Legislator
Legislator > Shirley Turner
State Senator
Shirley Turner
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 15
In Office - Started: 01/01/1998
contact info
Ewing Township Office
850 Bear Tavern Road
Suite 101
Ewing Township, NJ 08628
Suite 101
Ewing Township, NJ 08628
Phone: 609-323-7239
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2376 | 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. | Crossed Over |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Crossed Over |
| S200 | Establishes standards for food date labeling; requires Commissioner of Health to establish public education program and promulgate guidelines related to food safety. | This bill, would establish standards for food date labeling and require the Department of Health to establish a public education program and guidelines related to food safety. Under the bill, a manufacturer may use food date labeling, but is required, if food date labels are used, to follow the labeling standards provided in the bill. A food date label may indicate either: (1) a "quality date" to indicate the date after which the quality of food may begin to deteriorate, but is still acceptable for consumption; or (2) an "elevated-risk date" to indicate the date, established by the manufacturer, after which there is a high level of risk associated with the consumption of a "time/temperature control for safety food." The bill defines a "time/temperature control for safety food" as a food that requires time/temperature control for safety, in accordance with the 2013 United States Food and Drug Administration Food Code, to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation. Quality dates would be displayed with the uniform phrase "BEST if Used By" and elevated-risk dates would be displayed with the uniform phrase "USE By." Under the bill, a retail food facility would not be liable for a manufacturer's failure to properly label food in accordance with the bill. Nothing in the bill would prohibit the sale, donation, or use of food after the food's quality date has passed. However, a retail food facility would be prohibited from selling or donating food after its elevated-risk date. A retailer would also be prohibited from selling food labeled with a "sell-by" date, or any date that is intended to communicate primarily to a distributor or retailer for purposes of stock rotation and that is not a quality date or an elevated-risk date, unless the date is in a coded format not easily readable by consumers. The bill would also change the labeling requirements that must be used for fluid milk products from "sell by" or "not to be sold after" to a quality date label as described above. Alcoholic beverages would be exempt from the bill's provisions. The bill allows the Department of Health to designate additional foods as time/temperature control for safety foods, or exempt foods from the designation. The department would be required to post this information on its Internet website. Finally, the bill would also require the establishment of a public education program, which would include a public information campaign providing information about the meaning of date labels, and educating consumers on how to handle food properly and when it can safely be consumed. | In Committee |
| S1042 | "Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act"; establishes requirements, prohibitions, and programs for regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). | This bill would prohibit the sale of certain products containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), require greater transparency in the labeling of cookware products containing PFAS, establish a source reduction program concerning the proper management of PFAS, and appropriate money for PFAS-related research. As defined in the bill, "PFAS" means substances that include any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. Specifically, the bill would prohibit, beginning two years after the bill's effective date, the sale, offer for sale, or distribution of cosmetics, carpets, fabric treatment, and food packaging that contain intentionally added PFAS. In addition, the bill would require, beginning two years after the bill's effective date, manufacturers of cookware sold in the State that contains intentionally added PFAS in the handle of the product or in any product surface that comes into contact with food, foodstuffs, or beverages to list the presence of PFAS on the product label. Beginning two years after the bill's effective date, the sale, offer for sale, and distribution of cookware that contains PFAS would be prohibited unless the cookware product and the manufacturer of the cookware has complied with the bill's cookware labeling requirements. The bill would also require the DEP to recommend to the Legislature products, in addition to those prohibited from being sold, offered for sale, or distributed pursuant to the bill, by category or use that should not be sold, offered for sale, or distributed for sale in this State if they contain intentionally added PFAS. Under the bill, the DEP would have the authority to audit or investigate a manufacturer to assess the manufacturer's compliance with bill's provisions. The bill would provide that any proprietary information or trade secrets included in any written notification, certification, or any other record submitted to the DEP pursuant to the bill would be required to be kept confidential from the general public pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), commonly known as the open public records act. The bill would require the DEP to establish, no later than one year after the bill's effective date, a source reduction program to reduce the presence of PFAS in the State's air, water, and soil by encouraging the proper management of materials that contain PFAS and the use of safer alternatives. The program would be required to include certain items enumerated in subsection a. of section 12 of the bill. The bill would also require the DEP to conduct PFAS-related research and comprehensive monitoring and testing of the presence and impact of PFAS on the environmental media within the State, including air, water, biota, and soil. The DEP's research would be required to include certain items enumerated in subsection b. of section 13 of the bill. No later than two years after the bill's effective date, and annually thereafter, the DEP would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing their research findings and activities and providing recommendations for programs, policies, and legislation to address the presence of PFAS in the State. Finally, the bill would appropriate $5 million to the DEP for the purposes of implementing the source reduction program, conducting PFAS-related research, and monitoring and testing environmental media, such as air, water, and soil, for PFAS pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| S1939 | Requires children's meals served in chain restaurants to meet certain nutritional standards. | Requires children's meals served in chain restaurants to meet certain nutritional standards. | In Committee |
| S4350 | Changes certain allocations and amounts of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for Fiscal Year 2026 and thereafter; authorizes Garden State Preservation Trust and local governments to acquire lands in urban areas for agricultural or horticultural purposes. | This bill would authorize the Garden State Preservation Trust (trust) to develop a program to acquire land for agricultural or horticultural purposes in urban areas of the State through the purchase of fee simple titles or lesser interests in land, including, but not limited to, a development easement, a conservation restriction or easement, or any other restriction or easement permanently restricting development, by purchase or installment purchase agreement using constitutionally dedicated moneys. The bill would require the trust to develop eligibility criteria for the acquisition of land in urban areas of the State for agricultural or horticultural purposes and an application process for landowners to apply to the trust to sell a fee simple title or a lesser interest in land. The trust would be required to prioritize the purchase of small parcels of land in urban areas of the State that are suitable for agricultural or horticultural purposes. Under the bill, any land acquired in fee simple by the trust would be required to be held of record in the name of the State and may be offered for lease by the State using a competitive bidding process to interested parties, provided that the land is to be utilized for agricultural or horticultural purposes. The trust would be required to establish an application process for the lease of land acquired by the trust, which would require applicants to provide information concerning the intended use of the land for agricultural or horticultural purposes. The terms of the lease are to be established by the trust. The bill would require the trust to designate areas of the State as urban areas based on population density, residential and commercial development, and non-residential land uses, among other factors, in a specific region, and to adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement the bill's provisions. In addition, the bill would establish funding allocations for the constitutional dedication of Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenues for fiscal year 2026 and thereafter. Under the bill, on July 1 next following the bill's effective date, $25 million of the amount credited to the Preserve New Jersey Fund Account pursuant to the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) would be required to be deposited into the Preserve New Jersey Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund, established pursuant to the bill. In addition, in each State fiscal year commencing in State fiscal year 2026 and annually thereafter, of the amount credited by the State Treasurer to the Preserve New Jersey Fund Account pursuant to the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.): (1) 62 percent would be required to be deposited into the Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund; (2) 26 percent would be required to be deposited into the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund; (3) seven percent would be required to be deposited into the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund; and (4) five percent would be required to be deposited into the Preserve New Jersey Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund. The bill would also require the trust to establish and administer the Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Stewardship Grant Program (grant program) for the purpose of providing grants to qualified applicants for stewardship activity projects, including, but not limited to, projects that improve soil health, climate resiliency, and erosion and sediment control, on land that has been acquired by the trust and preserved for agricultural and horticultural purposes pursuant to the bill. Section 6 of the bill establishes certain eligibility criteria and application requirements for qualified applicants applying for a grant under the grant program. The trust would be required to approve applications for the grant program on a rolling basis subject to the availability of funds in the Preserve New Jersey Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund. Upon the approval of an application, the trust would be required to provide a grant, in an amount not to exceed ninety percent of the total estimated costs of the stewardship activity project, to the qualified applicant. The bill would authorize the trust to utilize moneys in the Preserve New Jersey Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund for: (1) the fee simple acquisition or lesser interests in land, including, but not limited to, a development easement, a conservation restriction or easement, or any other restriction or easement permanently restricting development, by purchase or installment purchase agreement of land in urban areas of the State for agricultural or horticultural purposes; (2) providing grants under the grant program; and (3) paying certain administrative costs. Of the monies deposited into the Preserve New Jersey Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund, not more than fifteen percent can be utilized by the trust for organizational, administrative and other work and services, including salaries, equipment, and materials necessary to administer the bill's provisions. Finally, the bill would allow counties and municipalities to utilize open space trust funds for the additional purpose of acquiring lands in urban areas of the State for agricultural or horticultural purposes. Under current law, counties are authorized to establish "County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds" and municipalities are authorized to establish "Municipal Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds." This bill would expand this authorization to specifically include the acquisition and stewardship of lands in urban areas of the State for agricultural or horticultural purposes and would revise the names of these open space trust funds to include "urban agriculture and horticulture." | In Committee |
| S4524 | Appropriates $34 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill appropriates $34 million to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for the purpose of providing planning incentive grants to counties for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes. 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," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), 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. Under the bill, five counties will each receive a "base grant" of either $1 million or $500,000, as specified in the bill. Those five counties, plus 10 other counties identified in the bill, would also be eligible to compete to receive an additional grant from the "competitive grant fund" pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of the bill, in an amount not to exceed $7.5 million. The maximum grant award a county could receive under the bill is $8.5 million (i.e., the $1 million base grant, if applicable, and a $7.5 million competitive grant). The bill also appropriates to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" moneys from the General Fund already constitutionally dedicated to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" for the purpose of making the appropriations from that fund required by this bill. The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| S4440 | Requires key boxes at public school buildings; appropriates $2.5 million. | This bill requires, by June 30th of the 2026-2027 school year, that each board of education of a school district and each board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project provide for the installation at each school building of at least one exterior key box that meets or exceeds Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037. The key box is required to be installed at an appropriate location for permitting emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services personnel, emergency access to the building. The board of education and board of trustees, in collaboration with emergency responders, is required to determine the precise location of the key box. The key box is required to contain: keys and other access control devices as are necessary to access each building and room located on the entire school grounds; and the most recently updated critical incident mapping data, as defined in section 1 of P.L.2019, c.106 (C.18A:41-7.1), in a printed format. The bill includes a $2,500,000 appropriation to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3913 | "The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act"; expands opportunity to purchase for resident homeowners in certain manufactured home parks; modifies certain requirements for disposition of private residential leasehold communities. | "The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act"; expands opportunity to purchase for resident homeowners in certain manufactured home parks; modifies certain requirements for disposition of private residential leasehold communities. | In Committee |
| S2867 | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | In Committee |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | In Committee |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Crossed Over |
| S3429 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | In Committee |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Crossed Over |
| 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. | 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. | Vetoed |
| 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. | This joint resolution respectfully: (1) directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s (PJM) Reliability Pricing Model; and (2) directs the State of New Jersey to collaborate with neighboring states to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM to implement market reforms and expeditiously review new electricity generation applications. PJM is the regional transmission organization responsible for coordinating the movement of electricity and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy distribution in New Jersey, several other states, and the District of Columbia. One of PJM's responsibilities is to administer a capacity market to ensure adequate resources exist on the grid to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost through a competitive auction. The rising cost of capacity in PJM's capacity market auctions, which contributes to the overall increase in electricity bills for ratepayers, raises concerns about the alignment of capacity prices with the principles of affordability and transparency outlined in New Jersey's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act". In addition, delays in PJM's interconnection queue have prevented new electric generation resources from becoming operational in a timely manner. As a result, these new resources, which are needed to maintain reliability at low costs, will be unable to compete in PJM's capacity market auctions in the near future. The BPU has been working to incentivize the development of new generation resources to help meet growing energy demand and thereby prevent increases in energy and capacity prices. The BPU has also been actively working to protect ratepayers from price increases and coordinating with other PJM states to push for capacity market reforms. The BPU's initiatives, led by Governor Murphy, are accompanied by the actions of consumer advocates, who have furthered the region's efforts to reduce prices through additional complaints at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which the BPU has pledged to support. | Crossed Over |
| A5466 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Passed |
| S4318 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | In Committee |
| S4113 | Permits certain winery license holders to sell wine produced by other winery licensees under certain circumstances; establishes supplemental wine production facility license. | This bill permits plenary and farm winery license holders who produce not more than 250,000 gallons per year to sell the wine they produce to any other plenary or farm winery license holder in this State for purposes of sale by the purchaser on the licensed premises of the winery or to sell wine to any winery outside of this State in accordance with the laws of the purchaser's state. Under the bill, wine sold to another winery is not to be considered towards the calculation of the amount of wine produced by the seller but is to be considered towards the total number of gallons produced per year by the purchasing winery. The bill provides that no less than 50 percent of the wine sold per year is required to be produced on the license holder's premises. In addition, this bill establishes a supplemental wine production facility sublicense. The holder of a plenary winery license or a farm winery license engaged in the production of wine on the licensed premises of the winery who holds a supplemental wine production facility sublicense would be entitled to produce wine at the supplemental wine production facility owned and leased by the license holder. Under the bill, the holder of this sublicense is additionally entitled, subject to rules and regulations, to transfer wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility to the licensed premises of the winery or salesroom for sale at retail to consumers and to otherwise sell and distribute wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility pursuant to the laws of the place of sale and distribution. The bill provides that any wine produced at the supplemental production facility that is not sold to another winery license holder is to be considered when calculating the total gallons per year of wine produced by the licensee for purposes of determining any fees, limitations, and eligibility for privileges that may pertain to the holder of a plenary winery license or farm winery license. The bill prohibits the sale of wine at retail to consumers on the premises of the supplemental wine production facility. Under the bill, the fee for the sublicense is $750. | In Committee |
| S4112 | Permits certain wineries to sell their products by the glass for consumption in licensed salesrooms. | This bill permits plenary winery license holders, out-of-State winery license holders, and farm winery license holders to sell their products by the glass for consumption in their licensed salesrooms. Under the bill, "by the glass" is defined as the selling of an individual portion of wine, or wine mixed with non-alcoholic beverages, in an open container. The sponsor intends for this bill to provide additional purchase options for consumers and increase revenue for winery license holders. | In Committee |
| S4282 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| S4255 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | In Committee |
| S4496 | Prohibits imposition of costs of certain realtor services on residential tenants. | This bill prohibits the imposition of certain costs for brokerage services, including realtor fees, on residential tenants or prospective residential tenants (tenants). Specifically, the bill prohibits a landlord and a brokerage firm from: (1) imposing upon, passing through to, or accepting from, a tenant, any fees, commissions, or charges, for or related to brokerage services, as defined in the bill; (2) requiring or conditioning the leasing of residential real property on a tenant engaging a brokerage firm or agent thereof; or (3) posting a listing for the rental of residential real property that represents that fees, charges, or commissions for brokerage services are required in violation of the bill. The bill requires that every listing related to the rental of residential real property is to disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner any fee to be paid by the tenant for the rental of such property. The bill requires that the landlord or landlord's agent provide to the tenant, prior to the execution of an agreement for the rental of residential real property, an itemized written disclosure of any fees that the tenant is required to pay to the landlord or to any other person at the direction of the landlord in connection with such rental, as described in the bill. The bill requires that a landlord provide an attestation, as set forth in the bill, in a conspicuous manner in the landlord's application for the residential rental unit, and with the Truth-in-Renting Statement, required under existing law, in which the landlord affirms, under the penalty of perjury, compliance with certain provisions of the bill and penalties for noncompliance. A violation of the bill is to constitute an unlawful practice pursuant to the New Jersey consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and subjects a landlord or brokerage firm to a penalty, for each offense, equal to the greater of $5,000, or three times the amount of all fees, commissions, or charges imposed upon, passed through to, or accepted from, a tenant. The penalty would be collected and enforced by the Commissioner of Community Affairs or the Attorney General. Notwithstanding the civil penalty described above, the bill also provides a private cause of action for a tenant, who, for a landlord or brokerage firm's violation of the bill, would be permitted to recover a penalty for each offense equal to the greater of $5,000, or three times the amount of all fees, commissions, or charges imposed upon, passed through to, or accepted from, a tenant, in addition to reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, expenses for expert witnesses, and other related fees and expenses incurred in proving a violation of the bill. The bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S4162 | Limits use or disclosure of certain education records. | This bill limits the disclosure of certain education records. Current law requires students, or the parent or guardians of students, as applicable, in the graduating classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 to complete certain financial aid paperwork unless a waiver is submitted. Under the bill, a waiver template or form developed by the Department of Education, a board of education, or a board of trustees of a charter school for use in collecting student financial aid information pursuant to the provisions of the bill is to require the student, parent or guardian, or school counselor, as applicable, to provide only the student's name, telephone number, email address, date, and signature of the individual submitting the waiver. Under the bill, school districts and charter schools are prohibited from using or disclosing the waiver submitted under P.L.2023, c.295, or any personal information contained within the waiver, without the informed consent of the student or the student's parent or guardian consistent with applicable federal and State-level protections of student educational records, including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The bill stipulates it is not to be construed to prohibit, or in any way restrict, any action that is consistent with federal law. Under the bill, the Department of Education is to include language consistent with the prohibition on disclosure in any optional waiver template developed by the department for use by a school district or charter school in a prominent location on the waiver. The bill requires a school district or charter school that uses a waiver developed by the district or charter school to also include language consistent with the prohibition on disclosure in a prominent location on the waiver. Finally, the bill provides that nothing in the bill is to be construed to invalidate a waiver submitted prior to the bill's effective date and that a waiver submitted prior to the bill's effective date is subject to the provisions of the bill concerning the prohibition on disclosure. | Passed |
| S4120 | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to businesses employing and retaining certain neurodiverse individuals. | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to businesses employing and retaining certain neurodiverse individuals. | In Committee |
| S4272 | Repeals law that requires funds for legislative agents to be assessed on student tuition bills in certain manner. | This bill repeals P.L.1995, c.63 (C.18A:62-22), which requires funds for legislative agents to be assessed on student tuition bills in a certain manner. It is the sponsor's belief that this law restricts the rights of students who participate in certain student organizations at public institutions of higher education from engaging in State legislative activity, effectively silencing these students. Under P.L.1995, c.63, the governing body of a public institution of higher education is prohibited from allowing funds for legislative agents or organizations which attempt to influence legislation to be assessed on student tuition bills. However, optional fees may be assessed for nonpartisan organizations that employ legislative agents or attempt to influence legislation provided that the fee has been authorized by a majority vote in a student referendum. An optional fee is an amount payable on a student tuition bill, appearing as a separately assessed item, but not a mandatory charge or a waivable fee. Optional fees that appear on student tuition bills are currently required to be accompanied by a statement as to the nature of the item along with an explanation that the item is not a charge required to be paid by the student, the student may add the charge to the total amount due, and that the item has appeared on the bill at the request of the student body and does not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the governing body of the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| S2886 | Requires pharmacies to provide certain information regarding insulin manufacturer assistance programs. | Requires pharmacies to provide certain information regarding insulin manufacturer assistance programs. | Passed |
| S4473 | Allocates $20 million of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenue for development and stewardship projects at State Capital Complex Park for recreation and conservation purposes. | This bill would amend and supplement the "Preserve New Jersey Act" to allocate $20 million of constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue for development and stewardship projects at the State Capitol Complex Park, located in Trenton, New Jersey, for recreational and conservation purposes. The State Capitol Complex Park includes the area located immediately behind the State Capitol building, which is bounded by Route 29 to the south, Barracks Street to the east, and the State Capitol parking garage to the west. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, which dedicates six percent of the CBT for certain environmental purposes. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" allocates the dedicated CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. Under this bill, $20 million of the amount of credited by the State Treasurer to the Preserve New Jersey Fund Account under the Preserve New Jersey Act would be required to be deposited into the State Capitol Complex Park Fund, established by the bill, and would be required to be used for development and stewardship projects at the State Capitol Complex Park for recreation and conservation purposes. | In Committee |
| S4449 | Prohibits use of coupons, price rebates, and price reductions in sales of cannabis items. | This bill prohibits the use of coupons, price reductions, and price rebates in connection with the sale of cannabis items. The bill defines cannabis items as any usable cannabis, cannabis product, cannabis extract, and any other cannabis resin. The prohibition under the bill does not apply to medical cannabis and the coupons or discounts for medical cannabis dispensed to or on behalf of a registered qualifying patient by a medical cannabis dispensary or clinical registrant. A violation of the prohibition established by the bill would be punishable by a civil penalty of not less than $250 for a first violation, not less than $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation, which is required to be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred. A cannabis dispensary found to have committed a violation would be subject to an additional administrative penalty or suspension of the retailer's license, and subject to revocation for a second or subsequent violation. The penalties imposed under the bill would be in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission for the violation of the "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act," and any of the regulations promulgated by the commission. | In Committee |
| S4450 | Requires notification to patients when State-licensed physician has credential revoked or suspended and provides access to contact information with State. | This bill stipulates that a patient of a State-licensed physician is to receive, electronically or by mail, by the practice or health care entity where the physician provides health care services if the license of the physician to practice medicine is suspended or revoked, whether temporarily or permanently. Additionally, if requested by a patient, a practice or health care entity is to provide the contact information for the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety and of the State Board of Medical Examiners. The intention of the bill is to improve awareness to patients if a physician is found to have committed misconduct and to make information available to patients if they wish to allege misconduct of a physician to the State. | In Committee |
| S4390 | Prohibits institution of higher education from entering into sports wagering partnership. | This bill prohibits institutions of higher education from entering into sports wagering partnerships. The bill defines a sports wagering partnership as a partnership or contractual agreement between a sports wagering operator or intermediary and an institution of higher education, including an athletic department or booster club of the institution, for access to advertise in the institution's stadiums and other facilities, in digital and broadcast sports content, and through other means. The bill prohibits an institution of higher education from participating in a sports wagering partnership. | In Committee |
| S4418 | Establishes 60-day special enrollment period to initiate when provider in carrier's network of providers is leaving carrier's network. | This bill requires a special enrollment period to be initiated if a provider in a carrier's network of providers is to become out-of-network. Under the bill, the special enrollment period is to begin 60 days prior to the expiration of the contract between the carrier and the provider in the carrier's network of providers. Notice of the special enrollment period is to be issued to insured individuals of a carrier in a form and manner as determined by the Department of Banking and Insurance. | In Committee |
| S4389 | Requires State Treasurer, in consultation with State Comptroller, to promulgate rules and regulations concerning best practices for awarding independent State authority contracts. | This bill requires the State Treasurer, in consultation with the State Comptroller, to adopt rules and regulations concerning best practices for purchases, contracts, or agreements made or awarded by independent State authorities. The bill implements suggestions made in a report issued by the State Comptroller on March 4, 2010, entitled "Best Practices for Awarding Service Contracts." The bill provides for exceptions from the rules and regulations, based upon the exceptions contained in Executive Order No. 37 of 2006. The bill also provides that, in the event of a conflict between the provisions of the bill and the regulations adopted thereunder and other State or federal laws, the latter will prevail. | In Committee |
| S4388 | Authorizes Capital City Redevelopment Corporation to issue grants; removes certain project financing requirements. | This bill authorizes the Capital City Redevelopment Corporation (CCRC) to issue grants for projects that benefit the Capital City District. Additionally, the bill removes the current statutory requirement that 65 percent of the funds be recovered through repayment. The CCRC needs general authority to issue grants with funds other than those in the dedicated Grant and Loan Fund. This is particularly necessary for assistance with current and future CCRC projects. Without the granting of the authority for the CCRC to issue grants, the CCRC will be limited in its ability to provide grant financing for these projects. Additionally, the existing statutory requirement that at least 65 percent of the monies appropriated to the fund is recovered and is to continue to be available for financing limits the attractiveness of programs developed by CCRC and therefore impairs participation from Trenton businesses and organizations. The economic distress in the Capital District is significant and to develop programs that meet the current challenges CCRC needs the ability to determine an appropriate amount of recovery and repayment per project or program. | In Committee |
| S4324 | Establishes Capital City Commission to study and make recommendations concerning promotion and improvement of City of Trenton. | This bill establishes the Capital City Commission (commission) in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs. The purpose of the commission is to study and make recommendations concerning the short-term, medium-term, and long-term advancement and improvement to the City of Trenton. Under the bill, the commission is required to consider and assess issues including, but not limited to:· maximizing the Trenton waterfront by proposing ways to improve currently developable land, and proposing ways to enhance access to the waterfront, which may include rerouting Route 29;· recruiting and incentivizing businesses to locate to or remain in Trenton; · developing and leveraging Trenton's current assets, including the presence of State buildings and State workers, and developing new assets in order to enhance the status of Trenton as New Jersey's Capitol City; and· developing and promoting cultural, social, and recreational opportunities within Trenton, and promoting Trenton as a desirable place to live, work, and raise a family. The bill requires the commission to meet quarterly for the first two years following its organization and to issue its initial report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, to the Legislature, to the Board of County Commissioners of Mercer County, and to the Trenton City Council no later than two years after the commission organizes. Following the issuance of its initial report, the commission is required to meet at least twice each year and to issue a report annually thereafter. | In Committee |
| S4352 | Prohibits public utilities from assessing surcharges and certain fees. | This bill prohibits public utilities from assessing: (1) a surcharge to any public utility customer; (2) a fee to any public utility customer who has not enrolled in automatic payments through the public utility and, instead, has elected to make one-time payments to the public utility for services rendered to that customer by the public utility; or (3) a fee to any public utility customer who has not enrolled in paperless statements through the public utility company and, instead, has elected to receive paper statements from the public utility. Under the bill, "surcharge" means an additional amount imposed by the public utility at the time of a payment transaction that increases a charge to a public utility customer to recover the cost of the public utility's use of third-party payment processing services. | In Committee |
| S4353 | Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish "Urban Gardening Pilot Program"; appropriates $100,000. | The bill establishes in the Department of Agriculture, the "Urban Gardening Pilot Program," to provide grants to three qualified applicants to establish an urban garden in a low-income area of the State. The bill requires the department to award three qualified applicants a grant of up to $35,000 each, which the applicant will use for an urban garden for the three-year pilot program. The goal of the urban garden is to improve the local neighborhood conditions and integrate residents of diverse communities. The bill requires an agronomist or a qualified individual from the New Jersey Cooperative Extension Service to teach local residents how to plant and cultivate fresh produce or other agricultural products for consumption as food in the urban garden. Within three years after the effective date of this bill, the Secretary of Agriculture would be required to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature summarizing the activities and findings of the program. The report would provide information on whether the program provided benefits to the local communities, evaluate the effectiveness of urban gardening in low-income areas as a means of improving the neighborhood and integrating residents of different ethnic backgrounds, and provide recommendations for legislative action, including whether or not to make the program permanent. The bill appropriates $100,000 to the Department of Agriculture from the General Fund in order to provide grants to three qualified applicants as required under the bill. | In Committee |
