providers offering services during non-traditional hours, the DHS is to seek out and apply for all sources of federal funding necessary to allow the State's child care assistance program to compensate such providers, including, but limited to, applying for such State plan amendments or waivers as may necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The bill also stipulates the DHS to: 1) prepare a written report of the review conducted pursuant to the bill; 2) post a copy of the report on its Internet website, and 3) upon request, provide a copy of the report to child care providers participating in the State's child care assistance program. The bill is to expire upon issuance of the written report of review conducted pursuant to its provisions. Currently, reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program compensate such providers for approximately seven hours of operation. However child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours, to accommodate working parents, face additional expenses because they do not receive reimbursement to operate extended hours. It is the sponsor's intent to allow the State to pursue additional funding if the review required under this bill reveals that the reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program do not adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours. | In Committee |
| AR130 | Urges Governor and Legislature to establish initiatives towards education of social workers. | This resolution urges the Governor and the Legislature to establish initiatives towards the education of students seeking degrees in social work. Social workers play a crucial role in improving the well-being of the people of New Jersey and helping the State become a better place to live. As essential workers, social workers played a crucial role in helping communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educational debt for social work graduates has continued to rise over the past 10 years. According to the Council on Social Work Education, 71.3 percent of baccalaureate graduates and 76 percent of master's graduates were in substantial educational loan debt. In 2021, the average loan debt was approximately $26,500 for a baccalaureate graduate, $48,000 for a master's graduate, and $135,000 for a doctorate graduate. The student loan debt burden carried by social workers is further compounded by the low salaries and compensation afforded to this segment of the workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a social worker's median salary is only $50,390. Failure to address the student loan crisis faced by social workers will continue to economically harm those in practice and dissuade prospective social workers from entering the field. This resolution urges the Governor and the Legislature to work together to establish initiatives, such as creating scholarships and loan redemption programs, that invest in the education of students seeking to obtain baccalaureate and graduate degrees in social work in order to incentivize the career and ensure that the State has a qualified and educated workforce. | In Committee |
| AR134 | Urges United States Congress to renew funding for Affordable Connectivity Program. | This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to renew funding for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Millions of Americans are without access to broadband Internet services. As a result, these individuals struggle to improve social outcomes through education, achieve upward economic mobility, gain digital literacy skills, and receive quality healthcare. In 2021, to close the digital divide, the FCC launched the ACP, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. In addition, the program offers a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers, under specific circumstances, for eligible households. Currently, over 20 million households receive broadband benefits through the ACP. In New Jersey, as of January 2024, 335,079 households are enrolled in the program. Specifically, New Jersey has received nearly $152 million in ACP funding, resulting in $8.3 million per month in collective cost savings on broadband Internet services for all New Jersey households enrolled in the program. However, the ACP is slated to expire in April 2024 when the program is scheduled to exhaust its $14.2 billion budget. To improve broadband access for millions of Americans, and thereby advance social, economic, and health outcomes for the underserved, Congress is respectfully urged to renew funding for the ACP. | In Committee |
| A4264 | Establishes student-athlete mental health specialists in school districts and public institutions of higher education; creates student-athlete mental health registry; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the appointment of student-athlete mental health specialists at public school districts and public institutions of higher education. Under the bill, a school district that is a voluntary member of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is required to appoint a student-athlete mental health specialist. A school district may appoint a school guidance counselor, school psychologist, or another individual similarly trained that is already employed by the district if the individual is a State-licensed or State-certified mental health professional. A school district also has an option under the bill to hire a State-licensed or State-certified mental health professional to fill this position. A person appointed to the student-athlete mental health specialist position is required to obtain certification in Mental Health First Aid and complete the "Student-Athlete Mental Health Specialist Certification" every two years. The bill requires the Department of Education to develop the certification program. Similarly, a public institution of higher education is required to appoint two student-athlete mental health specialists with individuals that are State-certified or State-licensed mental health professionals. A student-athlete mental health specialist at a public institution of higher education is also required to obtain certification in Mental Health First Aid and complete the "Student-Athlete Mental Health Specialist Certification" from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education every two years. The secretary is required to develop the certification program. Under the bill, the student-athlete mental health specialist is required to screen each student-athlete, provide mental health support to student-athletes, and monitor the impact of sports-related injuries on student-athletes' mental health. At public institutions of higher education, the two student-athlete mental health specialists are also required to be easily accessible to student-athletes during the academic year and have on-campus offices. A student-athlete in high school or attending a public institution of higher education has the option to waive the screening requirement by submitting a written statement to the student-athlete mental health specialist. However, if the student-athlete refuses the screening but does not submit a written statement, the student-athlete will be prohibited from participating in the organized sport. Additionally, a student-athlete mental health specialist, at both the high school and college levels, is responsible for the creation of a student-athlete mental health policy that: 1) recognizes the symptoms of mental health disorders that may affect student-athletes; 2) establishes mental health screening tools; 3) provides guidance on techniques for reducing stressors; 4) establishes protocols for non-emergent mental health referrals and emergent mental health situations; 5) creates a plan for transition care for students-athletes that leave the program; and 6) lists additional mental health resources and organizations that a student-athlete can consult for additional services. Under the bill, the department is required to establish a central registry of the aggregated screening data collected by a student-athlete mental health specialist for student-athletes in each school district. The secretary is required to create and maintain a similar registry from the aggregate data collected for student-athletes at public institutions of higher education. The purpose of these registries are to determine the stressors, rates, patterns, and trends of mental health disorders in student-athletes in order to develop evidence-based detection, prevention, and intervention protocols. The bill stipulates that, in establishing both registries, the department and secretary are required to ensure that any student identifying information remains confidential. Under the bill, student-athlete mental health specialists are not subject to liability for exercising their judgment or discretion in connection with the performance of their duties or for any good faith act or omission related to the requirements set forth in the bill. Finally, the bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the department for the costs of implementing the provisions affecting high school student-athletes and to the secretary for the costs associated with implementing the provisions affecting college-aged student-athletes. The student-athlete mental health specialist position is created at the high school and college levels to improve student-athlete mental wellness. It is the intent of this bill to address mental health issues that affect high school and college student-athletes. Studies have indicated that student-athletes are less likely than their non-athlete peers to seek counseling and other professional help services. This bill seeks to remove the stigma of seeking mental health services by requiring the student-athlete mental health specialist to routinely meet with student-athletes, provide mental health support to student-athletes, and monitor the impact of sports-related injuries on student-athletes' mental health. | In Committee |
| AJR168 | Designates March of each year as "Fibromuscular Dysplasia Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of March of each year as "Fibromuscular Dysplasia Awareness Month" in order to promote an awareness and understanding of the disease. Fibromuscular dysplasia, commonly referred to as FMD, is a disease that causes abnormal cellular development in the arterial wall, which can lead to the narrowing or tearing of arteries. FMD is considered a rare disease that currently has no cure or standard protocol to treat it. The joint resolution also respectfully requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| A920 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| A904 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey." | This bill establishes the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey" and is modeled after the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York." Under the bill, all statutes, rules, and regulations, in this State including all local laws or ordinances related to the elective franchise must be construed liberally in favor of: (1) protecting the right of voters to have their ballot cast and counted; (2) ensuring that eligible voters are not impaired in registering to vote; and (3) ensuring voters of race, color, and language-minority groups have equitable access to fully participate in the electoral process in registering to vote and voting. The bill prohibits the authority to prescribe or maintain voting or elections policies and practices to be so exercised as to unnecessarily deny or abridge the right to vote. The bill also prohibits a county board of elections or political subdivision from using a method of election that has the effect of impairing the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections, as a result of vote dilution. The bill requires any policy and practice that burdens the right to vote must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling policy justification that must be supported by substantial evidence. The bill provides factors for determining if a violation of the bill has occurred, including if a voter's right to vote has been violated or if the voter has experienced vote dilution. Under the bill, if a violation of the provision of the bill occurs, the bill provides a remedy process, including for apportionment and redistricting maps. The bill provides that after a New Jersey Voting Rights Act notification letter is mailed from a prospective plaintiff to a political subdivision the political submission may pass a New Jersey Voting Rights Act resolution reaffirming: (1) the political subdivision's intention to enact and implement a remedy for a potential violation of the bill; (2) specific steps the political subdivision will undertake to facilitate approval and implementation of such a remedy; and (3) a schedule for enacting and implementing such a remedy. The bill provides that if the governing body of a political subdivision lacks the authority under this act or applicable State law or local laws to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, or fails to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, within 90 days after the passage of the resolution, or if the political subdivision is a covered entity as defined by the bill, the governing body of the political subdivision must coordinate with the Division on Civil Rights in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to resolve the violation, including reaffirming that any proposal is unlikely to violate the United States Constitution, New Jersey Constitution, or any federal or State law, would not diminish the ability of protected class members to participate in the political process and to elect their preferred candidates to office; and is feasible to implement. Under the bill, the Attorney General and the Division on Civil Rights are provided with certain preclearance powers. The bill provides that if certain political subdivisions that have been the subject to court order or government enforcement action based on violations of the bill; the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; the 15th amendment to the United States Constitution, or a voting-related violation of the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution, may be subject to preclearance, which is the process of obtaining prior approval from the Division on Civil Rights or a court of this State for any changes related to election procedures in that political subdivision. The bill provides assistance to language-minority groups. Under the bill, a county board of elections or a political subdivision that administers elections must provide language-related assistance in voting and elections to a language-minority group in a political subdivision if, based on data from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey, or data of comparable quality collected by a public office, that: (1) more than two percent, but in no instance fewer than 300 individuals, of the citizens of voting age of a political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient; or (2) more than 4,000 of the citizens of voting age of such political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient. The bill further provides that a county board of elections or political subdivision required to provide language assistance to a particular language-minority group pursuant to this section must provide voting materials in the covered language of an equal quality of the corresponding English language materials, including registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots. Under the bill, any aggrieved persons or organization whose membership includes aggrieved persons or members of a protected class, organization whose mission, in whole or in part, is to ensure voting access and such mission would be hindered by a violation of this bill, or the Attorney General may file an action pursuant to the bill in court. The bill provides that any action or investigation to enforce any provision of this bill, the Attorney General would have the authority to take proof and determine relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil and criminal laws of this State. The bill also contains a severability provision. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, or other portion of the bill is for any reason held or declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or preempted by federal law, or the applicability of that portion to any person or facility is held invalid, the remainder of the bill would not thereby be deemed to be unconstitutional, preempted, or invalid. The purpose of this bill is to: (1) encourage participation in the elective franchise by all eligible voters to the maximum extent; (2) ensure that eligible voters who are members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups have an equal opportunity to participate in the political processes of this State and exercise the elective franchise; (3) improve the quality and availability of demographic and election data; and (4) protect eligible voters against intimidation and deceptive practices. This bill would take effect on the first day of the 18th month next following the date of enactment, except that the Attorney General may take any anticipatory action in advance thereof. | Dead |
| A4024 | Requires that election infrastructure vendors disclose financial ties for approval as vendor by Secretary of State; requires report of known or suspected security incidents involving election systems to Division of Elections. | This bill requires election infrastructure vendors to disclose any financial ties for approval by the Secretary of State. Currently, voting system vendors must meet a number of requirements prior to approval and certification of voting systems in the State. However, the vendors are not required to disclose financial and investment ties. In addition, vendors of other election services are not required to disclose financial and investment ties. The bill defines election infrastructure to mean storage facilities, polling places, and centralized vote tabulation locations used to support the administration of elections for public office, as well as related information and communications technology, including electronic voting systems, voter registration databases, voting machines, electronic mail and other communications systems, and other systems used to manage the election process and to report and display election results on behalf of a county board of elections or the New Jersey Division of Elections in the Department of State. This bill also defines election infrastructure vendor to mean and include any individual, firm, joint venture, partnership, corporation, or company proposing to assist or assisting the State or a political subdivision of the State by providing, maintaining, and supporting election infrastructure. This bill would require all election infrastructure vendors to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies, or in the vendor's parent company. This bill would also require approved election infrastructure vendors to obtain additional approval with the Secretary of State any time ownership stake in the vendor changes above the five percent or greater interest or share threshold. An election infrastructure vendor will not suspend business in the State while seeking this additional approval. Failure to disclose ownership stake changes that are five percent or greater would result in a civil penalty for the vendor. For the first offense, the vendor would be subject to a fine not less than $10,000. For the second and subsequent offense, the vendor would be subject to a fine not less than $20,000. This bill is a response to the recent elections security issues. Several states have taken steps to address potential security risks. In Maryland, the state moved to require voting system vendors to disclose its investment ties following the revelation that a former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, owned the firm that financed the buyout of Maryland's voting system vendor. In June of 2019, North Carolina's State Board of Elections voted unanimously for each voting system vendor seeking certification in the state to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies or in the vendor's parent company. This bill draws on the actions of these states and expands the vendors to include all election infrastructure vendors to ensure the security of the elections of the State of New Jersey. This bill also requires election infrastructure vendors to report any known or suspected security incidents involving election systems to the Division of Elections in the Department of State no later than 10 days after the vendor first knows or suspects that the incident occurred. | In Committee |
| A4022 | Requires DOH to develop Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan. | This bill requires the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) in the Department of Health (DOH) to develop a Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan that provides for a comprehensive, coordinated, emergency medical services (EMS) system in New Jersey. The plan is to include both short-term and long-term goals and objectives, and may incorporate the use of regional emergency medical services plans tailored to the specific needs of regions within the State as may be designated by the OEMS. If used, regional plans are to be jointly developed by each county board of health within the designated region, and will be developed in consultation with local boards of health, as needed. Regional plans will be subject to approval by the OEMS; upon receiving such approval, the regional plan will be deemed to be part of the Statewide plan. The OEMS will be required to review and update the Statewide plan triennially, and to make such changes to the plan as may be necessary to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the State's EMS system of care. The DOH will be required to make the Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan available on its Internet website. In developing and updating the Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan, the OEMS will be required, at a minimum, to: (1) conduct an inventory of EMS resources available within the State; (2) conduct an assessment of the current effectiveness of the EMS system of care in the State; (3) determine the need for changes to the current EMS system of care, including any changes as may be needed to improve access to EMS in a given region of the State or for a given population within the State; (4) develop performance metrics with regard to the delivery of EMS, establish a schedule for achieving the performance metrics, develop a method for monitoring and evaluating whether the performance metrics are being achieved, and prepare a cost estimate for achieving the performance metrics; (5) work with professional medical organizations, hospitals, and other public and private agencies to develop approaches whereby individuals who presently use the existing emergency department for routine, nonurgent, primary medical care will be served more appropriately and economically; and (6) consult with and review, with appropriate EMS agencies and organizations, the development of applications to governmental or other appropriate sources for grants or other funding to support EMS programs. The bill additionally requires the Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan to: (1) establish a comprehensive Statewide EMS system, incorporating facilities, transportation, manpower, communications, and other components as integral parts of a unified system that will serve to improve the delivery of EMS and thereby decrease morbidity, hospitalization, disability, and mortality; (2) seek to reduce the time period between the identification of an acutely ill or injured patient and the provision of definitive treatment for the illness or injury; (3) increase access to high quality EMS for all citizens of New Jersey; (4) promote continuing improvement in system components, including: ground, water, and air transportation; communications; hospital emergency departments and other emergency medical care facilities; health care provider training and health care service delivery; and consumer health information and education; (5) ensure performance improvement of the EMS system and of the emergency services and care delivered on scene, in transit, in hospital emergency departments, and within the hospital environment; (6) conduct, promote, and encourage programs of education and training designed to upgrade the knowledge and skills of EMS personnel, including expanding the availability of paramedic and advanced life support training throughout the State, with particular emphasis on regions underserved by EMS personnel having such skills and training; (7) maintain a process for designating appropriate hospitals as trauma centers, certified stroke centers, and specialty care centers based on an applicable national evaluation system; (8) maintain a comprehensive EMS patient care data collection and performance improvement system, which is to incorporate certain EMS data currently reported to the DOH; (9) collect data and information and prepare reports for the sole purpose of designating and verifying trauma centers and other specialty care centers, which data, information, and reports will not be considered a government record for the purposes of open public records access laws; (10) establish and maintain a process for crisis intervention and peer support services for EMS personnel and public safety personnel, including Statewide availability and accreditation of critical incident stress management or peer support teams and personnel. The accreditation standards are to include a requirement that a peer support team be headed by a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, or professional counselor who: (a) is licensed pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes; and (b) has at least five years of experience as a mental health consultant working directly with EMS personnel or public safety personnel; (11) coordinate with the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program to maintain, and update as needed, the Statewide program of EMS for children developed under current law; (12) establish and support a Statewide system of health and medical emergency response teams, including EMS disaster task forces, coordination teams, disaster medical assistance teams, and other support teams that will assist local EMS providers at their request during mass casualty events, disasters, or whenever local resources are overwhelmed; (13) establish and maintain a program to improve dispatching of EMS personnel and vehicles, including establishing and supporting EMS dispatch training, accrediting 911 dispatch centers, and establishing and maintaining public safety answering points; and (14) identify and establish best practices for managing and operating EMS providers, improving and managing EMS response times, and disseminating such information to the appropriate persons and entities. In developing the Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan, the OEMS will be required to coordinate with the Emergency Medical Services for Children program and the State trauma medical director, both of which will be required to revise any plans, programs, protocols, or other requirements related to EMS as may be necessary to bring those plans, programs, protocols, or other requirements into conformity with the Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan. | In Committee |
| A4026 | "New Jersey Infrastructure Capital Asset Reassignment Enterprise Fund Act"; creates trust fund for conveyance of certain assets for benefit of State-administered retirement systems; appropriates $20 million. | This bill, known as the "New Jersey Infrastructure Capital Asset Reassignment Enterprise Fund Act", establishes a trust fund for the conveyance of certain assets for the benefit of the State-administered retirement systems. The fund, known as the Infrastructure Capital Asset Reassignment Enterprise (ICARE) Fund, is established as an instrumentality of the State to exercise public and essential governmental functions. The purpose of the fund is to lessen the burdens of government by providing a fund through which a public entity may contribute, transfer or sell its revenue-producing assets, to a segregated or commingled account and share the risks and benefits of the performance of those assets, to maximize the performance and long-term value of those assets and to benefit the public entity. The fund will be administered by an Administrator retained, appointed, or procured by the Infrastructure Capital Asset Reassignment Enterprise Fund. The assets of the fund will be maintained as a separate account segregated from all other funds of the State, the administrator and the non-State public employers participating in State-administered retirement systems. The fund will be legally independent and separate, regardless of its treatment for tax, accounting, reporting, securities law, or other purposes. No person will use or authorize the use of the assets in the fund, or the investment earnings, for any purpose other than for the maximization of the value of the assets in the fund, including meeting or exceeding the level of service required to operate the asset pursuant to State and federal law and regulations for the safety of the public and the environment, and for the benefit of members and retirees in the State-administered retirement systems, and for the reasonable costs of administering the fund. The ICARE Fund will have a board of five members as follows: a member of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, a member of the Division of Investments or their designee, who will serve ex officio, and three members of the public appointed by the Governor. Members appointed by the Governor should have experience and expertise in ERISA law and laws governing public pension plans, experience and expertise in pension finance or experience and expertise in the construction trades. Each public member will be appointed for a term of three years, with staggered terms. Members will remain active until their successor is qualified. The chairperson will be determined by the Governor and the director of the Division of Investment will serve as treasurer of the board and as vice chairperson of the board. The position of secretary will be elected from among the three public members of the board. The term for secretary will be three years. The board will be constituted as an instrumentality of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise by the board of the powers conferred by this bill will be deemed and held to be an essential governmental function of the State. The members of the ICARE Fund will serve without compensation, but the fund will reimburse the members for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties The bill establishes an advisory committee to the board comprised of each municipality or county which is a benefitting public entity. The advisory committee members will serve for two years. Members of the advisory committee will be appointed by the secretary of the board upon the recommendation from the executive of the public entity. All public information that is distributed to board members relative to board meetings will also be provided simultaneously to the advisory committee members. The purpose of the advisory committee is to provide the board with advice and information relevant to local systems. The advisory committee will not have any voting or veto authority over the board. The advisory committee members will receive no compensation. The fund administrator will have a fiduciary duty to maximize the value of an asset over the long-term, to the holders of certificates of trust issued pursuant to this bill. The administrator will ensure that each asset meets or exceeds the level of service required to operate the asset pursuant to State and federal law and regulations for the safety of the public and the environment. The bill provides that a public entity may convey to the fund an asset held by the public entity. The conveyance will be governed by a transfer agreement, which will be proposed by the administrator, in consultation with the board, and approved by the public entity. Only that portion of the conveyed asset that is net of financing costs and amounts deposited into the investment account or other distributions made to, or on behalf of the public entity will be evidenced by certificates of trust and credited to the holding account of the Common Pension Fund as provided by this bill. Asset contributions on behalf of the public entity and the fund's asset distributions will be deposited in the investment account of the Common Pension Fund. The State-administered retirement systems will not be required or permitted to pay any expenses incurred in connection with the conveyance of an asset pursuant to this act. An asset proposed for conveyance to the fund will be valued by an independent valuation agent and be revalued periodically. The valuation agent will issue a report representing its opinion as to the valuation of the asset in accordance with an asset conveyance. An asset conveyance will not be effectuated until after the report has been issued and both the fund manager, upon approval from the board, and the public entity or non-public entity accept the proposed value. If either rejects the proposed value, the conveyance will not be effectuated, and any written agreement for the conveyance of an asset will be void. The bill amends the "Water Infrastructure Protection Act," to allow a municipality with a water or wastewater asset under emergent conditions to include conveyance of the asset to the fund as an option under that law. The bill appropriates $20,000,000 to the ICARE fund for the operating and administrative expenses of the fund and for the performance by the administrator and the board of their responsibilities. | In Committee |