| 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| S3353 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing resident farm employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | An Act concerning housing for resident farm employees on commercial farms, and amending and supplementing P.L.1983, c.31. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR102 | Designates May 17 of each year as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution designates May 17 of each year as NEC Awareness Day in the State of New Jersey. Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease that can affect medically fragile infants. The condition causes inflammation and tissue damage which may lead to systemic infection, neurological complications, and developmental delays. Infants afflicted with NEC often require incubation, and can pass away within hours of a turn in their condition. Symptoms and risk factors may be as innocuous as low birthweight, poor blood circulation, blood oxygenation level, difficulty nursing, and the stress of the birthing process.Despite limited public understanding for the inflammatory disorder, NEC is the third most common cause of hospitalization and death in neonatal infants. NEC affects one in 1,000 premature infants; its mortality rate is 20-30 percent and 42 percent for the smallest premature infants. The condition affects two to five percent of all premature infants but is responsible for up to 20 percent of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit costs.Of those who survive the condition, 89 percent report long term complications including cardiac issues, motor skill loss, respiratory impairment, lost time at work, and hearing and vision challenges. The condition produces an increased risk of later functional impairment including cerebral palsy, fine and gross motor skill loss, and behavioral issues. Survivors experience poor executive function and worse working memory capacity over time.Several social determinants of health contribute to NEC prevalence. Risk factors include maternal cocaine abuse, smoking, and congenital heart disease. Mode of birth delivery and formula feeding are other precursors to the disease.NEC imposes a long-term financial burden on families and medical systems across the state and nation. When considering lifelong medical repercussions, NEC results in approximately $5.8 billion in U.S. hospital expenses each year, or 19 percent of neonatal healthcare expenditures and $200,000 in costs for each infant receiving surgery. NEC is the second most costly morbidity of prematurity in the U.S., impacting families not only financially but emotionally as they cope with challenging pregnancies, unmet rehabilitation needs, frequent hospital readmittance, and repeated medical procedures upon birth. With this in mind, it is in public interest for New Jersey citizens to increase their awareness of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and protective measures. Recognizing May 17 as a commemorative day for this condition, in keeping with the designated World NEC Awareness Day and California's recently proclaimed NEC Awareness Day, would commit public recognition to an under-acknowledged health concern. Designates May 17 of each year as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A2813 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | An Act concerning the Social Work Licensure Compact and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3889 | Requires each public institution of higher education to develop food waste reduction program on campus. | This bill directs each public institution of higher education to develop and implement a food waste reduction program on each campus of the institution. The purpose of the program is to redirect unused, excess food prepared or distributed at campus dining halls, facilities, and events to local food security programs, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and community nonprofits. The program is to ensure that all necessary and applicable food safety standards are met throughout the selection, packaging, and transfer of food through the program. The bill directs the institution to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on its contributions to local food security programs and post the report on its website. | Crossed Over |
| S3620 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | An Act concerning electric and gas public utilities and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3540 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | An Act establishing civil and criminal penalties for the production and dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1548 | Requires school districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored functions. | An Act concerning school district policies on student sun protection and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | 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 |
| SJR149 | 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. | In Committee |
| S3799 | Revises credentialing process for physicians attempting to enter a health insurance carrier's provider network. | This bill makes changes to the existing health insurance carrier credentialing process to facilitate transparency and enforcement. First, the bill requires a carrier committee reviewing a credentialing application to notify the applicant within 30 days following submission of the application whether the application is incomplete. If the committee does not notify the applicant of an incomplete application within 30 days, the application is to be deemed complete. In addition, the bill requires carriers to include on their Internet websites the universal participation and renewal forms and an explanation of the credentialing process, including a list of all the documents required for participation and renewal and any expected timelines. The bill also provides that if a physician, while waiting to receive a credential to participate in the provider network of a carrier, is delivering health care services to covered persons within the network, the carrier is required to reimburse the physician for services delivered as of the date the credentialing application was filed, if the application is approved by the carrier. Under the bill, carriers are prohibited from requiring a physician who is already credentialed with the carrier and who changes employers or health care facilities within this State to submit a new application or renewal form to participate in the carrier's network solely on the basis that the physician changed employers or health care facilities. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Department of Banking and Insurance to receive, investigate, and enforce alleged violations of law relating to the credentialing process. | In Committee |
| S3447 | Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force. | Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force. | Crossed Over |
| S2688 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | This bill will enter New Jersey into the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact establishes a multistate license system in which an individual licensed at the clinical, master's or bachelor's level in social work needs only to obtain licensure in one state that is a party to the compact in order to practice as a social worker in another member state to the compact, so long as certain requirements established under the compact are met by the individual. Under the bill, provisions are established regarding, among other items, the authority of a member state's licensing authority; how an adverse action against a multistate licensee is managed; the set-up of the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission and its Executive Committee; the collection of data on member states; and how to withdraw from the compact, if sought by a member state. | In Committee |
| S1029 | "Invasive Species Management Act"; prohibits sale, distribution, import, export, and propagation of certain invasive species; establishes NJ invasive Species Council. | "Invasive Species Management Act"; prohibits sale, distribution, import, export, and propagation of certain invasive species; establishes NJ Invasive Species Council. | Crossed Over |
| S2200 | 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. | Crossed Over |
| SJR46 | 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. | Crossed Over |
| S2078 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| 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. | 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. | Crossed Over |
| S1118 | Requires use of uniform silver flags to mark certain pesticide applications. | This bill requires every commercial pesticide applicator to use uniform silver flags to mark areas on which pesticides have been applied. The flags used must be silver in color, must be a uniform size and type, must provide information in English and Spanish, and must stay in place for a minimum of 72 hours after the pesticide application. In addition, the bill would prohibit the use of silver flags to mark anything likely to be confused with a pesticide application. The exclusive color requirement is intended to distinguish pesticide flags from, among other things, those used for invisible dog fences, underground utility lines, septic tanks, and underground piping. The bill also directs the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate rules and regulations effectuating these requirements. | In Committee |
| S1487 | Requires application option enhancement for certain housing, shelter, and rental assistance administered by DCA. | Requires application option enhancement for certain housing, shelter, and rental assistance administered by DCA. | In Committee |
| S4223 | Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS. | This bill permits members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), or long term disability insurance recipients who are disabled and receiving TPAF or PERS disability insurance benefits, to be entitled to health care benefits under the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) and State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) in the same manner as it is provided to retirees of the TPAF and PERS retirement systems who receive health insurance under the SEHBP and SHBP, except that such health care benefits are to be free and will not require employee contributions. The bill provides that there is no deadline for disability insurance recipients to enroll in coverage and no eligibility requirements imposed to receive coverage, other than the member being required to be a recipient of disability insurance under TPAF or PERS. The bill also specifies that health benefits are not to be considered as benefits that reduce the amount that disabled TPAF or PERS members would receive in disability benefits and, for pension purposes, the member is to be considered as if the member was in active service for the duration of the time the disability benefit is received. | In Committee |
| S3695 | Requires cell phone and social media guidelines to be developed by DOE and policy to be adopted by each school district. | Requires cell phone and social media guidelines to be developed by DOE and policy to be adopted by each school district. | Crossed Over |
| A4684 | Removes certain limitations on recovery for victims of certain sexual offenses. | An Act concerning judgments against public entities and amending P.L.2019, c.120 and N.J.S.59:9-2. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1672 | Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | An Act concerning eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement and amending P.L.1997, c.348. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S843 | Requires Adjutant General of DMVA create program for veterans to receive evaluation and treatment for PTSD, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury. | This bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop, in coordination with appropriate departments and agencies, a program to assist veterans in accessing evaluation and treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis related to military service. The program may include offering support and guidance, transportation, assistance filing disability compensation claims, assistance updating discharge status, health care and other services or programs available at the local, State and federal level for obtaining and addressing a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis. Under the bill, "veteran" means a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| S3835 | Establishes Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure. | Establishes Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure. | In Committee |
| S4226 | Revises SNAP application process to include certain notices, and certification and recertification requirements. | This bill requires the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to create a notice that informs a State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicant of the household eligibility and verification requirements that must be met as part of the SNAP application process. The notice is also required to include information on a county SNAP agency's responsibility in assisting the applicant throughout the application process. This notice is required to be provided in English and written at a fourth-grade reading level. In accordance with the provisions of P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), the notice will be translated into the top seven most common non-English languages, and in any additional languages necessary as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services. Additionally, the bill states that applicants, during certification or recertification, can self-attest to:1. dependent care expenses; 2. SNAP household composition; 3. financial resources; 4. shelter expenses; and5. citizenship status. Pursuant to federal regulations, immigration status must be verified; however, additional verification of the above-mentioned self-attestations will not be required unless the information is deemed questionable. If additional verification is required, the SNAP agency must provide the applicant with a written notice: (1) explaining why the information is questionable; and (2) containing examples of the types of documents the applicant may provide for verification of the questionable information. Lastly, the bill provides that the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Family Development promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this bill. | In Committee |
| S3564 | Removes certain limitations on recovery for victims of certain sexual offenses. | Removes certain limitations on recovery for victims of certain sexual offenses. | In Committee |
| S3561 | Permits procurement of medical countermeasures, products, and therapeutics. | This bill permits the procurement of medical countermeasures, products, and therapeutics. Under the bill, the Department of Health may directly purchase medical countermeasures, supplies, and therapeutics pursuant to any federal laws, regulations, or programs, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in a contract that has been approved by the federal department or agency responsible for administering such laws, regulations, or programs, if the Commissioner of Health determines that the purchase is necessary to advance or protect public health and safety. | Crossed Over |
| S3666 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on risks of compulsive gambling as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | Requires school districts to provide instruction on risks of compulsive gambling as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | In Committee |
| S1242 | Makes compulsive gambling prevention, education, and treatment program optional penalty for casino gambling by person under legal age of 21; makes fine optional. | Under current law, a person who enters or gambles at a casino when the person is under 21 years of age is guilty of a disorderly persons offense and is subject to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000. This bill would allow the court the option to impose the fine, and to also require that person to participate in a compulsive gambling prevention, education, and treatment program that meets certain criteria, such as those provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S116 | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | In Committee |
| S1519 | Requires institutions of higher education to collect and report employment data for certain graduates. | Requires institutions of higher education to collect and report employment data for certain graduates. | In Committee |
| S1576 | Establishes farm pesticide collection and disposal program. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to create a farm pesticide collection and disposal program to collect, transport, and dispose of pesticides and fertilizers containing pesticides, and collect, transport, and recycle pesticide containers held or owned by commercial farms. Participation in the program by commercial farms would be voluntary. In implementing the farm pesticide collection and disposal program, the DEP would: (1) strategically place collection sites in diverse regions of the State; (2) offer at least two collection events per year in each collection site; (3) contract with, and provide oversight of, entities qualified to safely collect and dispose of pesticides and fertilizers containing pesticides, and entities qualified to safely collect and recycle pesticide containers; and (4) appoint local agents or representatives to inventory collected pesticides, fertilizers containing pesticides, and pesticide containers disposed of and recycled by farms through the program, and to provide that information in a timely manner to the DEP. The Department of Agriculture, acting in consultation with the DEP, would establish a cooperative public education and awareness campaign to inform farmers about: (1) the location of collection sites, and dates of upcoming collection events; (2) the types of pesticides, fertilizers containing pesticides, and pesticide containers accepted by the program; (3) the benefits of the farm pesticide collection and disposal program for farmers; and (4) the environmental benefits of properly disposing of pesticides and fertilizers containing pesticides, and recycling pesticide containers. This information would be posted on the Department of Agriculture's Internet website and would be updated as necessary. The bill would take effect on the 180th day after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S1560 | Requires Department of Agriculture to establish Farm Vitality Planning Reimbursement Grant Program. | Requires Department of Agriculture to establish Farm Vitality Planning Reimbursement Grant Program. | In Committee |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | In Committee |
| S3744 | Expands competitive contracting for local contracting units and boards of education; permits county colleges to utilize competitive contracting. | This bill expands competitive contracting for local contracting units and board of education and permits county colleges to utilize competitive contracting. Under current law, local contracting units and boards of education are permitted to use competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding for specialized goods and services exceeding the bid threshold. This bill expands the list of specialized goods and services for which local contracting units and boards of education can use competitive contracting. Specifically, the bill permits local contracting units to utilize competitive contracting for the provision or performance of goods and services for the purpose of producing Class I or Class II renewable energy. The bill also permits boards of education to utilize competitive contracting for: maintenance, custodial, and groundskeeping services; consulting services; grant writing services; or the provision or performance of goods and services for the purpose of producing Class I renewable energy. Additionally, the bill enables a county college to utilize competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding for the procurement of certain listed specialized goods and services that exceed the bid threshold. The bill authorizes the use of competitive contracting for the following purposes: (1) purchasing or licensing certain proprietary computer software; (2) hiring a for-profit entity or a not-for-profit entity incorporated under current law to operate, manage, or administer recreation or social services facilities or programs and data processing services; (3) obtaining services concerning energy conservation education; (4) procuring certain telecommunications services; (5) obtaining laboratory testing services; (6) procuring maintenance, custodial, and groundskeeping services; (7) contracting for grant writing services; (8) concessions; (9) contracting for specified services to produce Class I renewable energy; (10) procuring any service exempt from the requirements for public advertising under current law, at the discretion of the county college; and (11) operating, managing, or administering other services, with the approval of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. The bill stipulates that contracts awarded for these purposes may be awarded for a term not to exceed five years, unless otherwise permitted by law. The bill enumerates the process by which competitive contracting may be utilized by the county colleges, including: the requirements for request for proposals documentation; the manner in which county colleges are to solicit competitive contract proposals; and the methods for awarding competitive contracts. Finally, the bill revises the process by which county colleges may purchase any materials, supplies, goods, services or equipment under a contract entered into on behalf of the State by the Division of Purchase and Property. The bill stipulates that the terms and conditions of the contracts awarded by the Division of Purchase and Property are to be binding. The bill also provides that a county college is not entitled to any bonding or indemnification protections provided to the State unless the vendor agrees to extend the protections to the county college. Under the bill, a county college is permitted to enter into these contracts for a period exceeding 24 consecutive months, up to the length of the contract term. | In Committee |
| S3280 | Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions. | Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions. | In Committee |
| S3970 | Establishes "Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program" in EDA. | Establishes "Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program" in EDA. | In Committee |
| S4116 | Requires certain school districts and DOE to address chronic absenteeism. | This bill requires certain school districts to establish attendance review teams and requires the Department of Education to develop a chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan. Under the bill, a school district is required to establish an attendance review team to address chronic absenteeism in the district or at one or more of the schools in the district, as applicable, if the district chronic absenteeism rate is greater than or equal to 10 percent, or one or more schools in the district has a school chronic absenteeism rate greater than or equal to 15 percent. The attendance review team is to be responsible for reviewing the cases of any chronically absent children enrolled in the district or at the school, as applicable, discussing school interventions and community referrals for the chronically absent children, and making any additional recommendations for the chronically absent children and their parents or guardians. An attendance review team may consist of school administrators, guidance counselors, school social workers, teachers, and representatives from community-based programs that address issues related to student attendance. The bill also requires the Department of Education to develop and make available on its Internet website a chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan for use by school districts to reduce chronic absenteeism. The chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan is to include information on: the definition of chronically absent and common causes of chronic absenteeism; the effect of chronic absenteeism on a student's academic performance; and ways in which family and school partnerships with community resources can reduce chronic absenteeism and improve student attendance. Additionally, the plan is to include a means of collecting and analyzing data related to student attendance and chronic absenteeism for the purpose of disaggregating the data by school district, school, grade and student subgroups, and assisting school districts in tracking chronic absenteeism over multiple years and throughout the school year, developing indicators to identify students who are at risk of being chronically absent children, monitoring students' attendance over time, and making adjustments to interventions for chronic absenteeism as they are being implemented. The plan may include a research-based and data-driven mentorship model that attempts to reduce chronic absenteeism through the use of mentors. Additionally, the department may develop incentives and rewards that recognize schools that reduce the school chronic absenteeism rate and students who improve attendance. | In Committee |
| S4083 | Requires air conditioning in certain residential rental units. | This bill requires owners of certain residential rental units to provide for air conditioning or operational air conditioning systems, under certain circumstances. First, the bill requires air conditioning or operational air conditioning systems to be available and the temperature maintained at no more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit in multiple dwelling units that are occupied by or intended to be occupied by a senior citizen or person with a disability between May 16 and September 30 of each year. This requirement would not apply to seasonal rental units or to any health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.). Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to promulgate standards for air conditioning systems in other dwelling units that have an air conditioning system installed. In those dwelling units the bill requires that, from May 16 to September 30 of each year, the air conditioning system is to be operational and capable of maintaining, in every unit of dwelling space and every habitable room, a temperature of no more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The standards promulgated pursuant to the bill would apply to any multiple dwelling unit. | In Committee |
| S4084 | Establishes permanent standard time in NJ. | This bill requires the State of New Jersey to permanently observe standard time by ending the observance of daylight saving time. For four months, the standard time of New Jersey is Eastern Standard Time, or five hours offset from Coordinated Universal Time. Under current law, from 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March until 2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November, the State participates in the one-hour advancement of time, commonly referred to as "daylight saving time." Studies have shown that this shift in time has certain negative consequences, including millions of dollars in estimated economic losses due to decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs, and increased workplace injuries; increased risks of cardiological issues including heart attack, stroke, and atrial fibrillation; reduction in sleep quality which has been attributed to a notable increase in automobile accidents, including fatal accidents; and adverse effects on mental health, including increased rates of mood disorders and suicide. Remaining permanently on standard time has been shown to provide the ideal alignment with human circadian biology, and in turn, promotes public health, provides increased safety, and enhances economic productivity. Due to the negative ramifications associated with the time shifts and the notable benefits of permanent standard time, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that the United States should eliminate seasonal time changes in favor of a national fixed year-round time. This bill would take effect immediately if the date of enactment falls outside of daylight saving time. If enactment occurs during daylight saving time, this bill would take effect immediately following the end of daylight saving time. | In Committee |
| S3643 | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package. | In Committee |
| S1572 | Increases amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues dedicated to anti-smoking initiatives from one to three percent. | This bill increases, from one to three percent, the amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues dedicated to anti-smoking initiatives. Under existing law, these revenues are to be directed to the Department of Health to fund tobacco control programs to prevent youth initiation of tobacco usage, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, and promotion of cessation. Moreover, priority for the funding is to be given to programs that aim to reduce the incidence of smoking among the State's Medicaid population and youth. In FY 2023, these revenues are projected to provide approximately $5 million for anti-smoking initiatives. Under the bill, that amount would increase to approximately $15 million. | In Committee |
| A3414 | Modifies regulation of student permits by NJ State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling and establishes oversight of individuals seeking employment as shampoo technicians. | An Act concerning student permits for certain cosmetology and hairstyling students and amending and supplementing P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2544 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | In Committee |
| S1783 | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum. | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum. | In Committee |
| S1411 | Requires stress testing on State's ability to provide services in various economic conditions. | This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to, once every third year, conduct and report on a stress test analysis of the State's ability to maintain services and provide necessary assistance to residents in various economic conditions. The stress test analyses required by this bill would include: (1) long- and short-term projections of major funding sources, including revenues from major taxes and funding from the federal government; (2) a comparison between projections of major funding sources and historical trends for each of those funding sources; (3) an analysis of expenditures that are likely to increase or decrease in various economic conditions; (4) an accounting of the State's reserves, including amounts deposited into the "Surplus Revenue Fund"; and (5) options that the State has to respond to, and lessen the negative impact of, economic recessions. Under the bill, the Department of the Treasury is required to make the stress test analyses publicly accessible on its website, and include it as part of the Governor's annual budget message. | Crossed Over |
| S2099 | Authorizes establishment of regional economic development partnerships. | This bill authorizes local governmental entities to enter into regional economic development partnerships for the purpose of engaging in joint regional economic planning and formulating an economic development or redevelopment strategy. Under the bill, regional economic development partnerships could include any combination of county governments, municipal governments, agencies or instrumentalities thereof, and public or private economic development organization. A regional economic development partnership may also include businesses, business organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other entities located within the region. | In Committee |
| SJR76 | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR93 | Designates first full week of May of each year as "Teacher Appreciation Week." | Designates first full week of May of each year as "Teacher Appreciation Week." | In Committee |
| S2712 | Requires public schools to include instruction on cursive handwriting. | This bill a board of education to include instruction on how to read and write in cursive for students in grades kindergarten through five. The instruction is required to include learning activities and resources designed to ensure a student is able to read cursive documents and write in cursive by the end of grade three. Cursive is defined as a type of handwriting in which all the letters in a word are connected. The ever-increasing reliance on computers and related technologies in contemporary society has left students with keyboarding skills, but lacking the ability to read and write in cursive. Yet, scientists are discovering that learning cursive has important benefits for cognitive development, and that when learning to write cursive, multiple parts of the brain are activated, as compared to typing or simply viewing letters. In addition, documents that are fundamental to our nation's history and laws, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were drafted in cursive. So that students are able to read our most valued historical documents in their original form, can write or sign their names in cursive when required, and are enriched by any cognitive, motor skill, or other benefits that result from learning to write in cursive, this bill requires that cursive be included in the public school curriculum. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S2498 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain educator common application and web portal. | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain educator common application and web portal. | Crossed Over |
| S2506 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to give priority consideration to municipalities that are in compliance with their affordable housing obligations in awarding grants or other financial assistance through the Main Street New Jersey Program, Neighborhood Preservation Program, or any other program administered by the DCA or the EDA through which monies are provided to a municipality via a competitive process. The bill's provisions would not apply to grants or financial assistance intended to help a municipality fulfill its affordable housing obligation. For the purposes of the bill, the Department of Community Affairs would consider, at a minimum, the following in determining a municipality's compliance in the first five years after a new round of affordable housing obligations begin: prior round builder's remedy lawsuits, prior round fair share settlements, the percentage of fulfilled obligation, and any other factor deemed relevant by the department. | In Committee |
| S1285 | Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | This bill would make disabled persons who receive disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act, (45 U.S.C. s. 231 et seq.), eligible to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement. Under current law, only disabled persons who receive monetary payments pursuant to Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.401 et seq.) are eligible to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement. | In Committee |
| S1033 | Requires DOH to study indoor air quality at public schools, develop list of common indoor air contaminants at public schools, and establish guidance regarding potential mitigation measures. | Requires DOH to study indoor air quality at public schools, develop list of common indoor air contaminants at public schools, and establish guidance regarding potential mitigation measures. | In Committee |
| S4033 | Establishes fire protection requirements for short-term farm labor housing. | This bill provides that short-term farm labor housing that includes fire protection measures that provide for the installation of fire extinguishers and early warning fire protection devices such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and ingress and egress standards, may be used as short-term farm labor housing and shall be deemed in compliance with the State Uniform Construction Code. Short-term farm labor housing is defined in the bill as a building consisting of housing or sleeping places provided to seasonal workers for periods not to exceed three months, as part of a "farm labor camp," as defined in section 2 of P.L.1945, c.71 (C.34:9A-2). | In Committee |
| S4036 | 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 |
| S3997 | Provides PERS 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 Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and transfers all current non-retired members of PERS 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 PERS. 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 PERS, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to PERS. Any years of service credit transferred to PERS from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with PERS, 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 PERS and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to PERS 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 PERS. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of PERS 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 PERS will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| S4034 | Provides that potable water well construction projects on preserved farms are eligible to receive soil and water conservation grants from SADC. | This bill would provide that projects on preserved farmland to construct potable water wells would be eligible to receive soil and water conservation grants from the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) pursuant to section 17 of P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-24). Under the current program, eligible projects include: terrace systems; diversions; water impoundment reservoirs; irrigation systems; sediment retention, erosion or water control systems; drainage systems; animal waste control facilities; and land shaping and grading. This bill would expand the program to also allow for potable water well construction projects to be eligible. In order to obtain a soil and water conservation grant, landowners apply to local Soil Conservation Districts, which assist in developing farm conservation plans and ensure projects are necessary and feasible. Applications are then forwarded to the State Soil Conservation Committee, which recommends projects to the SADC for funding approvals. | In Committee |
| S4031 | Requires school meal service providers, when procuring local and regional foods for students, to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within 100 miles of destination school. | This bill would establish purchase preference requirements that are to be satisfied in association with the procurement of local and regional foods for school meal program purposes. The Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program is a federal program, operated by the Agricultural Management Service in the United States Department of Agriculture, which enables the federal government to enter into cooperative agreements, with individual states, to provide such states with federal financial assistance to facilitate their procurement of local and regional foods, from small businesses, from local and regional farmers and food producers, and from socially disadvantaged farmers and food producers, and their distribution of such local and regional foods, to students at participating schools, as part of the National School Lunch Program and federal School Breakfast Program. Under the existing provisions of federal law, local and regional foods which are procured, for students, under the LFS program must either be procured from in-State farmers and food producers or from farmers and food producers (whether in-State or out-of-State) who are located within 400 miles of the destination school. This bill would establish complimentary, State-level geographic purchase preference requirements to ensure that the food procurement activities being undertaken by school food authorities, by food service management companies (FSMCs), and by other contracted third-party food service providers, pursuant to the LFS program and other similar State and federal laws and programs, are focused on the procurement of foods and food products from a more localized area and, primarily, from in-State farmers and food producers. Specifically, the bill would provide that, whenever a school food authority, or a FSMC or other third-party food service vendor, receives federal or State-level funding under the LFS program, or under any other similar federal or State program designed to encourage or facilitate the procurement of local or regional foods for students at participating schools, the school food authority, FSMC, or other third-party vendor will be required, to the greatest extent practicable, to: 1) give geographic preference to the procurement, for such purposes, of foods and food products which are grown or otherwise produced within a 100-mile radius of the destination school; and 2) among those foods and food products which are grown or produced within 100 miles of the destination school, give geographic preference to the procurement of foods and food products that have been grown or otherwise produced by in-State farmers and food producers within that 100-mile radius. The bill would require any school food service contract, which is executed between a school food authority and a FSMC or other third-party vendor, to contain provisions setting forth, and requiring ongoing compliance with, the bill's geographic preference requirements, and it would further require each school food authority, FSMC, and other third-party meals service vendor to maintain and regularly submit, to the Department of Agriculture, appropriate records and other documentation demonstrating ongoing compliance with the bill's geographic preference requirements. | In Committee |
| S3998 | 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 |
| S3746 | "Moose's Law"; prohibits persons convicted of animal cruelty offenses from owning animals and from working or volunteering at animal-related enterprises; establishes presumption against pretrial intervention for certain persons. | "Moose's Law"; prohibits persons convicted of animal cruelty offenses from owning animals and from working or volunteering at animal-related enterprises; establishes presumption against pretrial intervention for certain persons. | Crossed Over |
| A1476 | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2245 | Modifies regulation of student permits by NJ State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling and establishes oversight of individuals seeking employment as shampoo technicians. | Modifies regulation of student permits by NJ State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling and establishes oversight of individuals seeking employment as shampoo technicians. | In Committee |
| S361 | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | In Committee |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Vetoed |
| S3713 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | In Committee |
| S3972 | Revises penalty for underage gambling to be civil penalty; provides for all associated fines to be used for gambling addiction treatment. | Under current law, anyone who gambles at a casino or simulcasting facility while under the legal age of 21 is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A person who allows someone under the age of 21 to gamble, while they are in that person's legal care or custody, is also guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A licensee or employee of a casino who allows someone under the age of 21 to gamble is guilty of a disorderly persons offense as well. This bill changes the penalties for each of these actions from that of a disorderly persons offense, which is of a criminal nature, to instead be a civil fine of up to $500 for the first offense, up to $1,000 for the second offense, and up to $2,000 for any offense thereafter. The fines collected will used for prevention, education, and treatment programs for compulsive gambling, such as those provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S2402 | Establishes New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program. The bill establishes a grant program in the Economic Development Authority that will support veterans' organizations and their building needs, throughout the State. These organizations, such as VFW posts, could be in need of new buildings or could have buildings that are in need of repair. Grants will be awarded when the buildings are used to assist veterans. In order to award the grants, this bill establishes a fund in the Department of the Treasury, to be known as the "Veterans' Organization Building Grant Fund." This grant program will be funded by the Legislature through yearly appropriations to the fund. The grant program also allows New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily contribute a portion of their tax refund, or enclose a separate contribution, for the fund. There is appropriated from the General Fund $2,000,000 to the Economic Development Authority to fund the "Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program." | In Committee |
| S354 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| S1577 | Requires maintenance of roadways surrounding State capitol complex. | Requires maintenance of roadways surrounding State capitol complex. | Crossed Over |
| S1637 | 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. | In Committee |
| S3446 | Establishes Farmland Assessment Review Commission to annually review and recommend changes to farmland assessment program, as necessary to ensure fair, equitable, and uniform Statewide application and enforcement of program requirements and allocation of program benefits. | Establishes Farmland Assessment Review Commission to annually review and recommend changes to farmland assessment program, as necessary to ensure fair, equitable, and uniform Statewide application and enforcement of program requirements and allocation of program benefits. | In Committee |
| S3227 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | 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 |
| A4148 | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | An Act concerning information provided on type 1 diabetes in public schools and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3940 | Clarifies consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not include or imply consent to disclosure of image. | This bill amends the invasion of privacy statute, N.J.S.A.2C:14-9, to clarify that a person's consent to being photographed, filmed, videotaped, recorded, observed, or otherwise having their nude, sexual, or sexually suggestive image reproduced is not be construed to include or imply the person's consent to the disclosure of such image. The bill also requires that a person's consent to disclosure is strictly construed to be limited only to the express purpose for which consent was obtained. Under current law, a person's consent to the taking of the image could be construed to also waive any restriction on the subsequent disclosure of the image. Under the bill, taking an image and disclosing an image are two separate acts that require two separate instances of consent. | In Committee |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | In Committee |
| S1407 | Requires Medicaid coverage for community violence prevention services; establishes training and certification program for violence prevention professionals. | Requires Medicaid coverage for community violence prevention services; establishes training and certification program for violence prevention professionals. | In Committee |
| S286 | Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons. | Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons. | Crossed Over |
| S1239 | Requires New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to require criminal history records check for person to serve as official at athletic events sanctioned by association. | This bill requires that a criminal history records check be conducted on any person who serves as an official for an interscholastic athletics meet, game, or tournament sanctioned by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Under the bill's provisions, the association is to request the check through the Commissioner of Education. A prospective or current official will submit his name, address, and fingerprints to the NJSIAA which will then forward this documentation to the commissioner. The bill authorizes the commissioner to exchange fingerprint data with and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police. In conducting the check, the State Bureau of Identification will examine its own files and will arrange for a similar examination by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division. A prospective or current official will be disqualified from serving as an official for any interscholastic athletic events sanctioned by the NJSIAA if the person's criminal history record information reveals a record of conviction for a disqualifying crime or offense. The bill incorporates by reference the list of disqualifying crimes and offenses applicable to prospective school employees. Following qualification to serve as an official, the State Bureau of Identification will immediately forward to the commissioner any information which the bureau receives on a charge pending against the official. If the charge is for a disqualifying crime or offense, the commissioner will notify the NJSIAA, and the association will take appropriate action. If the pending charge results in conviction, the person will be disqualified from continuing to serve as an official. | In Committee |
| S988 | Requires DOE and DCF to establish online reporting systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results. | This bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to establish online reporting systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results. In July 2016, the State Board of Education adopted regulations requiring every school in the State to test for lead in drinking water. Shortly thereafter, in January 2017, the Department of Children and Families adopted regulations requiring each child care facility in the State to test for lead in drinking water. While lead test results were required to be submitted to the respective departments and made available to children and parents, there is currently no centralized database for, or report on, this data available to the public and policy makers. Such a centralized database would allow policy makers and the public to better understand the extent of lead contamination in schools and child care centers in the State and allow policy makers to do the necessary analysis to effectuate remedial funding and technical assistance. This bill would require the DOE and the DCF to establish online reporting systems for schools and childcare centers to report their lead testing results electronically. Under the bill, within 90 days after establishment of the databases, each school and childcare center that was required pursuant to law or regulation to test for lead would be required to submit or resubmit its test results and any other required information via the online reporting system. The DOE and DCF would be required to compile the test results on their respective Internet websites for access by the public. Finally, the bill would require both departments to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the extent of lead contamination in the drinking water of schools and child care centers, the associated need for assistance with remediation activities, and recommendations for how the State can assist schools and child care centers with remediating lead in drinking water. This bill stems from recommendations in the Joint Legislative Task Force on Drinking Water Infrastructure's final report, released in January 2018. | In Committee |
| S1394 | Increases amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property taxes for purposes of deduction from gross income for property tax payments; increases property tax credit option for certain individuals. | Increases amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property taxes for purposes of deduction from gross income for property tax payments; increases property tax credit option for certain individuals. | In Committee |
| S1797 | Prohibits transportation network companies from engaging in surge pricing during state of emergency. | Prohibits transportation network companies from engaging in surge pricing during state of emergency. | In Committee |
| S1780 | Prohibits school district from denying admittance to student due to tardiness or violation of dress code or school uniform policy. | Prohibits school district from denying admittance to student due to tardiness or violation of dress code or school uniform policy. | In Committee |
| S2354 | Requires MVC to accommodate walk-in services on certain days. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide service to walk-in customers at least two full days per week for the purpose of better accommodating customers and allowing services to be available for all individuals. Specifically, those lacking the email or computer access required for completion of online tasks and scheduling. The bill also requires the commission to accommodate all walk-in customers on a first-come, first-served basis for all commission services. | In Committee |
| S3894 | Establishes crime of possessing digital instructions to illegally manufacture firearms and firearm components. | This bill establishes the crime of possessing digital instructions that may be used to program a three-dimensional printer to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver, magazine, or firearm component. Under the bill, a person who is not licensed or registered to manufacture firearms and knowingly possesses firearm digital instructions is guilty of a crime of the third degree. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under current law, it is a crime to utilize digital instructions to illegally manufacture a firearm using a three-dimensional printer. The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI) recently issued a report which, in part, recommended establishing a crime for the possession of printing plans to manufacture firearms, and firearm components, including receivers or magazines. This bill implements the commission's recommendation. | In Committee |
| S3437 | Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities. | Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| S3497 | Requires high school students to receive financial literacy instruction. | Requires high school students to receive financial literacy instruction. | In Committee |
| S3537 | Requires State to bear partial cost of transportation of certain homeless students to school. | This bill requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school. Under current law, when a homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence is required to provide for transportation to and from school. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district of residence. Current law also permits any student who moves from one school district to another as a result of being homeless due to an act of terrorism or a natural disaster to remain in the original district for two years, provided that the student's parent or guardian remains homeless for that period. In this circumstance, the original district is required to provide transportation to the student. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district in which the parent or guardian last resided prior to becoming homeless. | In Committee |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2962 | Requires contractor subject to prevailing wage law to provide orientation meeting to new employee on prevailing wage project. | An Act concerning the rights of employees under the prevailing wage law and amending P.L.1963, c.150. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3872 | Prohibits procurement of opioid antidotes from certain entities. | This bill prohibits the procurement of opioid antidotes from certain pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. Under the bill, the Division of Purchase and Property (division) in the Department of the Treasury, or any State agency having authority to contract for the purchase of goods or services, may only issue a request for proposal for the procurement of opioid antidotes to entities that have not been parties to any settlement with any state government over legal claims against those entities for actions that contributed to the opioid epidemic. An entity that has been a party to a settlement with any state government over a legal claim against the entity for an action that contributed to the opioid epidemic, including any of the entity's affiliates or subsidiaries, will be precluded from participating in the solicitation. Following the selection and awarding of any request for proposal for the procurement of opioid antidotes issued pursuant to this bill, the division, or any State agency having authority to contract for the purchase of goods or services, will only purchase, or use available federal funding to purchase, opioid antidotes from selected and awarded vendors that have not been parties to any settlement with any state government over legal claims against those vendors for actions that contributed to the opioid epidemic. Under the bill, any entity that has been a party to a settlement with any state government over a legal claim against the entity for an action that contributed the opioid epidemic, including any of the entity's affiliates or subsidiaries, will be precluded from selling the State opioid antidotes. However, if the entity, in a settlement entered into prior to September 1, 2024, agreed to provide the State opioid antidotes as a part of the settlement, the entity will continue to provide the State opioid antidotes until the existing settlement obligations are fulfilled | In Committee |
| S2310 | Requires transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings. | An Act concerning transparency in employment listings and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4706 | Revises statutes implementing certain property tax relief programs pursuant to recommendations promulgated by Stay NJ Task Force. | An Act concerning the Stay NJ property tax benefit program and amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR46 | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates January of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the many Hindu residents of this State and their rich and noteworthy history and cultural contributions to this State. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, dating back to a time between 3000-8000 BCE. Sacred texts have been passed on through generations for thousands of years, creating a strong following of 1.1 billion Hindus in the 21st century. Hindus believe in a variety of deities, each representing different concepts and values within Hinduism. Different sects of Hindus emphasize particular deities and practices over others, depending on their beliefs. Various Hindu gods and goddesses can be traced to origin points spanning several thousand years, making the traditions surrounding Hinduism and the Hindu deities rich and storied. Some deities have holidays celebrated in their honor, such as Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. Another well-known Hindu holiday is Holi, the Festival of Colors. It is a holiday celebrating the coming of spring, famous for colorful paste and water thrown on those celebrating. Hindus have made enormous contributions to cultural development throughout history across the globe. Significant achievements in math, science, and medicine used in the modern world can be traced to Hindus. New Jersey is lucky enough to be the state with the highest percentage of Hindu residents in the United States. The Hindu community has shown others the beauty of their beliefs, including though the establishment of the largest Hindu temple in the world, now located in Robbinsville, New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR12 | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S1887 | Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly. | Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly. | Crossed Over |
| S3310 | Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund. | This bill requires that a portion of what would have been the worker contribution to the unemployment compensation trust fund instead be collected and deposited directly into the unemployment compensation administration fund. Under current law, workers who are either employed by nongovernmental employers, including non-profit employers, or who are employed by governmental employers that elect or are required to pay contributions, contribute 0.3825 percent of their wages to the unemployment compensation trust fund. The bill reduces this worker contribution to the unemployment compensation trust fund to 0.3625 percent of wages and requires that 0.0200 percent of wages be collected and deposited directly into the unemployment compensation administration fund. Under current law, workers who are employed by the State of New Jersey or any other governmental entity or instrumentality that elects or is required to make payments in lieu of contributions, contribute 0.0825 percent of their wages to the unemployment compensation trust fund. The bill reduces this worker contribution to the unemployment compensation trust fund to 0.0625 percent of wages and requires that 0.0200 percent of wages be collected and deposited directly into the unemployment compensation administration fund. The bill's redirection of funds is less than the amount that is not committed to separate trust funds of self-insured employers, so the amount that goes to the separate funds, and consequently employer contributions, will not be affected by the bill's provisions. The unemployment compensation trust fund provides the funding for unemployment benefits for workers. While the unemployment compensation trust fund is adequately funded, the unemployment compensation administration fund does not have adequate funding to maintain efficient operations of the unemployment compensation system. The unemployment compensation administration fund is funded by contributions from the federal government, but these contributions do not provide sufficient resources to maintain the State system. This redirection of contributions from the unemployment compensation trust fund to unemployment compensation administration fund will provide needed resources to the unemployment compensation administration fund. | In Committee |
| S3693 | Revises statutes implementing certain property tax relief programs pursuant to recommendations promulgated by Stay NJ Task Force. | Revises statutes implementing certain property tax relief programs pursuant to recommendations promulgated by Stay NJ Task Force. | In Committee |
| S3057 | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | In Committee |
| S3817 | Requires DEP to implement Advanced Clean Trucks regulations no earlier than January 1, 2027. | This bill would delay the implementation of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP's) Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations to January 1, 2027. Under current law, N.J.A.C. 7:27-31.3, the regulations would become operative on January 1, 2025. The DEP adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations in 2021. Pursuant to P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the DEP is authorized to implement California's Low Emission Vehicle Program in New Jersey. The ACT regulations would require, among other things, that manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty motor vehicles sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions vehicles, capping at 40 percent to 75 percent of annual sales in 2035, depending on the type of vehicle sold. | In Committee |
| S1536 | Amends eligibility for expungement of criminal records. | This bill provides courts with the authority to grant an expungement in certain circumstances where an individual would otherwise be disqualified under current law. As provided in N.J.S.2C:52-2, a person who has been convicted of a crime, or a combination of one crime and less than four disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses which were not closely related in circumstances or in time would be eligible to seek expungement relief. Alternatively, the person could seek expungement relief if convicted of more than one crime or a combination of crimes and disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses which were closely related in circumstances or in time. This bill grants individuals who have been convicted of more than one crime of the third or fourth degree the opportunity for expungement relief, if it can be demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the individual has been rehabilitated. In determining whether clear and convincing evidence of rehabilitation has been demonstrated, the court may consider the following factors: (1) the nature and seriousness of the crimes; (2) the circumstances under which the crimes occurred; (3) the date of the crimes; (4) the age of the person when the crimes were committed; (5) the social conditions which may have contributed to the crimes; and (6) any evidence of rehabilitation, including good conduct in prison or the community, counseling or psychiatric treatment received, acquisition of additional academic or vocational schooling, successful participation in correctional work-release programs, or the recommendation of persons who have or have had the applicant under their supervision. This bill would not apply to an individual who has been convicted of a crime of the first or second degree, or a sex offense as defined in subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-2). | In Committee |
| S3257 | Allows law enforcement agencies to distribute epinephrine to officers; requires training. | Allows law enforcement agencies to distribute epinephrine to officers; requires training. | In Committee |
| S3006 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | An Act concerning burglary of residential dwellings, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3777 | Reduces copayments and coinsurance for asthma inhalers covered by certain health benefits plans. | This bill reduces the out-of-pocket contribution for any covered person prescribed an asthma inhaler across State-regulated health insurance providers. Current law limits copayments or coinsurance for a 30-day supply of prescription asthma inhalers to $50. Under the bill, copayments or coinsurance for a 30-day supply of prescription asthma inhalers are reduced to $35. This coverage standard applies to individual or group hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, and health service corporations as well as individual and group health insurance policies and health maintenance organizations. Additionally, the bill extends this coverage standard to individual and small employer health benefits plans and requires that the State Health Benefits Commission and the School Employee's Health Benefits Commission ensure that their contracts comply with this coverage standard. | In Committee |
| S3775 | Grants court discretion to adjust, reduce, or waive certain mandatory legal financial obligations based on ability of defendant to pay. | This bill grants the court the discretion to adjust, reduce, or waive certain fines, fees, penalties, assessments, and legal financial obligations (collectively referred to as "LFOs") of criminal defendants based on ability of the defendant to pay. Under the bill, the court may exercise its discretion to adjust, reduce, or waive any mandatory LFOs imposed on a defendant convicted of a crime or offense, including a non-indictable offense, based on the defendant's inability to pay, the interests of justice, or if the LFO would be contrary to the purposes of rehabilitation. The bill requires the court to state, on the record, the factors that resulted in the adjustment, reduction, or waiver of a mandatory fines, fees, penalties, assessments, or other legal financial obligations. The bill incorporates recommendation D of the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission's third report, dated March 2023, except that the bill includes a requirement that the court state, on the record, the factors that resulted in the adjustment, reduction, or waiver of a mandatory fines, fees, penalties, assessments, or other legal financial obligations. | In Committee |
| S3668 | Phases out State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions of higher education; redirects State tuition aid grant funding for students enrolled in proprietary institutions to summer tuition aid grant program. | This bill phases out State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions of higher education. Under the bill, beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, a State tuition aid grant for a student enrolled in a proprietary institution is to be limited to students who received an award prior to that academic year. Students enrolled in a proprietary institution who received an award prior to the 2026-2027 academic year are to continue to receive an award until the student is no longer eligible. Additionally, the bill provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year and each year thereafter, funds which would have otherwise been awarded to students enrolled in proprietary institutions prior to the enactment of the bill are to instead be appropriated to fund summer tuition aid grants. | In Committee |
| S984 | Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools of violations of drinking water quality standards. | This bill would require the owner or operator of a public water system to immediately notify, by telephone and electronic mail, the governing body of a municipality and the chief administrator of every school district, charter school, and nonpublic school located within the municipality whenever the public water system violates any drinking water quality standard for drinking water supplied by the public water system within the municipality. The notification would provide the name of any contaminant that exceeds a drinking water quality standard, the maximum contaminant level or the action level, as appropriate, for the contaminant, the level of the contaminant found on each date, the dates when the tests were performed, the location of each sample tested and the location of each sample tested that exceeds a maximum contaminant level or action level. The bill also requires the owner or operator of the public water system to provide information on suggested remedies that a customer may take to address the violation. | In Committee |
| S2306 | "New Jersey Works Act"; permits businesses to apply for tax credits for establishing approved pre-employment and work readiness training programs in partnership with schools, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions. | "New Jersey Works Act"; permits businesses to apply for tax credits for establishing approved pre-employment and work readiness training programs in partnership with schools, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions. | In Committee |
| S2505 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain an educator common application and web portal. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain an educator common application and web portal, which is required to be fully operational within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The purpose of the web portal is to allow an educator to submit a single common application to apply for employment at the public schools of the State. Under the bill, the common application and web portal will: (1) maximize the ability of educators to connect with public schools that have employment openings; (2) increase the degree of information sharing regarding employment opportunities for educators; and (3) maintain high standards for data privacy and security. The bill permits the commissioner to contract with a private vendor to effectuate the bill's purposes. The bill also clarifies that nothing in the bill will be construed to prevent a school district or public school employer from using its own application process or web portal or from requiring additional materials from applicants who apply for employment using the common application and web portal established pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3759 | Concerns discrimination in housing and employment, including source of lawful income and age discrimination. | This bill amends the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) (LAD), to make existing provisions consistent, where appropriate, in prohibiting discrimination based on the source of a person's lawful income. Although currently prohibited by the LAD, this form of discrimination is not articulated consistently throughout this existing statute. This bill clarifies the LAD's prohibition on discrimination based on the source of a person's lawful income by defining the term "source of lawful income" and expressly stating that the prohibition applies to the income that would be used for either rental or mortgage payments. The bill also adjusts current law to provide that it does not constitute unlawful employment practice to require, in certain instances, the retirement of an employee if the employee is entitled to an immediate retirement benefit of at least $44,000. The bill increases this limit from $27,000, and removes a provision that expressly permits an employer to restrict employment to United States citizens when the restriction is required by federal law or necessary to protect national security. This bill also makes certain adjustments to current law to make the language gender neutral, and makes certain technical changes. This bill takes effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S3738 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 for Main Library Alliance. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to provide grants-in-aid funding to the Main Library Alliance. The Main Library Alliance is a non-profit organization that provides services, programs, learning platforms, cost-sharing, and a technology framework to over 50 library buildings in the northwestern part of the State. The Main Library Alliance and its member libraries serve over 700,000 patrons in over 100 municipalities in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties. | In Committee |
| S3709 | Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses. | This bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer in the Department of the Treasury, in partnership with the Business Action Center and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to conduct regular outreach events, training workshops, seminars, and other such educational programs virtually and throughout the State to promote awareness, access, and utilization of women-owned and minority-owned businesses in State contracting and subcontracting. Under the bill, these events can be held at community locations deemed suitable by the Chief Diversity Officer, which may include, but are not limited to, locations provided by non-profit organizations and faith-based entities. Additionally, the bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer in the Department of the Treasury, in partnership with the Business Action Center and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to conduct regular outreach events, training workshops, seminars, and other such educational programs virtually and throughout the State to provide women-owned and minority-owned businesses with technical, managerial, and financial training, including marketing assistance, personnel skill development, project management assistance, technology assistance, and financing assistance. | In Committee |
| S2237 | Establishes Department of Early Childhood. | This bill establishes as a new principal department within the Executive Branch, the Department of Early Childhood. The bill transfers the functions of the current Division of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Education to the Department of Early Childhood. In addition, the bill transfers to the new department:· all responsibilities of the Department of Education relating to students in grades preschool through three including, but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: teacher licensing; IDEA part B; Title I services; regional achievement centers; migrant and homeless education services; bilingual education services; parent training and information centers; and the New Jersey Council for Young Children;· all responsibilities of the Department of Human Services relating to children from pregnancy to age eight, including but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: subsidized child care programs and services; child care development block grants; wraparound care; New Jersey First Steps Infant Toddler Initiative; child care resource and referral agencies; childcare workforce registry; New Jersey School-Age child care; and New Jersey Inclusive Child Care; · all responsibilities of the Department of Children and Families relating to children from pregnancy to age eight including, but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: New Jersey Home Visitation Program; Help Me Grow Initiative; Project LAUNCH; New Jersey Strengthening Families Initiative; Project TEACH (Teen Education and Child Health); Parent Linking Program; and Family Success Centers; and· all responsibilities of the Department of Health relating to children from pregnancy to age eight, including but not limited to, those parts of the following programs relating to this age group: Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Program; New Jersey WIC Breastfeeding Services; services for perinatal mood disorders; home visitation programs; early intervention system under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and NJ Early Care and Education Learning Collaborative Project (NJ ECELC). The bill transfers all the functions of the Department of Children and Families regarding the licensing of child care centers and the registration of family child care providers to the new Department of Early Childhood. The bill requires the Commissioner of Early Childhood, in consultation with the Commissioners of Education, Human Services, Children and Families, and Health, to develop a schedule for the orderly transfer of programs relating to early childhood and child nutrition to the new department. | In Committee |
| S3596 | Increases penalties for denying access to public facilities, NJT, and transportation network companies to service dogs and their handlers. | This bill increases the penalties, from civil to criminal, for any person who denies or interferes with the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, or any transportation network company. Currently, any person who interferes or denies the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility is liable for civil penalties as follows:· $250 for the first violation; · $500 for the second violation; and· $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. This bill would subject any person denying access to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by NJT, or any transportation network company towards a service dog or their handler to criminal penalties. A person in violation of section 1 of P.L.1971, c.130 (C.10:5-29), or section 1 of P.L.2016, c.25 (C.27:25-5b), or section 15 of P.L.2017, c.26 (C.39:5H-15) would be charged with a petty disorderly persons offense for the first violation, and a disorderly persons offense for the second and each subsequent violation. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both; however, for a second and each subsequent violation, the standard term of up to six months' imprisonment has been increased to up to one year. | In Committee |
| S3368 | Concerns law protecting residential tenants from lead-based paint hazards. | An Act concerning lead-based paint hazards in residential rental property, including establishing lead-based paint hazard programs, amending P.L.2021, c.182, and repealing section 1 of P.L.2007, c.251. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3235 | Regulates production and sale of certain intoxicating hemp products. | An Act concerning intoxicating hemp products, supplementing Title 24 of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various sections of statutory law. | 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 |