| A4025 | Modifies use of cooperative purchasing agreements by certain public contracting units for construction services; prohibits time-and-materials contracts in certain circumstances; allows indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity public contracts in certain circumstances. | This bill modifies cooperative purchasing requirements for construction services used by certain contracting units. Under current law, any contracting unit can make purchases and contract for services through the use of a nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreement when available and determined to have a cost savings. This bill requires that, for construction services for a public works project, cooperative purchasing agreements can only be used if the contract is awarded by a contracting unit in the State of New Jersey and is competitively bid in compliance with all requirements regarding public bidding, bid security, performance guarantees, insurance, and other public contracting requirements that are applicable to public works contracts. Public works projects undertaken by a contracting unit through a cooperative purchasing agreement would be subject to the "Public Works Contractor Registration Act" and the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." The bill also prohibits the use of time-and-materials contracts that are available through a cooperative purchasing agreement by contracting units to undertake a public works project subject to the "Public Works Contractor Registration Act" and the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." Additionally, the bill requires contracting units that award a contract for construction services for a public works project through a cooperative purchasing agreement to verify and maintain a copy of certain contractor contact information for prevailing wage enforcement purposes. The bill also allows a contracting unit to award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts for goods or services, including public works, without final plans and specifications for an individual project, provided the bid advertisement for the contract promotes free, open, and competitive bidding and sets forth the process by which individual purchase orders may be issued. As used in this bill, "contracting unit" means any: County; Municipality; Special district; School district; Fire district; State college or university; Public research university; County college; Board, commission, committee, authority or agency, which is not a State board, commission, committee, authority or agency, and which has administrative jurisdiction over any district, included or operating in whole or in part, within the territorial boundaries of any county or municipality which exercises functions which are appropriate for the exercise by one or more units of local government, and which has statutory power to make purchases and enter into contracts awarded by a contracting agent for the provision or performance of goods or services; and New Jersey Transit Corporation. | In Committee |
| A4028 | Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), for purposes of supporting the enforcement of the provisions of State wage and hour laws, to provide funds and training to each county prosecutor's office for the investigation and prosecution of the abovementioned laws and worker exploitation. The bill requires the county prosecutor of each county to establish and assign an assistant prosecutor to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the State wage and hour laws. The bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the DOLWD, not to exceed $2,000,000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4023 | Establishes requirements for State entities to enter into bulk purchasing arrangements for pharmaceutical products. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury to review all State pharmaceutical purchasing arrangements, contracts, and initiatives, and consider options to maximize the State's bargaining power with regard to pharmaceutical products and pharmacy services, which may include recommending appropriate statutory, administrative, or executive action. The director will be required to create and maintain a list of prescription drugs, devices, and biological products that may appropriately be prioritized for bulk purchasing initiatives or reexamined for potential renegotiation with the manufacturer, which list shall be reviewed and updated by the director at least annually. The director's determination as to which prescription drugs, devices, and biological products are to be prioritized will include: consideration of the price of the drug, device, or biological product; the extent to which therapeutically-equivalent alternatives are available; and the 25 prescription drugs, devices, or biological products that represented the highest cost to the State in the prior calendar year, based on total purchases by State programs and entities. If any of the 25 highest-cost prescription drugs, devices, or biological products is not recommended for prioritization, the director is to provide a written explanation as to why the drug, device, or biological product was not recommended for prioritization. The current prioritization list will be posted on the Internet website of the Division of Purchase and Property. The director is to use the prioritization list to, in coordination with the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Corrections, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, the State Treasurer, the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services, the State Health Benefits Commission, the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission, and any other appropriate State departments, divisions, offices, agencies, programs, and entities as may be designated by the director, develop and implement bulk purchasing arrangements for high-priority drugs. The director will additionally be required to develop outreach efforts and establish processes for county and local governments, as well as private purchasers, including small businesses, health benefits plans, and self-insured individuals and entities, to benefit from State bulk pharmaceutical purchasing arrangements. Commencing 18 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, the director will be required to report to the Governor and to the Legislature concerning implementation of the bill, including, but not limited to: the specific drugs, devices, and biological products that are subject to bulk purchasing arrangements; the effects of bulk purchasing arrangements on the price and consumer availability of prescription drugs, devices, and biological products that are subject to a bulk purchasing arrangement; an analysis as to whether bulk purchasing arrangements have affected the price and consumer availability of prescription drugs, devices, and biological products that are not subject to a bulk purchasing arrangement; and any participation in, and any benefits realized by, county and local governments and private purchasers in association with a bulk purchasing arrangement. | In Committee |
| A4009 | Imposes CBT surtax at rate of 2.5 percent until December 31, 2025 and requires amount collected from surtax be dedicated to specific purposes. | This bill would extend the existing 2.5 percent corporation business tax (CBT) surtax until December 31, 2025 and requires that the amount collected from the surtax be dedicated to specific purposes. The CBT surtax is currently imposed on taxpayers that are not public utilities and have allocated taxable net income in excess of $1 million. Taxpayers are not allowed to apply tax credits against surtax liability, except those credits from installment payments, estimated payments with a request for an extension of time for filing a return, or overpayments from prior privilege periods. In the event that the federal corporate income tax rate is increased to its pre-Tax Cut and Jobs Act level (35% of taxable income), the surtax will be suspended at the end of a taxpayer's current privilege period. Under current law, the surtax is set to expire on December 31, 2023. The bill would allow the surtax to remain in effect beyond December 31, 2023 by extending its duration an additional two years. Pursuant to the provisions of this bill, the surtax would instead expire on December 31, 2025. The bill would also require that the revenue annually derived from imposition of the surtax be credited to a newly created special account in the General Fund that will be dedicated to supporting the provision of public transportation services, the completion of public transportation projects, the State's public school system, and reimbursements to State employees for all or part of their contributions made toward the cost of health care benefits provided by the employer. The name of this special account would be the "Statewide Public Transportation, Public Education, and Public Employee Health Benefits Improvement Account." | In Committee |
| A4020 | Directs DCA to establish grant programs for public water systems. | This bill would direct the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to develop and implement two programs to provide grants to public water systems from the funds received by the State pursuant to the federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," Pub.L.117-58. Under the bill, DCA would establish one grant program for public water systems that have less than 500 service connections for the purpose of funding improvements to the operational sustainability of eligible small public water systems through the identification and prevention of potable water loss due to leaks, breaks, and other metering or infrastructure failures. The bill also directs DCA to establish a second grant program for all public water systems, for the purpose of improving the sharing of information concerning water quality, water infrastructure needs, and water technology, including cybersecurity technology, between or among public water systems. For both programs, the bill would direct DCA to establish grant application processes and transparent eligibility and ranking criteria, and publish them on the DCA website no later than six months after the bill's effective date. The bill would also direct DCA to determine maximum grant amounts to ensure that grants are distributed throughout the State. Under the bill, DCA may use up to three percent of the money allocated to administer each program. The bill directs DCA, no later than three years after the bill's enactment, to prepare and submit reports to the Governor and the Legislature that provide details about the projects funded by the grant programs. After the report is submitted, or three years after the bill's enactment, whichever is sooner, the bill would expire. | In Committee |
| A4010 | Directs DOE to establish advertising campaign to attract candidates to teaching and education support professions; appropriates $1 million. | This bill directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, to establish a multimedia advertising campaign to attract candidates to the teaching and education support professions. The campaign will promote the teaching and education support professions as engaging, dynamic, and rewarding career opportunities. The campaign is required to promote financial support opportunities for those seeking careers in the teaching and education support professions and to use a combination of digital outlets, television, radio, print, and other media for its purposes. The department, in developing and administering the general advertising campaign, is also required to create targeted advertising to increase the recruitment of teachers and education support professionals: (1) from underrepresented racial groups; (2) into high-demand fields, including special education, teaching careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field, world languages, bilingual education, and any other high-demand fields identified by the Commissioner of Education; and (3) into high-demand fields of education support professions, as identified by the commissioner. The bill appropriates to the Department of Education the sum of $1,000,000 which will, to the extent permitted by federal law, be paid for from the funds received by the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," Pub.L.117-2 to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A3938 | Establishes task force to examine school discipline practices including racial disparities and effectiveness. | This bill establishes a ten-member task force to examine, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding discipline policies and practices in New Jersey public schools, including any racial disparities in the implementation of those policies and the effectiveness of the policies. The task force will consist of 10 members. One member will be appointed by the Commissioner of Education or a designee. Seven members will be appointed by the Governor, who will include: one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; one member upon the recommendation of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Charter Schools Association; and one member of the public who has specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to school discipline practices. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly will each appoint a public member with specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to school discipline practices. Under the bill, the task force is charged with studying, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding school discipline policies and practices in New Jersey. The task force will:· examine discipline practices of school districts in the State and any racial disparities or disproportionate impacts associated with the discipline practices, including the impact of race on the suspension or expulsion of students enrolled in preschool programs;· evaluate the effectiveness of school discipline practices in the State in reducing problem behaviors and protecting the safety and security of students and school staff;· study federal guidance on school discipline issued by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice, including the January 8, 2014 Dear Colleague Letter on the Nondiscriminatory Administration of School Discipline and the January 2014 document entitled "Guiding Principles: A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline";· study other best practices or emerging research regarding improving school climate and creating positive and nondiscriminatory school discipline practices;· provide recommendations to assist school districts in improving school discipline policies and practices, including ensuring that discipline practices are applied in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; and· provide recommendations for legislation concerning school discipline policies and practices. The task force is required to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 12 months of its organization. | In Committee |
| A3888 | Extends duration of law requiring certain provider subsidy payments for child care services be based on enrollment. | This bill extends the applicability of P.L.2021, c.324, which requires that subsidy payments to licensed child care providers be based on enrollment of students who are eligible for child care services, rather than on attendance, to provide that the provisions of the law continue for an additional three years, instead of expiring on June 30, 2022 as provided for in existing law. The bill provides that a licensed child care provider or registered family day care provider receiving subsidy payments based on enrollment is required to pay wages to its staff, and determine the number of hours worked by staff, based on the number of children enrolled with the provider who are eligible for child care services. At no time will the amount of wages paid to staff or the number of hours worked by staff be based on the attendance of children eligible for child care services. The bill stipulates that a licensed child care center or a registered family day care provider receiving subsidy payments based on enrollment will continue to receive such payments until the Division of Family Development (the division) in the Department of Human Services issues the report required pursuant to the bill, at which time the division may consider to extend the payment of enrollment-based subsidies to licensed child care centers and registered family day care providers in accordance with P.L.2021, c.324. The bill requires the division to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the study conducted under the provisions of P.L.2021, c.324 within three years following the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| AJR150 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | This resolution designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey. Cleft lip and palate, together commonly called orofacial clefts, are birth defects that occur when a baby's lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. A cleft lip occurs when the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth and results in an opening in the upper lip. The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose. A cleft palate occurs when the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. Some babies are born with both the front and back parts of the palate open while others only part of the palate is open. Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and are prone to have ear infections, hearing problems, and problems with their teeth. About one in every 1,700 babies is born with cleft palate in the United States. The causes of orofacial clefts among most infants are unknown and ongoing research is being conducted at the national level to better understand the root causes. Cleft lip and palate affects people worldwide, impacting speech, eating, and overall quality of life. Raising awareness about cleft palate is essential to foster understanding, compassion, and support for New Jersey residents and families affected by this condition, as well as to encourage medical research aimed at identifying the root cause of the orofacial disorder. | In Committee |
| A3453 | Concerns implementation of fire sprinkler system requirements in newly constructed townhouses. | In order to provide sufficient time for the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to adopt necessary rules and regulations, and for developers to prepare to install sprinkler systems in townhouses, in accordance with the requirements of a recently-enacted statute, P.L.2023, c.265, this bill would extend and modify certain implementation-related timelines and requirements in that statute. Enacted in January 2024, P.L.2023, c.265 requires the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in new townhouses for which a construction permit application has not been declared complete prior to August 1, 2024, the first day of the seventh month following the statute's enactment. This bill would modify this requirement so that a construction permit application for a new townhouse subject to the one-and two-family dwelling subcode, adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-123), would not be declared complete by the enforcing agency on or after the first day of the 25th month next following the date of enactment of P.L.2023, c.265, unless the construction permit application for the new townhouse contains provisions for the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in accordance with the requirements of P.L.2023, c.265. The bill also specifies that the provisions of P.L.2023, c.265 would not apply to a development for which a developmental site plan or subdivision application has been submitted prior to the first day of the 25th month following the enactment of P.L.2023, c.265, including: § a preliminary or final approval from a municipal planning or zoning board memorialized by a resolution of approval; § developer's agreement; § a redevelopment agreement; § a payment in lieu of tax agreement; § a fair share plan or housing element that provides for the development, and is subject to a judgment of repose or compliance, an affordable housing settlement agreement, or other approval provided under the "Fair Housing Act" or Mount Laurel doctrine; or § a building permit. P.L.2023, c.265 also requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations incorporating International Residential Code guidance pertaining to such installations by June 1, 2024, the first day of the fifth month following the date of that statute's enactment. The bill would modify this requirement to allow the commissioner until the first day of the 13th month following the enactment of this bill, instead of the enactment of P.L.2023, c.265, to adopt these rules and regulations. | In Committee |
| A2769 | Establishes program in DOLWD to connect persons with disabilities with job training and employment. | Establishes program in DOLWD to connect persons with disabilities with job training and employment. | In Committee |
| A3563 | Establishes the "Urban Wealth Fund Pilot Program." | This bill would establish the "Urban Wealth Fund Pilot Program" for the purpose of determining whether identification of undervalued publicly-owned assets, which are capable of generating revenue, and enhancing the ability of those assets to generate revenue, by depoliticizing and professionalizing management and control over those assets, is viable and should be extended statewide. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) would develop program details, in consultation with the State Treasurer, the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, and the Chief Diversity Officer in the State Department of the Treasury. The purpose of the program is to:· encourage State entities and pilot municipalities to identify publicly-owned assets that are capable of generating revenue;· select publicly-owned assets to be held in the urban wealth fund;· contract with a private asset management firm or firms to manage publicly-owned assets held in the urban wealth fund in a manner designed to enhance the revenue generated from those assets;· serve as a holding company for publicly-owned assets held in the urban wealth fund;· facilitate the transfer of management of selected publicly-owned assets to the private asset management firm or firms; and· enable participating State entities and pilot municipalities to allocate increased revenue derived from publicly-owned assets held by the urban wealth fund to specific public purposes, including:o assistance to minority-owned businesses;o improvements to infrastructure;o investments in education; ando reductions in property taxes. The bill would require the EDA to establish program guidelines and establish criteria to evaluate assets for inclusion in the program. The bill would direct the EDA to: notify State entities and pilot municipalities of the opportunity to participate in the pilot program; devise forms and procedures to enable State entities and pilot municipalities to apply to participate in the program; and provide a portal on its Internet website to enable State entities, pilot municipalities, and private asset management firms to submit to the authority questions about the program, and to submit applications to participate in the program. A State entity or pilot municipality interested in participating in the program may, in accordance with program guidelines to be established by the EDA:· undertake an inventory and evaluation of its assets for the purpose of identifying assets that have sound commercial viability. · conduct a valuation of assets identified as having sound commercial viability for the purpose of determining the current value and the potential value of each publicly-owned asset.· identify publicly-owned assets that are undervalued and underleveraged.· undertake a preliminary assessment of the structural issues, financial benefits and risks, and social and policy impacts of participating in the program.· identify assets to include in an application to participate in the program.· submit an application to the EDA in accordance with program guidelines established by the EDA. Upon receipt of an application, the EDA would:· assess the structural issues, financial benefits and risks, and social and policy impacts of including assets in the urban wealth fund;· preliminarily screen and evaluate each asset identified in an application against established program criteria and rank each asset based on the likelihood that inclusion of the asset in the program may result in a significant increase in revenue generated from the asset; and· determine whether to approve an application, in whole or in part, or with conditions, and determine which assets identified in an application to include in the program. The bill would authorize the EDA to engage in negotiations with an applicant for the purpose of assisting the applicant in revising an application to satisfy program requirements. The bill would direct the EDA to establish criteria for the selection of a private asset management firm to manage assets held in the urban wealth fund and advertise a request for proposals from potential private asset management firms in an open and public manner. The authority may award a contract to a private firm or firms to manage assets held in the urban wealth fund for a term of no more than five years. The bill provides that a private asset management firm selected by the EDA is to manage assets held in the urban wealth fund in a manner that will ensure compliance with all provisions of law applicable to the asset, and program guidelines established by the EDA, however, the focus of the firm's management of the portfolio of assets shall emphasize ways to enhance revenue to be derived from the assets. The bill would require the EDA to at least annually engage in an accounting of revenues derived from assets held in the fund, and distribute to each program participant its share of revenues attributable to the participant's asset or assets held in the fund. The bill provides that a participating pilot municipality may appropriate these revenues for public purposes authorized under the program guidelines, which would include: assistance to minority-owned businesses; improvements to infrastructure; investments in education; and reductions in property taxes. The bill would require the EDA to prepare and deliver to the Governor and the Legislature a report on the pilot program, including the EDA's recommendations for changes to the program and its recommendations as to whether the Legislature should allow the pilot program to expire, extend the pilot program, or make the program permanent. The bill would direct the EDA to prepare and deliver the report prior to the conclusion of the fourth year following the award of a contract to the private asset management firm. Upon conclusion of the fifth year following the award of that contract, the authority would return control over the management of asset held in the Urban Wealth Fund to the State entity or pilot municipality that owns the asset. | In Committee |
| A3427 | Requires HMFA to assume administration of affirmative marketing for affordable housing and reduces municipal responsibility. | This bill would require the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to assume administration of and responsibility for the affordable housing marketing plan for all affordable housing units. The bill would eliminate from affirmative marketing plan requirements any other administrative entity of the municipality that is responsible for the creation, implementation, or posting of the affirmative marketing plan. Additionally, the HMFA, instead of the municipality, is required to coordinate with the municipal housing liaison in enforcing the affirmative marketing plan requirements of owners, developers, or property managers. The bill would take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment, except that the HMFA would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| AJR94 | Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | This joint resolution designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the State of New Jersey. Ruby Bridges was born on September 8, 1954 and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana by parents Lucille and Abon Bridges. In the same year, the United States Supreme Court issued the landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ending racial segregation in public schools. However, states across the South, including Louisiana, failed to integrate their public schools. This led to a federal court order for Louisiana to desegregate their public schools beginning on November 14, 1960. On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges and her mother were escorted by federal marshals to the William Frantz Elementary School where Ruby faced violent protesters. The violence of the protestors, blatant racism from parents, and forced isolation plagued Ruby Bridges' first year of attendance at William Frantz Elementary. Despite these hardships, Ruby Bridges never missed a day of school and by the end of her first year, the school decided to admit more African American children the following year. Ruby Bridges' act of bravery inspired America and led to a commemorative piece by famous artist Norman Rockwell titled "The Problem We Must All Live With." Ruby Bridges became a lifelong activist for racial equality by establishing The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999, which uses educational initiatives to promote tolerance and unity among schoolchildren. Ruby Bridges has also gained numerous accolades for her life's work, including the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and the honorary title of deputy federal marshal. By setting aside November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, we can celebrate the courage of young Ruby Bridges and the impact her actions had on African American children across America, as well as commit to a better public education system for minority children in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A3367 | Directs Board of Education to authorize issuance of biotechnology endorsement to career and technical education teaching certificate. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a biotechnology endorsement to the career and technical education certificate. The endorsement authorizes the holder to teach students in grades nine through 12 in all public schools. The bill requires a candidate seeking a career and technical education teaching certification with a biotechnology endorsement is required to possess a bachelor's degree in biotechnology, biomedical science, microbiology, or a related field; possess a master's degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field; possess a career and technical education certification with a medical laboratory technician endorsement; or have demonstrated industry work experience in biotechnology, biomedical science, microbiology, or a related field. | In Committee |