| A2884 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System for certain service and amending P.L.1991, c.153. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2288 | Establishes Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in DOE. | An Act establishing the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2644 | Requires DOE to establish working group on student literacy; mandates universal literacy screenings for kindergarten through grade three students; requires professional development for certain school district employees. | An Act concerning student literacy and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3192 | "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act." | An Act concerning consumer rights in certain real estate transactions and amending P.L.2009, c.238 and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes and chapter 8 of Title 56 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1677 | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | An Act concerning electric school buses and government aggregation of certain energy services, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2027 | Establishes One-Year State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Pilot Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Pilot Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. | An Act concerning a monthly State benefit for menstrual hygiene products and diaper products under the Work First New Jersey Program, supplementing P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55), and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| S2330 | Establishes One-Year State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Pilot Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Pilot Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. | Establishes One-Year State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Pilot Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Pilot Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. | In Committee |
| S2070 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| S3263 | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | In Committee |
| S3479 | Modifies certain provisions of Historic Property Reinvestment and Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive programs. | This bill revises various provisions of the "New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020," P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-269 et al.) concerning the Historic Property Reinvestment Program and the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program. The Historic Property Reinvestment Program The bill revises the amount of credits that may be awarded to eligible business entities under the program. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum size of tax credits awarded under the program and allows for certain facade rehabilitation projects to be eligible for a tax credit award. Under the bill, the credits awarded for the rehabilitation of a qualified property located in a qualified incentive tract or government-restricted municipality are increased to 60 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $12 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 45 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $8 million, whichever is less. The credits awarded for the rehabilitation of any other qualified property, other than a transformative project, are also increased to 50 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $8 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 40 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $4 million, whichever is less. The bill also revises the tax credit eligibility requirement for a business to demonstrate a project financing gap to apply only to projects located outside of a government-restricted municipality that have a total rehabilitation cost or total façade rehabilitation cost of at least $5 million. The bill provides the Economic Development Authority (EDA) with the discretion to make up to 50 percent of the tax credits available for distribution in a given year to be made available for facade rehabilitation projects. The value of tax credits awarded to a facade rehabilitation project are 50 percent of the project's cost of façade rehabilitation, up to a maximum of $4 million. The bill defines "facade rehabilitation projects" to mean a project consisting of the repair or reconstruction of exterior building features, including but not limited to structural components embedded within exterior walls, masonry units and mortar, exterior siding fabric, doors, windows, exterior lighting fixtures, and decorative components, such as metalwork, terracotta units and cast stone which constitute the facades of a qualified property or transformative property. The Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program The bill revises various provisions relating to the application process for a developer and, following authority approval of the application, the subsequent redevelopment agreement between a developer and the authority. The bill also provides that the EDA would accept applications on a rolling basis, unless the EDA determines that the demand for tax credits is likely to exceed the availability of credits, in which case applications would be reviewed on a competitive basis and submitted before a date certain. Under the bill, the value of credits awarded for the remediation of a redevelopment project located in a qualified incentive tract or government-restricted municipality is increased to up to 80 percent of the actual remediation costs, 80 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $12 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 60 percent of the actual remediation costs, 60 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $8 million, whichever is less. The bill specifies the amount of tax credits that may be awarded for a redevelopment project erecting a solar panel array on the site of a closed sanitary landfill. If the project is located in a qualified incentive tract or a government-restricted municipality, the value of the tax credit would be in an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs of remediation or $12 million, whichever is less. If the project is located anywhere else in the State, the value of tax credit would be in an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs of remediation or $8 million, whichever is less. Under the bill, the value of credits awarded for the remediation of all other redevelopment projects is increased to up to 60 percent of the actual remediation costs, 60 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $8 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 50 percent of the actual remediation costs, 50 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $4 million, whichever is less. | In Committee |
| S2806 | "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act." | "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act." | In Committee |
| S2647 | Establishes Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in DOE. | Establishes Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in DOE. | In Committee |
| S3518 | Requires MVC to establish certain surcharge promotional incentives every three years. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission to offer promotional payment incentives every three years to drivers who have failed to pay motor vehicle surcharges levied for accumulated motor vehicle penalty points and for violations or convictions for which penalty points are not assessed. Under current law, the chief administrator is required to offer these incentives periodically. This bill requires the incentives to be offered every three years. Under current law, these promotional payment incentives may include waivers of down payments necessary to satisfy any surcharge suspension, waivers of interest for the payment of the full principal amount of any surcharges owed to the chief administrator, or any other incentive that the chief administrator establishes. The bill preserves provisions of current law that prohibit promotional payment incentives for surcharges levied against drivers convicted of intoxicated driving or failing to consent to a chemical test to determine their blood alcohol content. | In Committee |
| S2548 | Authorizes school district that moves its annual school election to November to submit separate proposals for additional spending for budget year and subsequent budget 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 cap in order to support a particular program or purpose. This bill provides that in the case of a school district that has moved its annual school election to November, the district may submit a separate proposal for additional funds for the budget year, or a separate proposal for additional funds for the subsequent budget year, or separate proposals for additional funds for each of those budget years. The bill stipulates, however, that in the case of a district that submits a separate question for additional funds for the subsequent budget year and the separate question is approved, the school district may not increase its tax levy for that subsequent budget year by the amount of any "banked" tax levy that the district may have at its disposal under the cap banking provisions of the law. In light of the fact that a school district that has moved its annual school election to November is already well into the school year by the time a separate question for that budget year is approved by the voters, which makes budget planning difficult, this bill will provide such districts with flexible options to increase their ability to do sound budget planning. The bill addresses situations similar to the one faced by a school district that submitted a separate question to the voters to ask for their approval to raise additional tax levy to expand the district's half-day kindergarten program to a full-day program. When the voters approved the question, it was the district's intention to expand the kindergarten program in the next school year and to begin raising the additional tax levy in that next year. However, under current law the tax levy would begin to be collected in the school year in which it received voter approval and the collection could not be delayed until the next school year. Under this bill, the collection of the taxes could be delayed. | In Committee |
| S2970 | Lowers age requirement of compulsory school attendance from six to five years old. | This bill lowers the age requirement for compulsory school attendance from six to five years of age. The bill also includes technical corrections to sections of law regarding student truancy to reflect the lower age for compulsory school attendance established by the bill. | In Committee |
| S3434 | Clarifies coverage requirements for health insurers of over-the-counter contraceptive drugs. | This bill clarifies certain current law regarding coverage for over-the-counter contraceptive drugs by insurers authorized to provide health benefits in the State. Specifically, the bill clarifies that various insurers are required to provide coverage for either the requested prescriptive contraceptive drugs, devices, and products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the therapeutic equivalents. Medical necessity for over-the-counter contraceptive drugs is also deemed to be present under the coverage of the various health insurers in the State. Additionally, point-of-sale coverage for over-the-counter female contraceptives is to be provided without cost-sharing or medical management restrictions. Lastly, the bill further delineates the type of family planning programs that provide benefits for contraceptives and establishes that Medicaid and the other family planning programs are to provide coverage for over-the-counter contraceptives and pharmacy-furnished self-administered hormonal contraceptives with no requirement for a prescription or provider order. | In Committee |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | In Committee |
| SCR81 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2025, $1,500 in tax year 2026, $2,000 in tax year 2027, and $2,500 in tax year 2028, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| S2050 | "Stephanie's Law"; Requires AOC to establish publicly-accessible domestic violence registry; requires law enforcement officer to search State's domestic violence registries when conducting arrest. | This bill establishes "Stephanie's Law," to require the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in conjunction with the Attorney General, to develop and maintain a publicly-accessible domestic violence Internet registry, and require law enforcement officers to search the State's domestic violence registries upon arresting a person. This registry established under the bill is to be separate from the domestic violence central registry maintained by the AOC pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, which is not accessible to the public. Under the bill, the public is to be able to access the registry to obtain all available information concerning any person who has been convicted of a crime or offense involving domestic violence; has had a final domestic violence restraining order issued against them; or has committed contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order. The Internet registry is to contain the following information for any person to be included in the registry: (1) the person's name and any aliases the person has used or under which the person may be or may have been known; (2) a brief description of any crime or offense involving domestic violence for which the person was convicted; the date and location of each disposition; and a general description of the person's modus operandi, if applicable; (3) the person's age, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, hair, eye color, and any distinguishing scars or tattoos; (4) a photograph of the person and the date on which the photograph was entered into the registry; (5) the make, model, color, year, and license plate number of any vehicle operated by the person; (6) and the person's last known address. A person whose name is erroneously included in the registry established under the bill may petition the AOC for removal of the person's name. The AOC is required to remove the person's name from the registry if the person has not had a final domestic violence restraining order entered against them, has not been found guilty of contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order, or has not been found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence. Within five days of a change of address, a person whose name is included in the registry is required provide the AOC with the new address. On the website through which a person may search the registry established under the bill, the AOC is required to include information regarding: the manner in which a person may petition the AOC to remove their name; the circumstances under which the AOC would grant a petition to remove their name; and the manner in which a person may provide an updated address to the AOC. In addition, the provisions of the bill require a law enforcement officer to determine, upon an arrest, if there is a domestic violence restraining order entered against the person. This determination is to include a search of the central domestic violence registry maintained by the AOC established pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, as well as the publicly-accessible central registry established under the bill. This bill, designated "Stephanie's Law," is named after a domestic violence victim, Stephanie Nicole Parze, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation was created in her memory to provide support to victims of domestic violence. This bill, which is intended to provide additional protections for victims of domestic violence, is named in her honor. | In Committee |
| S3417 | Establishes loan program in DCRP. | This bill requires the Defined Contribution Retirement Program Board to create a loan program in the Defined Contribution Retirement Plan to permit participants to take loans from the plan in a manner that is not a withdrawal or distribution under program rules. The board will establish the criteria for loan eligibility, loan amounts, loan intervals, interest rates, and repayment schedules, and such other requirements as may be necessary in accordance with the program's status as a qualified governmental plan. The bill states that loans can only be made to a participant from the balance of the participant's mandatory, voluntary, and rollover contribution subaccounts established for the benefit of the individual participant. Under the bill, interest on the loan will be credited to the participant's mandatory contribution subaccount consistent with the interest rates established by the board. | In Committee |
| S1032 | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | In Committee |
| S2010 | Requires minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding. | This bill supplements the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977" and requires a minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding, thereby reinstating New Jersey's only State appropriated, unrestricted fund for local health departments. Such appropriation will be expended in accordance to the provisions of the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977." From 1966 to 2010, under the "State Health Aid Act" and later amended as the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977," the State provided local health departments with flexibility to address local needs, emerging threats, and other priorities via the appropriation of dedicated funds. The State eliminated Public Health Priority Funding in the FY 2011 Appropriations Act. For context, in FY 2010, Public Health Priority Funding amounted to approximately 15 percent of the total funding for local health departments. Currently, local health departments in New Jersey are funded via local property taxes and State and federal funding that is designated for specific purposes, such as vaccines or environmental health services. | In Committee |
| S3376 | Establishes "Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act." | This bill establishes the "Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act" (act). The act was promulgated by the Uniform Law Commission in 2009. The act permits an individual to transfer property to one or more designated beneficiaries at the transferor's death by means of a transfer on death (TOD) deed. A "designated beneficiary" means a person designated to receive property in a TOD deed. A transfer on death deed is a revocable instrument and is nontestamentary. Further, the instrument is required to contain the essential elements and formalities of a properly recorded inter vivos deed and be acknowledged in accordance with State law. A transfer on death deed is effective without notice or delivery to the designated beneficiary, acceptance by the designated beneficiary, or consideration. The bill applies to all TOD deeds made before, on, or after the effective date of the bill by a transferor dying on or after the effective date of the bill. The following rules apply to the property that is subject of a TOD deed and owned by the transferor at death: (1) the interest in the property is transferred to the designated beneficiary in accordance with the deed. The interest of a designated beneficiary is contingent on the designated beneficiary surviving the transferor. The interest of a designated beneficiary that fails to survive the transferor lapses. (2) concurrent interests are transferred to the beneficiaries in equal and undivided shares with no right of survivorship. If the transferor has identified two or more designated beneficiaries to receive concurrent interest in the property, the share of one which lapses or fails for any reason is transferred to the other, or to the others in proportion to the interest of each in the remaining part of the property held concurrently. An individual may revoke a recorded TOD deed, or any part of the deed, if the instrument: (1) is one of the following: (a) a subsequent TOD deed that revokes the deed in whole or part expressly or by inconsistency; (b) an instrument of revocation that expressly revokes the deed in whole or part; or (c) an inter vivos deed that expressly revokes the TOD deed in whole or in part; and (2) is acknowledged by the transferor after the acknowledgement of the deed being revoked and recorded in accordance with State law. A TOD deed prepared under the bill does not: (1) affect an interest or right of the transferor or any other owner, including the right to transfer or encumber the property; (2) affect an interest or right of a transferee, even if the transferee has an actual or constructive notice of the deed; (3) affect an interest of right of a secured or unsecured creditor or future creditor of the transferor, even if the creditor has actual or constructive notice of the deed; (4) affect the transferor's or designated beneficiary's eligibility for any form of public assistance; (5) create a legal or equitable interest in favor of the designated beneficiary; or (6) subject the property to the claims or process of a creditor of the designated beneficiary. If a transfer is made by more than one transferor: (1) revocation by a transferor does not affect the deed as to the interest of another transferor; and (2) a deed of joint owners is only revoked if it is revoked by all of the living joint owners. If a transferor is a joint owner and is: (1) survived by one or more other joint owners, the property that is subject to the TOD deed belongs to the surviving joint owners or owners with right of survivorship; or (2) the last surviving joint owner, the TOD deed is effective. Finally, the bill provides that if a transferor's probate estate is insufficient to satisfy allowed claims, the estate is permitted to enforce the liability against the property transferred. | In Committee |
| S3370 | Prohibits institution of higher education from giving preferential consideration for admission to legacy student. | This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from providing any manner of preferential consideration to an applicant for admission to the institution or an academic program of the institution, on the basis of the student's legacy status or familial relationship to any donor to the institution. As defined in the bill, "legacy status" means the familial relationship of an individual applying for admission to an institution of higher education, or a program of the institution, to an alumnus of the institution. | In Committee |
| S3344 | Establishes public awareness campaign concerning risks of gambling and resources available to compulsive gamblers; appropriates $200,000. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement to establish a compulsive gambling public awareness campaign to educate the general public on the inherent risks of gambling and the resources available to help compulsive gamblers in the State. Under the bill, the Division of Gaming Enforcement, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, will develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the inherent risks of gambling and the resources available to help compulsive gamblers in the State through media outlets, which include, but are not limited to, Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, television ads, and any other media outlets deemed appropriate by the commissioner, no later than 180 days after this bill is enacted. The Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement will report to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than 24 months after the effective date of this bill, on the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign. Finally, the bill appropriates, from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety $200,000 to develop and implement the public awareness campaign. | In Committee |
| S3288 | Requires Medicaid coverage for self-administered hormonal contraceptives dispensed by pharmacist under standing order. | This bill requires the State's Medicaid program to cover expenses incurred in the provision of self-administered hormonal contraceptives as prescribed by a standing order and dispensed by a pharmacist. Under the bill, "self-administered hormonal contraceptive" means any oral, transdermal, or vaginal contraceptive product, including, but not limited to, birth control pills, vaginal rings, and diaphragms. "Standing order" means a prewritten medication order authorizing pharmacists in this State to furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives to patients without an individual prescription. Currently, pharmacists are permitted, pursuant to P.L.2023, c.2 (C.45:14-67.9 et seq.), to furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives pursuant to a standing order, in accordance with protocols established by Board of Pharmacy and Board of Medical Examiners. That law, in conjunction with this bill, would eliminate the need for Medicaid beneficiaries to get a prescription from a doctor for a self-administered hormonal contraceptive, as is the existing requirement, before going to have it filled at a pharmacy; thereby increasing access to these medications. | In Committee |
| S3289 | Removes certain part-time elected public officials from eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits coverage; makes elected public officials ineligible for payments for waiving health care benefits coverage; codifies Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit. | This bill limits eligibility for health care benefits coverage for elected public officials of a municipality or county to those elected public officials whose hours of work are fixed at 35 or more per week. This limitations applies to counties and municipality that do not participate in the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). The limitation is the same as the current eligibility requirement for health care benefits coverage in the SHBP. Elected public officials currently receiving health care benefits coverage may continue to receive such coverage as long as they remain eligible prior to the effective date of the bill and continuously thereafter. The bill also makes elected public officials who choose to waive health care benefits coverage ineligible for payments for such a waiver. Such payments are currently permitted for certain public employees by public employers that participate and that do not participate in the SHBP. This bill codifies the Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit (PFAU) within the Department of the Treasury, which was established by executive order in 2013 to prevent and investigate cases of intentional deception or misrepresentation that result in an unauthorized benefit to a member or to some other person from the State-administered retirement systems and benefits programs. This includes, but is not limited to, disability pension claims and improper participation in the retirement systems and other benefit programs. This bill also provides subpoena power to the PFAU to assist the unit during investigations. According to an investigative report issued by the State Comptroller, the PFAU has inadequate statutory authority to compel public employers to comply with requests for information during investigations. Codifying the unit will result in more effective investigations. | In Committee |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act." | This bill establishes the "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act," which supplements the "Franchise Practices Act," N.J.S.A.56:10-1 et seq. (the act) and amends various sections of law concerning franchise practices. The bill also updates a findings and declarations section in the act. The bill is to take effect immediately and apply to all motor vehicle franchise agreements in effect on or after the bill's effective date. However, the bill is not to apply retroactively to any cause of action that arose prior to the bill's effective date. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recall Information The bill requires a motor vehicle franchisee or dealer to access information on open recalls available on the Internet website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) prior to selling a used motor vehicle. If a recall is discovered, a franchisee or dealer is required to inform a prospective purchaser by providing a printed copy of the recall information. A franchisee or dealer is prohibited from selling a used motor vehicle that is subject to a stop-sale notice, do-not-drive notice, or similar notice or designation issued by the NHTSA. The bill creates an irrebuttable presumption that a franchisee or dealer had no knowledge of the existence of an open recall, stop-sale notice, do-not-drive notice, or similar notice or designation on a used motor vehicle if, at the time of sale: (1) the franchisee or dealer accessed the Internet website of the NHTSA; and (2) the franchisee or dealer's search using the specific vehicle identification number of the motor vehicle yielded no indication of an open recall, stop-sale notice, do-not-drive notice, or similar notice or designation. The bill does not create a legal duty or liability upon a franchisee or dealer related to the accuracy, errors, or omissions of the Internet website. The bill does not require a franchisee or dealer to provide a prospective purchaser with recall information added to the Internet website after providing the printed information on recalls at the time of sale. Any motor vehicle franchisor or dealer offering motor vehicles for sale in this State is required to provide the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) with a list of motor vehicles registered in this State that are subject to an open recall for which the necessary repairs remain uncompleted for a period of six months or longer after the initial notice of recall issued by the manufacturer. At a minimum, this list is to identify each motor vehicle by year, make, model, and vehicle identification number. A motor vehicle franchisor or dealer is required to provide an updated list to the commission every 180 days after submission of the initial list. Within 30 days of receiving the lists, the commission is required to direct the motor vehicle franchisor or dealer to send a notice on official commission letterhead, at the motor vehicle franchisor or dealer's expense, to all registered owners of the listed motor vehicles. The bill provides the form to be used for this notice, which is to inform recipients of an open recall and the options available to resolve the issue, including contact information for the NHTSA. Compensation for Recall Costs Under current law, a motor vehicle franchisor is required to compensate a motor vehicle franchisee for all reasonable costs incurred by the franchisee in complying with the requirements imposed by the franchisor relating to a product recall. In addition to these compensation requirements, the bill also provides guidance on certain costs that must be remitted to a motor vehicle franchisee in the event of a recall. The bill provides that for certain new motor vehicles, or used motor vehicles of the same line make as the motor vehicle franchisor and motor vehicle franchisee, and subject to a stop-sale notice, do-not-drive notice, or similar notice or designation for which a part or remedy is not reasonably available, which motor vehicles are held for sale by the motor vehicle franchisee, the costs of the motor vehicle franchisee are to equal 1.75 percent of the value of each motor vehicle per month, or per portion of a month. This requirement applies when not preempted by federal law or regulation. For the purposes of this calculation, a motor vehicle's value is to be the motor vehicle franchisor's suggested retail price, or for a used motor vehicle, the value is to be the average trade-in value as indicated in an independent third-party guide for the year, make, model, and mileage. Under the bill, a motor vehicle franchisor may compensate its motor vehicle franchisees under a national recall compensation program if the compensation thereby provided is at least the value provided for by this requirement. The bill prohibits a motor vehicle franchisor from reducing the amount of compensation otherwise owed to a motor vehicle franchisee because the motor vehicle franchisee has submitted a claim for reimbursement pursuant to the new guidance on compensation for recalls. Reimbursement for Certain Expenses Under current law, certain requirements are triggered if a motor vehicle franchise requires or permits motor vehicle franchisees to perform services or provide parts in satisfaction of a warranty issued by the motor vehicle franchisor. This bill amends this requirement to extend to the satisfaction of a warranty, extended warranty, maintenance, or other service-related plan offered by the motor vehicle franchisor. Under the bill, labor services to be reimbursed include diagnostic work. In the case of entire engine and entire transmission assemblies, the bill provides that the motor vehicle franchisor is required to reimburse the motor vehicle franchisee in the amount of 30 percent of what the motor vehicle franchisee would have paid the motor vehicle franchisor for a part if the part had not been supplied by the franchisor other than by the sale of that part to the motor vehicle franchisee. The bill removes franchisor administered service and repair plans from consideration of reimbursement. The bill amends certain provisions of law concerning the process for calculating average percentage parts markup. Specifically, the bill provides that franchisor-administered service or repair plans covering only routine maintenance service on plans sold to customers after March 12, 1999 are relevant to this calculation. Additionally, the prohibition on a motor vehicle franchisor to require a franchisee to establish average percentage parts markup and labor rate by an unduly burdensome or time consuming methodology is amended to prohibit a demand for part-by-part or transaction-by-transaction calculations. The bill provides that adequate and fair compensation for labor services rendered in a repair requires the motor vehicle franchisor to pay each motor vehicle franchisee no less than the amount the retail customer pays for the same labor services with regard to rate and time. In calculating this amount, the bill permits the use of a time guide, entered into by the franchisor and franchisee, in lieu of the actual time expended on the repair. In the event that a time guide has not been agreed to for repairs or the time guide does not specify a time for the applicable repair, the motor vehicle franchisor's time guide is to be used, except that the motor vehicle franchisor's definition of time for an applicable repair is multiplied by 1.5. Additionally, the bill provides that a motor vehicle franchisor is to pay a motor vehicle franchisee an hourly rate for labor services performed in connection with repairs. The hourly rate is to be the greater of: (1) an amount calculated by dividing the amount of the franchisee's total labor sales for retail customer repairs by the number of total labor hours that generated such sales for the month preceding a request for reimbursement; or (2) an amount equal to the franchisee's markup over cost that results in the same gross profit percentage for labor hours performed for retail customer repairs. For the second of these options, the franchisee's gross profit percentage comes from the franchisee's financial statements provided to the franchisor for the two months preceding the franchisee's written request, and the franchisee is required to provide in the written request the arithmetic mean of the hourly wage paid to all its technicians during the preceding two months preceding the request. The arithmetic mean is the franchisee cost used in the calculation of an hourly rate for labor services performed in connection with repairs. Restrictions on Reimbursement A motor vehicle franchisor is prohibited under the bill from recovering its costs from a motor vehicle franchisee, except in certain circumstances. However, a motor vehicle franchisor's right to increase prices for vehicles or parts in the normal course of business is preserved. A motor vehicle franchisor is prohibited under the bill from charging back any claim paid for labor services and parts provided in the performance of an open recall, warranty, or other services agreement for an incentive, bonus, sales, performance, or other program without providing written notice to the franchisee within 30 days from the on-site audit, which written notice explains in detail the basis for each of the proposed chargebacks and the methodology by which the franchisee was selected for audit or review. After all internal dispute resolution processes provided through the franchisor have been resolved, the franchisor is required to provide final notice to the franchisee of the final amount of the proposed chargeback. If the franchisee or its representative institutes an administrative or judicial action for a violation of the act, challenging the chargeback within 30 days of the receipt of the final notice, the total proposed chargeback amounts are to be stayed, without bond, until the final judgment has been rendered. A franchisor is not permitted to deny or charge back a claim paid for labor services and parts provided in the performance of an open recall, warranty, or other service agreement or for an incentive, bonus, sales, performance, or other program unless the franchisor satisfies its burden of proof that the franchisee did not make a good faith effort to comply with the reasonable written procedures of the franchisor, that the franchisee did not actually perform the work, or that the claim was materially false or fraudulent. A franchisor is not permitted to deny or charge back a claim due to an administrative or scrivener's error in the submission of the claim. Under the bill, a motor vehicle franchisor is not to unilaterally reduce or manipulate the price of parts required for warranty or open recall services in a manner that unfairly and unilaterally allows the franchisor to reduce the level of compensation paid to motor vehicle franchisees for warranty and open recall services within 60 or fewer days preceding an announcement of an open recall, any time after an open recall, or after a warranty claim has arisen. Standing of Certain Corporations or Associations The bill provides that any corporation or association which is primarily owned by or comprised of motor vehicle franchises has standing to file an administrative petition, or to bring an action before any court of competent jurisdiction, for itself or by, for, or on behalf of any motor vehicle franchisee or group of motor vehicle franchisees for any alleged violation of the act. | In Committee |
| S3291 | Amends "three strikes law" to apply only to persons over 18 years of age. | This bill provides that the State's "three strikes law" applies only when each of the predicate offenses occurred when the defendant was over the age of 18 years. N.J.S.A.2C:43-7.1, the "Persistent Offenders Accountability Act," also known as the "three strikes law," requires a court to sentence a person convicted of certain serious crimes to a term of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole if the person has had two or more prior convictions for these crimes, committed on prior and separate occasions, regardless of the dates of the convictions. The serious crimes enumerated in the law are murder, aggravated manslaughter, kidnapping in the first degree, sexual assault, carjacking, and robbery in the first degree. This bill reverses the New Jersey Supreme Court's recent decision in State v. Ryan, 249 N.J. 581 (2022). In that case, the court held that juvenile convictions for enumerated crimes are considered predicate offenses (or "strikes") for determining whether the person is sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole. By amending the "three strikes law" to exclude juvenile convictions, judges are accorded discretion to appropriately sentence a person after being able to assess the age of the defendant and all of the underlying circumstances relating to each of the conditions and the defendant's individual circumstances, rather than a strict application resulting in a life sentence without eligibility for parole. Justice Albin in his dissent in State v. Ryan states that "under the Eighth Amendment and Article I, Paragraph 12 of the State Constitution, judges cannot be denied discretion in determining whether a juvenile conviction can be the basis for a predicate offense under the Three Strikes law for the purpose of sentencing a 23 year old to a lifetime of imprisonment." | In Committee |
| S3290 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $2,500,000 to Salvation and Social Justice for "Return and Restore" Program. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations act to provide $2.5 million in supplemental funding to the not-for-profit organization Salvation and Social Justice. Specifically, the supplemental funding is provided to Salvation and Social Justice's Trenton Restorative Street Team (TRST) to operate the "Return and Restore" program. According to the sponsor, TRST aims to work with formerly incarcerated individuals to reduce gang-related activities, gun violence, and the likelihood of recidivism. To advance the Return and Restore pilot program, Salvation and Social Justice seeks $2.5 million to provide comprehensive supportive services for hard-to-reach, corrections system-involved individuals, in Trenton. TRST team includes trained outreach workers, counselors, intervention specialists, community organizers, former gang members, and formerly incarcerated individuals from Trenton. The main goal is to mediate conflicts, deescalate tensions, and prevent acts of violence from occurring in schools and in communities. | In Committee |
| S2181 | Eliminates requirement for State residency of public school employees for period of three years. | Eliminates requirement for State residency of public school employees for period of three years. | Crossed Over |
| S1287 | Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility. | Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility. | In Committee |
| S787 | Provides supplemental transportation aid to certain districts participating in interdistrict public school choice program. | This bill provides supplemental transportation aid to certain districts participating in the interdistrict public school choice program. Under the bill, a choice district located in a city of the second class, which district has been directed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to engage in efforts to desegregate the student population, is responsible for providing transportation, including the organization of bus routes and bidding for transportation services, or aid-in-lieu-of transportation, to certain elementary and secondary school pupils to attend the choice district. Under the bill, the sending district will receive State aid for transportation for those students transported to the choice district. The sending district will then pay directly to the choice district the State aid for transportation, or aid-in-lieu-of amount, received by the sending district under the bill. The bill also provides supplemental State aid for transportation for a choice district responsible for transporting students from a sending district pursuant to the provisions of the bill when the total costs of providing transportation from the sending districts to the choice district exceeds the amount of State aid for transportation the sending district receives pursuant to the bill. To be eligible to receive the supplemental State aid for transportation, the choice district is required to demonstrate to the commissioner that the bus routes will utilize cost efficient methods. The choice district is to annually report to the Department of Education at the end of each school year the cost of providing transportation to students from a sending district that exceed the amount of funds the choice district receives from the sending district under the bill. The department is required to reimburse the choice district for the additional costs reported. | Crossed Over |
| S2358 | Requires certain electric public utilities to file emergency response plan with BPU. | This bill requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (board) to establish a set of standards for emergency preparation and restoration of service after an outage that every investor-owned electric public utility (utility) in the State must follow. The standards are intended to serve as a minimum set of best practices that every utility in the State should follow with regard to power outages. The bill establishes that a utility which fails to meet these standards shall be fined $10,000 per violation, per day. The total amount of the fine is limited to $1 million for a series of related events. The board can investigate a violation on its own initiative or upon request from the Governor, from county freeholders affected by an outage, or from a municipality affected by an outage. The bill also requires every utility to file an emergency response plan with the board. This plan would serve as an official plan of action for each utility in the event of a major power outage and must include: the identification of management staff responsible for utility operations during an emergency; an explanation of the utility's system of communication with customers during an emergency that extends beyond normal business hours and business conditions; a history of contacts with customers that document a need of essential electricity for medical reasons; designation of utility staff to communicate with local officials and relevant regulatory agencies; provisions regarding how the utility will ensure the safety of its employees and contractors; procedures for deploying utility and mutual aid crews to work assignment areas; and identification of supplies and equipment anticipated to be needed by the utility during an emergency and the means of obtaining additional supplies and equipment. If a utility fails to file an emergency response plan, the board can fine the utility $1,000 per day until a plan is filed. If the board investigates a utility after an outage and finds that the utility failed to follow its emergency response plan, the board is directed to impose a fine that reflects the severity of the damage caused by failing to follow the plan. Any fines imposed by the board under this bill are to be placed in a non-lapsing account administered by the board. Monies in the account are to be distributed as grant funds to municipalities affected by power outages for maintenance costs along rights of way near utility infrastructure, such as tree trimming near power lines or removing hazards that could potentially cause a future outage. | In Committee |
| S366 | Provides that fusion energy and fusion technology companies are eligible to receive benefits under certain economic incentive programs. | Provides that fusion energy and fusion technology companies are eligible to receive benefits under certain economic incentive programs. | In Committee |
| S2210 | 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 |
| S3284 | Requires sports wagering advertisements and applications to include warning of risks of gambling. | Under current law, all sports wagering advertisements are required to include the phrase "If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER." This bill modifies the required warning on sports wagering advertisements to be "Gambling is risky and can become addictive, resulting in catastrophic life consequences. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER." The bill also requires this warning to be displayed any time a user opens an Internet site or mobile application that includes access to online sports pools. | In Committee |
| S3281 | Increases from 18 to 21 age at which person is eligible to receive firearms purchaser identification. | This bill increases from 18 to 21 the age at which a person is eligible to receive a firearms purchaser identification card used to purchase shotguns and rifles. Under current law, a person 18 years of age and older may obtain a firearms purchaser identification card and a handgun purchaser is required to be at least 21 years old. Under the bill, a person under the age of 21 would be allowed to possess a handgun, rifle, or shot gun under the following circumstances: (1) in the actual presence or under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian, or some other person who holds a permit to carry a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card; (2) for the purpose of military drill under the auspices of a legally recognized military organization and under competent supervision; (3) for the purpose of competition, target practice, instruction, and training in and upon a firing range approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the range is located or the National Rifle Association and which is under competent supervision at the time of such supervision or target practice or instruction and training at any location; or (4) for the purpose of hunting during the regularly designated hunting season, provided that the person possesses a valid hunting license and has successfully completed a hunter's safety course taught by a qualified instructor or conservation officer and possesses a certificate indicating the successful completion of such a course. The bill permits active duty military or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of this State to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card while under the age of 21. The bill preserves current law allowing minors to obtain a youth hunting license and apprentice firearm hunting license. Persons between the ages of 18 and 21 who obtained a firearms purchaser identification card prior to the bill's effective date would also be permitted to maintain the card and continue to purchase and possess shotguns and rifles. | In Committee |
| S3283 | Establishes annual fee for sports wagering licensees; directs funds from such fees to Council on Compulsive Gambling and gambling addiction treatment programs. | Under current law, the Division of Gaming Enforcement is authorized to establish by regulations the license issuance and renewal fees for sports wagering licenses. Such fees are currently set at $100,000 annually, with 50 percent of these fees being dedicated to gambling addiction treatment programs. This bill establishes an annual fee to be paid by sports wagering licensees, in addition to license issuance and annual renewal fees. The bill establishes this fee as $250,000, with $140,000 being allocated to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and the remaining $110,000 being used for other compulsive gambling treatment programs in this State. | In Committee |
| A4161 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | An Act concerning school district finances and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3081 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | In Committee |
| S3065 | Excludes environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from designation as vacant or available for purposes of affordable housing construction. | Excludes environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from designation as vacant or available for purposes of affordable housing construction. | In Committee |
| S3164 | 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 |
| SCR104 | Condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance. | This resolution condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance, and declares the State of New Jersey as a place that welcomes the diversity brought by Hindu Americans. This resolution recognizes that Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries and which encompasses an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The United States has always been a beacon of hope, progress, and innovation, attracting people from around the world to create and live a better and fulfilling life, and has welcomed more than four million Hindus from all corners of the world and given them better opportunities and the freedom to practice Hinduism, also known as "Sanatana Dharma". The American Hindu community has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, retail trade, and so much more. Hindu contributions of Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and enriched the lives of millions. Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is "a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred". There have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country. | In Committee |
| S1984 | Requires DOH to evaluate hospital compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. | Requires DOH to evaluate hospital compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. | In Committee |
| S3155 | Authorizes HMFA to issue tax credits for certain purposes. | Authorizes HMFA to issue tax credits for certain purposes. | In Committee |
| S3029 | Provides comparable salary increases and performance advancement adjustments for certain State employees assigned to titles with no range or rate. | This bill provides comparable salary increases and performance advancement adjustments for State employees assigned to titles with no range or rate. Currently, State employees can be separated into two broad categories of employees: employees in titles with salary ranges and employees in no-range titles. Employees in no-range titles do not receive scheduled salary increases, or step increases, as employees with salary ranges do. Instead, these employees often wait multiple years for their salaries to be increased. Approximately 13,000 of the approximately 71,000 State employees in New Jersey are in no-range titles and do not receive step increases. This bill provides that State employees in the Executive Branch assigned to titles having no salary range or rate would receive an increase in salary comparable to, but not to exceed, the percentage of the mean general salary increases provided to State employees in the State's Aligned Employee Relations Groups (ERGs). There are currently 50 ERGs in the State. This bill also provides that performance advancement adjustments due to any State employee assigned to a title having no salary range or rate would not be withheld unless the employee has received a formal written performance evaluation rating of unsatisfactory or its equivalent. | In Committee |
| S3009 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey." | This bill establishes the "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey." 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 local election office 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 that 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 provisions of the bill occurs, the bill provides a remedy process, including for apportionment and redistricting maps. The bill provides that after a New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act (NJVEA) notification letter is mailed from a prospective plaintiff to a political subdivision, the political submission may pass an NJVEA 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 Attorney General 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; and is feasible to implement. Under the bill, the Attorney General is 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 Attorney General 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 local election office 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 100 individuals, eligible voters of a political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient; or (2) more than 4,000 of eligible voters of such political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient. The bill further provides that a local election office 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 physical or online 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 establishes the "New Jersey Voting and Elections Institute," at a public university in New Jersey, to maintain and administer a database and central repository of elections and voting data available to the public from all local election offices and political subdivisions in the State of New Jersey and to foster, pursue, and sponsor research on existing laws and best practices in voting and elections. 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 immediately. | In Committee |
| S3064 | Increases tax on Internet casino gaming and Internet sports wagering to 30 percent. | This bill increases the Internet casino gaming tax and the Internet sports wagering tax, from 15 and 13 percent respectively, to 30 percent. | In Committee |
| S3028 | Revises requirements for disclosure of a breach of security of certain computerized records containing personal information. | This bill revises the "Identity Theft Prevention Act," P.L.2005, c.226 (C.56:11-44 et al.) to provide that, in the event of any breach of security of computerized records, the disclosure to a customer whose personal information was breached shall be made within five business days, except as is consistent with the legitimate needs of law enforcement, or any measures necessary to determine the scope of the breach and restore the reasonable integrity of the data system. Current law requires that the disclosure be made in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay, which is not changed under the bill. Current law also provides that disclosure of a breach of security to a customer shall not be required if the business or public entity establishes that misuse of the information is not reasonably possible. The bill clarifies that this determination can only be made after an appropriate investigation by the business or public entity and consultation with relevant federal, State and local agencies responsible for law enforcement. | In Committee |
| S3060 | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | As amended, this bill requires health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and commercial group health insurers to provide coverage for an annual prostate cancer screening without cost sharing for men who are between 40 and 75 years of age. Under current law, these health insurance carriers are required only to provide coverage for an annual medically recognized diagnostic examination including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen test for men age 50 and over who are asymptomatic and for men age 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer or other prostate cancer risk factors. The bill expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to mean medically viable methods for the detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer, which includes a digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen test and associated laboratory work. "Prostate cancer screening" shall also include subsequent follow up testing as direct by a physician, including, but not limited to: (1) urinary analysis; (2) serum biomarkers; (3) medical imaging, including, but not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging. The bill also extends the prostate cancer screening requirements to commercial individual health insurers, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, which are not required to provide this coverage under current law. | In Committee |
| SR90 | Urges President and Congress to enact legislation reinstating the separation between commercial and investment banking. | This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation reinstating the separation between commercial and investment banking functions that existed under the "Glass-Steagall Act." The "Glass-Steagall Act" was enacted in 1933 to eliminate the speculative activities which caused the collapse of the banking system during the Great Depression. The "Glass-Steagall Act" curbed speculative activities by erecting a firewall between commercial and investment banking. Following the repeal of the "Glass-Steagall Act" in 1999, commercial banks merged with investment firms and other financial firms to form vast conglomerates. The newly formed financial conglomerates began engaging in irresponsible financial practices and speculative activities which contributed to the collapse of the housing market and in turn led to the worst recession since the Great Depression. Congress enacted the "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" in 2010, to address the root causes of the recession. However, the "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" does little to separate commercial and investment banking. The federal "Return to Prudent Banking Act of 2023," if enacted, would revive the separation between commercial banking and investment banking by imposing restrictions on affiliations between commercial banks and securities firms in a manner similar to that formerly provided in the "Glass-Steagall Act." The reinstatement of the separation between commercial banking and investment banking is necessary to strengthen our financial system and to put an end to the irresponsible financial practices and speculative activities that led to the collapse of the housing market and the subsequent recession. | In Committee |
| SR89 | Recognizes May 10, 2024 as "Provider Appreciation Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution recognizes May 10, 2024 as "Provider Appreciation Day" in the State of New Jersey to express the support of the State Senate for high-quality child care and to celebrate the child care industry and the contributions of child care providers in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S1422 | Allows taxpayers to utilize alternative method of depreciation of certain expenditures in connection with construction of new affordable housing developments. | An Act allowing taxpayers to utilize alternative method of depreciation for certain expenditures under corporation business and gross income taxes, supplementing P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.) and Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2352 | 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 |
| S1230 | Prohibits electioneering within 25 feet of person waiting in line at polling place or ballot drop box; makes electioneering a disorderly persons offense. | Prohibits electioneering within 25 feet of person waiting in line at polling place or ballot drop box; makes electioneering a disorderly persons offense. | Crossed Over |
| S2971 | Limits time continuing care retirement communities may retain refundable entrance fee. | This bill limits the time that a continuing care retirement community may retain a refundable entrance fee after a resident vacates the facility to no more than one year. Under current law, in the case of a continuing care facility agreement that provides for a refundable entrance fee, the facility is required to assign the vacated unit a sequential number among all the available units with refundable entrance fees once the unit is restored to original condition. A refundable fee owed to a resident or resident's estate for a unit that has been so numbered is currently payable based upon the order of the sequential number assigned to the unit section and the availability of funds from the proceeds of the resale of all vacated units with refundable entrance fees. This bill would require the refundable fee be paid in either the above manner or one year from the date the residence was permanently vacated, whichever is sooner. | In Committee |
| S2972 | Requires public question to allow fire district to raise amounts that exceed permissible property tax levy increase to be submitted at general election. | This bill requires public questions allowing a fire district to exceed the permissible property tax levy increase to be submitted for voter approval at the general election. Under current law, the legal voters at an annual fire district election held on the third Saturday in February are authorized to determine the amount of money to be raised for the ensuing year. If the amount of money proposed to be raised for the ensuing year would exceed the permissible property tax levy increase, a public question is required to be submitted to the legal voters to increase the amount to be raised by taxation by more than the allowable adjusted tax levy. Voter turnout is often much lower during elections that take place at a time other than the time of the general election. Therefore, this bill provides that only a fire district that holds its annual election at the time of the general election is authorized to ask the legal voters to determine whether to increase the amount to be raised by taxation by more than the allowable adjusted tax levy for the ensuing year through the submission of a public question. Under the bill, the board of fire commissioners of the fire district is required to notify the county or municipal clerk, as appropriate, of the need to conduct a referendum pursuant to this subsection at least 60 days before the date of the general election. | In Committee |
| S1255 | Requires mail-in ballot applications be available at polling places on election day for voting in future elections. | This bill requires mail-in ballot applications to be available at polling places on election day for voting in future elections. Under the bill, the County Clerk would make available at each polling place on the day of any election copies of mail-in ballot applications for future elections. | In Committee |
| SCR43 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | In Committee |
| S2943 | Authorizes creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct; appropriates $600,000. | This bill would authorize municipalities and counties to establish civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct. These boards would serve to foster transparency, fairness, and equality in policing practices and policies, which in turn will help promote positive relations between police and the local communities they serve. A municipal civilian review board would consist of at least seven members who are appointed by the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality with the consent of the governing body of the municipality. A county civilian review board would consist of at least seven members appointed by the board of county commissioners or, if the county is organized pursuant to the provisions of the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.), the county executive, the county supervisor, or the county manager, as applicable, with the consent of the board of county commissioners. A county civilian review board would operate in municipalities that opt to participate with such board. The members of a civilian review board would be residents of the municipality or county, as applicable, who are qualified persons with training or experience in community relations, civil rights, law enforcement, juvenile justice, sociology, or other relevant fields. They would serve for terms of six years, with certain shorter terms for some of the initial board members to allow for staggered terms. Members of a civilian review board would be required to take a training course developed and provided by the Attorney General, or an alternative course approved by the Attorney General, within six months of appointment. The Attorney General would be required to develop its training course within 45 days of the bill's effective date and offer the first course as soon as practicable thereafter. A civilian review board could not investigate the conduct of any law enforcement officers, or recommend the imposition of discipline of such officers or members, without a quorum of members who have competed this training. A civilian review board would be permitted to utilize resources of the municipality or county to the extent that funds for the utilization of such resources are made available by the municipality, county, State, or other entity. The bill provides that it would be the duty of a civilian review board to: (1) conduct an investigation of the operation of the police force of the municipality, or other law enforcement officers that serve in the capacity of a municipal police force for the municipality, as applicable; (2) recommend the establishment of policies by the appropriate authority; (3) review and investigate the conduct of any law enforcement officer; and (4) recommend the imposition of discipline of such officer consistent with any tenure or civil service laws and contractual agreements. A civilian review board could only initiate one of these actions in response to a civilian complaint of excessive or unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or offensive language. A civilian review board would have the power to subpoena witnesses and documentary evidence. The board would also have any additional powers of inquiry delegated to the board by the municipality or county as deemed necessary for the conduct of any hearing or investigation. A civilian review board investigation may run concurrent to an internal affairs investigation of related conduct by law enforcement, but the civilian review board investigation would have to cease upon the initiation of a criminal prosecution concerning the related conduct. Further, a law enforcement agency may refrain from sharing evidence, or may direct a civilian review board to cease an investigation, if the law enforcement agency determines that evidence sharing, or the investigation itself, would be significantly detrimental to its disciplinary process due to the existence of a related criminal investigation. The bill permits an ordinance or resolution establishing a civilian review board to set forth guidelines for the operation of the board consistent with the provisions of the bill. The guidelines may adopt any relevant guidelines issued by the Attorney General. A civilian review board would report its findings and recommendations concerning police operations and conduct to the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality, the governing body of the municipality, the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer of the municipality, the county prosecutor, and, in the case of a municipality in which the State Police serves in the capacity of a municipal police force for the municipality, the Superintendent of State Police and the Attorney General. Under the bill, all records made, maintained, or kept on file by a civilian review board would be confidential and unavailable to the public while an investigation is pending, and all personal identifying information contained in all records made, maintained, or kept on file by a civilian review board would be confidential and unavailable to the public at all times. The bill also provides that the "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures" of the Police Management Manual promulgated by the Police Bureau of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety be revised to require the disclosure of reports, complaints, and other investigative materials, including video, sound, or other recording, to the appropriate authority, as defined in N.J.S.40A:14-118, as well as any civilian review board. Lastly, the bill would appropriate $600,000 from the General Fund to the Attorney General to fund the civilian review board training course, or any reimbursements for the alternative training course, required by the bill. | In Committee |
| S198 | Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies. | This bill, would prohibit the Director of the Division of Investment (director) from investing any assets of the State retirement funds in any of the top 200 companies that hold the largest carbon content fossil fuel reserves. Under the bill, divestment from coal companies would be required to be completed within two years, and from all other fossil fuel companies within one year. The director would be authorized to cease divestment or reinvest in previously divested companies if the director demonstrates that, as a direct result of the divestment, the State retirement funds have or will become equal to or less than 99.5 percent of their hypothetical value had no divestment occurred. Finally, the bill would require the State Investment Council and the director to report on the divestment efforts required by the bill within 120 days of the bill's effective date, and annually thereafter. | In Committee |
| S2804 | Authorizes the court to issue restraining orders to defendants charged with a crime as a condition of release on bail. | This bill authorizes the court to issue restraining orders against defendants charged with a crime as a condition of release on bail. Under the bill, when a person is charged with a crime on a warrant and is released from custody before trial on bail, appearance bond, personal recognizance, or a non-monetary condition or conditions pursuant to P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et seq.), the court, upon application of a law enforcement officer or prosecutor, shall as a condition of release issue an order prohibiting the person from entering a particular place. The bill defines "place" to include any premises, residence, business establishment, location or specified area including all buildings and all appurtenant land, in which or at which a crime occurred or is alleged to have occurred or is affected by the crime with which the person is charged or where a witness to the crime or a member of the family of the witness resides, is employed, or attends school. The definition of "place" does not include public rail, bus or air transportation lines or limited access highways which do not allow pedestrian access. Under the bill, the court may forego issuing a restraining order if the defendant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) the defendant lawfully resides at or has legitimate business on or near the place, or otherwise legitimately needs to enter the place. In such an event, the bill provides that the court shall not issue an order unless the court is clearly convinced that the need to bar the person from the place in order to protect the public safety and the rights, safety and health of the residents and persons working in the place outweighs the person's interest in returning to the place. If the balance of the interests of the person and the public so warrants, the court may issue an order imposing conditions upon the person's entry at, upon or near the place; or (2) the issuance of an order would cause undue hardship to innocent persons and would constitute a serious injustice which overrides the need to protect the rights, safety and health of persons residing in or having business in the place. Violation of a restraining order under the bill would not result in the forfeiture of a bond posted for the underlying offense. This bill is modeled on the "Drug Offender Restraining Order Act of 1999," P.L.1999, c.334 (C.2C:35-5.4 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S2802 | Requires Silver Alert System receive same broadcast alerts as Amber Alert System. | This bill requires media outlets that participate in the "Silver Alert System" to issue the same broadcast alerts used when an "Amber Alert" is initiated following a child's abduction. The "Silver Alert System" is a Statewide program for the dissemination of information regarding a missing person believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment. Under current law, the program is a cooperative effort between State and local law enforcement agencies and print, radio, and television media outlets. This bill requires participating media outlets, when responding to a "Silver Alert," to broadcast a distinctive sound tone and the statement: "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert." The alert is to include a description of the missing person and other information the enforcement agency deems appropriate. In addition, the alert is to be broadcast as often as possible for the first three hours that a "Silver Alert" is in progress. After the initial three hours, the alerts are to be rebroadcast at intervals that the lead law enforcement agency and participating media deem appropriate. | In Committee |
| S2797 | Allows small private theater used for musical or theatrical performances to acquire alcoholic beverage retail license. | This bill allows the governing body of a municipality, upon the approval of the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), to issue a plenary retail consumption license for use in connection with a private theater entity that conducts a majority of live musical or theatrical performances or concerts. Under current law, municipalities are authorized to issue a special plenary retail consumption license, known as a "theater license," to a nonprofit corporation which conducts musical or theatrical performances or concerts on the premises if there is a seating capacity of 1,000 persons or more. The holder of this special license may only serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises during the performance, as well as two hours before and two hours after the performance. This bill specifically authorizes a municipality to issue a plenary retail consumption license to a private entity that operates a small theater with a seating capacity of less than 400 persons which regularly conducts musical or theatrical performances or concerts for which admission is charged. The license would authorize a private entity, including a corporation, or its restaurant operator who has been approved pursuant to procedures established by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises. Under current law, a municipality may issue one plenary retail consumption license for each 3,000 of its population. This restriction would not apply to the holder of a plenary retail consumption license used in connection a small theater in accordance with the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S2795 | Establishes certain medical billing requirements concerning specific nature of charges or expenses for health care services. | This bill establishes certain medical billing requirements concerning the specific nature of charges or expenses for health care services. The bill requires a health care provider to provide to the patient or to the patient's survivor or legal guardian, as appropriate, a consolidated, itemized statement or bill detailing the specific nature of the charges or expenses for the health care services the patient received from the provider. The health care provider must provide the statement or bill within 30 days after a patient's discharge or release or within seven days after receiving a written request. The description of billed charges will be in plain language that is comprehensible to an ordinary layperson but may include technical terms to describe the health care services if the technical terms are defined using limited medical nomenclature as permitted under the rules adopted pursuant to this bill. | In Committee |
| S2803 | Requires institutions of higher education to maintain supply and develop policy governing use of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies. | This bill requires institutions of higher education to maintain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies and permits emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray by licensed campus medical professionals and designated members of the higher education community. Institutions of higher education are to obtain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray pursuant to a standing order issued by a health care practitioner to be maintained in secure and easily accessible locations throughout the campus in order to respond to an opioid overdose emergency. Institutions also would be required to develop a policy concerning the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies occurring on campus. The policy is required to: (1) designate a licensed campus medical professional to oversee the institution's program for the maintenance and emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray on campus; (2) permit a licensed campus medical professional to designate members of the higher education community including, but not limited to, resident assistants, emergency responders, campus security officers, and licensed athletic trainers to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to any person whom the member in good faith believes is experiencing an opioid overdose on campus; and (3) require the institution to offer an overdose victim transportation to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, even if the person's symptoms appear to have resolved. A member of the higher education community designated to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray by a licensed campus medical professional is only to be authorized to administer the spray after receiving the required training. The bill also directs the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and appropriate medical experts, to establish guidelines for the development of a policy by an institution of higher education for the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray. Institutions of higher education are required to implement the guidelines in developing a policy pursuant to the bill. Specifically, the guidelines are to include a requirement that a licensed campus medical professional and members of the higher education community designated by the licensed campus medical professional receive training on standard protocols for the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to a person experiencing an opioid overdose on campus. The training is also to include overdose prevention information described in the State's "Overdose Prevention Act." The guidelines are to further specify an appropriate entity or entities to provide the training. The bill provides immunity from liability for institutions of higher education, licensed campus medical professionals, designated members of the higher education community, pharmacists, or authorized health care practitioners who issue a standing order for naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to an institution of higher education for any good faith act or omission consistent with the provisions of the bill. For purposes of this bill, good faith does not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness. The bill also provides that in the event that a licensed athletic trainer, who is designated pursuant to the bill to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, administers the spray, it is not to constitute a violation of the "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | In Committee |