| A600 | Requires school district or nonpublic school to provide appropriate counseling services to student-athlete who makes complaint against coach or sports official. | This bill requires a school district or nonpublic school to provide counseling services for any student-athlete who makes a complaint against a coach or sports official. Under the bill, in the event that a student-athlete who participates in a Statewide interscholastic sports program, or the student's parent or guardian, makes a complaint against a coach or sports official during the course of a game, meet, or official competition, the school district or nonpublic school which the student attends will: (1) make available to the student-athlete a school counselor, school social worker, or school psychologist to assess any emotional or psychological impact the alleged incident may have had on the student-athlete; and (2) notify the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association of the complaint made against the coach or sports official. The school counselor, school social worker, or school psychologist will refer the student for counseling or such other services deemed necessary. | In Committee |
| A3135 | Creates "Community Wealth Preservation Program"; expands access for certain buyers to purchase property from sheriff's sales. | Under the bill, in the case of residential property in which the bidder will occupy the property for at least 84 months, the bidder will have up to 90 business days to complete the sale, with no interest accruing on the balance of the sale for 60 business days following the sale. If the successful bidder does not pay the balance within this 90 business day period, the bidder would forfeit the deposit on the property and be responsible for the payment of accrued interest and fees or penalties incurred as a result of the sale being void, unless the failure to fulfill the balance is due to the bidder's inability to close a mortgage through no fault of the bidder's own. The bill provides that the sheriff require the foreclosing plaintiff to disclose whether the property is vacant, tenant-occupied, or owner-occupied. Under the bill, a bidder may purchase property in a sheriff's sale by way of financing if the bidder provides documentation that the bidder has been pre-approved by a financial institution for financing the property. A bidder, other than the foreclosed upon defendant or the foreclosed upon defendant's next of kin, may only use the financing option if the property will be the bidder's primary residence. If a successful bidder finances the property and does not use the property as a primary residence, the bidder will be subject to a fine of up to $100,000 for the first violation and $500,000 for each violation thereafter. However, there are exceptions to the penalties if the bidder must vacate the property due to death of the bidder or the bidder's spouse, disability of the bidder or the bidder's spouse, divorce, military deployment, or foreclosure. To be a successful bidder on a residential property the bidder, who is not the plaintiff, who intends to occupy the property and finance the purchase of the property, shall have received eight hours of homebuyer education and counseling from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and shall present certification of completion of that training at the time of purchase. The bill requires each sheriff's office to maintain information, written in plain language, regarding the program to finance the purchase of residential property in a foreclosure sale on its internet website in a manner that is accessible to the public. Additionally, each sheriff's office is to display information, written in plain language, regarding the program in its office in a manner that is conspicuous to the public. The information posted on a sheriff's website or displayed in a sheriff's office concerning the program must contain language notifying the public that the program excludes those purchasing property for investment purposes. For any county in which the primary language of 10 percent or more of the residents is a language other than English, the bill directs the sheriff's office to provide the information required for the program in that other language or languages in addition to English. The alternate language would be determined based on information from the latest federal decennial census. With the exception of sales conducted pursuant to the Community Wealth Preservation Program, the bill increases the fee to be charged by virtue of an execution sale from 4 to 5 percent, or 6 percent to 10 percent, depending on whether the sum involved is greater than or less than $5,000, respectively. The bill also increases the minimum fee to be charged by virtue of an execution sale from $50 to $150. Finally, the bill provides creditors and creditors' agents with immunity from liability for damages to certain vacant and abandoned property so long as reasonable care is exercised, and clarifies that bidders are not authorized to enter the property prior to the time of sale. | In Committee |
| A611 | Bars the denial of expungement application in certain instances. | The statutory grounds for denial of an application for expungement are enumerated in N.J.S.2C:52-14. Subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:52-14 directs that a petition for expungement shall be denied when the arrest or conviction sought to be expunged is, at the time of hearing, the subject matter of civil litigation between the petitioner or his legal representative and the State, any governmental entity thereof or any State agency and the representatives or employees of any such body. This bill amends subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:52-14 to bar the denial of relief in cases that qualify for relief under N.J.S.2C:52-6. N.J.S.2C:52-6 is concerned with an arrest or charge that does not result in a conviction, and permits a person against whom charges are dismissed to apply for an expungement. In dismissal-based expungement cases, the ability to obtain an expungement does not need to be impacted by whether or not a civil action is pending, since the ability to file for an expungement is expressly permitted at the time of the dismissal of charges, and access to expunged records remains available even after an expungement is granted, for good cause shown. | In Committee |
| A1323 | Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $10 million to DOT for construction of highway guard rail along entirety of Route 208 through Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland in sections without highway guard rail, where necessary to ensure health and safety of motorists and residents whose properties abut Route 208. | This bill would appropriate up to $10,000,000 to the Department of Transportation for the purpose of installing highway guide rail along the entirety of Route 208 through Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland in sections that do not already have highway guard rail installed, where necessary to ensure the health and safety of motorists and residents whose properties abut Route 208. | In Committee |
| A1955 | Establishes recruitment and referral program for certain individuals and extends certain provisions of law concerning affirmative action in public works contracts to workers with disabilities. | Current law requires affirmative action goals, workforce analysis, and data collection in public works contracts for racial and ethnic minorities. However, there are no comparable requirements applicable to individuals with disabilities. This bill adds a definition of affirmative action to statutes concerning public works contracting. Affirmative action is defined as "good-faith steps taken to ensure equal opportunity employment for women and minority workers and workers with disabilities; but does not include employment quotas, except where otherwise permitted and appropriate under applicable laws." The bill also adds disability-owned business enterprises to the list of requirements for each prospective bidder on a public works contract to include in their affirmative action program submitted to the State Treasurer, and instructs the State Treasurer to include individuals with disabilities in demographic data and rules and regulations pertaining to public works contracting. Finally, the bill directs the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services to adopt a recruitment and referral program connecting private sector employers with college students, recent graduates, and others with disabilities for summer or permanent jobs. | In Committee |
| A2991 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| A2773 | Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms. | This bill enhances protections currently afforded victims of domestic violence by requiring attackers to surrender their firearms while domestic violence restraining orders are in effect or when they are convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense. The bill also requires firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase handguns to be revoked if the holder of the card or permit is convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense. The bill further requires cross-referencing of records to assist in determining whether the alleged attacker owns a firearm and in removing those firearms. Seizure of Weapon at Scene of Domestic Violence The bill requires the prosecutor, prior to returning a firearm seized at the scene of a domestic violence incident, to inform the victim of the availability of restraining orders and the ability to seek revocation of the accused person's card or permit. Domestic Violence Offenders The bill revises the law regarding defendants convicted of domestic violence crimes and offenses by:? Requiring the sentencing court to inform defendants convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense that they are prohibited from possessing a firearm.? Requiring the court to order the defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender of firearms, firearms purchaser identification cards, and permits to purchase a handgun to a law enforcement officer. The bill allows the defendant five days from when the order of conviction is entered to arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed firearms dealer; the dealer has 10 days from the date of the order to take possession of the firearm from the law enforcement agency to which it was surrendered. ? Deeming any identification card and permit that has been issued to the defendant to be immediately revoked and requiring the court to establish a process for notifying the appropriate authorities of the revocation. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer to whom weapons are surrendered to provide the defendant with a receipt naming the defendant, the surrender date, and description of a surrendered item; and requiring the defendant to provide a copy of the receipt to the prosecutor within 48 hours.? Requiring defendants to attest under penalty that they surrendered or do not possess a firearm. ? Permitting the court to order a search for and removal of firearms if there is probable cause that the defendant has failed to surrender firearms and requiring the court to state with specificity the reasons for and the scope of the search and seizure. Domestic Violence Restraining Orders The bill revises the laws governing temporary and final restraining orders issued pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" by: ? Specifying that the plaintiff may provide information concerning firearms to which the defendant has access, including the location of these firearms, if known, on a form to be prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts and clarifying the confidential nature of this information. ? Requiring the law enforcement officer to properly store surrendered or removed firearms and authorizing the officer to charge the defendant a fee for storage during a temporary restraining order.? Specifying that if an order is dismissed, any firearms, cards and permits are to be returned to defendants who are not otherwise disqualified in accordance with the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991."? Requiring the court issuing a final restraining order to order the defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender of firearms, cards, and permits to a law enforcement officer. The bill allows the defendant five days from when the order is entered to arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed firearms dealer; the dealer has 10 days from the date of the order to take possession of the firearm from the law enforcement agency to which it was surrendered. ? Deeming the defendant's cards and permits to be immediately suspended and requiring the court to establish a process for notifying the appropriate authorities of this suspension. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer to whom weapons are surrendered to provide the defendant with a receipt naming the defendant, the surrender date, and description of a surrendered item; and requiring the defendant to provide a copy of the receipt to the prosecutor within 48 hours.? Requiring the defendant to attest under penalty that he surrendered or does not possess a firearm.? Permitting the court to order a search for and removal of firearms if there is probable cause that the defendant has failed to surrender firearms and requiring the court to state with specificity the reasons for and the scope of the search and seizure. ? Requiring the court to order the appropriate law enforcement agency to make a reasonable search of records of firearm ownership before issuing a temporary or final restraining order. Firearms Licensing Current law governing firearms licensing requirements is revised by: ? Requiring law enforcement to search the State's central registry of domestic violence reports as part of the investigation of the applicant for a firearm purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun. ? Requiring records relating to issuance of cards and permits, as well as firearms purchase records, to be made available to prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to enforce the State's domestic violence laws. Current law requires these records to be sent to certain law enforcement agencies, but does not specify how these records may be used. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer or prosecutor in possession of any firearms, cards, or permits surrendered or removed in whole or in part because of domestic violence to prepare an inventory of these items, cross-reference the inventory with records of firearm ownership, and if there are discrepancies, take appropriate action to ensure the defendant does not have access to a firearm. | In Committee |
| A715 | Provides research and development tax credit under gross income tax. | This bill allows taxpayers subject to the New Jersey gross income tax to claim a credit for research and development (R&D) expenses and payments in the same way that taxpayers subject to the corporation business tax may claim the credit. The credit is based on the federal R&D tax credit, and is intended to incentivize R&D spending, which will stimulate technological and economic growth in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A1920 | Extends child care subsidies to families earning up to 300 percent of federal poverty level; appropriates funds. | This bill raises the annual household income limit for determining initial income eligibility under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. Currently, initial eligibility determination in the State's subsidized child care assistance program is limited to families that report a maximum annual gross family income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which is $55,500 for a family of four in 2022. However, according to the most recent ALICE Report by the United Ways of New Jersey, the average ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - Household Survival Budget in the State was $88,224 for a family of four in 2018. In 2018, 37 percent of New Jersey's 3.2 million households struggled to make ends meet, with 27 percent of these households categorized as ALICE households. This bill raises the maximum initial income eligibility, and subsequent redetermination income eligibility, for the State's subsidized child care assistance program to 300 percent of the FPL, which is $83,250 for a family of four in 2022. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to establish and utilize at least four tiers to determine initial income eligibility and placement on the Division of Family Development's co-payment schedule for child care services under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. The bill specifies that nothing in its provisions precludes the commissioner from establishing a child care assistance income threshold that is higher than 300 percent of the FPL. The bill additionally appropriates such sums as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill, which appropriation will be in an amount determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to approval by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| A925 | Allows voter registration at polling place on election day or at early voting site during early voting period. | This bill allows for voter registration at polling places on election day or at early voting sites during the early voting period. Under current law, a person must register to vote at least 21 days before the election. This bill allows a person who has not registered to vote by that deadline to register at a polling place on the day of the election or at an early voting site during the early voting period. This bill also allows a person to cast a provisional ballot if the person has registered to vote within the period of 21 days before the election if the person can affirm that the person has not previously voted in that election. If the county commissioner of registration is not able to verify the person's Motor Vehicle Commission New Jersey driver's license number or non-driver identification number, or the last four digits of the person's Social Security Number, the county commissioner of registration will notify the person by mail, e-mail, or telephone within 24 hours that they must provide valid identification no later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election in order for their ballot to be counted. | In Committee |
| A619 | "State Bank of New Jersey Act." | This bill, the "State Bank of New Jersey Act," creates the State Bank of New Jersey. The bill authorizes the creation of a board of directors to oversee the bank and the State Treasurer or any other person in control of State funds to deposit State moneys in the bank. The bill provides that all income earned by the bank for its own account on State moneys that are deposited in or invested with the bank to the credit of the State are to be credited to and become a part of the revenues and income of the bank. The bill permits the bank to make loans subject to the limitations of the act and any rules adopted by the State Treasurer. The bill also provides that the State bank is permitted to charge the same rate of interest, provide for the same terms for a loan or extension of credit, and to exercise any other power or authority permissible to a State-chartered bank. Under the bill, the bank is required to invest State moneys in any manner that ensures appropriate cash management. The bank is prohibited from making a loan to any board member, the president, or any officer of the bank, including any immediate family member of that person, or any entity with which that person is associated or in which he has an interest. The bill also provides that the bank may: (1) Buy and sell federal funds; (2) Lease, assign, sell, exchange, transfer, convey, grant, pledge, or mortgage all real and personal property, title to which has been acquired in any manner; (3) Acquire real or personal property or property rights by purchase, lease, or the exercise of the right of eminent domain and may construct, remodel, and repair buildings; (4) Receive deposits from any public source and deposit its funds in any bank or other financial institution; (5) Perform all acts and do all things necessary, advisable, or desirable to carry out the powers expressly granted or necessarily implied in the bill through or by means of its president, officers, agents, or employees or by contracts with any person, firm, or corporation; (6) Provide loans or other assistance for transportation projects; (7) Coordinate with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to further access to postsecondary education, whether by loans, grants, scholarships, savings programs, or other means and shall have the authority enumerated in section 1 of P.L.1999, c.46 (C.18A:71A-9), as appropriate; (8) Purchase mortgage loans on residential real property originated by financial institutions; and (9) Provide loans or other assistance to small businesses. The bill creates a 13 member board of directors to govern the bank. The board consists of: (1) the State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee, as an ex officio member; and (2) twelve members, who are residents of this State, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, including: one person who shall have experience in bank administration; one person who shall have experience in credit union administration; one person who shall have experience in consumer financial advocacy; one person who shall have experience in public administration; two additional public members; and of the six other persons, two shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, two shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, one shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate, and one shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The board is required to appoint a president of the bank to supervise the administrative affairs and general management and operations of the bank. The bill provides that the president of the bank is to serve at the pleasure of the board and receive such compensation as the board shall determine. With the approval of the board, the president is charged with: (1) planning, directing, coordinating, and executing the administrative functions of the bank in conformity with the policies and directives of the board; (2) employing professional and clerical staff as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill; (3) reporting to the board on all operations under the president's control and supervision; (4) preparing an annual budget and managing the administrative expenses of the bank; and (5) undertaking any other activities necessary to accomplish the purposes of the bank. The bill provides that all employees of the bank, except the president, are to be in the career service of the Civil Service. All meetings of the board are subject to the open public meetings act and, except as provided by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, records maintained by the bank shall be subject to the open public records act. The bill includes post-employment restrictions on members of the board or employees of the bank. Except for a secretarial or clerical employee, while serving as a member of the board or an employee of the bank, and for a period of two years immediately following such service or employment, a person, any member of his immediate family, any entity with which that person is associated or in which he has an interest, or any partner, officer, director, or employee while he is associated with that entity, shall not be employed by, a consultant to, a member of the board of directors of, affiliated with, or otherwise a representative of, any person or entity that has obtained a loan from, or has otherwise done substantial business with, the bank. The bill also provides that members of the board and the President of the State bank shall make the same financial disclosures, whether required by law, rule, regulation or Executive Oder, including an annual filing of Financial Disclosure Statements, and in the same manner, as are required of the heads of each principal department in the Executive Branch. The bill requires the board to meet regularly with the management of the bank to review the bank's operations and make recommendations to the president on the operations of the bank. The bill also provides that the State bank is exempt from the payment of all fees and all taxes levied by the State or any of its subdivisions. In addition, all deposits in the bank are guaranteed by the State and are exempt from State, county, and municipal taxes. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance is required to examine the State bank in the same manner as a State-chartered financial institution and may conduct any additional investigation of the bank which may be necessary to ensure the proper operation of the bank, at the bank's cost. The commissioner shall report the examination results, and the results of any necessary investigation, to the Governor and to the Legislature. In addition, the State Auditor shall contract with an independent certified public accounting firm for an annual audit of the bank in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. The State Auditor is required to contract for an annual audit of the separate programs and funds administered by the bank. The auditor selected shall prepare an audit report that includes financial statements presented in accordance with the audit and accounting guide for banks and savings institutions issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The auditor also shall prepare audited financial statements for inclusion in the comprehensive annual financial report for the State. The State Auditor may conduct performance audits of the bank, including the separate programs and funds administered by the bank. The auditor shall report the results of the audits to the Governor and to the Legislature. The bank or its separate programs and funds shall pay the costs of the audits. The bill also provides that, by December 1st of each year, the State Treasurer shall make an annual report to the Governor, and to the Legislature on the affairs of the bank. The report may include any recommendations that would improve the affairs of the bank. Additionally, immediately following the close of each calendar month, the State Treasurer shall prepare a report as to the State of the general fund, the bank, and every other fund under the State Treasurer's control. The monthly report is to be made available on the Department of the Treasury website. | In Committee |
| A2848 | Allows credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax liability for employing persons with a developmental disability. | This bill allows taxpayers to claim a credit against their corporation business tax liability or gross income tax liability in the amount of 10 percent of salary and wages paid to an employee with a developmental disability. The credit is capped at $3,000 per employee, and the total credit is capped at $60,000 per taxpayer per year. The bill defines "employee with a developmental disability" as an employee of the taxpayer who has a developmental disability as defined in N.J.S.A.30:6D-25 and for who the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services has declared eligible for its services. New Jersey already allows taxpayers to claim a credit for the employment of certain persons with disabilities at an occupational training center or sheltered workshop. This bill allows a credit for any type of employment, but taxpayers will be prohibited from claiming the credit allowed by this bill if in the same year they claim a credit for employment of the same employee at an occupational training center or sheltered workshop. | In Committee |
| A834 | Eliminates conviction of indictable offense as automatic disqualifier for jury service under certain circumstances. | This bill would permit persons with past convictions of indictable offenses to serve on juries under certain circumstances. Under current law, these convictions, whether based on violations of New Jersey law, another state's law, or federal law, are automatic disqualifiers for jury service. Under the bill, a person would still be automatically disqualified for jury service if: (1) the person was ever convicted of murder or aggravated sexual assault; or (2) the person is serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States. | In Committee |
| A2301 | Establishes fourth degree crime of cyber-interference. | This bill establishes the crime of cyber-interference and makes a violation a crime of the fourth degree. Under the bill, a person commits the crime of cyber-interference if the person, with the purpose to harass another, tampers or interferes with any software, computer, cell phone, or any other electronic device. The bill defines "electronic device" to include, but not be limited to, a smart home device or system, home security system, computer, digital camera, wireless or portable equipment, entertainment system, or any other device that is capable of transmitting, receiving, or recording messages, images, sounds, data, or other information by electronic means. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A613 | Requires certain corporations to appoint women to board of directors. | This bill requires publicly held domestic and foreign corporations based in New Jersey to appoint women to their boards of directors, in order to increase gender diversity in corporate governing roles. Research indicates that women serving on boards of directors of publicly held corporations will boost the economy, improve opportunities for women in the workplace, and improve the performance and protect the value of corporations for shareholders and stockholders, including retirees. Under the bill, a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation whose principal executive office is located in this State would be required to have a minimum of one female director on its board by December 31, 2023. Additionally, by December 31, 2025 a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation located in this State would be required to have a minimum of: one female director if the corporation has four or fewer directors; two female directors if the corporation has five directors; and at least three female directors if the corporation has six or more directors. To determine compliance with this requirement, the bill requires a corporation to file with the Secretary of State a list of all of its directors and their terms of service and identify the number of directors that are female. The bill provides that a corporation that violates the bill is subject to the following penalties: $100,000 for a first violation and $300,000 for a subsequent violation for each director seat required to be held by a female which is not held by a female during at least a portion of a calendar year; and $100,000 for failure to file board member information with the Secretary of State in a timely manner. Any fine collected would be used by the Secretary of State to offset the cost of administering the bill's provisions. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of State to report, by July 1, 2023, the number of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations in this State and the number of female directors on each corporation's board. By March 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State would report: (1) a list of corporations subject to, and in compliance with, the requirements of this bill; (2) the number of publicly held domestic and foreign corporations that moved their United States headquarters to New Jersey from another state or from New Jersey to another state; and (3) the number of corporations that were subject to the bill's provisions during the preceding year, but are no longer publicly traded. This bill is similar to a California law to increase the gender diversity of corporate leadership, by requiring California-based publicly held corporations to appoint women to their boards of directors. Other countries have also addressed the lack of gender diversity on corporate boards by instituting quotas mandating 30 to 40 percent of seats to be held by women directors, including in Norway, which since 2003 requires 40 percent female representation on corporate boards, and many other European nations, such as France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Spain. | In Committee |
| A944 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
| A1990 | Required Commissioner of Education to develop emergency notification system to alert students and staff of active shooter on school grounds. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop an emergency notification system that enables schools to alert the students, the parents and guardians of the students, teachers, and all staff of an active shooter situation in the school or on school grounds. Under the bill, the notification system will: · provide that the parents or guardians of students, students, with the permission of a parent or guardian, teachers, and all other school staff, may register any mobile electronic communications device with the school to receive the notification; · be accessible and compatible with all makes and models of mobile electronic communications devices;· be directly linked to local law enforcement authorities or, in the case of a school located in a municipality in which there is no municipal police department, a location designated by the Superintendent of State Police, and will immediately transmit a signal or message to such authorities upon activation; and· be made available to each public and nonpublic school at no cost to the school. Under the bill, if a board of education or the chief school administrator of a nonpublic school determines to use the notification system, the principal of each school in the school district or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school is required to ensure that the notification system is customized to each particular school and includes the contact information for each person who registered with the school to receive the notification. | In Committee |
| A609 | Provides primary and school election sample ballots may be sent to registered voter by electronic mail if so requested. | This bill allows the district board of election or the commissioner of registration, as appropriate, to send the primary election and school election sample ballots by electronic mail instead of regular mail to any registered voter in the election district who is eligible to participate in that election, and who requests to receive the sample ballot by electronic mail. Under current law, sample ballots must be printed and mailed to each eligible registered voter. The bill further provides that the electronic mail address of any voter who requests to receive a sample ballot by electronic mail would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act," would not be available for public inspection or copying, and must be redacted from any document that it is a part of. The bill provides that the registered voter shall provide the voter's physical address on the request to receive the sample ballot and documents by electronic mail. In the event the district board or the commissioner of registration, as the case may be, receives a failure to deliver notice from the electronic mail account of the voter who requested to receive a sample ballot by electronic mail for the primary election, the district board or the commissioner of registration, as the case may be, shall transmit a paper copy of the sample ballot to the voter in a timely manner. The bill directs the Secretary of State, in collaboration with the election officials in this State, to develop standard procedures to effectuate the provisions of the bill. These procedures would include, but may not be limited to: (1) establishing a method to inform all voters of the opportunity to receive a sample ballot and other materials by electronic mail, and by which a voter can notify election officials of his or her desire to obtain a ballot and other materials by electronic mail in lieu of receiving them by regular mail; (2) maintaining the confidentiality of the voter electronic mail addresses; and (3) providing notice and opportunity for a voter who has requested to receive a sample ballot and other materials by electronic mail to request to again receive the sample ballot and other materials by regular mail. The bill also provides that the standard procedures shall include a notice informing the voter that by completing a request to receive a sample ballot by electronic mail the voter is waiving his or her right to hold the district board or the commissioner of registration, as the case may be, legally responsible if the voter does not receive the sample ballot by electronic mail due to technical issues that are not under the control of the sender including, but not limited to, typographic errors made by the voter in providing his or her address, the action of a spam filter, deactivation of the voter's email address by the voter, or any other technical issue identified by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| A2015 | Establishes "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" in DOH. | Establishes "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" in DOH. | In Committee |
| A612 | Requires president of public institution of higher education to regularly report on-campus criminal and fire events to the institution's governing board. | This bill requires the president of each public institution of higher education, or his designee, to report to the governing board of the institution, at each of its regular meetings, all crimes, fires, and other emergencies which occurred on campus during the previous reporting period. The report must include: a count and classification of all criminal incidents which occurred on campus and which were recorded by campus security and campus or local police departments; a list of campus alerts, threats, or emergencies which occurred on campus; and a count and classification of all fire incidents which occurred on campus and which were recorded by campus security and local fire departments. The report may also include: the status of all investigations of such acts or events, the type and nature of any discipline imposed on any student or employee identified as causing or contributing to such acts or events; and any other measures imposed, training conducted, or programs implemented, to reduce the incidence of such acts and events. The bill directs the president to report all matters that are not a matter of public record to the governing board in an executive session, and to clarify that such reporting does not render the information a government record available for public inspection under the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), commonly known as the open public records act, or under any other statute, regulation, executive order, or federal law, regulation, or order. | In Committee |
| A1143 | Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for programs providing mental health, substance use treatment, or services to persons with developmental disabilities. | This bill stipulates that on or after the effective date of the bill, the terms of a contract entered into between the Divisions of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS) and a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities include an annual increase in the cost of living adjustment received by the organization. The cost of living adjustment would be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor, and the DHS would be required to announce the rate of the increase on October 1 of each year. As used in the bill, a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities shall include State programs partially funded or fully funded by Medicaid and licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Human Services or other appropriate State licensing agencies. | In Committee |
| A604 | Establishes Clean Energy Technology Center and Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund for purposes of creating clean energy-related employment opportunities; allocates revenues from societal benefits charge to support its activities. | This bill creates a Clean Energy Technology Center (center) within the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to administer an Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund (trust fund). Under the bill, the center is authorized to use trust fund financing to finance clean energy technology research and provide loans and loan guarantees to companies, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits to encourage the creation of clean energy technology ventures and the training of workers to perform associated "green jobs." The bill specifically authorizes the center to provide loans and loan guarantees from the trust fund to: (1) stimulate increased financing for the expansion of clean energy research and development facilities by leveraging private financing and providing related financing, including financing for construction and expansion; (2) provide financing to State institutions of higher education to develop a curriculum relative to clean energy and clean energy technology; (3) make targeted investments in clean energy research and promote manufacturing activities for new and existing advanced clean energy technologies; (4) make financing available to institutions of higher education, businesses, and other institutions to encourage the federal government, industry, and other entities to provide funding; (5) provide bridge financing in anticipation of such awards; and (6) fund programs and investments that promote economic self-sufficiency for low and moderate income communities in the clean energy industry. Financing by the center from the trust fund is to be governed by rules to be approved by the board of directors of the center established under the bill. The bill provides that the 10-member board is to include representatives of government, educational institutions, and private industry, including an engineer or scientist, a chief executive officer of a New Jersey-based clean energy corporation, a representative of electric public utility ratepayers, and a venture capitalist with expertise in clean energy technologies. The bill also authorizes a study of the clean energy sector, to examine the sector's future workforce needs and its growth rate and levels of private investment, real property owned by the State available and suitable for the installation and operation of renewable energy facilities, energy efficiency opportunities on real property owned by the State, and the future funding requirements of the center. The trust fund created by the bill would be financed with revenues received from the societal benefits charge established pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60) (i.e., the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act") and is intended to stimulate the growth of the State's clean energy economy. The bill would authorize the center to use revenues to finance: (1) if the center so chooses, a "Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Institute," to serve as a joint venture among institutions of higher education in the State and to provide a focal point for research, education, and commercialization activities in the hydrogen fuel cell sector; (2) if the center so chooses, an "Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program," which would provide loans or loan guarantees to entrepreneurs from business sectors other than clean energy sectors to enroll in programs to foster knowledge and expertise of clean energy technology; (3) a loan program for clean energy companies, institutions, or nonprofit organizations; (4) a workforce development program to provide loans and loan guarantees to institutions of higher education, vocational-technical schools, or community-based organizations with existing or potential workforce development programs in clean energy; and (5) a "Pathways Out of Poverty Initiative" to provide loans and loan guarantees to clean energy companies, community-based nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, or labor organizations for training programs that lead to economic self-sufficiency. | In Committee |
| A615 | "New Townhouse Fire Safety Act"; requires automatic fire sprinkler systems in new townhomes. | This bill, entitled the "New Townhouse Fire Safety Act," would require the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in new townhouses during construction. The bill requires that a construction permit application for a new townhouse would not be declared complete without provisions for the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in accordance with the requirements of the bill. The bill defines "new townhouse" as a dwelling not previously occupied, for which a construction permit has been issued after the effective date of the bill, and which is intended for residential use by not more than two households, and constructed in a group of two or more attached units. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to modify the building subcode of the State Uniform Construction Code to require the installation of fire suppression systems in all new townhouses. This modification would require the installation of separate shut-off valves from the domestic water supply and the fire sprinkler water supply. The requirements of this bill would apply to newly constructed townhouses as of the first day of the seventh month after enactment. Accordingly, development plans and building permits approved prior to the bill's effective date would not be subject to the provisions of the bill. | Dead |
| A3276 | Eliminates driver's license suspension for failure to pay parking tickets; requires registration suspension for more than five parking tickets. | This bill eliminates suspension of a person's driver's license as a penalty for failure to make required court appearances for outstanding parking tickets or failure to pay those tickets. But the bill does require suspension of a person's motor vehicle registration for failure to make more than five required court appearances related to outstanding parking tickets or for failure to pay more than five of those tickets. | In Committee |
| ACR95 | Proposes constitutional amendment to allow lower property tax rate on improvements than on land. | This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to allow certain municipalities to tax improvements at a lower rate than land. An improvement refers to a building or other man-made condition. Property taxes in New Jersey are collected by municipalities, and are used to fund county, school, municipal, and other local needs. Currently, municipalities are required to apply a single value-based tax rate to both land and improvements. This constitutional amendment directs the Legislature to enact general laws allowing municipalities to adopt ordinances under which improvements are taxed at a lower rate than land. The Legislature may allow all municipalities to participate, or limit participation to municipalities in need of infrastructure investment, according to standards established by the Legislature. The implementing legislation will permit participating municipalities to phase-in the changes over a period of years. The implementing legislation will also establish a method permitting a municipality to return to a single property tax rate system. | In Committee |
| A3336 | Provides for expansion of certain support team addiction recovery programs; appropriates $1,995,000 from opioid recovery and remediation fund. | This bill amends section 1 of P.L.2023, c.25 (C.26:2G-39) to allow moneys received by the State as a result of the national opioid litigation resolution and deposited into the "Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund" to be used to support case management and recovery support services provided through the Support Team Addiction Recovery (STAR) and the Support Team Addiction Recovery (STAR) Jail Expansion programs. A STAR program, administered by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (DHS), provides case management and recovery support services to individuals with a substance use disorder. A STAR Jail Expansion program specifically provides case management and recovery support services to individuals with substance use disorders who were recently released from a State, county, or local correctional facility. The bill allocates $1,995,000 from the "Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund" to the DHS to supplement the federal funds appropriated to counties for STAR and STAR Jail expansion programs as follows: (1) $1,715,000 to supplement existing federal grant monies appropriated to counties for STAR programs; (2) $192,500 to establish a STAR Jail Expansion program in Passaic county; and (3) $87,500 to provide for salaries and assumed salary increases for case managers and recovery support specialists hired by STAR and STAR Jail expansion programs. The bill also stipulates the funds allocated from the "Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund" are not to replace or decrease the amount of existing federal grant monies appropriated to counties for the STAR and STAR Jail Expansion programs. | In Committee |
| A605 | Permits emergency medical technicians to administer certain vaccines during certain declared public health emergencies. | This bill permits emergency medical technicians to administer certain vaccines during declared public health emergencies. The bill provides that, during a declared public health emergency involving an outbreak of an infectious disease, an emergency medical technician in the State is to be authorized to administer a vaccine provided that: (1) the emergency medical technician is certified by the Department of Health (DOH) to administer vaccines that protect against the infectious disease that is the basis of the declared public health emergency; (2) the vaccine is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent against the transmission of the infectious disease that is the basis of the declared public health emergency; (3) the emergency medical technician has completed an educational vaccine administration training program that is based on guidance from the CDC and which has been approved by the DOH; and (4) a medical director or a supervising healthcare professional, whose scope of practice includes the administration of intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, documents the adequate competency of the emergency medical technician through a skills assessment checklist that is approved by the DOH. Under the bill, an emergency medical technician is to comply with any other restrictions or guidance concerning the vaccine as have been issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the DOH. A vaccine administered pursuant to the bill's provisions may be administered pursuant to an individual prescription for the vaccine, a standing order for the vaccine issued by an authorized prescriber, or an immunization program or other program sponsored by an authorized governmental agency that is not patient specific. | In Committee |
| A2240 | Requires racial and gender diversity in membership to be considered for appointments to certain boards and commissions established by statute. | This bill provides that, when the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, or any other person is authorized by law to appoint a member to a board, commission, task force, or any other multi-member body or entity established by law, the Governor, President, Speaker, or other authorized person, as appropriate, must make the goal of attaining a membership for such a board, commission, task force, or multi-member body or entity that reflects the racial and gender diversity of the residents of the State a primary consideration when selecting a person for appointment on or after the effective date of the bill. The goal of attaining a membership that reflects the racial and gender diversity of the residents of the State will be a primary consideration by the appointing authority unless that consideration conflicts with the particular circumstances of the appointment to be made or conflicts with the requirements of the statute that established the board, commission, task force, or multi-member body or entity. | In Committee |
| A2124 | Establishes New Jersey Baby Bond Account Program. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Baby Bond Account Program and Baby Bond Account Fund in the Department of the Treasury and appropriates the sum of $70,000,000 from the General Fund to the Baby Bond Account Fund. The purpose of the program is to credit each eligible individual in the State with a $2,000 deposit into an individual account in the Baby Bond Account Fund by the program. An eligible individual is any infant born on or after January 1, 2021 to a family domiciled in this State or outside of this State, provided the individual establishes residence in the State within six months of birth, and who resides in a household having an annual household income on the individual's date of birth that does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill requires the State Treasurer to establish in the fund an account for each eligible individual and credit each account with $2,000. The State Treasurer will credit to each individual account the amounts credited to the fund, which are attributable to the account holder of the account. In the event a person or entity wishes to make a deposit into an individual account or an account holders wishes to transfer money to the individual account of a family member or dependent, the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to accept such deposits and to process such transfers, in a manner and method to be determined by the State Treasurer. The money within an individual account may only be distributed when the account holder attains the age of 18, with an exemption of qualified tuition and related expenses for eligible students, defined by the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The moneys within an individual account may only be used for the following expenses: (1) post-secondary educational expenses of the account holder; (2) acquisition costs of a primary residence of the account holder; (3) qualified business capitalization expenses of the account holder, as determined by the program; and (4) any other investment in financial assets or personal capital that provides long-term gains to wages and wealth, as determined by the program. This bill requires that the money in the Baby Bond Account Fund will be managed by an 11-member Baby Bond Account Board, established pursuant to this bill, and will be invested in permitted investments or held in interest-bearing accounts. The board will consist of five ex-officio members, as follows: the State Treasurer or the State Treasurer's designee; the State Comptroller or the State Comptroller's designee; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the director's designee; the Chief Executive of the Economic Development Authority or the chief executive officer's designee; the Commissioner of Human Services or the commissioner's designee; and six public members with the Governor, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Senate President each appointing two members each. The board will hold a fiduciary duty to the fund and will make investments with the reasonable expectation that the return on each investment will be commensurate with the risk associated with each investment. The board will select and employ an executive director who will be responsible for the administration of the Baby Bond Account Program. The executive director will also be required notify each eligible individual's family of their potential eligibility for the Baby Bond Account Program. The executive director will also provide each eligible individual's family with information about the program's eligibility criteria, application process, guidelines, procedures, and requirements for withdrawing money from an individual account to be used for qualified expenses. Lastly, the executive director will be required to make economic literacy training available to each eligible individual's family. The board will determine the economic literacy training curriculum to fulfill this provision, provided that, at a minimum, the curriculum offers a basic understanding of budgets and savings accounts, credit and interest, how to use financial services, and how to use a savings plan to reach the account holder's savings goal for an individual account. | In Committee |
| A2836 | Requires certain county inmates be provided with reentry assistance before their release. | This bill requires the superintendent of each county correctional facility to provide to inmates at least 10 days prior to their release certain information, documents, and other assistance to facilitate their reentry into the community. Specifically, the bill requires these inmates to be provided with: a copy of their criminal history record and written information on the right to have criminal records expunged; general written information on their right to vote; general written information on the availability of programs, including faith-based and secular programs, that would assist in removing barriers to their employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs; a detailed written record of their participation in educational, training, employment, and medical or other treatment programs while incarcerated; a written accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages, and any other obligations due and payable upon their release; a non-driver identification card; a copy of the their birth certificate; assistance in obtaining a Social Security card; general written information concerning child support, including child support payments they owe, information on how to obtain child support payments, and information on where to seek services regarding child support, child custody, and establishing parentage; and a copy of their full medical record. The provisions of the bill apply only to those inmates who have been sentenced to a term of incarceration and who have been denied bail pursuant to the provisions of recently enacted bail reform law. Under the bail reform law, courts have the authority to deny defendants pretrial release and order pretrial detention. | In Committee |
| A598 | Requires NJTA to implement certain roadside maintenance safety policies. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (authority) to implement safety policies for roadside maintenance performed by employees of the authority. The safety policies for roadside maintenance are to include: (1) a provision that prohibits employees of the authority from using power tools in inclement weather to perform non-emergency roadside maintenance; (2) a provision that requires that all available precautions be taken to ensure the immediate safety of employees of the authority performing emergency roadside maintenance in inclement weather, including placing roadside warning signs and safety vehicles at a certain distance before the work zone and using variable message signs to inform motorists that emergency roadside maintenance is being performed ahead; (3) a provision that requires that all roadside maintenance operations involving the use of gas-powered landscaping equipment be performed during daylight hours, except in emergency situations; and (4) a provision that requires that portable roadside light towers be used during the performance of all roadside maintenance performed at times other than during daylight hours. | In Committee |
| A2300 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $650,000 to New Jersey Division of State Police for trooper recruitment and retention. | This supplemental appropriation provides $650,000 to the Division of State Police for the purpose of augmenting State Trooper salaries to assist the division with recruitment and retention. The Division of State Police - Retention supplemental appropriation is to be dedicated to State Troopers at Step 9 of the base salary of the existing Collective Negotiations Agreement between the State of New Jersey and the State Troopers Fraternal Association. This supplemental appropriation should be distributed in amounts pursuant to the authority granted to the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission as provided for in Title 4A of the New Jersey Administrative Code. | Dead |
| A2827 | Requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing. | This bill requires State and county correctional facilities to offer inmates hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Corrections and the chief executive officer, warden, or keeper of any county correctional facility are required to offer blood testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to every inmate who is sentenced to a term of incarceration at a State or county correctional facility. The testing at State and county correctional facilities would be offered upon commencement of an inmate's period of confinement; however, an inmate is not to be required to submit to the testing. | In Committee |
| A621 | Establishes Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program in DHS; appropriates $3 million. | This bill establishes the Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program in the Department of Human Services to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among food insecure individuals with limited incomes as identified by enrollment in the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Under the bill, food insecure means a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Specifically, the department will be required to establish, and collaborate with, an authorized network of program providers to distribute financial incentives to eligible SNAP enrollees to use SNAP funds to purchase approved fruits and vegetables and to distribute cash-value vouchers, via health care providers, health educators, community health workers, or other health professionals, to eligible SNAP enrollees that may be redeemed for approved fruits and vegetables. In administering the program, the department will be required to: 1) develop and implement the program in collaboration with other State agencies that have missions and programs that closely align with the program; 2) establish an authorized network of program partners, including, but not limited to, farmers markets, grocery stores, and other fresh food retailers authorized under SNAP, government agencies, health care systems, and nonprofit organizations. In establishing a network of program providers, the department will be authorized to give preference to food retailers located in a county with a high level of food insecurity, as well as to health care systems with experience in food security initiatives, that serve a high percentage of low-income patients, or that are located in a county with a high level of food insecurity; 3) provide resources, coordination, and technical assistance to program partners, including support in pursuing all sources of available funding to implement the program; 4) determine the approved fruits and vegetables that may be purchased or redeemed under the program; 5) promote the program, in collaboration with program partners and other entities involved in the administration of SNAP; 6) apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any waivers or approvals as may be necessary to implement the program; and 7) pursue all sources of federal funding, matching funds, and foundation funding available to implement the program. Under the bill, the department will be required to establish a separate, nonlapsing, revolving fund to be known as the "New Jersey SNAP Nutrition Incentive Fund." The fund will consist of $3 million appropriated under the bill, as well as any other sources of funding secured by the department, interest or other income derived from the investment of monies in the fund, and any other monies as may be appropriated to the fund by the Legislature or otherwise provided to the fund. The fund will be held by the department, and monies from the fund are to be used to implement the program, subject to certain restrictions. Specifically, at least 51 percent of monies deposited in the fund are to be used to fund an annual grant established under the bill, and no more than 49 percent of monies deposited in the fund may be used to implement the program, provide training and technical assistance, engage in outreach and develop new program partners, and conduct data reporting and analysis. The bill provides that no more than five percent of monies deposited in the fund may be used for program evaluation, as required under the bill. With regard to the annual grant supported by the fund, the department will be required to annually solicit applications from and select a nonprofit organization to receive the grant. The selected nonprofit organization will be required to have a demonstrated track record of building a Statewide network, leveraging funds to obtain matching funds or other additional funds; implementing fund distribution and reporting processes; providing training and technical assistance to food retailers authorized to participate in SNAP; conducting community outreach and data collection; and providing full accounting and administration of funds distributed to SNAP food retailers. The annual grant is to be used by the selected nonprofit organization to implement the program and annually distribute to participating food retailers funds equal to the dollar value spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at the retailer under the program. The bill requires the department to annually evaluate the effectiveness of program, consistent with the United States Department of Agriculture's Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) guidelines and is to include, at a minimum, the collection of information related to fruit and vegetable consumption by eligible SNAP enrollees, levels of food security among SNAP enrollees, and the impact on public health outcomes for SNAP enrollees that may be attributable to participation in the program. No later than 12 months after the effective date of the bill, the department will be required to submit a progress report to the Governor and the Legislature describing the results of the program and recommending legislative or programmatic changes to improve the effectiveness of program delivery. No later than 36 months after the effective date of the bill, the department will be required to submit a complete program evaluation to the Governor and the Legislature describing the program's effectiveness and providing recommendations to improve the program. The bill will take effect 180 days after the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Human Services will be authorized to take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as is necessary to implement the bill. This bill is generally structured on the requirements of GusNIP, which supports and evaluates projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in SNAP. The program awards grants to recipients to provide incentives to SNAP enrollees at the point of sale to purchase fruits and vegetables, as well as to provide fruit and vegetable prescriptions to SNAP enrollees while in a healthcare setting. The goals of this grant program are to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce individual and household food insecurity, and reduce healthcare usage. States such as Washington, California, and Connecticut have implemented successful incentive programs utilizing GusNIP funding. | In Committee |