| S2799 | Establishes "Task Force for Community Based Juvenile Rehabilitation." | This bill establishes the "Task Force for Community Based Juvenile Rehabilitation." Under the bill, the charge of the task force is to provide recommendations for minimum and maximum ages for prosecution in juvenile court, consistent with developmental science and practices in other states. The task force is also required to examine and provide recommendations to address any ongoing racial disparities in the prosecution and sentencing of juveniles. The task force is to consist of the following 17 members: 1) the Attorney General, ex-officio, or a designee; 2) a representative of the Juvenile Justice Commission, appointed by the Governor; 3) a representative of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, appointed by the Governor; 4) a representative of the Division of Criminal Justice, appointed by the Governor; 5) the Public Defender, ex-officio, or a designee; 6) the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, ex-officio, or a designee; 7) the Commissioner of Education, ex-officio, or a designee; 8) a retired Family Court Judge, to be chosen by the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts; 9) the Chair of the Governor's Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Committee; 10) one member appointed by the President of the Senate; 11) one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; 12) a representative from the County Youth Services Commission Administrators, appointed by the Governor; 13) two representatives who have been involved with the New Jersey juvenile justice system, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly; 14) a representative from the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 105, the Correctional Police Officer's Union, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 105; 15) a representative from the Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic at Rutgers, The State University, School of Law, Newark, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; 16) a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, appointed by the President of the Senate. Under the bill, the task force is to hold three public hearings, one hearing in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Finally, the bill requires the task force to issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date. According to the Sentencing Project, in every state, black youth are more likely to be incarcerated than their white peers. New Jersey has the highest black-white disparity in youth incarceration with black youth being more than 20 times more likely than their white peers to be incarcerated. In addition, according to the Youth Justice Task Force Report, despite dramatic overall reductions in the number of youth detained, efforts to eliminate disproportionate minority representation in detention have not been as successful, and troubling inequities continue to characterize this State. Further, as noted in the Youth Justice Task Force Report, as known from brain science, adolescence continues into the mid-20s. Therefore, this is a time of significant growth and maturation and presents a critical opportunity for redirection. | In Committee |
| S2801 | 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 online 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 |
| S2800 | Establishes "gun-free" and "weapon free" zones around certain school and public properties. | This bill establishes "gun free" and "weapon free" zones around schools, day care centers, public buildings, such as libraries and museums, public housing facilities, and public parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities. Under the provisions of the bill, anyone who unlawfully possesses a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, college, or university building or facility, or while on any school bus, is guilty of a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Any person who possesses a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school, college, or university building or facility, or while on a school bus, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for a term of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill also provides that anyone who unlawfully possesses a firearm within 500 feet of a day care center, public building, public housing facility, or public park or recreational area is guilty of a crime of the third degree. A person who unlawfully possesses any weapon with 500 feet of any of these places or facilities is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. | In Committee |
| S2798 | Requires Pretrial Services to recommend pretrial detention of defendants charged with certain firearms offenses. | This bill requires Pretrial Services to recommend pretrial detention when a defendant has been charged with Graves Act offenses pertaining to firearms and offenses involving untraceable or undetectable firearms, also known as "ghost guns." Under P.L.2014, c.31 (Criminal Justice Reform Law), criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Pretrial detention determinations are based on a risk assessment conducted by the Pretrial Services Program, which assesses each eligible defendant detained on a complaint-warrant and makes recommendations to the court as to an appropriate pretrial release decision. Under current law, Pretrial Services is required to recommend no release when a defendant has been charged with certain Graves Act offenses involving the use or possession of a firearm. P.L.1981, c.31, also known as the "Graves Act," sets forth mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for individuals convicted of certain crimes involving firearms. The no release recommendation made by Pretrial Services serves as prima facie evidence to overcome the presumption of release if the court finds probable cause that the eligible defendant is charged with certain firearm crimes for which a mandatory term of imprisonment is imposed under the Graves Act. However, some Graves Act offenses involving firearm possession are excluded under current law from this mandatory recommendation. This bill requires Pretrial Services to make a recommendation of no release for all Graves Act offenses. The additional offenses would include: · possession of any destructive device or defaced firearm; · possession of a firearm with an unlawful purpose; · possession of a firearm that is transferred among, between, or within an association of two or more people, known as a "community gun"; · possession of a firearm while committing certain offenses involving a controlled dangerous substance or a crime of bias intimidation; or · unlawful possession of handguns, rifles, or shotguns. In addition, the bill requires Pretrial Services to make a recommendation of no release for firearm offenses involving untraceable or undetectable firearms, also known as "ghost guns." These offenses would include: · purchasing firearm parts to manufacture a firearm without a serial number; · manufacturing a firearm with a three-dimensional printer; · manufacturing a covert or undetectable firearm; or· transporting a manufactured firearm without a serial number. | In Committee |
| S2796 | Increases amounts of property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, from $250 to $500. | This bill would increase from $250 to $500 the annual property tax deductions provided to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. The bill would take effect immediately, but remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of the State of amendments to the State Constitution that increase the amount of the property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. | In Committee |
| S2805 | Expands implied consent law to include blood testing; establishes per se standard for driving under influence of marijuana and certain controlled dangerous substances. | This bill expands the implied consent law to include blood testing. In addition, the bill establishes a per se standard for driving under the influence of marijuana and certain controlled dangerous substances. Under current law, any person who operates a motor vehicle on a public road in this State is deemed to have given consent to a breath test for the purpose of determining the person's blood alcohol content. The provisions of the bill extend this implied consent law to include blood testing for the purpose of determining the content of any narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug in the person's blood. A person who refuses to consent to the blood test would be subject to the same penalties as a person who is convicted of refusing a breath test in relation to a drunk driving charge under current law. In addition, the bill establishes a per se standard for driving under the influence of marijuana and certain controlled dangerous substances. Under current law, a person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug. This bill provides that a person is deemed to be under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug if his or her blood contains three nanograms or more of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per milliliter of blood. In addition, under the bill, except for tetrahydrocannabinols, a person is deemed to be under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug if his or her blood contains any amount of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance or one of its metabolites or analogs, or any amount of a Schedule II or III controlled dangerous substance or one of its metabolites or analogs, which has not been medically prescribed. | In Committee |
| S2728 | Prohibits award of State contracts and development subsidies to inverted domestic corporations. | Prohibits award of State contracts and development subsidies to inverted domestic corporations. | In Committee |
| S2709 | Concerns private entities that own, operate or manage correctional facilities or jails. | This bill prohibits any private entity from owning, operating or managing any correctional facility or jail within the State, unless the entity is operating or managing the facility or jail pursuant to a contract entered into with a public body before the bill took effect. The bill prohibits a public body from, after the bill takes effect, entering into, renewing or extending the terms of a contract with any private entity for the keeping of any person within a correctional facility or jail. | In Committee |
| S2729 | Debars permanently from government contracting any person convicted of certain crimes involving government contracts. | This bill provides that any person who is convicted under subsection a. or b. of N.J.S.A.2C:21-34 will be permanently debarred from contracting or from working as a key employee of a contractor, or any affiliate, that is contracting with a government entity. These subsections involve fraudulent activity in relation to government contracts. The bill requires the State Treasurer to publish and maintain a list on the Internet of permanently debarred persons. Persons or entities wishing to contract with a government entity will be required to file a written certification stating that the person or entity and any key employees are not permanently debarred pursuant to this bill. In some emergency situations, the contractor may submit the written certification after the contract has been awarded. The contracting agency will have the right to rely solely on the contractor's certification and the list provided by the State Treasurer. This bill does not apply to purchases from federal supply schedules or cooperative purchasing agreements with one or more states. | In Committee |
| S2710 | Provides that private passenger automobile insurance rating territories shall not place exposure in territory based on ZIP code under certain circumstances. | This bill provides that private passenger automobile insurance rating territories shall not place an exposure in a territory based on ZIP code, when the ZIP code crosses a municipal boundary. Instead, the bill requires that when a territory includes exposures in two or more contiguous municipalities based on a single postal ZIP code, and the ZIP code therefore crosses a municipal boundary, the exposure shall be placed in a territory based on municipal boundary, not ZIP code, and in the territory in which the exposure automobile is garaged. | In Committee |
| S2732 | 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 |
| S2727 | Prohibits public institutions of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate tuition by more than four percent over prior academic year. | This bill prohibits a public institution of higher education from increasing the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for any academic year by more than four percent over the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for the prior academic year. | In Committee |
| S2707 | Requires contracts for professional services be awarded by certain bi-state authorities pursuant to competitive contracting process. | This bill requires that contracts entered into by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Delaware River Port Authority, and the Delaware River and Bay Authority (collectively, the "authorities") for professional services be subject to a competitive bidding process. Specifically, the bill requires that any contract for services, which are of a technical and professional nature, including, but not limited to, architectural, engineering, and land surveying services, to be performed by a contractor that is to be awarded by the authorities shall be publicly announced prior to being awarded. Contracts for these services shall be negotiated on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of technical and professional service required and at fair and reasonable compensation and awarded pursuant to a competitive contracting process. | In Committee |
| S2730 | Requires driver's manual to include information on driver's rights and responsibilities during police stop. | This bill requires the driver's manual to include information on a driver's rights and responsibilities during a police stop. Under the provisions of this bill, the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Attorney General, is required to include in the driver's manual information regarding the rights and responsibilities of a driver when the driver is stopped by a law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| SR74 | Urges Congress to reinstate "Glass-Steagall Act." | This resolution respectfully urges the Unties Stated Congress to reinstate the "Glass-Steagall Act" in order to strengthen the financial system. The "Glass-Steagall Act" was enacted to eliminate the speculative activities that caused the collapse of the banking system during the Great Depression. The "Glass-Steagall Act" curbed speculative activities by erecting a firewall between commercial and investment banking. Following the repeal of the "Glass-Steagall Act" in 1999, commercial banks merged with investment firms and other financial firms to form vast conglomerates. The newly formed financial conglomerates began engaging in irresponsible financial practices and speculative activities that contributed to the collapse of the housing market and in turn lead to the worst recession since the Great Depression. The United States Congress enacted the "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" to address the root causes of the recession. However, the "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" does little to separate commercial and investment banking. The reinstatement of the "Glass-Steagall Act" is necessary to strengthen our financial system and to end the irresponsible financial practices and speculative activities that lead to the collapse of the housing market and the subsequent recession in 2008. | In Committee |
| S2704 | Provides that Probation Division would file child support judgment as a lien only when amount of judgment equals or exceeds amount of child support due for a one-month period. | This bill amends the statutes concerning the docketing of child support judgments. The bill provides that a lien could be filed by the Probation Division only when the amount of a child support judgment equals or exceeds the amount of child support due for a one-month period. It is the intent of this provision to avoid the automatic creation of a lien in situations where an obligor who is making timely payments may nevertheless appear to be in arrears because of timing discrepancies in the way the obligor's employer issues paychecks. The bill clarifies the date that a child support judgment is deemed to be established. Under the bill, the Probation Division of the Superior Court could file a Title IV-D child support judgment as a lien with the Clerk of the Superior Court only when the amount of the judgment equals or exceeds the amount of child support due for a one-month period. Any subsequent delinquent child support installment would accrue to the lien on the date that the delinquent installment is reported to the Clerk of the Superior Court. The bill also provides that, for the purpose of determining the priority among conflicting security interests pursuant to law, the initial date of recording the child support lien would be the date upon which the lien is first docketed. Section 2 of the bill amends N.J.S.2A:17-3, concerning the execution of judgments. Currently, this statute provides that an execution may issue at any time within 20 years after the entry of a judgment, without a revival of the judgment. The bill provide that an execution may also issue, without revival, on a Title IV-D child support judgment at any time within 20 years after the date of the most recent delinquent child support payment that was reported to the Clerk of the Superior Court. | In Committee |
| S2771 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is required to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
| S2711 | Prohibits public institution of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate tuition for four continuous academic years following student's initial enrollment. | This bill prohibits a public institution of higher education from increasing the tuition of a resident undergraduate student for four continuous academic years following the student's initial enrollment or, in the case of a student enrolled in an undergraduate program regularly requiring more than four academic years to complete, for the number of academic years required for completion. | In Committee |
| SCR88 | Urges Congress and President to enact legislation that penalizes companies that outsource labor to foreign markets. | This resolution urges the Congress and the President of the United States to enact legislation that penalizes companies that outsource labor to foreign markets. Such legislation is critical to combat unemployment and to encourage companies to hire and invest in American workers. Companies based in the United States have increasingly opted to outsource labor to foreign countries as a means to keep costs down and to remain competitive in the domestic and global marketplace. Companies that outsource typically hire workers in emerging markets in regions of the world with lower standards of living than the United States, allowing them to pay wages that are subpar to those paid to American workers. In turn, these companies can sell their products and services at lower prices than those sourced domestically. While the outsourcing of labor may benefit a company's bottom line, it does nothing to help the 6.3 million Americans, over 225,000 of whom live in New Jersey, currently unemployed in the United States. Workers in industries such as manufacturing and computer technology, as well as those across industries employed in call centers, have been significantly impacted by the loss of American jobs due to outsourcing. According to the most recent data produced by the United States Department of Commerce, multinational enterprises based in this country employed 13.8 million people in their foreign affiliates in 2014, an increase of over 3 million outsourced workers since 2009. Half of these 13.8 million overseas jobs would nearly equal the total number of workers currently unemployed in this country. In order to reverse this corporate trend of outsourcing labor to increase profit margins, the Congress and President of the United States must push forward policies that motivate companies to hire American workers. Such initiatives should include enacting legislation that prohibits companies that outsource from receiving and benefiting from federal contracts, tax breaks, grants, or loans, as well as legislation that establishes an outsourcing tax on companies that eliminate American jobs in order to hire workers overseas at inferior wages. Through these types of penalties, Congress and the President can establish significant financial incentives for companies based in the United States to keep jobs in this country, thereby providing vital employment opportunities to the millions of Americans searching for work. | In Committee |
| S2705 | Upgrades crime of stalking when victim is less than 18 years old. | This bill would upgrade the crime of stalking from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the third degree if the victim was less than 18 years old. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000 or both. | In Committee |
| SCR89 | Amends Constitution to require legislative consent for any State approval of a trade agreement. | The purpose of this proposed constitutional amendment is to clearly establish the role of the State Legislature in setting trade policy for the State and ensure that the citizens of the State and the Legislature have access to information on the impact of international trade policy on the State economy. The amendment: 1. Requires consent of the State Legislature for any approval by the State to be bound by any trade agreement; 2. Requires the designation of four members of the Legislature to be State Legislative Points of Contact to serve as official liaisons with the Governor's office and the federal government on trade policy; and 3. Establishes a Citizen's Commission on Trade and Democracy to monitor trade negotiations and disputes; assess the social, environmental, legal and economic effects of trade agreements and proposed trade agreements; and hold hearings and make recommendations regarding trade policy and related legislation. While New Jersey participates in the global economy and seeks to maximize the benefits and minimize the adverse impacts of international trade, some recent trade agreements have impacts significantly beyond the bounds of traditional trade matters, such as tariffs and quotas, and may undermine the State's constitutionally guaranteed authority to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Some trade agreements, lacking adequate human rights, labor, and environmental standards, have put New Jersey workers and businesses at a disadvantage when competing with firms operating in jurisdictions with lower standards. Some agreements have eroded the traditional autonomy of states in procurement matters by requiring state and local governments to accord foreign suppliers of goods and services treatment no less favorable than that afforded to in-state suppliers. | In Committee |
| S2706 | Clarifies that school bus for purpose of upgraded penalties in "school zone" criminal drug laws includes any bus owned and operated by board of education or by private contractor. | This bill amends the "school zone" laws which upgrade criminal penalties for selling or possessing controlled dangerous substances while on or near school property and school buses. The bill adds language to clarify that "school bus" includes any bus owned and operated by a board of education or owned and operated by a private contractor for the purpose of transporting students to and from a school or transporting students to and from school-related activities, including, but not limited to, field trips, athletic events or other school-sanctioned events. The sponsor was prompted to seek this clarification following an incident in which a school bus driver in Hamilton was arrested for smoking marijuana while driving a school bus on a field trip. | In Committee |
| S2781 | Revises high school student financial aid application requirements. | This bill revises certain high school student financial aid application requirements. Under current law, beginning with the 2023-2024 grade 11 class, and for two years after, a board of education is to require a student, and the student's parent or guardian, as applicable, to complete and submit a financial aid application as a prerequisite to the student receiving a high school diploma unless a waiver is submitted. This bill makes permanent the requirement that students complete a financial aid application after the 2023-2024 school year. | In Committee |
| S2726 | Requires State agencies to submit notice of request for proposals or other documents pertinent to privatization contracts to certain State employees. | This bill requires State agencies to submit notice of a request for proposal, other procurement document or proposed agreement for the privatization of a State agency asset, service, or operation, with a cumulative value of $100,000 or greater, to the employees who are likely to be terminated as a result of the privatization. The notice required by this bill must be sent at least 180 days before the release of the request for proposal or other document and must identify the asset to be assumed or managed or the service or operation to be performed by the nongovernmental entity. The notice is to advise the employees of their right to submit a two-year business plan to the agency setting forth the employees' intent to take over management of the asset or performance of an operation. The bill provides that if the employees determine to submit a business plan, the plan will be submitted to the agency prior to the expiration of the 180-day review period. The bill further provides that the agency will either approve or disapprove the plan or require modifications of the plan within 60 days of receipt of the plan from the employees. If the agency disapproves the plan or requires modifications of the plan, the employees would thereafter have 30 days from receipt of the disapproval or recommendations to amend the plan and resubmit it to the agency for approval. | In Committee |
| S2733 | Requires cost analysis in certain cases when State department contracts out work. | This bill provides that prior to entering into any contract or agreement in excess of $100,000 with a private business entity for the performance of work usually performed by employees of a State department, the department must prepare a cost analysis of the work to be performed. The cost analysis is to determine whether it is more cost effective to use employees of the private business entity than to use existing or additional departmental employees to perform the work required. The department is to apply that determination to the contract or agreement in the form of a certification. The cost analysis is to be accompanied by a resource analysis and an analysis of the ability of the State to reassume the contracted service if contracting of the service is not in the public interest. Except as otherwise provided, no contract or agreement that decreases the amount of work assigned to State employees could be entered into unless the cost analysis determines that the contract or agreement will result in a substantial cost savings to the State and that the potential cost savings of contracting of services is not outweighed by the public's interest in having a particular function performed directly by the State. In no instance could a department enter into any contract with a private business entity for work which is being performed by departmental employees if a principal of the contractor, including management employees, has, in the preceding two years, worked for the State department that is entering into the contract in any capacity that affects the work to be performed by the contractor. For a particular type of work that has not previously been performed by the State, the department would be permitted to designate a contract or an agreement as a pilot project for the purpose of determining whether contracting a particular type of work can result in cost savings to the State. The cost analysis is to be filed with the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury and is to be available for inspection by the public during regular business hours upon request. At the time the cost analysis is filed with the Office of Management and Budget, a copy of the analysis is to be transmitted by the department to the Senate State Government Committee and the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, or the respective successor committees, and the representatives of bargaining units whose members would be affected by the contract or agreement. A representative of a bargaining unit receiving a copy of the cost analysis would have 20 business days from receipt thereof to file a response in writing to the Office of Management and Budget. The contract or agreement that is the subject of the cost analysis could not be entered into by the department until the expiration of the 20-day period or until the response is filed, whichever occurs first, unless the provisions set forth below, requiring the expiration of a 30-day period before a contract or agreement may be entered into, are applicable. If the resource analysis of the department's finances and personnel concludes that the department cannot perform the work with existing or additional departmental employees because such employees lack the expertise, skill or access to appropriate technology or because the work would be of such an intermittent nature as to be likely to cause regular periods of unemployment for departmental employees, then, even though the cost analysis indicates that it would be more cost effective to use departmental employees, the department could enter into a contract with a private business entity for the performance of the work. However, such a contract could not be entered into until 30 business days after receipt of the copy of the cost analysis by legislatives committees. If during that time the Legislature acted to remove the constraints preventing the use of departmental employees, the contract or agreement could not be entered into. | In Committee |
| S2708 | Concerns certain contracts to privatize State services. | This bill establishes requirements and procedures regarding privatization contracts between State agencies and private business entities under which the business entities provide services substantially similar to services provided by State agency employees. The bill requires that any State agency, before soliciting bids or proposals for a privatization contract or its renewal or extension, prepare and make available to the public a statement describing: contract requirements; procedures for awarding the contract; services subject to the contract; the wages and benefits of the agency employees performing the work; and the anticipated net reduction of in-house costs. The bill requires the agency, upon selecting a contractor for any privatization contract with a total value of more than $250,000, but before making a final award of the contract, to prepare a cost analysis of the contract and certification that the contract complies with the requirements of the bill. The agency is required to make the cost analysis and certification available to the public, the State Auditor and affected employee organizations. The Speaker of the General Assembly, the President of the Senate or affected employee organization representative or member of the public may, not more than 15 days after the certification and cost analysis are made available, submit comments to the agency and the State Auditor and request a public hearing. The State Auditor is required to review the certification and perform an audit of the agency's calculations and report its own determination of the aggregate cost savings, if any, with respect to the contract. The bill requires that for any privatization contract with a total value of more than $250,000: 1. The contract results in substantial aggregate cost savings not outweighed by the public's interest in having the service performed directly by the State; 2. Displaced State workers are given a right of first refusal for the jobs under the contract, or training and other assistance if they choose not to work under the contract; 3. The contactor provides workers under the contract with benefits and a rate of pay not less than that provided to State employees performing the work; 4. The contracted service is the same as that performed by State employees in lieu of the privatization contract, there is no increase in charges to the public and staffing levels are maintained at the level needed to sustain the quality of the service; 5. The contractor, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and its managerial and supervisory employees have not been subject to debarment, suspension, adjudication or conviction during the 10-year period before the awarding of the contract or any criminal conviction at any time and no principal or management employee of the contractor worked in the preceding four years for the State in any capacity related to work under the contract; 6. The contractor discloses every suit involving it or its subsidiaries or affiliates, and every report regarding the contractor's ability to comply with the contract, and provides copies of all requested union contracts, personnel manuals, and documents describing fringe benefits, that cover its employees; 7. The contract has a term of not more than three years and states the contractor's liability for damages arising out of contractor noncompliance, theft, damage, negligence or inability of the contractor to perform; 8. The contractor's practices meet all applicable nondiscrimination and affirmative action standards and the contract has no significant adverse effect on State affirmative action efforts; 9. For any privatization contract to perform development work on an information technology-based system, the contractor involves State employees in the work to ensure, as much as practical, that their skills are upgraded enough to permit them to operate and maintain the system and perform future development work; and 10. The contract is in conformance with the provisions of any applicable collective bargaining agreement and subject to the provisions of any employee protection arrangement established under 49 U.S.C. 5333(b). The bill requires the State Auditor to conduct annual post audits of each privatization contract with a total value of more than $250,000 and issue a report which includes evaluations of any actual net reduction of in-house costs, the actual entire cost of the contract and any actual aggregate cost savings of the contract, and a review of the compliance of the agency and the contractor with the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| S2713 | Upgrades assault on victims who are elderly or disabled. | This bill would upgrade the offense of assault in situations where the victim is disabled or elderly. Under the bill, a person who causes bodily injury to a person with a disability or to a senior citizen who is 60 years of age or older would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and would be sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment of three years. Under the bill, a "person with a disability" means a person who by reason of a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, a person determined disabled pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. This bill was prompted in part by the brutal assault and mugging of Joey Damiano, a Trenton man with an intellectual disability. According to Trenton police, Joey was beaten and blinded in one eye by an unknown assailant, or group of assailants, as he was taking his daily walk on Washington Street and Roebling Avenue in the Chambersburg section of Trenton. Further, the bill was prompted by recent assaults involving elderly victims. One instance involved an assault and restraint involving a 92 year old woman during a home invasion in Ewing. Another involved the carjacking and robbery of a 78 year old woman at a shopping center in Lawrence. | In Committee |
| S2731 | Establishes pilot program in DOE to provide assistive technology to elementary and middle school students with dyslexia and related conditions. | This bill establishes a three-year assistive technology pilot program in the Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to provide assistive technology and assistive technology services to elementary and middle school students with dyslexia and related conditions. The assistive technology and assistive technology services will:· deliver written material in an accessible auditory or text-to-speech format to assist students to read at grade level; or· allow students with dyslexia or related conditions to more effectively complete written assignments. Under the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education will provide a grant to each of the pilot districts to finance the costs associated with the acquisition of the assistive technology and assistive technology services and the training of teachers in the use of the technology. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program will submit an application to the commissioner. The application must provide information on the number of students in the district who have dyslexia and related conditions, the grade-levels of those students, the grade-level reading ability of those students, the assistive technology and assistive technology services to be acquired under the program, and plans for the training of teachers in the use of the assistive technology and assistive technology services. The application is required to detail how the use of the assistive technology and assistive technology services will serve to advance the academic achievement of students with dyslexia and related conditions. The commissioner will select seven districts to participate in the pilot program, and is required to seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. Under the bill, the commissioner will submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature at the conclusion of the pilot program. The report is required to include: the number of students who participated in the pilot program; the grade-levels of those students; the grade-level reading ability of those students prior to participation in the pilot program; the impact of the pilot program on enabling those students to access and work on grade-level content; the number of teachers trained in the use of the assistive technology; and the commissioner's recommendation on the feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis. | In Committee |