| A2382 | Establishes Community Crisis Response Advisory Council and community crisis response teams pilot program; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes the Community Crisis Response Advisory Council and a pilot program to permit municipalities and community-based organizations to operate community crisis response teams. The bill establishes the council in the Department of Health to provide the department with best practices and recommendations concerning the development of a community crisis response program. Under the bill, the council would consist of 13 members, as follows: (1) the Deputy Commissioner of Public Health Services, the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, and the Director of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Health, or their designees, serving ex officio; (2) the Attorney General or a designee, serving ex officio; (3) the Executive Director of the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or a designee, serving ex officio; (4) the Director of the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, or a designee, servicing ex officio; and (5) seven public members of the council to be appointed by the Governor, with two members appointed upon recommendation of the Senate President and two members appointed upon recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly. The seven public members would consist of one or more members who: have prior involvement with the criminal justice system; have expertise in crisis response, harm reduction services, or both; have experience advocating for their communities; and represent New Jersey-based social justice and civil rights organizations specializing in criminal justice reform. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a pilot program in Camden, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, and Passaic Counties to permit eligible municipalities and community-based organizations to operate community crisis response teams. Under the bill, a community crisis response team is defined as a team that provides professional on-site community-based intervention such as outreach, de-escalation, stabilization, resource connection, and follow-up support for individuals who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, including certified peer counselors as a best practice to the extent practicable. The commissioner is required to develop a grant program for eligible municipalities and community-based organizations, awarding up to $2 million per eligible applicant annually. To be eligible to receive a grant pursuant to the pilot program: (1) a municipality is required to be a municipality of the first class in Essex and Passaic Counties, a municipality of the second class having a population of more than 70,000 and density of 8,000 to 12,000 according to the 2020 federal decennial census in Camden and Mercer counties, and a municipality of the second class having a population of more than 55,000 and density of between 10,000 and 11,000 according to the 2020 federal decennial census in Middlesex County; and (2) a community-based organization is required to be located in a municipality that meets the eligibility criteria. Additionally, an applicant is required to demonstrate an established relationship with a State-approved harm reduction center or reliable access to other harm reduction services. The department would be required to prioritize issuing grants to applicants that currently operate as violence interrupters and have a demonstrated process for engaging members of the community and receiving public comments with respect to its community crisis r The bill requires the commissioner to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the status of the pilot program. Three years following the date of enactment, the commissioner, in collaboration with the council, would be required to submit a final report to the Governor and the Legislature on the outcomes resulting from the pilot program and recommendations for the actions necessary to support the continuation and expansion of community crisis response models in the State of New Jersey. The bill appropriates $10 million and provides that grants awarded under the pilot program to applicants in each eligible municipality are not to exceed $2 million per municipality. | Dead |
| A603 | Expands municipal court conditional dismissal program to include defendants charged with certain drug offenses; requires defendant's participation in various programs and services; allows dismissal of charges after one-year probationary period. | This bill would expand the current conditional dismissal program in municipal court to include certain drug offenses and to require the defendant to participate in various programs and services. Under the current conditional dismissal program, set out in P.L.2013, c.158 (2C:43-13.1 et seq,), first-time offenders charged with certain disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses may, at the discretion of the municipal court, after a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt, but prior to the entry of a judgment of conviction and with appropriate notice to the prosecutor, apply to the municipal court for entry into the program. As a condition of the application, the defendant must submit to fingerprint identification procedures to allow verification of his criminal history. Under the conditional dismissal program, the municipal court will place the defendant under a probation monitoring status for a period of one year. The court may also impose financial obligations and other terms and conditions. A defendant may apply to the court for an extension of a term of conditional dismissal to allow sufficient time to pay financial obligations imposed by the court, and a judge may also extend a defendant's conditional dismissal term for good cause. If a participant is convicted of any crime or offense during his participation or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and conditions imposed by the court, the court may enter a judgment of conviction and impose a fine, penalty, or other assessment which may be imposed in accordance with the defendant's prior guilty plea or finding of guilt. At the end of the term of conditional dismissal, if the defendant has not been convicted of any subsequent crime or offense, and has complied with any other terms and conditions imposed by the municipal court, the court may terminate probation and dismiss the proceedings against the defendant. Once the proceedings are dismissed, the offense is not deemed a conviction for purposes of any disqualifications or disabilities imposed by law, or for the purposes of determining whether a second or subsequent offense has occurred. Currently, a defendant is not eligible for participation in the municipal court conditional dismissal program if he is charged with certain offenses, including, among others, any disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense involving controlled dangerous substances under chapter 35 or 36 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. The bill eliminates this provision, so that a defendant charged with any of these offenses would be eligible to participate in conditional dismissal. The bill also requires that, as a condition of participation in the conditional dismissal program, the defendant must participate in appropriate programs and services as directed by the court. The defendant would not be charged a fee for participation in any such programs. The programs shall include, but are not limited to: (1) substance abuse treatment, including but not limited to medication-assisted treatment as defined in paragraph (7) of subsection f. of N.J.S.2C:35-14; (2) health and mental health services, including referral to medical providers; (3) assistance in obtaining health insurance, such as Medicaid; (4) assistance in obtaining any other benefits the defendant may be entitled to, such as veterans' benefits; (5) assistance in obtaining personal identification; (6) assistance in payment of motor vehicle surcharges; (7) vocational training; (8) job placement; (9) housing assistance; (10) educational assistance; (11) transportation assistance; and (12) referral to legal assistance. The bill is similar to the "Pathway to Change Pilot Program" in Atlantic County municipal courts. | In Committee |
| A1953 | Requires cultural diversity and implicit bias training be included in police basic training curriculum. | This bill requires the Police Training Commission in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety to include cultural diversity and implicit bias training in the basic training course for police officers appointed to a police department or force. Current law requires the Department of Law and Public Safety to develop or identify a uniform cultural diversity and implicit bias training course, including an on-line tutorial, which includes instruction promoting positive interaction with all members residing in the community, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. The training course is available to every State, county, municipal, and campus police department or force for in-service training of its officers. This bill would require this cultural diversity and implicit bias training to be administered to police officers during their mandated basic training. The bill defines "implicit bias" as having attitudes towards people or associating stereotypes with them without conscious knowledge. Finally, the bill requires instructors at basic training academies for police officers to receive specialized training in cultural diversity and implicit bias in policing. | In Committee |
| A622 | Establishes the "Safe Schools and Communities Violence Prevention and Response Plan Act of 2023"; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes the "Safe Schools and Communities Violence Prevention and Response Plan Act of 2023." Under the bill, each county superintendent of schools is to employ a violence prevention specialist. The violence prevention specialist is required to develop a safe schools and communities prevention and response plan in collaboration with, as applicable, local community mental health providers, school administrators, teachers, school resource officers, school safety specialists, guidance counselors, child study teams, and parents. The plan is to include the creation of a prevention and early intervention team, which will be comprised of the violence prevention specialist and three or four mental health specialists assigned by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services from local mental health providers. The team is required to work with the county superintendent of schools and individual school districts to develop the plan and to provide training and technical assistance. Statewide guidelines, training materials, consultation andtechnical assistance for the safe schools and communities violence prevention and response plan are to be developed and updated annually for school districts and violence prevention specialists by a qualified mental health organization with a Statewide presence and expertise in mental health treatment, training advocacy, and creating public awareness. | In Committee |
| A899 | Establishes three-year sickle cell disease pilot program; appropriates $10,200,000. | This bill establishes a three-year sickle cell disease pilot program and appropriates $10,200,000. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department), in consultation with the Department of Human Services, is to establish a three-year sickle cell disease pilot program, under which federally qualified health centers are to be selected by the department to develop and implement comprehensive sickle cell disease treatment programs and services. The department is to select federally qualified health centers for participation in the pilot program on a competitive basis based on criteria to be established by the Commissioner of Health (commissioner). First priority is to be given to federally qualified health centers located in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Trenton, Camden, and, subject to the availability of funds, to federally qualified health centers in other municipalities which demonstrate a patient population in that geographic area that is in need of sickle cell disease care. The federally qualified health centers selected for participation in the pilot program are to be eligible for financial support from funds appropriated to the department. The purpose of the pilot program is to: (1) link outpatient sickle cell disease care to sickle cell disease care in inpatient health care settings and other health care settings, which may include, if permitted by law, telehealth services; (2) provide coordinated, comprehensive, team-based medical, behavioral health, mental health, social support, and other services under the supervision of health care professionals who have expertise in treating individuals with sickle cell disease; (3) foster outreach to individuals and families with sickle cell disease and providers of medical, nursing, and social services who serve and treat persons with sickle cell disease; (4) promote sickle cell disease education and awareness; (5) develop initiatives to build a State medical workforce of clinicians who are knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell disease; and (6) establish practices for the collection of in-State data on sickle cell disease to monitor incidence, prevalence, demographics, morbidity, health care utilization, and costs. Federally qualified health centers seeking to participate in the pilot program are to develop comprehensive sickle cell disease treatment programs and services that provide coordinated, comprehensive, team-based medical, behavioral health, mental health, social support, and monitoring services under the supervision of health care professionals who have expertise in treating individuals with sickle cell disease. The department is to coordinate with federally qualified health centers participating in the pilot program and other health care facilities and health care professionals to establish centers of excellence for sickle cell disease research and innovation, as determined by the commissioner. | Dead |
| A3155 | Establishes requirements for use of deadly force. | This bill eliminates making an arrest or preventing an escape as justification for the use deadly force. Under current law, the use of deadly force is justified when used to make an arrest under certain circumstances. Specifically, the use of deadly force to effectuate an arrest is justified if the actor effecting the arrest is authorized to act as a peace officer, or has been summoned by and is assisting a peace officer, and reasonably believes that:· the force creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons and that the crime for which the arrest is made was homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, arson, robbery, or burglary of a dwelling; and· there is an imminent threat of deadly force to the actor or a third party; or· the use of deadly force is necessary to thwart the commission of a crime. A correctional police officer, or person authorized to act as a peace officer, is justified in using deadly force under current law if the officer or authorized person reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent the escape of a person committed to a jail, prison, or other institution for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of an offense, so long as the actor believes that the force employed creates no substantial risk of injury to an innocent person. This bill amends current law to provide that the use of deadly force to effectuate an arrest is only justified if there is an imminent threat of deadly force to the person using force or a third party. The bill also provides that the use of deadly force may not be used to prevent the escape of a person charged or convicted of an offense. | In Committee |
| A1968 | Provides for restricted use driver's license as alternatives for license suspension in municipal court. | This bill would allow the municipal court to provide restricted use driver's licenses to drivers whose licenses have been suspended. Under the bill, a person whose driver's license is suspended or revoked may apply to the municipal court for a restricted use driver's license. The court would consider the extent of financial hardship the person would suffer without a license and the probability that the person would repeat the offense when making the determination to provide for a restricted use driver's license. If the court determines that a restricted use driver's license is appropriate, the court would order that a restricted use driver's license be issued. The court would then forward the order to the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission who would issue the license. A restricted use driver's license would authorize the licensee to operate a motor vehicle during certain hours and between certain points solely for the purpose of traveling either to and from his place of employment or place of education. In addition, a restricted use driver's placard would be issued to each approved licensee. The placard would be required to be prominently displayed in the rear window of any vehicle being driven by a restricted use licensee. The fee imposed would be not more than $100 for the restricted use driver's license and placard. A restricted use driver's license issued under the bill would expire when the person's driver's license is restored following the period of suspension. The bill defines a "restricted use driver's license" as a license to operate a motor vehicle exclusively for employment-related or education-related purposes in compliance with the terms of this act. The license shall be of a color that makes it readily distinguishable from other driver's licenses issued by the State. This bill is based on Recommendation No. 10 of the Report of the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees, issued August 2018. | In Committee |
| A856 | Establishes Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as principal department in Executive Branch and specifies functions, powers, and duties of department. | This bill establishes the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) as a new principal department within the Executive Branch. The bill specifies the commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office. The commissioner serves as the administrator and chief executive officer of the DDEI. The functions, powers, and duties of the commissioner are set forth in this bill and will include consulting and assisting on efforts by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of Treasury to attempt to use underrepresented financial businesses to provide brokerage and investment management services; consulting and assisting on diversity, equity, and inclusion in investments by the State, and its political subdivisions, in the allocation of loans and grants for business formation, and in the provision of low interest loans and down payment support for homeowners; and consulting and assisting on diversity, equity, and inclusion in procurement by the State and its political subdivisions. The bill transfers certain State offices, units, and responsibilities to the DDEI. The functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Small Business Registration and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification Services Unit in the Department of the Treasury would be transferred to the DDEI. Additionally, the DDEI would be responsible for the operation and continued development of the central registry, known as the Selective Assistance Vendor Information (SAVI II) database, which lists businesses certified as eligible to perform contracts under any State set-aside program. The bill requires Statewide and State agency-specific strategic plans for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in State government workforce. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in consultation with the State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, and Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission must establish a coordinated Statewide initiative to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the State government workforce. Under the bill, the head of each State agency must, no later than 45 days following the issuance of the Statewide diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategic plan, and annually thereafter, develop and submit to Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategic plan. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to issue guidance on and State agencies to address: (1) paid internships, fellowships, and apprenticeships; (2) strengthening partnerships and recruitment with diverse communities and institutions; (3) pay equity (4) data collection (5) ensuring accessibility for State employees with disabilities; (6) evaluating the existence of any barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face in accessing State employment opportunities; and (7) the availability and use of diversity training programs. This bill establishes a requirement, to be overseen and enforced by the new department, that any entity which receives a development subsidy or financial assistance from the State submit and implement a strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The plan is intended to assist corporations and not-for-profit entities in better understanding the State's demographics, while affording minority-owned and women-owned businesses more opportunities to participate in the procurement of goods and services to the public and private sector. The bill specifies what information an entity is required to include in the strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan. Each recipient of a development subsidy or financial assistance is required, for the duration of the subsidy or five years, whichever is longer, to submit annual reports on the progress of the recipient towards achieving its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals for the reporting period. This bill also transfers the Division on Civil Rights to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The division currently is in the Department of Law and Public Safety and is under the direction of the Attorney General, in conjunction with a commission consisting of seven public members appointed by the Governor. Under the bill, the commissioner of the department assumes the responsibilities of the Attorney General. The public member commission continues in its current capacity. | In Committee |
| A1804 | Enhances notice requirements and occupancy restrictions for hotels and multiple dwellings following determination of potentially hazardous condition. | This bill would enhance notice requirements and occupancy restrictions for hotels and multiple dwellings following a determination of a potentially hazardous condition through an inspection conducted pursuant to the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) (HMDL). As used in the bill, potentially hazardous conditions would consist of imminent hazards to health, safety or welfare, or a deteriorating structural, sanitary, or other condition that, if unaddressed, may result in an imminent hazard prior to the next scheduled inspection conducted pursuant to the HMDL. The bill provides that, if the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) determines that a violation of the HMDL is a potentially hazardous violation, then the commissioner would be required to immediately send, by certified or ordinary mail, and by electronic mail, a written notice, stating the manner in which the hotel or multiple dwelling is out of compliance, to:· The mayor of the municipality;· The administrator, business administrator, city manager, township manager, municipal manager, or other municipal official with executive authority not vested in the mayor of the municipality;· All members of the governing body of the municipality in which the hotel or multiple dwelling is located;· The clerk, public information officer, or other municipal official responsible for the distribution of communications to the residents of the municipality; and· The owner and operator of the hotel or multiple dwelling, including, if applicable, to the property owner's last known address. Concerning a potentially hazardous violation, the bill requires the commissioner to include the notice in a mailing with large, easily readable text, presented on paper that is easily distinguishable from other notices or communications. The bill requires the owner or operator of the hotel or multiple dwelling to provide a hard copy of the notice to each existing resident or guest of the hotel or multiple dwelling. The bill also requires the owner or operator of the hotel or multiple dwelling to additionally post a copy of the notice in a conspicuous location in the lobby or common area of the hotel or multiple dwelling, in which the information is most likely to be viewed by residents or guests, and within ten feet of the elevator on each floor of the hotel or multiple dwelling, or, if the hotel or multiple dwelling does not have an elevator, within ten feet of, or in, the main stairwell of each floor. The bill permits a notice posted in a common area pursuant to this bill to be removed only after the commissioner issues the owner and operator a certificate of inspection. For a hotel room or dwelling unit impacted by a potentially hazardous violation, the bill restricts the owner or operator of any hotel or multiple dwelling from entering a new lease for non-owner occupancy, or make available for a new lease, for such time as the hotel or multiple dwelling is made to comply with the HMDL. The bill would take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment to provide time for the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this bill. | Dead |
| A1581 | Provides gross income tax credit for certain expenses paid or incurred for care and support of qualifying senior family member; designated as Caregiver's Assistance Act. | This bill, designated as the Caregiver's Assistance Act, provides a gross income tax credit to qualified caregivers, including resident taxpayers and resident individuals, who pay or incur qualified care expenses for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member. The bill provides that to be allowed a credit qualified caregivers who pay or incur qualified care expenses must have gross income that does not exceed an annual income limitation. The bill specifies that qualified caregivers must have gross income that does not exceed $100,000, or does not exceed $50,000 if married or a civil union partner filing separately or if unmarried, not a partner in a civil union, and not filing or eligible to file as head of household or as a surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes, to be allowed the credit. The bill provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 22.5 percent of the qualified care expenses paid or incurred by the qualified caregiver during the taxable year for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member that are not in excess of $3,000. The bill provides that if multiple qualified caregivers are allowed a credit for qualified care expenses of the same qualifying senior family member, the credit allowed will be allocated in equal amounts unless a different allocation is established by agreement. The bill provides that the credit is in addition to the benefit of the dependent deduction that may be received by the qualified caregiver for claiming the qualifying senior family member as a dependent on the caregiver's gross income tax return. The bill provides that the credit is refundable: the amount of any credit that reduces the qualified caregiver's tax liability to an amount less than zero is required to be refunded to the caregiver as an overpayment of tax. The bill provides that a qualified caregiver is eligible to receive the benefits of the credit, even if the caregiver has gross income below the statutory minimum subject to tax. The bill defines a qualifying senior family member as an individual who: (1) is 60 years of age or older and a relative of the qualified caregiver, or is 50 years of age or older, is a relative of the qualified caregiver, and qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, and (2) has gross income for the taxable year not in excess of the New Jersey Elder Index, as reported by the Department of Human Services pursuant to P.L.2015, c.53 (C.44:15-1 et seq.) for the most recent calendar year. The bill generally defines qualified care expenses as the expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year for the purchase, lease, or rental of tangible personal property and services that are necessary to allow the qualifying senior family member to be maintained within or at the qualified caregiver's or the qualifying senior family member's permanent place of abode in this State. | In Committee |
| A2109 | Establishes the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Pilot Program." | This bill entitled the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Pilot Program," is intended to aid in the revitalization of declining neighborhoods in the older cities by "seeding" them with a new middle class. The bill establishes a pilot program in four older cities, one in each region of the State, to try to attract recent college graduates to enter into a two-year commitment to settle within certain targeted residential neighborhoods. The four initial cities that will participate in the pilot program are Camden, Trenton, Jersey City, and Paterson. The cities would be responsible for identifying the targeted residential neighborhoods, although those neighborhoods would have to be primarily residential in character and located in a census tract in which the median household income is 60 percent or less of the median income for the housing region in which the census tract is located, as determined for a three-person household by the Department of Community Affairs in accordance with the latest federal decennial census. Each of the four cities participating in the pilot program would be eligible to offer up to 200 qualified graduates a financial incentive to agree to maintain their primary residence within a targeted residential neighborhood for a period of at least 24 months. To qualify for participation in the program, a graduate would need a degree from a two- or four-year accredited institution of higher education, and proof of outstanding student loan indebtedness of at least $7,000. At the end of the required residency period, the program participant would be reimbursed a total $7,000 towards their student loan obligations. This pilot program would be administered by the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority because businesses located within pilot municipalities and an enterprise zone designated pursuant to P.L.1983, c.303, (C.52:27H-60 et seq.) and subject to the "Corporation Business Tax Act (1945)," P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.) would be entitled to receive neighborhood scholar revitalization tax credits for contributions made to the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Student Loan Reimbursement Fund" established by the bill. This would assist UEZ businesses in recruiting highly educated workers by offering the student loan reimbursement program as an additional benefit. Monies from each pilot municipality's urban enterprise zone assistance fund account could be transferred into the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Student Loan Reimbursement Fund" for the purpose of funding student loan reimbursements. The bill specifies that the amount of the Corporation Business Tax (CBT) tax credit allowed to a business would be equal to the amount of each annual regulated contribution by the business to the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Student Loan Reimbursement Fund" established pursuant to section 3 of the bill, but limited to 50 percent of the amount of tax otherwise due by the business in a given tax year. The bill provides for the carry-forward of unused tax credits. At the end of three years, the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, would be required to report to the Governor and Legislature on the success of the pilot program, and make recommendations regarding either the expansion or termination of the pilot program. | In Committee |
| A2747 | Removes plenary retail distribution license limit for certain stores. | This bill increases the number of plenary retail distribution licenses that a person may obtain for use in connection with certain retail food stores and liquor stores. Under current law, a person or corporate entity is prohibited from holding more than two retail licenses to sell alcoholic beverages. The bill provides that immediately following the bill's effective date the holder of a plenary retail distribution license would not be subject to the two-license limitation when those retail licenses are used in connection with a retail food store located within an urban food desert. An urban food desert is defined in current law as a municipality, or physically contiguous urban area in the State, in which residents have limited access to nutritious foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, through supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers' markets. In addition, the bill provides that two years following the bill's effective date, a person may own or have an interest in a maximum of four retail licenses provided that two of those licenses are used in a qualifying retail food store or liquor store located throughout the State. Six years following the effective date of the bill, a person may hold not more than a total of six retail licenses provided that four of those licenses are used in a qualifying retail food store or liquor store located throughout the State. Under the bill, a qualifying retail food store is a retail store at which the sale of groceries and other food stuffs is the primary and principal business and constitutes at least 65 percent of the store's total annual sales. A qualifying liquor store is a store at which at least 90 percent of the store's annual sales are alcoholic beverages. Individuals who acquire more than two licenses under the provisions of the bill are required to pay a license transfer fee on each additional license that they acquire. The transfer fee is set at 10 percent of the amount the entity paid for the license and is payable to the municipality in which the licensed premises is situated. This transfer fee would not apply to the holder of a plenary retail distribution license used in connection with a retail food store located in an urban food desert. This bill would not increase the number of licenses that a municipality may issue based on population but, rather, increases the number of retail license that one person may hold. | In Committee |
| A2053 | Requires DCA to establish standards for prisoner reentry transitional housing. | This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commissioner of Corrections, to promulgate regulations establishing standards for publicly-supported transitional housing for former prisoners who are reentering the community. The standards are based on core features of the Fortune Academy, a model prisoner reentry transitional housing program in New York City. The regulations would help former prisoners successfully transition and reintegrate back into their communities. The regulations would have to include standards for the following: (1) ensuring the physical safety of the residents; (2) providing emergency and longer-term housing; (3) counseling and support services to assist residents successfully transition back into the community, including substance abuse treatment, medical services, independent living skills training, education, career development, family services, and recreation; (4) personalized care management, including targeted care for residents who served long terms of incarceration; and (5) assisting residents obtain permanent housing. | In Committee |
| A1951 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to Department of Law and Public Safety for public awareness campaign of victims' rights and VCCO assistance. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $750,000 from the General Fund to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) in the Department of Law and Public Safety for a public awareness campaign to inform victims of the provisions of the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and of the availability of compensation and other assistance from VCCO. | In Committee |
| A842 | Authorizes State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct disparity study concerning utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State procurement process. | This bill, as amended, would require the State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a disparity study to determine whether disparities exist in the availability and utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the State procurement process. Following completion of the study, the Chief Diversity Officer would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the officer's findings and making recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to promote opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises in the procurement of goods and services for State agencies. After the disparity study is submitted, the Chief Diversity Officer may, in the officer's discretion, prepare and submit additional reports identifying the extent to which previous recommendations have been successfully implemented and any apparent impact the implementation of such recommendations have had on State procurement in the preceding years. Studies which demonstrate the disparity between the availability and utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based procurement programs to alleviate historic discrimination against minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises. Every four years following the issuance of the first report the Chief Diversity Officer must submit an additional report to the Legislature on whether a study concerning the utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for State agencies is needed. The officer may request an appropriation of funding for the study. | In Committee |
| A2028 | Requires certain health care facilities to develop certain doula policies and procedures. | This bill requires hospitals that provide maternity services and birthing centers licensed in this State to adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient to select a doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing support before, during, and after labor and childbirth. Under the provisions of the bill, each hospital and birthing center will be required to provide a written copy of those policies and procedures to: each health care provider providing maternity services at the facility; each patient receiving maternity services at the facility; and any other person, at the request of the patient. Each hospital and birthing center will be required to post a summary of the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to the bill on the facility's Internet website. Each hospital and birthing center will designate a staff member to serve as a liaison between the facility and doulas and doula organizations in order to provide information concerning the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to the bill. | Dead |
| A2040 | "Personal Injury Trust Fund Transparency Act;" requires plaintiff to file personal injury trust claims under certain circumstances; addresses allocation of trust claims; establishes scheduling and discovery requirements for certain tort actions. | This bill requires the filing of a claim against a personal injury trust in certain circumstances, addresses the allocation of trust claims, and establishes discovery and scheduling requirements for certain personal injury actions. A personal injury trust is a trust or compensation fund that is established pursuant to a bankruptcy or other legal action in order to compensate plaintiffs who file claims as a result of harm potentially compensable in a personal injury action, for which the entity that established the personal injury trust is to be responsible. The personal injury trust compensation system operates independently of personal injury civil actions. It is the sponsor's belief that a lack of transparency and oversight in the personal injury trust compensation system has resulted in suppression of evidence in personal injury or tort actions; statements made in personal injury or tort actions by plaintiffs that are inconsistent with information provided to personal injury trusts, and may reflect inaccurate or untruthful information in support of personal injury or tort litigation by plaintiffs; and unfair compensation for certain personal injury plaintiffs. It is the sponsor's intent, through this legislation, to provide access to documentation that will enable claims to be evaluated based on accurate and reliable information. Under the bill, a plaintiff who files a personal injury claim or other tort claim must, within 30 days, provide the court with a sworn statement indicating that an investigation of all personal injury trust claims has been conducted and that any personal injury trust claims that can be made on the plaintiff's behalf have been filed. The plaintiff shall provide the parties with copies of all trust claims materials. The bill also allows a defendant to move the court to stay proceedings if the defendant identifies additional personal injury trust claims the defendant believes the plaintiff can file. In response, the plaintiff may file the claims, explain to the court why there is an insufficient basis to file the claims identified by the defendant, or request a determination from the court that the cost of submitting the personal injury trust claims would exceed the plaintiff's reasonably anticipated recovery. If the court determines that there is sufficient basis for the plaintiff to file the personal injury trust claims, the court shall stay the proceedings until the plaintiff files the personal injury trust claims and provides copies of the trust claims materials to the parties. If the court determines that the cost of filing the personal injury trust claims identified by the defendant exceeds the plaintiff's reasonably anticipated recovery from those trusts, the court shall stay the proceedings until the plaintiff provides the parties with a sworn statement of the plaintiff's history of exposure, usage, or other connection to personal injury or a tort covered by that personal injury trust. The bill requires the court to enter into the record before trial a list identifying each personal injury claim the plaintiff has made against a personal injury trust. Personal injury trust claims and trust claims materials are non-privileged under the bill. If a defendant is found liable for the plaintiff's injury, the defendant is entitled to a setoff in the amount of any money the plaintiff received from a personal injury trust and the value of any pending trust claims. Sanctions are available against a plaintiff that fails to comply with the act, including the potential for any judgment to be reopened and adjusted by the amount of any post-judgment personal injury trust payments received by the plaintiff. | In Committee |
| A599 | Establishes maternity care standards for general hospitals providing maternity care. | This bill requires the Department of Health to develop maternity care standards for the use of general hospitals that are licensed to provide maternity care. The training standards are to focus on ensuring the safety of maternity care patients throughout the prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods, with the goal of reducing the number of, and disparities in, adverse maternity care outcomes. | In Committee |
| A601 | Establishes Division of Advocacy for Developmentally Disabled within Office of Public Defender; designates public defender for developmentally disabled clients in criminal cases. | This bill would provide legal representation and other advocacy services to protect and advocate for the rights of developmentally disabled persons by establishing the Division of Advocacy for Developmentally Disabled within the Office of the Public Defender. This bill also provides that the Public Defender would designate at least one public defender in every office with knowledge of the needs of developmentally disabled persons to represent those clients with developmental disabilities in criminal cases. This bill would establish the Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled in the Office of the Public Defender to be under the supervision of the Director of the Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled. The division would be designated as the State's protection and advocacy agency for persons with developmental disabilities. The division would have all of the powers necessary to carry out its responsibilities as required to qualify for federal funding as the State protection and advocacy agency. The Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled would promote, advocate, and ensure the adequacy of the care received by persons with developmental disabilities, including persons within facilities and programs operated, funded, or licensed by the State. The division would be authorized to receive and investigate complaints and provide legal representation and other advocacy services on an individual or class basis. Eligibility for services for the developmentally disabled would be determined on the basis of the need of the client and in a manner consistent with the conditions of any grant obtained by the Public Defender to assist in implementing this bill. The Director of the Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled may employ, with the approval of the Public Defender, such assistants on a full time basis as are necessary to protect the rights of developmentally disabled persons. These assistants would have knowledge of the needs of developmental disabled persons. When exceptional circumstances arise, the director may retain, with the approval of the Public Defender, on a temporary basis such other expert assistants as are necessary pursuant to a reasonable fee schedule established in advance by the Public Defender. Cases would be assigned to staff attorneys, or attorneys hired by case, on a basis calculated to provide competent representation in light of the nature of the case, the services to be performed, the experience of the particular attorney and other relevant factors. The bill also supplements Title 2A and provides that the Public Defender would designate at least one deputy public defender or assistant public defender in every office with knowledge of the needs of developmentally disabled persons to represent those clients with developmental disabilities in criminal cases. This bill defines a developmentally disabled person by cross-referencing to the definition in section 3 of the "Developmentally Disabled Rights Act," P.L.1977, c.82 (C.30:6D-3). Pursuant to that section, a developmental disability means a severe, chronic disability of a person which: is attributable to either a mental or physical impairment, or a combination of mental or physical impairments; manifests before age 22; is likely to continue indefinitely; results in substantial functional limitations in at least three areas of major life activity, such as self-care and receptive and expressive language; and reflects the need for a combination and sequence of special inter-disciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services which are lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated. | In Committee |
| A2843 | Requires DOC to report certain information concerning halfway houses. | This bill would require the Commissioner of Corrections to report quarterly to the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly on the operation of residential community release programs in this State. These programs include assessment and treatment centers, halfway houses, and substance abuse treatment programs that assist inmates in transitioning back into society after completing their term of incarceration. The bill specifically requires these quarterly reports to include information on the total reimbursement provided; the rate of reimbursement received for each inmate; the number of inmates for which reimbursement was received; the number of inmates imprisoned for violent crimes and the total number of days the inmate was imprisoned; the number of inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes and the total number of days the inmates were imprisoned; the total number of inmates imprisoned for violent crimes who escaped or absconded and the total number of inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes who escaped or absconded; the actions taken to protect inmates imprisoned for non-violent crimes from inmates imprisoned for violent crimes; the number of documented incidents involving physical violence; the disciplinary actions taken against inmates accused of violent activity; and the actions taken to prevent violent behavior from occurring. The bill also would require the Commissioner of Corrections to annually report to the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly on the effectiveness of each residential community release program in this State, with a particular emphasis on recidivism rates for each program. | In Committee |
| A616 | Transfers jurisdiction over school meals programs from Department of Agriculture to DOE. | This bill would transfer authority over all school meals programs in the State from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to the Department of Education (DOE). A "school meals program" is defined to mean and include: the National School Lunch Program; the federal School Breakfast Program, including a school breakfast after the bell program; the Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option; the Child and Adult Care Food Program; any emergency meals distribution program; and any other similar State or federal nutrition assistance program that is designed to ensure that children enrolled in school, or that children or adults attending a day care center or other, similar temporary care facility, have regular and affordable access to nutritious meals. The transfer of authority under the bill would not affect any civil or criminal actions or proceedings that have been brought by or against the DOA in association with its administration and enforcement of a school meals program, and which are pending as of the bill's effective date. Nor would the transfer affect any order or recommendation that has been made by, or any other matters or administrative proceedings that are pending before, the DOA as of the bill's effective date. The existing orders, rules, and regulations of the DOA that have been issued in relation to the State's school meals programs would also remain in effect until they are either repealed or superseded by rules, regulations, and orders adopted by the DOE pursuant to the bill, whichever occurs first. Although the DOA currently has authority to administer and enforce all school meals programs operating in the State, this authority is superfluous to, and takes the department's attention away from, its main purposes and functions, which are to promote and protect the State's agriculture and agribusiness industries and lands, and to conserve soil and water resources for agricultural purposes. The primary purpose and function of the DOE, by contrast, is to support schools, students, educators, and school districts in order to ensure that students are capable of achieving academic excellence. Because access to nutritional meals is a proven means by which students enhance their capacity for academic success, and because the DOE's mission already requires it to focus on programs geared toward schools and students, the DOE is better positioned, and is the more appropriate department, to administer the school meals programs and to provide assistance to schools, students, parents, and guardians, in association with the operation of those programs. | In Committee |
| A3101 | Allows certain State agencies to sell Internet advertisements on agencies' websites as pilot program. | This bill authorizes certain State agencies to establish a three-year pilot program to sell Internet advertisements for display on their websites. Any agency, except for the New Jersey Lottery, with a ".com," ".org," or ".net" top-level domain in the domain name of their website would be permitted to establish a pilot program under the bill, as amended. The bill expresses the intention that accepting advertisements would not create a public forum, and that the website remain a non-public forum. The bill expressly prohibits advertisements for tobacco or alcohol products, for political advocacy, or that reduce the competitiveness or are otherwise antithetical to the mission of the agency. The bill also permits the head of an agency to disallow advertisements for products or services, or by sponsors, that the head deems inappropriate. The website must include a disclaimer stating that the advertisements do not imply endorsement by the State. "Internet advertisement" is defined to mean specific advertising methods on the Internet, including display or banner advertisements, sponsorships, and business listings where goods or services may be purchased online. The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish rules providing for the application and approval of an agency to establish a pilot program, and requires the department to approve at least one agency that applies, if any. The bill provides that each agency must develop policy, style, and content guidelines for website advertisements that ensure that the subject matter of the advertisement directly relates to the agency's business mission and purpose, and must submit those guidelines to the department for approval. Revenue generated will be deposited into the State General Fund by agencies for which expenditures are authorized through the annual appropriations act. For agencies not provided for through the annual appropriations act, the agency will remit to the State Treasurer such revenue generated from the sale of Internet advertisements as remains after deductions by the entity for the incremental cost of offering Internet advertisements and of an additional 10 percent of such revenue for the purpose of innovation in operations, programs or services. The bill requires each agency, not later than three months after the conclusion of the pilot program, to submit a detailed report to the Governor and the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the program, including a summary of expenditures and revenues under the program, together with recommendations concerning whether to continue the program. The purpose of the bill is to provide new sources of revenue for the State, particularly for State agencies that maintain high-traffic web pages. | In Committee |
| A887 | Requires Cannabis Regulatory Commission to annually report number of cannabis applications submitted and permits or licenses issued to certain persons. | This bill requires the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to annually report the number of applications submitted by and number of licenses or permits granted to persons who are minorities, Veterans, and women for standard medical cannabis alternative treatment center (ATC) permits; conditional or microbusiness medical cannabis ATC permits; clinical registrant permits; standard adult use cannabis licenses; and conditional or microbusiness adult use cannabis licenses. The CRC issues the licenses and permits for medical cannabis and adult use cannabis in NJ. Pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1986, c.195 (C.52:27H-21.18), "minority" means a person who is Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, or American Indian or Alaskan native. | In Committee |
| A897 | Establishes MOM Project oral health three-year pilot program in DOH; appropriates $4,150,000. | This bill establishes the MOM Project oral health three-year pilot program (program) in the Department of Health (department) and appropriates $4,150,000. Under the bill, "community oral health center" or "center" means the following in-State entities: a federally qualified health center, a dental home, or an acute care hospital licensed by the department that provides dental services to individuals who reside in a medically underserved area. "Dental home" means a licensed dental practice that administers services in manner that is accessible, culturally-sensitive, and family-centered. A "dental home" does not include a licensed dental practice if less than 75 percent of the dental practice's patients are individuals who are low income and who reside in a medically underserved area. "Eligible mother" or "mother" means a State resident who is pregnant, low-income, and not enrolled in, eligible for, or determined presumptively eligible for coverage under any Medicaid program. "Maternal and child health consortium" or "consortium" means a nonprofit organization licensed as a central service facility by the department, and incorporated under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Under the bill, the department is to administer the program in conjunction with at least one consortium. Within 90 days following the effective date of this bill, each participating consortium is to begin to provide the following program services: (1) Each consortium is to implement an outreach plan to identify eligible mothers, who reside in the area served by the consortium, and register the mothers in the program. Upon registration and in a manner that is consistent with federal and State privacy laws, the consortium is to endeavor to collect the following information from eligible mothers: whether the mother has or had access to a dental home during a current or prior pregnancy; the mother's oral hygiene routine, including the use of fluoride toothpaste; the mother's dietary habits; and the result of previous pregnancies. (2) Each consortium is to establish an oral health education program. Prior to the commencement of the oral health education program, each consortium is to require eligible mothers to complete a pre-education assessment that includes testing the mother's understanding of oral health and oral hygiene. (3) Each consortium is to provide eligible mothers a minimum of three hours of oral health education that includes the following: oral hygiene routines for mothers, infants, and children; nutritional counseling; education regarding the correlation between cariogenic disease and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and gastric changes; the impact of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol on a mother's oral health and the unborn child; recommendations and resources for routine oral health care for mothers, infants, and children; and education regarding available educational support. Oral health education program educators are to be compatible with the language and cultural needs of the eligible mothers enrolled in the oral health education program. (4) Following the eligible mother's completion of the oral health education program, the consortium is to require the eligible mother to complete a post-education assessment that includes testing to assess the mother's understanding of oral health and oral hygiene routines. Under the bill, within 90 days following the effective date of this bill, a community oral health center seeking to participate in the MOM Project is to file an application with the department, in a manner to be determined by the department. The department is to require an eligible community oral health center to enter into an agreement with a consortium to implement the following: (1) Following an eligible mother's completion of the oral health education program, the center is to develop a customized oral health treatment plan and nutritional recommendations for the mother, infant, and child, as applicable. (2) Following an eligible mother's completion of the oral health education program, provide the mother, infant, and child, as applicable, oral health treatment for one year. The dental care shall include the following: (a) a dental visit for cleaning, cavity risk assessment, periodontal charting, and to establish a one-year treatment plan; (b) comprehensive dental care and restorative treatment as needed; (c) a cleaning and treatment plan review approximately six months and one year following the date of the initial dental visit; (d) two dental visits for the infant or child; and (e) identification of a dental home for the child or infant before the infant receives his or her first tooth. Under the bill, within 180 days following the effective date of this bill, each consortium and health center is to compile and report relevant data to the department, as determined by the department. The department is to contract with a third-party to assist with data analysis and project evaluation activities. The department and the third-party hired are to informally convene an advisory panel to design an oral health model to be potentially included in the Medicaid program. The department is to prepare and submit a report of its findings to the Governor and to the Legislature. The bill appropriates $4,150,000 to the department to effectuate the purposes of the bill, as detailed in section 4 of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1993 | Concerns collection of data relating to Haitian migrants in NJ. | This bill directs the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to collect manage the collection of data on Haitian migrants in New Jersey, no matter their documentation status, from various sources such as federal, State, and local governments, and non-profit organizations. Haitian migrants in New Jersey have fled political unrest and financial trouble to live a safe and prosperous life in this State. Their journeys, whether they be by boat or on foot, are long and dangerous, sometimes leading to injury or death. New Jersey has the fourth largest Haitian-American population in the United States, as about 69,000 Haitian-Americans live in this State. As some of the Haitian migrants living in New Jersey are undocumented, it is difficult to know how many need assistance. Collecting data on Haitian migrants living in New Jersey, no matter their documentation status, will allow the State to help them more efficiently. This bill would take effect on the 60th day following enactment. | In Committee |