| S1559 | Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to support school district programs to increase length of school day or school year. | This bill establishes in the Department of Education a three-year pilot program, the purpose of which is to support programs to increase the length of the school day or the school year in school districts selected for participation. Under the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education would award funds on a competitive basis, with priority given to school districts that have student populations demonstrating a high level of need for academic support. The commissioner would select no more than 20 school districts to participate in the pilot program. A school district seeking funds under the pilot program would submit an application to the commissioner. In addition to any other information the commissioner may deem necessary, the application would include:· a description of the need to offer some or all students in the district a program to increase the length of the school day or the school year and how extended learning time will support learning acceleration;· details concerning the manner in which the district intends to implement its program to increase the length of the school day or school year;· a description of how the district has utilized funds, including federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund moneys, for learning recovery and other initiatives to address the educational impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students enrolled in the district and the amount of funds, if any, that have been dedicated to efforts to extend the length of the school day or the school year; · a request for the amount of funds being sought by the district under the pilot program and an explanation of how the district plans to use grant funds in the event that it is selected for participation;· a description of any additional funds the district plans to use to support its program to increase the length of the school day or school year; and · documentation evidencing that the district's plan to increase the length of the school day or the school year has received input and feedback from teaching staff members of the district and that a majority of the teaching staff members support the plan. If available, the application would include the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or other contract that includes provisions for an increase in the length of the school day or school year. A school district selected for participation in the pilot program would be granted no more than $1 million annually throughout the duration of the pilot program. A school district selected by the commissioner for participation would utilize the funds for any costs associated with the implementation of a program to increase the length of the school day or school year. The bill requires that, no later than July 30 of each school year in which grant funds are distributed under the pilot program, each school district selected for participation would submit a report to the commissioner that includes the following information: the number of students who were eligible for, and participated in, the district's program to increase the length of the school day or school year; the attendance rates among the students who participated in the district's program to increase the length of the school day or school year; and any student-level information the commissioner may need to produce a separate report required under the bill. The separate report produced by the commissioner would be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 180 days prior to the conclusion of the pilot program. The report would evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program in increasing student achievement and reducing the extent of the educational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in each school district selected for participation in the pilot program. | In Committee |
| S159 | Establishes "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" within Department of Treasury to provide funding for grants to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion. | This bill establishes the "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" and provides for the appropriation and distribution of excess State hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues for deposit to the fund to provide funding for grants to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion. Under the bill, the "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" is established as a special, non-lapsing fund within the Department of the Treasury. The bill requires the fund to be administered by the State Treasurer, and provides for the fund to be used as a repository for all excess State hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues that are appropriated and distributed to the Department of the Treasury for deposit to the fund. The bill requires the State Treasurer to use the excess revenues deposited to the fund to issue annually, commencing with State fiscal year 2022, tourism incentive grants to counties for purposes of providing financial assistance to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion. To effectuate that purpose, the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to approve, on or before January 1, 2023, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter, the issuance of an incentive grant to each county that has, on or before October 1, 2022, and on or before October 1 of each year thereafter: (1) made and filed an application with the State Treasurer; (2) submitted a statement to the State Treasurer detailing how financial assistance from the fund will be used to support tourism advertising and promotion; and (3) entered into an agreement with the State Treasurer requiring the county to use financial assistance from the fund to support tourism advertising and promotion, to not use financial assistance from the fund to reduce or eliminate the total amount of other funds currently used by the county to support tourism advertising and promotion, and to repay, with interest, the total amount of financial assistance issued to the county if the assistance is not used to support tourism advertising and promotion or the assistance is used to reduce or eliminate the total amount of other funds currently used by the county to support tourism advertising and promotion. The bill provides that the amount of each incentive grant issued to a county will equal the county's share of the excess State hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues deposited to the fund. The bill authorizes the State Treasurer, in consultation with the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill, and permits the immediate filing of those rules and regulations with the Office of Administrative Law, effective for a period not to exceed 360 days following the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S2700 | Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act." | This bill establishes the "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act," which provides certain staffing standards in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and unlicensed assistive personnel-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce the bill's requirements by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. A registered professional nurse or other staff member, a collective bargaining agent of a staff member, or a member of the public, who believes that the hospital or facility in which the nurse or staff member is employed is in violation of the requirements established by the bill, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation. Following the completion of an investigation, in which investigation the department determines a hospital or facility to be in violation of the requirements established by the bill, the hospital or facility may be issued a civil penalty in increasing amounts for repeat violations. Any money collected by the court in payment of a civil penalty imposed will be conveyed to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Patient Protection and Staffing Fund (fund) established by the bill. Moneys in the fund will be dedicated and used only for the purposes of increasing the number of inspectors employed by the Department of Health to enforce the provisions of the bill, advancing nursing recruitment and retentions programs, supporting student loan forgiveness for nursing students, and increasing pay for nursing teaching staff. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| S2617 | Directs Commissioner of Education to establish three-year pilot program to increase reading levels of certain students; appropriates $1 million. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a three-year pilot program that will provide general education students who are not reading at grade level by the end of the second grade in selected school districts with summer school instruction. The commissioner, in consultation with recognized experts in reading literacy will identify appropriate reading level assessment tools that a school district may use to evaluate student reading levels for the purposes of determining which students will receive summer school instruction under the program. A school district that seeks to participate in the program will submit an application to the commissioner that includes, but is not limited to: (1) the number of elementary schools in the district; (2) the number of second grade students enrolled in each elementary school within the district; (3) information on summer school instruction provided by the elementary schools in the district during the previous three years; and (4) the number of elementary school students who enrolled in summer school instruction during the previous three years. Under the bill, the commissioner will select two school districts in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and attempt to seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. At the conclusion of the three-year pilot program, the commissioner will submit a report to the Governor and Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the program and providing recommendations on the feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the Department of Education to establish and implement the pilot program. | In Committee |
| S2641 | Requires textbook publishers to provide public institutions of higher education with information on price and availability of textbooks. | This bill requires textbook publishers to provide to the faculty members or academic departments at public institutions of higher education responsible for selecting textbooks the price at which the publisher would make the product available to the college bookstore. The bill also requires publishers to disclose when unbundled textbooks are available in the same edition as the bundled textbooks. Bundling refers to the practice of packaging required textbooks with additional instructional materials, such as CD-ROMs and workbooks. Under the bill, the governing board of the institution is required to institute policies that encourage faculty members to place purchasing orders in sufficient time to enable the institution or bookstore to confirm the availability of the requested materials and, when appropriate, the availability of used textbooks or alternative digital formats. The bill provides that textbooks must be sold in the same manner as ordered. In the event that the product is unavailable as ordered, the bookstore, faculty member, and relevant publisher are required to work together to provide the best possible substitute that most closely matches the requested product, and the publisher must make available the price of the substitute. The bill also provides that no employee of a public institution of higher education may demand or receive any payment, loan, advance, goods, or deposit of money for adopting specific course materials required for coursework or instruction. The cost of attending public institutions of higher education continues to increase and many New Jersey students and their families find it difficult to afford the textbooks and materials that students are required to purchase for their courses. The purpose of this bill is to promote open and transparent marketing, pricing and purchasing of textbooks to provide savings to students. | In Committee |
| S2526 | Provides free telecommunication services for incarcerated persons at State, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities. | This bill provides that all adult and juvenile correctional facilities in the State operated by the Department of Corrections, the Juvenile Justice Commission, the counties, and private operators allow incarcerated persons to make and receive telephone calls, video calls, and electronic mail free of charge to both the sending and receiving party. Under current law, incarcerated persons may be charged for domestic telephone calls at up to 11 cents per minute using a debit, prepaid, or collect call system. Current law does not require incarcerated persons to have access to video calls or electronic mail, although such capability is already in place at certain facilities, with a fee charged to the incarcerated person. The bill makes an appropriation of such funds as may be necessary for the implementation of the bill, as certified by the Commissioner of Corrections and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission. The Department of Corrections and the Juvenile Justice Commission retain the authority to establish rules and regulations for the security of telecommunication services. It is the sponsor's intent that the bill would not require any renegotiation of existing State or local contracts for telecommunication services, but would instead shift the costs associated with the contracts to the correctional facility operator. In the sponsor's view, the more incarcerated persons stay in touch with their families, the better they do when they reenter society, while those with weaker support systems due to lack of communication during incarceration are more likely to re-offend. Maintaining family and community connection while incarcerated is key to successful reentry, and thus it is in the public interest to reduce the economic burden on incarcerated persons associated with making and receiving calls and messages. The sponsor notes that New York City, Connecticut, California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Colorado have all recently adopted legislation to make telecommunication services free to incarcerated persons. The sponsor further notes that prison telecommunication services is a $1.4 billion industry that has been accused of price-gouging and profiteering from the families of incarcerated persons. According to some studies, one in three families with an incarcerated loved one goes into debt over the cost of telephone calls charged by correctional facilities. It is the sponsor's intent to ease the enormous financial burden on the families of incarcerated persons who are simply trying to maintain communication with their loved ones. | In Committee |
| S2602 | Shortens certain school board members' terms when annual school election is moved from November to April; requires approval of both school board and municipal governing body in order to move school election from November to April. | Under P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1 et al.), school districts are permitted to move the annual school election from the third Tuesday in April to the date of the general election in November. Pursuant to that law, when a school district moves the election to November, the term of office of a school board member that is set to expire in April of a given year will be extended until the day in January next following the year in which the term was originally set to expire when the member's successor takes office. P.L.2011, c.202 also permits a district to move the annual school election from the date of the general election back to the third Tuesday in April. Under these circumstances, this bill provides that the term of a school board member that is set to expire in January next following the year in which the April election occurs will be shortened. The term of these board members will expire on the date after the April election when the new board organizes and the board member's successor takes office. The bill also provides that in order to move the annual school election from the date of the general election back to the third Tuesday in April, both the board of education of the local or regional school district and the governing body of the municipality or municipalities constituting the district would be required to adopt a resolution to move the election. Under current law, a resolution by either the board of education or the governing body of the municipality would be sufficient to move the election back to April. The bill does not alter the current process that permits the date of the school district's election to be moved back to April with voter approval. The bill also makes a technical amendment to section 1 of P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1). The provision is amended to clarify that Type II districts with boards of school estimate are permitted to move their annual school election date. These types of districts are permitted to do so pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2012, c.78 (C.19:60-1.2). | In Committee |
| S2615 | Requires counseling for certain domestic violence offenders. | This bill would require a defendant convicted of, or placed on probation or has a sentence suspended for, a domestic violence offense, to attend domestic violence counseling. Under current law a court may, in its discretion, require the defendant to receive professional counseling from either a private source or a source appointed by the court. Under the bill, in cases in which a defendant is found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence, or where the court suspends the imposition of a sentence or places the defendant on probation for a domestic violence offense, the court would be required to order the defendant to participate in and complete a program of professional counseling. In all cases of court-ordered domestic violence counseling under the bill, the professional administering the counseling is required to have expertise in individual or group domestic violence counseling. This bill is modeled after similar laws in California, North Carolina, and Minnesota. | In Committee |
| S2610 | Requires landlord to attach certificate of inspection or occupancy to residential lease. | This bill would help residential tenants know that the condition of a prospective dwelling unit has passed a municipal inspection and is safe and habitable. Under current law, N.J.S.A.40:48-2.12m, a municipality may require the owner of residential rental property, prior to renting a dwelling unit to a new tenant, to obtain a certificate of inspection or occupancy for the dwelling unit. A certificate of inspection or occupancy is issued by a municipality after a municipal inspector has inspected the dwelling unit and determined the condition of the unit meets the standards provided by law. While current law allows municipalities to require owners to have residential rental units inspected prior to renting the units to new tenants, the law does not require an owner to inform a tenant that a unit has been inspected and certified by the municipality. Because of this, and because some, but not all, municipalities have adopted ordinances regulating the maintenance and condition of rental dwelling units, tenants often do not know whether a prospective dwelling unit has been inspected and certified by a municipality. This bill is designed to enhance communication of information concerning the habitability of prospective rental dwelling units by requiring an owner of residential rental property who is required to obtain a certificate of inspection or occupancy by ordinance to attach a copy of the certificate to the lease for the applicable dwelling unit and deliver a copy of the certificate and lease to the tenant at the time of execution of the lease. The bill would require an owner to have a tenant separately acknowledge receipt of the certificate by initialing the certificate. The bill would allow an owner to cure a failure to comply with this requirement by delivering a copy of the certificate to the tenant, and securing the tenant's acknowledgement of receipt of the certificate, within 30 days after the date of execution of the lease. Under the bill, failure of an owner to comply with these requirements would render a lease voidable at the option of the tenant. A tenant may exercise an option to void a lease by providing written notice to the owner, and may then vacate the dwelling unit with no further financial obligation to the owner. The bill would require an owner to return amounts deposited as security by a tenant within 30 days after the tenant vacates a dwelling unit under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2620 | Establishes presumption for accidental disability retirement in PFRS that firefighter with Parkinson's Disease has disease as result of employment. | This bill creates a presumption for the accidental disability retirement benefit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System that a firefighter with Parkinson's Disease has the disease as a result of their employment. The bill specifies the presumption is created when a firefighter exhibited no evidence of Parkinson's Disease at the start of their employment as a firefighter determined through a physical examination. A firefighter who later exhibits symptoms of the disease has a presumption that the permanent and total disability resulting from the disease was the result of the performance of regular or assigned duties and was not the result of the member's willful negligence. | In Committee |
| S2616 | Provides that any superintendent salary caps adopted by the commissioner will apply to charter school administrators. | Under current law, the executive county superintendent of schools is required to review and approve, according to standards adopted by the Commissioner of Education, all employment contracts for superintendents of schools, assistant superintendents of schools, and school business administrators in school districts within the county. Pursuant to this section of law, the commissioner adopted regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:23A-1.2 establishing salary caps for superintendents based upon the enrollment in the district. This bill provides that the salary caps are to also apply to a charter school lead person, or other person assuming administrative responsibility of a charter school. | In Committee |
| S2545 | Establishes Deep Fake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. | This bill establishes the Deep Fake Technology Unit in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety. "Deep fakes" are realistic video images and audio manipulated using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to convincingly depict events or statements that did not occur. Due to advances in technology, deep fakes have become difficult to distinguish from authentic video images and audio. Under the bill, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer of the New Jersey Office of Information and Technology in the Department of the Treasury, is to establish the Deep Fake Technology Unit to provide technical assistance, expertise, education, and training to State and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and State courts regarding the investigation and analysis of potentially deceptive audio or visual media. In addition, beginning one year following the unit's formation, the unit is required to provide a report to the Governor and Legislature that includes information regarding the unit's activity during the preceding year; a summary of technological advancements in deceptive audio or visual media and applicable detection methods; a summary of changes to the law related to deceptive audio or visual media; information regarding the unit's collaboration with the private sector and academic institutions; and recommendations for legislation and regulations to address the challenges posed by deceptive audio or visual media. The bill permits the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to designate a representative to work with the unit as a liaison and training coordinator. Finally, the bill appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety to effectuate the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| S2528 | Establishes Office of Community Schools; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes the Office of Community Schools in the Department of Education. The purpose of the office is to address student needs through community-based educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education is to establish the office, which is to consist of individuals qualified by training and experience related to community-based learning. The duties of the office include, but are not limited to: (1) providing training and support for public schools interested in adopting community school strategies; (2) increasing the knowledge and skills of school staff and community partners to aid in the implementation, management, and sustainability of community schools; (3) providing grants to public schools for the purposes of adopting community school strategies; (4) providing a list of school districts, renaissance schools, and charter schools that have established community schools, to be published on the department's Internet website; (5) increasing Statewide capacity to support effective community school strategies; and (6) identifying and evaluating community schools' needs in order to provide tailored technical assistance and professional development opportunities The bill also requires the office to submit an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature that includes a summary of the services provided. The bill appropriates $10 million to the department to establish the office. | In Committee |
| SR70 | Memorializes Congress to increase funding for Section 8 housing vouchers and revise program requirements to enhance award of vouchers. | This resolution would memorialize Congress to enact and the President to sign legislation to:· increase the funding for the Section 8 housing voucher program;· provide housing authorities with discretion to exceed fair market rents in the basic range by at least 20% rather than the 10% that is allowed under current regulations;· provide housing authorities with greater discretion to exceed current requirements concerning the percentage of family income that may be allocated towards the payment of rent; and· authorize housing authorities to utilize federal funding for the preliminary costs necessary to enroll new voucher recipients. | In Committee |
| SJR75 | Designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey in order to increase public awareness about the dangers of smoking among youth, including the short-term and long-term health consequences associated with tobacco use, and to encourage efforts supporting smoking prevention and cessation among middle and high school students. The joint resolution requests the Governor to issue a proclamation designating May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials and the citizens of the State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| SCR87 | Urges Congress and President to enact legislation which prohibits awarding federal contracts to inverted domestic corporations. | This concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress and the President to enact legislation which prohibits the awarding of federal contracts to inverted domestic corporations. Pursuant to a rule adopted by the federal government, an inverted domestic corporation is defined as a corporation that used to be incorporated in the United States, or used to be a partnership in the United States, but is now incorporated in a foreign country, or is a subsidiary whose parent corporation is incorporated in a foreign country. | In Committee |
| S2589 | Sets State's mileage reimbursement rate at IRS rate for business use of automobile. | Under current law, the State's mileage reimbursement rate is $0.18 cents per mile, adjusted biannually to reflect changes in gasoline prices. Annual appropriations acts have adjusted this mileage reimbursement rate. This bill provides that the mileage reimbursement rate payable to a State officer or employee driving a private automobile on State business will be the same as the standard mileage rate established by the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business purposes. The bill repeals the provision of current law that requires adjustment twice each year to reflect changes in the price of gasoline. | In Committee |
| S2618 | Directs Secretary of Higher Education to revoke proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if school fails to achieve certain minimum graduation rates. | This bill stipulates that the Secretary of Higher Education is to revoke a proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if the school fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 75 percent for full-time students enrolled in a four-year degree program by the completion of the sixth full academic year that occurs following the bill's effective date. The bill further stipulates that the secretary is to revoke a proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if the school fails to achieve a three-year graduation rate of at least 75 percent for full-time students enrolled in a two-year degree program by the completion of the sixth full academic year that occurs following the bill's effective date. However, if after five years, a proprietary school is not on track to achieve the minimum graduation rates for full-time students, but is making sufficient progress toward achieving that goal, the secretary, at the discretion of the secretary, may allow the school additional time to achieve the rates before revoking the school's license to award academic degrees. | In Committee |
| S2614 | Clarifies intent of Legislature that the attempt or conspiracy to commit certain offenses may constitute acts of domestic violence. | This bill amends the definition of "domestic violence" to include the attempt or conspiracy to commit an enumerated act. N.J.S.A.2C:25-19 defines "domestic violence" as the occurrence of one or more enumerated acts inflicted upon a person under certain circumstances. The enumerated acts are: homicide, assault, terroristic threats, kidnapping, criminal restraint, false imprisonment, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, lewdness, criminal mischief, burglary, criminal trespass, harassment, stalking, criminal coercion, robbery, contempt of a domestic violence order that constitutes a crime or disorderly persons offense, or any other crime involving risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person protected under the domestic violence statutes. However, the definition of "domestic violence" does not specifically include an attempt or conspiracy to commit an enumerated act. This bill is in response to an Appellate Division decision vacating a domestic violence surcharge assessed against a defendant who had been convicted of attempted murder. Under N.J.S.A.2C:25-29.4, a person convicted of an act of domestic violence is subject to a surcharge of $100 payable to the State for use by the Department of Human Services to fund grants for domestic violence prevention, training, and assessment. In State v. Lee, 411 N.J. Super.349 (App. Div.2010), the court held that the defendant was not subject to the surcharge because attempted murder is not included in the enumerated crimes and offenses. The court noted that penal statutes, including those statutes imposing penalties as part of a sentence, are to be strictly construed, and therefore the Legislature's decision to not include attempted murder within the list of enumerated acts was dispositive. The court noted that the Legislature can prospectively take action if it desires to do so. It is the aim of the sponsor to take such action to clarify the Legislature's intent. Accordingly, this bill amends the definition of "domestic violence" in N.J.S.A.2C:25-19 to include the attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the enumerated acts that constitute domestic violence. | In Committee |
| S2619 | Requires State agencies to vacate certain property in Trenton; allows EDA to offer incentives to private entities to locate to that property. | This bill would require State departments and agencies with offices located at the Riverview Plaza in the city of Trenton to relocate to other suitable locations within the city of Trenton. Currently, the Department of Education maintains offices at Riverview Plaza. Riverview Plaza is centrally located with access to both the Delaware river and Route 29. Significant business and recreational attractions could develop there. Relocation of State departments and agencies from Riverview Plaza will enhance the redevelopment potential of this prime real estate. Additionally, this bill would require the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to take an active role in the redevelopment of the Delaware river waterfront of the city of Trenton. The bill specifically requires EDA to seek to attract private entities to occupy office space at Riverview Plaza buildings which will be vacated by the State pursuant to this bill. The bill requires EDA to give priority consideration for eligibility of any EDA-administered business assistance program to a private entity seeking to occupy office space vacated by the State pursuant to the bill. The bill authorizes EDA to modify its business assistance programs, where permissible by law, to give bonuses or other enhanced incentives to private entities that occupy this office space. The bill also authorizes EDA to seek assistance from other State entities that it deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this bill. | In Committee |
| S2608 | Makes various changes in the charter school program in regard to student enrollment procedures, charter revocation, and monitoring of charter schools. | This bill implements certain measures to improve the oversight and accountability of charter schools. The bill does the following: (1) provides that the random selection process that will be used to select students for enrollment in a charter school when there are more applications for enrollment than there are spaces available will be a lottery. The name of each student who is enrolled in the charter school district of residence by December 31 of the year prior to the year for which the lottery is being held will be provided to the charter school by the charter school district of residence and placed in the lottery. If the parents or guardians of a student who is selected through the lottery decide not enroll the student, then the charter school will fill that enrollment space with a student from the waiting list; (2) requires a charter school to file with the Commissioner of Education and its district of residence a report on the student enrollment demographics of the charter school by October 15 of each year. The report is to be posted on the websites of the Department of Education, the charter school, and the charter school district of residence; (3) requires a charter school to maintain a waiting list for admission to the school and to annually submit the number and demographics of students on the waiting list to the commissioner. The department and the charter school will post the number and student demographics on their websites and update the number as appropriate; (4) requires the adjustment of the per pupil tax levy amount that a district of residence must send to a charter school if the district's budget is defeated by the voters or disapproved by the board of school estimate and the district's tax levy is reduced. The per pupil adjustment will reflect the reduced tax levy; (5) requires that a charter school's annual report required under current law include information on the students who have left the charter school during the preceding school year through withdrawal, expulsion, other disciplinary action, or any other circumstance, and a student's last date of attendance, reason for leaving the charter school, and educational placement after leaving the school. A charter school will be required to make arrangements prior to a student leaving the charter school to ensure that the student has an appropriate educational placement upon leaving the charter school; (6) requires that the commissioner's annual assessment of a charter school required under current law be in writing and posted on the department's website no later than October 15; (7) requires that the findings of the commissioner's comprehensive review of a charter school required under current law prior to granting a renewal of the charter be provided in writing to the charter school no later than six months prior to the commissioner's decision on the renewal of the charter; (8) establishes the following additional grounds for which the commissioner may revoke a school's charter: - the charter school fails to achieve the student learning standards or fails to meet any performance standard set forth in the school's charter; - the charter school engages in a practice and pattern of discrimination in violation of federal or State law or violates any federal or State law; - the charter school violates any provision of its charter concerning fiscal responsibility; or - the charter school fails to make reasonable and appropriate efforts to achieve a student enrollment comparable to the demographic makeup of the charter school district of residence; (9) requires the commissioner to post a charter school's approved budget on the department's website; (10) permits a board of education and a charter school to enter into a written agreement to conduct collaborative education programs or implement shared services if the arrangement will lead to improvement for all students in areas such as teacher quality and student achievement; (11) requires that a charter school, upon the revocation of its charter, provide the commissioner and the parents or guardians of its students with information on how to transfer the student to the student's school district of residence, and to forward all student records to that district; (12) provides that a charter school must cause an independent final audit to be conducted of the school's accounts and financial transactions within six months following the closure of the school; (13) requires charter schools to be subject to review and evaluation under the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJ QSAC); (14) provides that by April 1, 2025 and every three years thereafter, the commissioner will hold public hearing to receive public input on the charter school program; (15) directs the commissioner to commission, no later than December 31, 2024, an independent study of the charter school program; (16) directs the commissioner to submit to the Governor, the Legislature, and the State board by October 1, 2025 and by October 1 every three years thereafter an evaluation of the charter school program. | In Committee |
| S2609 | Revises mileage limit for mandatory school transportation for students in preschool through grade four. | Under current law, a school district is required to provide transportation to elementary school students who live more than two miles from their public school of attendance and to high school students who live more than two and one-half miles from their public school of attendance. This bill would amend current law to require a school district to provide transportation to students in preschool through grade four who live more than one and one-half miles from their public school of attendance. The bill retains the existing distance requirement of more than two miles for students in grades five through eight, and the existing distance requirement of more than two and one-half miles for high school students. The bill also amends the transportation eligibility criteria under the "Interdistrict Public School Choice Program Act" to align with the mileage change made by the bill for public school students in preschool through grade four. | In Committee |
| S1540 | Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees. | This bill specifically authorizes the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to pay expenses related to protecting the safety of cooperating witnesses. The bill defines a "cooperating witness" as a witness who testifies for the government to help prosecute a crime, and includes a confidential informant. The bill also authorizes the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety to award grants from the Victim and Witness Advocacy Fund to public entities and not-for-profit organizations to provide services that protect the safety of cooperating witnesses. Finally, the bill amends the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to expand the rights of cooperating witnesses. The bill gives these witnesses the right to be provided assistance before and during a trial to cope with the psychological and practical obstacles of testifying. These witnesses also would be given the right to receive protective measures before, during, and after a hearing or trial and to have established court procedures ensuring their safety while testifying. | In Committee |
| S82 | Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses paying a salary differential to National Guard members or reservists on active duty. | This bill provides for corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses that have employees who are also members of the National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States and receive mobilization orders for active duty service. The amount of credit shall be equal to the amount of salary paid by the business that makes up the difference between the employee's regular pay and the employee's military pay. | In Committee |