| A1805 | Requires establishment of residential rental habitability database and provides certain penalties and causes of action concerning residential leases. | This bill requires the establishment of a habitability database for use in landlord-tenant proceedings, and certain penalties for violations of P.L.2013, c.206 (C.2A:18-61.67), concerning a tenant's entitlement to attorney's fees under certain circumstances for landlord-tenant actions, and enables a residential tenant in public housing to bring a proactive action against their landlord for habitability violations pursuant to P.L.1971, c.224 (C.2A:42-85 et seq.). Specifically, the bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner), in coordination with the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (director), to establish and maintain a habitability database for use by a Judge of the Superior Court for landlord-tenant actions, which would include certain information pertaining to habitability violations or other safety related notices or citations, as provided in the bill. Each defect within the index and file would be categorized: (1) as a first, second, or third and subsequent defect; (2) by the length of time that the defect has persisted; and (3) by whether or not the subject of the defect is non-hazardous, hazardous, or immediately hazardous. The bill requires that: the court take judicial notice of the contents of the database; the contents be electronically displayed or printed and made available for the court and litigants; and the contents constitute prima facie evidence of any matter stated within. The bill also establishes a penalty for a landlord's failure to comply with section 2 of P.L.2013, c.206 (C.2A:18-61.67), which requires a landlord to include in a lease that the tenant is entitled to recover attorney's fees or expenses to the same extent as the landlord under certain circumstances. The bill establishes a penalty of $500 for a first offense, and $1,000 for a second and subsequent offense: (1) in an action brought by the commissioner or Attorney General; and (2) in a separate cause of action brought by the tenant, in addition to reasonable attorney's fees or expenses. This bill also allows a tenant in public housing to bring an action pursuant to P.L.1971, c.224 (C.2A:42-85 et seq.) for habitability defects. Currently, a tenant in public housing is excluded from the ability to bring a proactive private cause of action against their landlord for habitability defects. This bill amends the definition of a "housing space" to eliminate the exception for public housing, allowing tenants in public housing to bring the cause of action proactively. Finally, the bill makes technical changes and would take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment, and would apply to tenancies commencing on or after the effective date of the bill, except that the commissioner and the director would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A620 | Establishes New Jersey-Africa Commission. | This bill establishes the New Jersey-Africa Commission ("commission") which shall consist of 21 members, of whom five are State cabinet members who shall serve ex officio. For the purposes of complying with the State Constitution, the commission is to be allocated within the Department of the Treasury. Of the 16 public members, four are to be appointed by the President of the Senate, four by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and eight by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Public members are to serve staggered terms of three years. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their expenses. The bill requires that the Governor designate a chairperson and any co-chairpersons deemed necessary by the Governor. The commission is to organize itself into five committees, as follows: 1) a Committee on Economic Development and Trade, to be headed by the Director of the Division of Business Assistance, Marketing, and International Trade; 2) a Committee on Education and Human Resource Development, to be headed by the Commissioner of Education; 3) a Committee on Health and Medicine, to be headed by the Commissioner of Health; 4) a Committee on Culture and Tourism, to be headed by the Secretary of State; and 5) a Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, to be headed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The commission's responsibility under the bill is to make recommendations to the Division of Business Assistance, Marketing, and International Trade for a broad series of exchanges between the State of New Jersey and African nations. Within one year of the commission's initial organizational meeting, the commission is required to issue an interim report of its work and provide a copy to the Governor, each member of the Senate and each member of the General Assembly. Thereafter, annual reports shall be issued by February 1st of each succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year. This bill requires that staff support for the commission and its committees be provided by the Division of Business Assistance, Marketing, and International Trade. Accordingly, the bill provides no appropriation to the New Jersey-Africa Commission. | In Committee |
| A596 | Provides State information technology contracts will require use of software to document computer use by contractor. | This bill provides that any information technology contract entered into by a State agency, having a value in excess of $100,000 will require the information technology contractor to use software to verify that all hours billed for work under the contract for services performed on a computer are eligible charges. Every such contract must specifically provide that the State agency will not pay for hours worked on a computer unless the hours are verifiable by software or by data collected by software. The bill provides specific functions that this software must perform in order to document computer use in performance of a contract. It will apply to agencies in the Executive Branch of State government and to independent State authorities, commissions, instrumentalities, or agencies. | In Committee |
| A623 | Concerns temporary disability insurance and family leave insurance benefits. | This bill: 1. Extends TDI and FLI benefits to employees providing care for family members needed because of a public health emergency or state of emergency, including, if federal funds are available, the closure of a school or place of care. 2. Extends FLI benefits to care needed because a certain exigencies arising out of active military service. 3. Sets requirements regarding employer notification to employees of their rights, including their right to unemployment benefits after leave if an employee is not restored to employment after leave because of a reduction in force occurring during the leave. 4. Provides that an employee who is eligible for both earned sick leave and either TDI or FLI benefits, may use either the earned sick leave or whichever is applicable of the TDI or FLI benefits, and may select the order in which they are taken, but may not receive more than one kind of paid leave benefits during any period of time. 5. Extends TDI or FLI benefits to an employee regardless of the amount of time an employee has worked or the amount of the employees earnings, so long as the employee earns at least $1,000 during the employee's base year. 6. Provides that the weekly benefit rates for TDI or FLI benefits taken during a period of unemployment are set at the rates for TDI or FLI benefits, instead of the rates for unemployment compensation. 7. Provides the option to self-employed individuals of obtaining coverage for TDI and FLI benefits if they make contributions to the TDI fund which are the equivalent to the contributions made by employers and employees. 8. Eliminates the seven-day waiting period for TDI benefits; 9. Provides the right to reinstatement to equivalent employment after a period of leave applies to all periods in which TDI or FLI benefits are provided, including extending that right to FLI leave takers employed by employers with less than 30 employees, as is presently the case for TDI leave takers. 10. Requires, when employees take leave with TDI or FLI benefits, that employers maintain health insurance coverage during the leave period on the same terms as when the employees are working. 11. Provides that an employee's statement that the employee or member of the employee's family is a victim of domestic or sexual violence is sufficient documentation in a claim for benefits. | In Committee |
| A845 | Requires access to law enforcement disciplinary records as government records; requires such records to be retained for certain period of time. | Access to government records promotes general transparency in government. Access can expose significant failings and provide insight into what can be done to effectuate meaningful change. This is especially critical in the context of police disciplinary records. This bill makes law enforcement disciplinary records accessible as government records. Under the bill, certain information pertaining to the law enforcement officer, or the officer's family, the complainant, or the complainant's family, and a witness, or the witness' family, will be redacted. Under the bill, law enforcement disciplinary records includes, but are not limited to: complaints, allegations, and charges; the name of the officer complained of or charged; the transcript of any disciplinary trial or hearing, including any exhibits; the disposition of any proceeding; and the final written opinion or memorandum supporting the disposition and discipline imposed including the agency's complete factual findings and its analysis of the conduct and appropriate discipline of the covered officer; and internal affairs records; and videos that record incidents that gave rise to complaints, allegations, charges, or internal affairs investigations. This bill also requires that the disciplinary records of law enforcement officers must be maintained for a minimum period of not less than 20 years from the date that such document was created, except that any video and audio recording created by a body-worn camera, mobile video recorder, or other similar recording device, which recorded the incident or conduct giving rise to any complaint, allegation, charge or internal affairs investigation, must be maintained for a period not less than five years if such evidence is not part of a criminal, juvenile, or officer disciplinary investigation, or a civil action. If any video and audio recording created by a body-worn camera, mobile video recorder, or other similar recording device, which recorded the incident or conduct giving rise to any complaint, allegation, charge or internal affairs investigation is part of a criminal, juvenile, or disciplinary investigation, such records must be maintained until, at a minimum, the time of a final adjudication or conviction, including the exhaustion of any appeals, or post-conviction relief. If any video and audio recording created by a body-worn camera, mobile video recorder, or other similar recording device, which recorded the incident or conduct giving rise to any complaint, allegation, charge or internal affairs investigation is part of a civil action, such records must be maintained until, at a minimum, the time of a final resolution of the civil action, including the exhaustion of any appeals, or post-conviction relief. | In Committee |
| A3153 | Establishes certain benefits for Class Two special law enforcement officers; allows arson investigators to carry a firearm at all times. | This bill establishes certain benefits for Class Two special law enforcement officers. Under current law, Class Two special law enforcement officers only have full police powers while on duty and are required to return their firearms to the officer in charge of their station at the end of each workday. This bill authorizes all Class Two special law enforcement officers who successfully complete the statutorily required training programs to exercise full police power and carry their firearms at all times when in this State. The bill also allows arson investigators to carry a firearm at all times while in this State. In addition, the bill establishes new requirements for Class One and Class Two special law enforcement officers. Specifically, the bill requires all special law enforcement officers to be between 21 and 75 years of age and to submit to a drug test at the time of appointment. The bill also waives the training requirements to become a Class Two special law enforcement officer for persons who previously served as a full-time corrections officer, sheriff's officer, or law enforcement officer. This bill also clarifies that Class Two special law enforcement officers are granted the same protections as all law enforcement officers. Under current law, a simple assault is upgraded to an aggravated assault if committed against a law enforcement officer while clearly identifiable as being engaged in official duties or due to law enforcement status. Current law also makes it a fourth degree crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer and a second degree crime to knowingly take or attempt to exercise unlawful control over a law enforcement officer's firearm. This bill clarifies that the same penalties for the crimes of assaulting, impersonating, or disarming a law enforcement officer apply if committed against a Class Two special law enforcement officer. The bill also specifically extends to Class Two special law enforcement officers the same immunity from civil liability granted to regular full-time law enforcement officers. Under the bill, Class Two special law enforcement officers would be permitted to act as security at polling place on the day of an election to ensure that qualified voters are not obstructed from voting. The bill authorizes the automatic expungement of criminal charges that are filed against any law enforcement officer, including any Class Two special law enforcement officer, in the course of official duties if the officer is found not guilty. Class Two special law enforcement officers also would be entitled to paid leave to attend any State or national convention of the Special Police Organization. Under current law, paid leave is only granted to members of an organization affiliated with the New Jersey Policemen's Benevolent Association, Inc., the Fraternal Order of Police, the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association or the Professional Fire Fighters Association. Currently, special law enforcement officers are prohibited from working more than 20 hours per week except: 1) during periods of emergency, 2) in resort municipalities, 3) or to provide public safety and law enforcement services to a public entity. This bill requires counties and municipalities in which special law enforcement officers work more than 20 hours per week to purchase liability insurance for acts or omissions committed by special law enforcement officers acting in the course of their official duties. The bill also allows a department, commission, or agency to dismiss a complaint filed by a private citizen or an inmate against a regularly appointed, full-time law enforcement officer or Class Two special law enforcement officer without full investigation if it determines that the complaint does not constitute a violation of law or departmental rule or regulation. A complaint filed by a private citizen or an inmate also may be dismissed if the complainant failed to substantially comply with the complaint procedure prescribed by the employing department. Finally, the bill expands the list of retired law enforcement officers who are eligible to receive a permit to carry a handgun to include retired arson investigators and Class Two special law enforcement officers who retire after four years of service. Under current law, certain retired law enforcement officers may annually apply for a permit to carry a handgun, until those officers reach age 75, at which time they are no longer eligible. The permit allows a retired law enforcement officer to carry a handgun at all times. Under this bill, retired arson investigators and Class Two special law enforcement officers who retire after four years of service would be eligible to receive a carry permit. | In Committee |
| A847 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $1 billion to provide Grants for After School Recreation in Urban Areas. The bill provides that the grants will be allocated by the Commissioner of Education for the following purposes: improving, retrofitting, and rebuilding playgrounds, public swimming pools, and other recreational infrastructure; reopening parks that have not been in operation for a long period of time; and establishing, enhancing, and procuring equipment and other materials for mentorship programs and organized after school and summer educational programs that would include computer science education, home economics education, and education concerning other life-building skills. | In Committee |
| A1784 | Enhances protections against fraudulent deed recordings. | This bill enhances protections against fraudulent deed recordings by requiring the county recording officer to notify the transferor any time a deed transfer is being recorded for his or her property. To facilitate this requirement, the bill directs the recording officer to accept and retain a submission from a property owner of his or her preferred mailing address or e-mail address, or both. The "county recording officer" is also known as the "register of deeds and mortgages" in some counties, and the "county clerk" in the others. To further enhance protections against fraudulent deed recordings, this bill also requires the person recording the deed to submit an affidavit of title as a prerequisite to the actual deed recording. The bill allows the county recording officer to collect an additional $2 in addition to existing recording fees to offset the cost of the notification requirement. The bill takes effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment in order to allow recording offices to adjust fees. | In Committee |
| A595 | Prohibits disclosure of personal information pertaining to certain health care workers who are victims of assault; establishes civil penalty for each violation. | This bill prohibits the disclosure of personal information pertaining to certain health care workers who are assaulted by a patient or resident of a health care facility to prevent further violence, threats or intimidation against the victim. Specifically, the bill prohibits the disclosure of the name and address of a victim of an alleged simple assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, or aggravated sexual assault on a report, statement, court document, indictment, or complaint which is provided to the public if the actor is a patient or resident at a health care facility and the victim is: 1) a health care worker employed by a licensed health care facility to provide direct patient care; 2) a health care professional licensed or otherwise authorized pursuant to Title 26 or Title 45 of the Revised Statutes to practice a health care profession; or 3) a direct care worker at a State or county psychiatric hospital or State developmental center or veterans' memorial home. The bill requires this information to be omitted or redacted from the document. The bill also requires that any report, statement, court document, indictment, or complaint which states the name or address of a victim be kept confidential and unavailable to the public, unless authorized pursuant to a court order. Any person who purposefully discloses, releases, or otherwise makes available to the public, without authorization, any of these documents would be subject to a civil penalty of $100 for each document disclosed in violation of the bill. According to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, health care and social service workers experience the highest rates of injuries caused by workplace violence and are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall. In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor reported that healthcare workers accounted for 73 percent of the more than 18,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence. | In Committee |
| A617 | Authorizes creation of Juneteenth commemorative license plates. | This bill authorizes the creation of Juneteenth commemorative license plates by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The license plates are to cost $50 for the initial application and $10 annually thereafter for renewal, in addition to other registration fees. Monies collected from the license plate program are to be deposited in a special fund called the "Juneteenth License Plate Fund." The monies deposited in the fund are to be appropriated annually to the New Jersey Historical Commission and are to be used by the New Jersey Historical Commission to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth. The bill provides that public funds are not to be used for the initial costs of establishing the Juneteenth license plate program. Prior to deposit in the Juneteenth License Plate Fund, monies from the license plate program are to be provided to the MVC to offset the costs of implementing the license plate program. In addition, prior to designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Juneteenth license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, the following requirements are required to be met: (1) an individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission must provide the MVC with the non-public monies necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the Juneteenth license plate program; and (2) a liaison appointed by the New Jersey Historical Commission pursuant to the bill is required to provide the MVC with not less than 500 completed applications for Juneteenth license plates. Juneteenth is a State and federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans and is often observed as a celebration of African-American culture. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865. | In Committee |
| A594 | Allows direct deposit of adoption subsidy payments. | This bill requires that the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families establish policies and procedures to allow for the disbursement of adoption subsidy payments by direct deposit into an adoptive parent's bank account upon written request of the adoptive parent. Currently, adoption subsidy payments are made by paper check and mailed by the Department of Treasury to the adoptive parent's current mailing address. | In Committee |
| A2143 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), to prohibit smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Current law prohibits smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces, with certain exceptions, including indoor public places and workplaces which are within the perimeter of casinos and casino simulcasting facilities and accessible to the public for wagering. This bill would eliminate these exceptions from the smoking ban. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that casino workers are at greater risk for lung and heart disease because of secondhand smoke, and a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that the air in casinos can have up to 50 times more cancer-causing particles than the air on rush-hour highways. This bill would protect all workers in New Jersey from the hazards of second hand smoke by requiring that casinos and casino simulcasting facilities be smoke-free workplaces. | In Committee |
| A862 | Creates State business assistance program to establish contracting agency procurement goals for socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises. | This bill creates a State business assistance program to establish contracting agency procurement goals for socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises. The business assistance program establishes an annual goal for State contracting agencies, as well as guidelines for public institutions of higher education, in awarding contracts to certified and qualified business enterprises. The program is designed to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in obtaining State government contracts in the following areas: construction, architecture and engineering; professional services; goods and services; and information technology services. The bill requires both of the criteria in the definition of "economically disadvantaged" to be met and includes a physical disability, but is not limited to, a service-connected disability declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor. The bill also includes sexual orientation, and gender identity in the definition of "socially disadvantaged." Additionally, the director is permitted to accept State-approved third-party certifications that show a business enterprise owner qualifies as socially and economically disadvantaged. The purpose of this bill is to recognize the need to encourage, nurture, and support the growth of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, to foster their development, and to increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace. | Dead |
| A597 | Permits union officials who represent probation officers to participate in all union activities. | This bill would permit certain union officials who represent probation officers, supervisors, and other related titles in the State Judiciary to participate in union activity, including: lobbying, the commitment of organization funds, and partisan political activity. The bill applies to union officers on full-time leave pursuant to N.J.S.11A:6-12 representing collective negotiations units which represent probation officers, supervisors, and other related titles in the Judiciary. | In Committee |
| A1842 | Excludes certain income earned from health promotion or disease prevention work from income eligibility determination under NJ FamilyCare, WFNJ, and NJ SNAP. | This bill prohibits the Department of Human Services from using the first $5,000 in income earned in supporting a health promotion or disease prevention program as an hourly employee of a community-based organization, local health department, or other similar organization in determining an applicant's income eligibility, or re-determining a beneficiary's income eligibility, for the Medicaid program, the NJ FamilyCare program, the Work First New Jersey Program, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under the bill, "disease prevention program" means a program that involves actions or efforts to reduce or eliminate exposure to risks that might increase the chances that an individual or a community will incur disease. "Health promotion program" means a program that engages and empowers individuals and communities to develop behaviors that improve and maintain an individual's health. | In Committee |
| A642 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| AJR68 | Designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey. Poor menstrual hygiene undermines the opportunities, health, and overall social status of millions of women and girls around the world, often preventing them from reaching their full potential. It is the sponsor's intent that designating an annual "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will help recognize and promote efforts taking place at the local, State, and global levels to promote good menstrual hygiene, ensure equitable access to feminine hygiene products, end period poverty, and eliminate stigmas associated with menstruation. Designating May 17 as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will also help celebrate the achievements of Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, an inventor who pioneered a useful menstrual hygiene product that was overlooked solely because Ms. Kenner was Black. Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner's birthday was May 17, and so designating the day as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will afford her a measure of long-deferred but richly deserved recognition. This resolution calls on the Governor to annually issue a proclamation and call upon public officials, private organizations, and all citizens of New Jersey to observe "Menstrual Empowerment Day" with appropriate awareness activities and programs. | In Committee |
| A865 | Requires certain disclosures by providers of commercial financing. | This bill requires certain providers of commercial financing to provide disclosures to recipients. Under the bill, "provider" is defined to mean a person who extends a specific offer of commercial financing to a recipient and includes a person, including a broker, who solicits and presents specific offers of commercial financing on behalf of a third party. The bill provides that "recipient" means a person, or the authorized representative of a person, who applies for commercial financing and is made a specific offer of commercial financing by a provider, but does not include a person acting as a broker. Pursuant to the bill, "commercial financing" is defined to mean open-end financing, closed-end financing, sales-based financing, factoring transaction, or any other form of financing, the proceeds of which the recipient does not intend to us primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. The bill requires a provider to, at the time of extending a specific offer of commercial financing that is a sales-based, closed-end, or open-end financing, or a factoring transaction, make certain disclosures to the recipient in a form and manner to be determined by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. The required disclosures vary by the type of commercial financing or factoring transaction, and include, but are not limited to: (1) the finance charge; (2) the estimated annual percentage rate, using the words "annual percentage rate" or the abbreviation "APR", expressed as a yearly rate, inclusive of any fees and finance charges, and calculated in accordance with section 1026.22 of Subpart C of Regulation Z (12 C.F.R. s.1026.22) of the federal "Truth in Lending Act" (15 U.S.C. s.1601 et seq.) and according to certain tolerances and requirements; (3) the total repayment amount; (4) a description of all other potential fees and charges; and (5) a description of collateral requirements or security interests, if any. The bill also provides that the commissioner may require by regulation a provider extending a specific offer of commercial financing that is not open-end financing, closed-end financing, sales-based financing, or a factoring transaction but otherwise meets the definition of commercial financing pursuant the bill to make certain disclosures to the recipient that are delineated in the bill. Under the bill, in addition to other disclosures required pursuant to the bill, a broker who charges any fees, charges, or commissions that would be paid by the recipient of the financing shall provide, at the time of extending a specific offer for a commercial financing transaction and in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, a written disclosure, in a document separate from the provider's contract with the recipient, stating the following, if the information is not contained within the disclosure offered by the provider directly to the recipient: (1) a list of all fees or commissions that would be paid to the broker by the recipient in connection with the commercial financing; (2) the total dollar amount of fees, charges, or commissions listed pursuant to the bill; and (3) any increase to the annual percentage rate due to the charges listed above and the resulting dollar cost. The bill requires a provider to obtain the recipient's written or electronic signature on all disclosures required to be presented to the recipient pursuant to the bill before authorizing the recipient to proceed further with the commercial financing transaction application. Under the bill, a provider is not required to obtain the recipient's signature on any disclosure for a commercial financing transaction that is not consummated. When a provider provides multiple disclosures to a recipient during the negotiation of a commercial financing transaction that is ultimately consummated, the provider need only obtain the recipient's signature on the final disclosure that corresponds to the consummated transaction. Nothing in this the bill prevents a provider from disclosing additional information on a commercial financing being offered to a recipient but additional information is not to be disclosed as part of the disclosure required pursuant to the bill. The information required to be disclosed pursuant to subsections a. through i. of section 6 of the bill is to appear in the disclosure document before any additional information is disclosed by a provider, and is to be in larger font and visually separated from the additional disclosure information. If other metrics of financing cost are disclosed or used in the application process of a commercial financing, the metrics are not to be presented as a "rate" if they are not the annual interest rate or the annual percentage rate. The term "interest," when used to describe a percentage rate, is only to be used to describe an annualized percentage rate, including, but not limited to, the annual interest rate. When a provider states a rate of finance charge or a financing amount to a recipient during an application process for commercial financing, the provider is to state the rate as an "annual percentage rate," using that term or the abbreviation "APR." The bill provides that a provider is not to be liable for any failure to comply with any requirement imposed by the bill, if within 60 days after discovering an error, and prior to the institution of a civil action by a recipient or the receipt of written notice of the error from the recipient, the provider notifies the recipient of the error and makes whatever adjustments are necessary to assure that the recipient will not be required to pay an amount in excess of the charge actually disclosed, or the dollar equivalent of the annual percentage rate actually disclosed, whichever is lower. A provider is to reimburse the recipient in the event an amount was paid by the recipient in excess of the charge actually owed. A provider or financer is not to be liable for inadvertently disclosing a finance charge, annual percentage rate, periodic payment or irregular payment, average monthly cost, maximum non-interest finance charge, or prepayment fee or charge that exceeds the amount that the provider is required to disclose under the bill. The bill requires the commissioner to promulgate regulations concerning the calculation or determination of any metric required to be disclosed to a recipient; and to develop and prescribe the form and manner in which a provider is to make a disclosure pursuant to the bill, which form and manner shall allow recipients to easily compare financing options, in a clear and conspicuous manner. A provider or broker that violates any provision of the bill, as determined by the commissioner, is to be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 for each violation, or not more than $10,000 for each willful violation. In addition, upon a finding by the commissioner that a provider or broker has knowingly violated the provisions of the bill, the commissioner may order additional relief, including, but not limited to, a permanent or preliminary injunction on behalf of any recipient affected by the violation. A recipient or provider that is subject to a violation of the bill may bring an action against the provider or broker and recover a civil penalty if the court finds the provider or broker knowingly violated the provisions of the bill. The bill does not apply to: (1) a financial institution; (2) a lender regulated under the federal "Farm Credit Act" (12 U.S.C. s.2001 et seq.); (3) a commercial financing transaction secured by real property; (4) a lease as defined in N.J.S.12A:2A-103 or a purchase money obligation as that term is defined in N.J.S.12A:9-103; (5) a person or provider who makes not more than five commercial financing transactions in this State in a 12 month period; (6) an individual commercial financing transaction in an amount over $500,000 dollars; or (7) an inventory loan financing agreement or transaction entered into pursuant to chapter 9 of Title 12A of the New Jersey Statutes. | In Committee |
| A608 | Requires person with an alcoholic beverage license to carry alcoholic beverage liability insurance under certain circumstances. | This bill requires a person holding a Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E alcoholic beverage license to carry a policy of alcoholic beverage liability insurance unless the person carries a commercial general liability policy that provides coverage for alcoholic beverage liability. | In Committee |
| A1952 | Requires members, officers, and employees of Legislature to undergo implicit bias and cultural competency training. | This bill requires implicit bias and cultural competency training for members, officers, and employees of the Legislature. Implicit bias is a bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. Cultural competency is the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from different cultures or belief systems. An online tutorial must be completed by April 1 of every even-numbered year and training must be done annually. Successful completion of both the online tutorial and the annual training must be communicated to the Legislative Counsel and such communications will be considered public information. Every day, the Legislature creates laws that impact people of all backgrounds and cultures. In doing this important work, it is critical for all members, officers, and employees of the Legislature to understand their own biases as well as cultures and belief systems different from their own. | In Committee |
| A1441 | Requires municipal-wide reassessment of real property under certain circumstances. | This bill revises how real property assessments are determined across the State. Current law requires that the standard in the State for the assessment of a parcel of real property is its "true value," which is essentially the market value of a parcel of real property. This bill would require that the true value of real property be determined by a municipal-wide reassessment of that real property performed by municipal assessors when the ratio of assessed value to true value is lower than 90 percent or greater than 110 percent. The failure of an assessor to perform these periodic municipal-wide reassessments and maintain the ratio of assessed to true value in the municipality at not less than 90 percent or greater than 110 percent in any tax year would be considered "good cause" for the removal of the assessor from his or her position. The assessor of each municipality would be required to perform an initial municipal-wide reassessment of real property not later than January 1 of the third tax year next following the enactment of the bill, and then perform periodic reassessments as required by the bill. | In Committee |
| A2630 | Creates special license plates supporting Autism Awareness. | This bill authorizes the creation of a special license plate supporting Autism Awareness. The design of the Autism Awareness license plate is to be chosen by the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission), in consultation with the Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism (council). In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Autism Awareness license plates. The additional fees, after the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the " Autism Awareness License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, to be expended in consultation with the council. . The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per license plate in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the Autism Awareness license plates. If the average cost exceeds $50 for two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used by the commission for the initial cost of designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Autism Awareness license plates or any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Autism Awareness license plate program. The bill also requires that an individual or entity designated by the council contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Autism Awareness license plates, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill prohibits the commission from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Autism Awareness license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until: (1) an individual or entity designated by the council has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Autism Awareness license plate program; and (2) the council, or its designee, has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for Autism Awareness license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The council, or any individual or entity designated by the council, may also publicize the availability of Autism Awareness license plates in any manner the council deems appropriate. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided by an individual or entity designated by the council. The bill expires after 12 months if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| A3059 | Repeals $100,000 cap on sales and use tax exemption for certain capital improvements made by businesses participating in Urban Enterprise Zone program. | This bill retroactively repeals the $100,000 cap on the sales tax exemption for retail sales of materials, supplies, and services for the exclusive use of erecting structures or buildings on, or improving, altering or repairing the real property of a qualified business, or a contractor hired by the qualified business to make such improvements, alterations, or repairs. This sales tax exemption is currently available to qualified businesses participating in the State Urban Enterprise Zone program. The sales tax exemption was enacted in August of 2021 with a cap of $100,000, and applies to sales and uses on or after January 1, 2022. This bill keeps the exemption in place but eliminates the cap retroactively to January 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| A1811 | Requires DEP to adopt Statewide plan to reduce lead exposure from contaminated soils and drinking water. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection to develop and adopt, within one year after the effective date of the bill, a Statewide plan to reduce public exposure to lead in the environment. The department would be required to use existing soil testing results from site remediations that have been submitted to the department, as well as public water supply and private well testing results and any other relevant information it may have, in preparing the plan and any updates thereto. The department would be required to designate those geographic areas where lead in soils or drinking water poses the greatest danger of exposure to the public. The bill would require the department to identify public moneys that may be used to address the risks of exposure to lead and prioritize the expenditure of public moneys to remediate soils or drinking water supplies to minimize those risks. The bill would also require the department to develop a public education program to ensure the widespread dissemination of information concerning the health risks posed by lead exposure and measures that may be taken to minimize the risks. | In Committee |
| AJR16 | Permits evidence of prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination be admissible as hearsay exception. | This Joint Resolution amends the Rules of Evidence to permit the jury to consider a statement by a declarant as it relates to sexual assault or employment discrimination in certain cases. The resolution permits statements by the declarant relating to sexual assault or employment discrimination when: (i) the complaint was made spontaneously and voluntarily, (ii) within a reasonable amount of time after the crime had occurred, and (iii) to a person the victim ordinarily would turn to for support. The resolution permits admission of declarant's statement for the purposes of assessing the credibility of the complainant with respect to the commission of the offense; to negate the inference that the victim's initial delay or silence means the complaint was fabricated; or when relevant, and to the extent necessary, to explain the investigative process and complete the narrative of events leading to the defendant's arrest. | In Committee |
| A610 | Concerns certification of tax collectors. | This bill revises the manner by which a tax collector may become certified in the collection of property taxes in municipalities that operate on the State fiscal year budget cycle, rather than on a calendar year budget cycle. Currently, a candidate for certification as a tax collector is required to take, and pass, an additional portion of the certification test related to State fiscal year tax collection in order to serve as a tax collector in a State fiscal year municipality. Many candidates do not elect to take the State fiscal year portion of the examination. This has resulted in comparatively fewer certified tax collectors who are certified to serve as a tax collector in a municipality that operates on a State fiscal year budget cycle. This bill would revise the process for certification as a tax collector for State fiscal year municipalities by allowing a candidate to simply take an additional course in order to attain that certification. | Dead |
| A602 | Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to study and develop reparations proposals for African-Americans in this State. The task force would consist of 11 members, comprised of four legislators and seven public members. Three members would be appointed by the Governor and eight members would be appointed by the Legislative leadership. At a minimum, four of the public members would be appointed from persons recommended by organizations concerned with the issues of civil rights, human rights, racial, social and economic justice and equality, reparations and other issues concerning the African-American community. The members of the task force will appoint a chair and a vice chair of the task force. The members of the task force would not be compensated but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. This bill, among other things, requires the task force to: (1) examine the institution of slavery within the State of New Jersey; (2) examine the extent to which the State of New Jersey and the federal government prevented, opposed, or restricted efforts of former enslaved persons and their descendants who are considered United States' citizens to economically thrive upon the ending of slavery; (3) examine the lingering negative effects of slavery on living African-Americans and on society in New Jersey and the United States; (4) research methods and materials for facilitating education, community dialogue, symbolic acknowledgement, and other formal actions leading toward transformation, reparations remedies, a sense of justice, and economic justice among the descendants of enslaved African people in this State; (5) make recommendations for what remedies should be awarded, through what instrumentalities, and to whom those remedies should be awarded; and (6) address how said recommendations comport with national and international standards of remedy for wrongs and injuries caused by the State. The task force will hold at least six public meetings in different parts of the State, including Camden, Paterson, Newark, New Brunswick, Atlantic City, and Trenton. The Governor will call the first meeting of the task force to occur on or before the first day of the third month after enactment. The task force will issue an interim report of its progress to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 12 months following the initial meeting. The task force will submit its final report and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 24 months following the initial meeting. The task force will expire upon issuance of its final report. | In Committee |
| A1618 | Requires school district to report to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses. | Tracking data specific to the demographic make-up, availability, and content of computer science courses in New Jersey schools will provide insight needed to address gaps in populations that are underrepresented in computer science fields. This information will help New Jersey in its commitment to increasing the participation of female and other underrepresented students in computer science fields. This bill will require each school district to issue a report to the Commissioner of Education by April 30 of each school year on the computer science courses offered in the district. The report will include, but not be limited to, (1) the total number of computer science courses offered in each school in the district, including any advanced placement computer science courses; (2) the subject matter covered in each computer science course offered; (3) the total number of computer science teachers in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, terminal degree, and instructional certificate endorsement; and (4) the total number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, race and ethnicity, special education status, English language learner status, eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program, and grade level. This bill also requires the commissioner to compile the information reported by the school districts and post the information on the department's website no later than October 1 of each school year. | In Committee |
| A607 | Requires gender balance in membership of certain boards and commissions established by statute. | This bill requires all State appointive boards, commissions, task forces, or any other multi-member body or entity established by statute to be gender balanced, unless otherwise provided by law or it conflicts with the particular circumstances or requirements of the statute establishing the board, commission, task force, or other multi-member body or entity. No person will be appointed or reappointed if that appointment or reappointment would cause the number of members of one gender to be greater than one-half the membership plus one if the board, commission, task force, or multi-member body or entity is composed of an odd number of members. If the board, commission, task force, or other multi-member body or entity is composed of an even number of members, not more than one-half of the membership will be of one gender. If there are multiple appointing authorities, they will consult with each other to avoid violating the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A606 | Authorizes creation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity) license plates. The bill provides that the design of the Alpha Phi Alpha license plate is to display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem honoring the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The chief administrator, in consultation with the Eastern Region Vice-President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is to select the design and color scheme of the Alpha Phi Alpha license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Alpha Phi Alpha license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the plates, the additional fees collected are to be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, to be used to support the organization's mission and programs. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the Alpha Phi Alpha license plate program. The bill also requires that the Eastern Region Vice-President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. appoint the District Director to represent the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (New Jersey Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters) in all communications with the commission regarding the Alpha Phi Alpha license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Alpha Phi Alpha license plate program. The bill requires the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (New Jersey Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters) or an individual or entity designated by the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (New Jersey Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters) to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the Alpha Phi Alpha license plates or make any necessary programming changes, until: 1) the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (New Jersey Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters) or the individual or entity designated by the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. license plate program; and 2) the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (New Jersey Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters), liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Alpha Phi Alpha license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the seventh month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| A3146 | Requires minimum level of police staffing based on municipal population and violent crime rate. | This bill would require municipalities in this State with a population of more than 60,000 people and a violent crime rate exceeding 10.0 per 1,000 residents to maintain a full-time police department or force comprised of at least four police officers per 1,000 residents. Under the bill, the violent crime rate would be based on that which is reported in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) published by the Department of Law and Public Safety. In the UCR, violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. According to the sponsor, the escalating number of murders being committed in this State's urban communities is becoming a public health crisis. An appropriate response to this crisis is to ensure that urban municipalities with high crime rates have sufficient police officers to maintain the public safety. | In Committee |
| A3064 | Allows certain municipalities to establish lower property tax rate on improvements than land. | This bill would direct the Legislature to allow certain municipalities to establish a "land-based property tax system," in which a lower property tax rate is set for improvements than for land. An improvement refers to a building or other man-made condition located on a parcel of real property. Historically, New Jersey municipalities have been required to apply a single value-based tax rate to both land and improvements. Land-based property tax systems have been employed by municipalities in several other states in order to discourage land speculation, while encouraging the redevelopment of vacant land in urban areas. The bill allows current and former urban enterprise zone municipalities to adopt an ordinance providing for a land-based property tax system upon the bill's operative date, without any application process Beginning seven years later, the bill allows municipalities, other than current and former UEZ municipalities, to apply to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury ("director") for approval to adopt an ordinance to implement a land-based property tax system. The bill requires the director to adopt rules and regulations to establish appropriate standards for approval. These standards must prohibit approval of a municipality if its developable and re-developable lands are used substantially for the preservation of open space, farmland, or environmentally sensitive land. The bill permits the adjusted tax rates of a land-based property tax system to be phased in such that the difference between the rates grows only gradually each year. The bill also directs that a municipality employing a land-based property tax system may return to a single-rate property tax system if the governing body adopts an ordinance directing this return. This ordinance may also phase in these adjusted tax rates such that the difference between the rates narrows only gradually in any given year. The bill would become operative upon the adoption by the voters of the State of an amendment to the State Constitution authorizing municipalities, by ordinance, to adopt a property tax system under which taxable improvements are taxed at a lower rate than taxable land. | In Committee |
| A614 | Requires annual State debt affordability analysis be included in State Debt Report. | This bill requires the State Debt Report to include an affordability analysis to provide executive and legislative policymakers a clear, data-driven framework for evaluating and establishing future State debt management and issuance priorities. The purpose of the bill is to enable a more fully informed fiscal policy discussion on the State's long-term debt portfolio to ensure sufficient financial capacity for essential capital projects. The annual State Debt Report includes all forms of debt including general obligation debt, all forms of State tax-supported debt outstanding, including, but not limited to, appropriations-backed contract bonds issued by State independent authorities, other debt issued by a State conduit bond-issuer, debt and obligations issued by the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, the New Jersey Transit Corporation, any other transportation authority established by State law, capital leases and installment obligations, all items comprising long-term liabilities as recorded in a schedule of long-term debt changes (bonded and non-bonded) in the State's comprehensive annual financial report, the unfunded actuarial accrued liability for State administered retirement systems, and the unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities for post-retirement medical and other benefits. The bill requires the State Debt Report to include a detailed metric-based analysis and written narrative discussion of the State's ability to afford an increase in each form of its overall debt and the affordability of the amount of any such increase. The affordability analysis that will apply to each form of State debt will include:? An estimate of revenues generally or specifically available for the next 10 fiscal years to pay debt service; ? An estimate of additional debt issuance for the next 10 fiscal years for the State's existing borrowing programs;? A schedule of the annual debt service requirements, including principal and interest allocation, on outstanding State debt and an estimate of the annual debt service requirements on the additional debt projected for existing borrowing programs for each of the next 10 fiscal years;? The calculations and listing of pertinent debt ratios, including, but not limited to, debt service to State revenues available to pay debt service, State debt per capita, debt as a percentage of Statewide personal income, debt as a percentage of the valuation of assessed property, debt as a percentage of State gross domestic product, and debt per capita for the State's net tax-supported debt;? The estimated debt capacity available over the next 10 fiscal years benchmarked to various debt ratios of debt service to State revenue exceeding current actual percentages;? A comparison of the State's debt ratios with the comparable debt ratios for the 10 most populous states, 10 states with comparable economic conditions, 10 states with the most similar debt management characteristics, 10 states with the most similar state tax structures, and for states receiving the highest general obligation credit ratings by at least three major credit rating agencies;? An overview of the State's general obligation credit rating and the credit ratings of all debt and obligation issuers included in this debt report and a review of the criteria used by municipal securities rating services in rating governmental obligations; and ? Such other information as the Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning deems relevant to the foregoing matters. The bill requires State agencies, independent authorities, and other entities issuing debt secured by State revenue, or assisting in the issuing of that debt, or included in this debt report to provide all information determined necessary by the commission to complete the debt affordability analysis. In an effort to finance essential capital projects for the benefit of State residents at favorable borrowing terms, the State must strive to establish a stable and improved credit standing with investors. Authorizations of state debt must take into account the ability of the State to meet its total debt service requirements in light of other demands on the State's fiscal resources. This bill will assist the Executive and the Legislative branches to exercise a long view of full, fiscally relevant and future-looking analysis of debt affordability to exercise prudence in undertaking the authorization and issuance of debt. The bill also requires the commission to transmit to the Governor and the Legislature its annual detailed capital project plan that it submits to the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| A581 | Requires MVC to provide certain services at each MVC agency location and to make available certain informational brochures. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide all vehicle and licensing services at each commission agency location and to allow these services to be completed in person at each agency. The bill also requires that, at each commission agency location, the commission provide in-person service to certain walk-in customers and to the extent practicable accommodate all walk-in customers, including at all times in which a location experiences a no show appointment or is not booked to full capacity. The bill requires the commission to provide for emergency printing services, and to provide additional regional service center services where space and staff permit. The bill also requires the commission to adopt a permanent online scheduling system for commercial motor vehicle drivers to use and requires that certain commercial motor vehicle tests be available at each commission agency location. Finally, the bill requires the commission to create and make available informational pamphlets listing all commission services and instructions pertaining to those services for consumers. | In Committee |
| A1954 | Increases size of Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission; broadens reporting duties. | This bill increases the membership of the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission, and expands the duties of the commission. The CSDC was established in 2009 by P.L.2009, c.81 and is charged with conducting a thorough review of the criminal sentencing provisions of New Jersey law for consideration of possible recommendations for revisions to the laws governing the criminal justice system. Under the bill, the membership of the commission increases from 13 to 17 members. The additional members shall include the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus or his designee and the Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus, or his designee. The bill adds two additional public members, for a total of four public members, not more than two of whom shall be of the same political party. The bill broadens the scope of the annual report from the CSDC to the Governor and the Legislature concerning disparity issues in the criminal justice process, to add such areas as policing, access to criminal defense legal representation, and jury selection processes to the existing reporting area of charging and plea decisions. | In Committee |
| AR65 | Urges Congress to provide aid to Haitian migrants. | This resolution urges Congress to provide aid to the migrants of Haiti. Haiti has been through political and economic turmoil and has suffered from natural disasters for years. However, following the assassination of the Haitian President, the country fell into an even greater crisis, the rise in gang activity. This organized criminal gang activity has resulted in civilian casualties and displaced thousands of people in and around Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince. As a result of political instability and ongoing natural disasters, the Biden administration has stated that Haiti is "grappling with a deteriorating political crisis, violence, and a staggering increase in human rights abuses." Given the political turmoil and the financial distress, Haitians have started to migrate more to the United States via boats or land corridors from the Americas. Haitians are among the numerous migrants from Caribbean, Central, and Latin countries who undergo treacherous journeys northward in search of safety and opportunity in the United States. This resolution urges Congress to provide support to frontline organizations that work to aid Haitian migrants who were dislocated, detained, and expelled as they sought asylum and safety at the U.S. border. Aid to the migrants should include funding to provide shelter, food aid, and medical assistance and further, to organizations that provide legal services. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | District 35 | House | Democrat | In Office | 01/10/2012 |