| S2601 | Phases out State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions. | This bill provides that beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, a State tuition aid grant for a student enrolled in a proprietary institution is to be limited to students who received an award prior to that academic year. In effect, the bill initiates a phase-out of State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions. Students in a proprietary institution who received an award prior to the 2024-2025 academic year will continue to receive an award until the student is no longer eligible. | In Committee |
| S2600 | Extends eligibility for certain SDA grant funding to Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf. | This bill extends eligibility for certain grant funding from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf. The SDA provides grant funding to non-SDA districts, also known as "regular operating school districts." These grants, referred to as "section 15 grants," are provided to address health and safety issues and other critical needs. Under this bill, the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf would be eligible to apply for a one-time section 15 grant. | In Committee |
| S2599 | Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old. | This bill raises the age requirement for compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age, except for students who graduate from high school prior to their eighteenth birthday. This change would first apply to children who are in the eighth grade at the time of the bill's enactment. The New Jersey Constitution declares that "[t]he Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between the age of five and 18 years." (Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1). The requirement for school attendance until age 16 was established in 1914, with an exception permitting children over 14 years of age who were "regularly and lawfully employed in some useful occupation" to leave school. This exception was removed by P.L.1940, c.154 and the 16 year old "drop out" age has not been changed since. | In Committee |
| S2598 | Requires bidder on State contract to be evaluated on report of its gender-based pay equity and job equality standards for its employees. | This bill would require the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury to require every bidder on a contract or agreement to submit a report to the division that measures the extent to which men and women employed by that bidder perform the same or comparable work at different rates of pay and the extent to which job titles within that entity may be predominately held by members of the same gender. The division will develop a system for bidders to use to measure and remedy gender-based pay gaps and gender-based equality within job titles. The division will develop uniform reporting instructions and criteria and provide prospective bidders with technical assistance in complying therewith. Reports submitted by bidders will be assigned a rating that indicates the extent to which the bidder is free of gender-based pay inequity and inequality within job titles. A contract will be awarded to the bidder whose bid, conforming to the invitation for bids, will be most advantageous to the State, price and other factors, including the rating on this report, considered. The bill's provisions will not apply to any contract when the public exigency requires the immediate delivery of goods or performance of services or to any contract that is paid for in whole or in part with federal funds if application thereto would affect eligibility to receive those funds. The division will adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the bill's purpose. The bill will take effect one year after enactment but the division may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as may be necessary for its implementation. | In Committee |
| S2603 | Provides awarding of contracts for professional services by State, county, municipal, and school district through competitive contracting process. | Under existing law, contracts for professional and technical services to be awarded by State agencies, including independent authorities, or by counties, municipalities, and school districts may be negotiated and awarded without being publicly advertising for bids. This bill would provide, instead, that these contracts would be subject to a competitive bidding process. Contracts for architectural, engineering, and land surveying services of local governments and school boards will be awarded pursuant to a competitive contracting process on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications that is similar to the process for awarding of such contracts by State agencies. The bill allows the continuation of a professional services contract for legal services beyond the contract's expiration date when the expertise of that particular provider of legal services is essential for the completion of pending litigation, any construction contract, or other legal services, and any potential change in the provider would be detrimental to the public interest. The bill also provides that school board contracts for school photographs or portraits, like similar items that are paid with funds raised by or collected from students such as yearbooks and class rings, will not be required to be publicly advertised for bids. | In Committee |
| S2490 | Requires certain public contracts for insurance coverage and consulting services to be awarded through competitive contracting process. | This bill would require counties and municipalities, and their agencies and authorities, and boards of education to use the established competitive contracting process, and to follow new supplemental requirements, for procuring any insurance products and insurance consulting services. Under current law, such contracts are exempt from public bidding requirements. Specifically, the bill would require boards of education and local contracting units seeking to procure any insurance products and insurance consulting services to do so by the award of a contract through the competitive contracting process set forth in sections 45 through 49 of P.L.1999, c.440 (C.18A:18A-4.1 et seq.) and sections 1 through 5 of P.L.1999, c.440 (C.40A:11-4.1 et seq.), as applicable. This bill would supplement these provisions with respect to insurance product and insurance consulting service contracts as follows: First, an insurance consultant providing any insurance consultant services to a board of education or local contracting unit would be required to be compensated directly and exclusively by the board of education or local contracting unit at a fixed amount, an hourly rate, or on another common and readily comparable basis, provided that the compensation shall not be determined as a percentage of any insurance product costs, and would not be permitted to accept any commission or other form of compensation from an insurer for any insurance consultant services provided to the board of education or local contracting unit. Compensating insurance consultants in this manner is intended to help ensure that their interests are solely aligned with those of the board of education or local contracting unit. Second, insurance consultants and insurers would both be subject to several certification and disclosure requirements related to the restrictions on insurance consultant compensation. Third, the request for proposal documentation would be required to include additional items including the terms of compensation; the certification and disclosure requirements; the penalties for violations; and certain details with respect to current insurance use and anticipated insurance needs. Fourth, the competitive contracting proposal solicitation process would be supplemented in several respects. The notice of the availability of request for proposal documentation would be required to be published through more outlets and in a new timeframe, at least 60, but no more than 120, days prior to the date anticipated for the commencement of the contract. The request for proposal documentation would also have to be submitted to at least one joint insurance fund, established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:10-36 et seq., and with respect to health insurance, to the State Health Benefits Plan, at the same time it is published. Each interested insurer or insurance consultant would be required to submit a proposal at least 30 days prior to the date anticipated for the commencement of the contract. At least three proposals would be required to be obtained. The report evaluating and recommending the award of a contract or contracts would be required to include an analysis and discussion of the availability, terms, and price of comparable coverage from at least one joint insurance fund and, with respect to health insurance, the State Health Benefits Plan, ensuring that alternative insurance products available to the board of education or contracting unit, which may be more cost-effective options, are considered. Finally, this bill would subject insurers and insurance consultants to civil liability for violations of its provisions. Insurance is one of the major expenses of boards of education and local contracting units. Requiring boards of education and local contracting units to use an open, transparent, and competitive process for the award of insurance contracts would help ensure that the lowest possible cost is realized and help protect against waste, abuse, and insider deals, ultimately saving taxpayer money. | In Committee |
| SCR85 | Requests President and Congress take action to permit federal Medicaid funding for certain substance use disorder programs. | This concurrent resolution respectfully requests the President and Congress of the United States to take action amending the provisions in the Medicaid program which prohibit federal reimbursement for certain in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation and treatment programs for individuals who are afflicted with substance use disorder. Since the inception of the Medicaid program in 1965, prohibitions have existed on the federal funding of services which are provided in an Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD), referred to as the IMD exclusion. As substance use disorder is classified as a mental disease, certain programs that provide in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation and treatment services for individuals who are afflicted with substance use disorder are not eligible for federal Medicaid reimbursement. The federal Medicaid program has taken certain steps to permit states to be reimbursed for services provided to individuals who are afflicted with substance use disorder and receiving treatment in an IMD, such as permitting states to apply for a waiver from the traditional Medicaid program requesting permission to expand services available for substance use disorder treatment and rehabilitation. However, the waiver review process can be quite lengthy and, once approved, waivers are limited in duration. The President and Congress of the United States could take certain actions to ameliorate these problems by modifying certain Medicaid provisions. Examples of these potential actions include, repealing the IMD exclusion, excluding substance use disorder from the definition of mental disease for the purposes of determining if a treatment facility is an IMD, and increasing the bed limit of the IMDs. | In Committee |
| S2519 | Requires municipalities to notify affected property owners before implementing compliance plan to reassess valuation of certain properties. | This bill requires a municipality to notify affected property owners before implementing a compliance plan to reassess the valuation of certain properties within the municipality. Under current law, a municipal tax assessor may revise the valuation of certain properties outside of the context of a municipal-wide revaluation or reassessment. This practice is known as "assessment maintenance" and is conducted through the approval of a compliance plan. However, before a compliance plan may be implemented, current law requires the tax assessor to submit: (1) written notice justifying the reassessment to the mayor and governing body of the municipality, the county board of taxation, and the county tax administrator; and (2) a copy of the compliance plan to the county board of taxation for approval. This bill provides that the tax assessor would also be required to submit written notice to the owner of each property that would be reassessed under the compliance plan. Specifically, this notice would be required to inform the taxpayer of: (1) the manner in which the reassessment will be implemented; (2) the potential impact of the reassessment on the valuation of the taxpayer's property; and (3) the right of the taxpayer to file a property tax assessment appeal. Under the bill, the notice would be provided after the county board of taxation has approved the compliance plan, and the notice would be submitted by regular mail. | In Committee |
| S2508 | Authorizes municipal assessment of development impact fees following State guidelines and makes an appropriation. | This bill, known as the "Municipal Development Impact Fee Authorization Act," would allow municipalities to impose an impact fee on developers under certain circumstances. A municipality which imposes an impact fee must do so by an ordinance which sets forth detailed standards and guidelines regarding the definition of a service unit and the specific purposes for which the impact fee revenues may be expended. The impact fee ordinance shall also contain a delineation of service areas for each capital improvement and a fee schedule which clearly sets forth the amount of the fee to be charged for each service unit. Municipalities may impose an impact fee to cover a broad range of expenditure areas, including any transportation improvement necessitated by new development in a county not covered by a transportation development district created pursuant to the "New Jersey Transportation Development District Act of 1989," water treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment and sewerage, flood control and stormwater management, educational facilities, municipal parks and recreation facilities, public safety and related facilities. The bill exempts low and moderate income housing units as defined under P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.) from the assessment of impact fees and prohibits the internal subsidy within inclusionary developments which would otherwise see purchasers of market-priced units absorb the impact fees forgiven on their affordable counterparts. Capital improvements and facility expansion for which an impact fee is imposed must bear a reasonable relationship to needs created by the new development. A municipality may adopt such an impact fee ordinance only if it has previously adopted a capital improvement program and has a valid master plan in place. The capital improvement program referred to here is more detailed than that which is currently authorized under section 20 of the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-29). An impact fee imposed to finance educational facilities shall be based upon a long-term facilities plan approved by the Commissioner of Education. Municipalities which choose not to implement an impact fee ordinance under this bill may continue to prepare the less comprehensive capital improvement program currently authorized under the "Municipal Land Use Law." Similarly, those municipalities may continue to levy a fee for off-tract improvements authorized under section 30 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-42). The bill sets forth terms and conditions under which municipalities may assess and hold onto impact fee revenues. Fifty percent of the amount assessed as an impact fee shall be paid prior to the issuance of a construction permit and the remainder, prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy. No impact fee imposed by a municipality shall exceed the development's proportional share of the current reasonable cost of constructing the capital improvement or facility expansion for which the fee is being assessed. In no case shall the municipality maintain unexpended impact fees for more than eight years after the date of collection of the final payment for any development, unless construction has already begun on the capital improvement of facility expansion for which the impact fees were collected. The bill provides for an appeal of an impact fee assessment to an administrative law judge under the "Administrative Procedure Act" as a contested case; unlike decisions of contested cases under the APA, however, decisions of an administrative law judge in these cases would be final and would be appealable directly to the Appellate Division of Superior Court. The bill establishes a permanent 15 member Development Impact Fee Review and Advisory Commission (DIFRAC) in the Department of Community Affairs to provide ongoing technical assistance to municipalities in adopting impact fee ordinances and to evaluate the implementation of those ordinances. The first responsibility of DIFRAC shall be the preparation and dissemination of model ordinance. All municipal development impact fee ordinances must be certified by DIFRAC as to their conformity with law and the standards adopted by the commission. | In Committee |
| S2488 | Concerns criminal investigation of law enforcement officers. | This bill concerns criminal investigations of law enforcement officers. Under the provisions of this bill, every county prosecutor is required to notify the Director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability prior to beginning a criminal investigation regarding allegations of misconduct by a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer. The bill provides that upon notification, the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is required to supervise the investigation for the purpose of ensuring the investigation is conducted in an objective manner. In addition, under the provisions of this bill, whenever there is an allegation of misconduct by a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer, the Attorney General may supersede the county prosecutor of the county in which the incident occurred for the purpose of conducting any investigation, criminal action, or proceeding if, in the opinion of the Attorney General, the interests of the State will be furthered by doing so. Finally, under the bill, the Attorney General is to issue or amend guidelines or directives necessary to effectuate the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| S2507 | Enhances transparency in exercise of municipal redevelopment powers. | This bill would make procedural modifications to the process through which municipalities exercise redevelopment power. First, the bill would require that municipalities act by ordinance rather than resolution in acting under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.). This would require a more elaborate publication and hearing process than that which is required when a municipality acts by resolution. The bill enhances notification requirements under this law. Under current law, when a municipal governing body designates properties within a redevelopment area, it is required to authorize the planning board to undertake a preliminary investigation to determine whether the proposed area fulfills those criteria which the law establishes in order to be so designated. Although the current law does provide for notification when an area is to be designated, the hearing notice is only required to set forth the general boundaries of the area to be investigated and notice that the map shall be made available at the office of the municipal clerk. Property owners in the proposed redevelopment area are to be notified by regular mail, under the current law, with no information to be provided as to what a redevelopment designation means. This bill would require that the hearing notice clearly delineate the properties which are to be included in the redevelopment area and that notice to property owners be provided by certified mail. In addition, the bill requires that a Public Advisory Statement be sent to every property owner within the redevelopment area as part of the required notification and prescribes the content of this statement. The purpose of this Public Advisory Statement is to explain to property owners within the redevelopment area that municipalities are granted broad powers to facilitate economic development within redevelopment areas, which includes the power to exercise eminent domain. Additionally, the notification is designed to inform property owners of their recourse in this situation and who to contact for further information. The bill requires both the planning board and municipal governing body to hold public hearings on the redevelopment plan, which is required to be prepared before a municipality is authorized to undertake a redevelopment project under existing law. In addition, the bill requires that property owners within the designated redevelopment area be provided with certified mail notice in advance of the public hearing held by the municipal governing body. Under current law, the redevelopment plan is to be adopted by ordinance and the municipality is only required to provide that notice associated with the adoption of an ordinance under general law. Under current law, when the governing body originates the redevelopment plan, it is required to transmit a copy of the proposed redevelopment plan to the planning board for recommendations and an analysis of the consistency of that plan with the municipal master plan. The law gives the planning board 45 days within which to report back to the governing body. Given the addition of a mandatory public hearing process by this bill, this 45 day review period is extended to 90 days. Current law authorizes municipalities to lease or convey property or improvements "without public bidding and at such prices and upon such terms as it deems reasonable." By removing this exception from public bidding and vague language deferring to the municipality as to the establishment of a price for such property or improvements, this bill would require open public bidding and, thereby, the establishment of a market price through a transparent transaction process. | In Committee |
| S2485 | Establishes Residential Property Repair Program; appropriates $30,000,000. | This bill establishes the "Residential Property Repair Program" in the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency ("HMFA"). The bill directs HMFA to award program funding, in the form of low-interest loans, to correct home defects for homes within eligible municipalities, in which an eligible applicant resides or intends to reside. The bill defines a "home defect" as a defect of a residential unit that: (1) renders the home unfit for human habitation; (2) creates a substantial health and safety hazard involving the presence of asbestos, mold, pests, or lead; or (3) has resulted in the placement of the property on an abandoned property list, established by a municipality pursuant to N.J.S.A.55:19-55. The program would only be available for home purchases in "eligible municipalities" that met the criteria for designation as an urban aid municipality in the 2022 State fiscal year, and that have established an abandoned property list pursuant to N.J.S.A.55:19-55. The program would be further limited to "eligible applicants," meaning homeowners or prospective homeowners, who (1) have a household income that does not exceed 120 percent of the area median income, and reside in an eligible municipality; or (2) are first responders who either reside in an eligible municipality or intend to purchase a home that contains a home defect in an eligible municipality. Program funding would not be awarded to an eligible applicant unless the eligible applicant commits to residing in the home as the eligible applicant's principal residence for no less than five years after the home defect, for which funding is provided, is corrected. If a beneficiary of the program stops residing in the property as a principal residence before the end of this timeframe, that person would be subject to a civil penalty of $5,000. Funding for the program would be provided as a low-interest loan, not to exceed $50,000 per home for an eligible applicant. Program funds would not supplant existing resources dedicated to existing home repair programs. Each eligible applicant who receives financial assistance through the program as a prospective homeowner would be required, prior to the award of financial assistance, to complete not less than eight hours of a homebuyer counseling course, as directed by HMFA. The bill would establish a Residential Property Repair Fund, to be administered by HMFA, for the purpose of providing the moneys necessary to administer the program. The bill would appropriate $30,000,000 to HMFA from the funds provided to the State by the federal government, through the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, to carry out the purposes of the bill. Any interest or earnings that are attributable to moneys in the fund would also be deposited into the fund. The bill directs HMFA to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the requirements of the bill. The bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S2522 | Provides certain deceptive practices in advertising of pregnancy-related services violate the consumer fraud act. | This bill provides that it is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for a crisis pregnancy center to: (1) make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or over any radio station, or via the Internet, or in any other way, an advertisement, announcement or statement containing any assertion, representation, or statement with respect to pregnancy-related services or the provision of pregnancy-related services which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading; or (2) make false or misleading statements about, or misrepresent the center's intent to provide, pregnancy-related services. As defined in the bill, "crisis pregnancy center" means a facility administered by a nonprofit organization that provides a client with peer-related counseling services related to pregnancy and childbirth, including, but not limited to, referrals to non-medical services, child-rearing resources, and adoption services, but does not provide referrals to abortion or other pregnancy-related services. A crisis pregnancy center includes a facility that presents the appearance of a licensed health care facility by: requiring staff or volunteers to wear medical attire or uniforms and to collect from a client identifiable health information; having one or more examination rooms or semi-private rooms or areas containing medical supplies or medical instruments; or sharing physical space with a physician's office or a licensed health care facility. A crisis pregnancy center does not include an ambulatory care facility, a licensed health care facility, or a birthing facility that provides family planning services and prenatal care. The bill also defines "pregnancy-related services" as any medical services or health care counseling services related to pregnancy or pregnancy prevention, including, but not limited to, ultrasound or sonogram evaluations, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, and education and counseling on contraception and unplanned pregnancy options. A crisis pregnancy center that violates the provision of the bill is subject to all remedies and penalties available pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). In addition, the bill provides that if a crisis pregnancy center is about to engage in, is continuing to engage in, or has engaged in conduct which is in violation of the bill, or if it is in the public interest, the Attorney General has the authority to seek and obtain an injunction prohibiting the crisis pregnancy center from advertising or providing peer-related counseling services, and may seek and obtain a court order requiring the center to take whatever remedial steps the court deems necessary to correct the adverse effects of the center's untrue, deceptive, false, or misleading advertising or statements on any client seeking pregnancy-related services. | In Committee |
| S2517 | Requires person picking up prescriptions for Schedule II controlled dangerous substances to present identification. | This bill would prohibit a pharmacist from dispensing a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (CDS), unless the ultimate user (i.e., the person who is authorized to lawfully possess a CDS for his or her own use, or for the use of a member of the person's household, or for administration to an animal owned by the person or by a member of the person's household): (1) presents a photographic identification card issued by a state, or by the federal government; or presents another form of documentation that constitutes acceptable proof of identity under federal immigration law; and (2) signs a logbook maintained by the pharmacist, and prints therein the signatory's name and address, as well as the date and time of dispensation. Before dispensing a Schedule II CDS, the pharmacist will be required to ensure that the name entered in the logbook matches the name that appears on the ultimate user's identification card or other appropriate identity documentation; and will further be required to verify that the logbook reflects the correct date and time of dispensation. The pharmacist will also be required to record, in the logbook, the name and amount of the substance that is being dispensed. The pharmacist is to maintain each entry in the logbook for at least two years after the date on which the entry is made. The logbook maintained by the pharmacist would include a written notice, at the top of each page, indicating that the knowing inclusion of false information in the logbook will subject the signatory to prosecution under N.J.S.2C:28-3, which is the provision of law that establishes unsworn falsification as a crime of the fourth degree. The bill would specify that the information contained in a pharmacist's logbook may not be disclosed for any purpose, except when such disclosure is necessary to facilitate a drug recall for the protection of public health and safety, or is necessary for law enforcement purposes, in association with the enforcement of this bill and other relevant provisions of the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act," P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-1 et seq.). Any pharmacist who discloses logbook information, in good faith, and as authorized by the bill, would be immune from criminal, civil, and professional liability for such disclosure. The bill would require both the Commissioner of Health and the State Board of Pharmacy, in consultation with each other, to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S2516 | Establishes central registry for sickle cell trait diagnoses; provides for informational outreach and genetic counseling. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a central registry of newborn patients diagnosed with sickle cell trait and to provide information about counseling, intervention, and educational services to patients and their parents. Sickle cell trait is the condition of carrying one sickle cell gene, which means the person is at risk for passing the gene on to his children and may be at risk of experiencing certain health complications. A person born with two sickle cell genes has sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder most commonly characterized by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain. Currently, all children born in New Jersey are screened for a number of genetic and biochemical conditions at birth, including sickle cell anemia. Under the bill, when a patient tests positive for sickle cell trait, the screening laboratory will be required to notify the physician responsible for the newborn's care and document the diagnosis of sickle cell trait in the central registry established under the bill. The physician is to provide the newborn's parents with information concerning the availability and benefits of genetic counseling performed by a licensed genetic counselor. This genetic counseling is to include, at a minimum, information concerning the fact that one or both of the parents carries sickle cell trait and the risk that other children born to the parents may carry sickle cell trait or may be born with sickle cell disease. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a system to notify the parents of patients who are listed in the registry that follow-up consultations with a physician may be beneficial for children diagnosed with sickle cell trait. Such notifications will be provided: at least once when the patient is in early adolescence, when the patient may begin to participate in strenuous athletic activities that could result in adverse symptoms for a person with sickle cell trait; at least once during later adolescence, when the patient should be made aware of the reproductive implications of sickle cell trait; and at such other intervals as may be required by the commissioner. The bill additionally requires the commissioner to establish a system under which the Department of Health (DOH) would make reasonable efforts to notify patients who have reached the age of 18 years of the patient's inclusion in the registry and of the availability of educational services, genetic counseling, and other resources that may be beneficial to the patient. The information in the central registry established under the bill will be used for the purposes of compiling statistical information and assisting the provision of follow-up counseling, intervention, and educational services to patients and to the parents of patients who are listed in the registry. Central registry information will be confidential, and a person who unlawfully discloses the information will be guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a $1,000 fine, or both. Each unlawful disclosure is a separate and actionable offense. | In Committee |
| S2514 | Prohibits State administered pension fund investment in corporations shifting ownership or operations outside U.S. for tax purposes. | This bill prohibits State administered pension fund investment in corporations shifting ownership or operations outside the U.S. for tax purposes (i.e. corporate inversion tactics). The purpose of this bill is to prevent the State's pension fund investment from supporting the domestic income generation activities of corporations willing to flee the U.S. to avoid tax liability. The bill prohibits the investment of State administered pension funds into a corporation shifting ownership or operations outside the U.S. if that shift lowers the corporation's effective income tax rate by 20% or more within a three-year-period. The bill requires the State to dispose of all investments held in violation of this prohibition within three years of the date of enactment. The bill also includes two reporting requirements: (i) an initial report detailing the current investments in corporations using inversion tactics that is due within 60 days of the date of enactment; and (ii) an annual report detailing the progress made in disposing of investments in corporations using inversion tactics. The annual reporting requirement expires upon the complete disposal of investment in corporations using inversion tactics. | In Committee |
| S2486 | Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in hedge funds and derivative contracts. | This bill prohibits the State of New Jersey from investing the assets of any pension or annuity fund under the management of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury in hedge funds and derivative contracts. The division has up to three years to complete the divestiture of holdings in prohibited investments that predate the enactment of this legislation. The 2008 financial meltdown has brought to light the enormous risks that investors take when they dabble in under-regulated hedge funds and derivative contracts. Hedge funds suffered debilitating losses when credit markets dried up. Since the investment strategy of many hedge funds relies on the availability of cheap credit, the credit crunch tore asunder the foundation of many highly leveraged hedge funds. The derivative market fared no better, as derivative contracts turned out to have been largely unsecured. American International Group Inc. (AIG), a major player in the scantily regulated derivatives market, did not even remotely have the financial wherewithal to meet its obligations when the assets underlying its derivative contracts soured. A massive bailout of AIG by the federal government staved off a complete collapse of the derivative market and the global financial system. Considering the horrid events of the fall of 2008, it has become abundantly clear that the fiduciary responsibility of the State of New Jersey is incompatible with investing pension and annuity funds in exceedingly risky and poorly supervised hedge funds and derivatives. This assessment holds true notwithstanding the real regulatory improvements ushered in by the ''Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act'' of 2010. | In Committee |
| S2518 | Increases annual income limitation to receive senior and disabled citizens' property tax deduction to $15,000. | This bill would amend current law to increase the annual income threshold for eligibility to receive the senior and disabled persons $250 property tax deduction from $10,000 to $15,000 once that increase is authorized by constitutional amendment. | In Committee |
| S2515 | Authorizes clinical laboratories to perform tests without individual order from practitioner. | This bill provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, and to the extent otherwise authorized under federal law, clinical laboratories will be authorized to perform any test requested by a patient without an order for the test issued by a health care practitioner. When providing the results of a test performed without an order issued by a health care practitioner to a patient, the clinical laboratory will be required to include a notice advising the patient of the benefits of reviewing the results with a licensed health care practitioner and the risk that, without the assistance of a licensed health care practitioner, there is a possibility the patient may misread or misinterpret the test results. A clinical laboratory performing tests without an order for the test issued by a health care practitioner will be required to ensure patient records are produced and maintained, and access to the records is restricted, consistent with the requirements of the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996" (HIPAA). The Attorney General will have the authority to take any action and assess any penalty for a violation of HIPAA as is authorized under HIPAA. | In Committee |
| S2524 | Criminalizes certain actions of individuals who offer rental of residential property that they do not own or legally possess. | This bill criminalizes certain actions by "imposter landlords," who rent out or advertise for rent residential dwellings they do not own or lawfully possess. The term "residential dwellings" is intended to include houses, apartment units, mobile homes, co-ops, and other types of residences, whether permanent or temporary. Under this bill, any person who claims ownership or possession, or takes possession, of a residential dwelling without the permission of the lawful owner or an authorized agent of the owner, in order to rent the property out or benefit himself, is guilty of a fourth degree criminal offense. Likewise, any person whose actions or representations cause another person to take possession of a residential dwelling, without permission of the lawful owner or an authorized agent of the owner, for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for himself (such as to collect rent) is guilty of a fourth degree criminal offense. A crime of the fourth degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. These types of frauds are often conducted through the internet, via postings to online marketplaces such as Craigslist. This bill is not intended to apply to tenants, subtenants, lessees, sublessees, or assignees having a lawful occupancy interest in a property. This bill is also not intended to apply to persons with a good faith belief that they have a lawful ownership interest in the residence or a good faith belief that they are authorized to rent out, or advertise for rent, a residence. This bill also would not preclude the prosecution and conviction under other applicable provisions of criminal (e.g., theft or fraud charges) and civil law. The problem of imposter landlords is an issue that broadly affects our communities and is destructive to families and property owners alike. Throughout the country, imposter landlords steal thousands of dollars from unsuspecting individuals, and often target vulnerable sections of the population. As a result of these types of scams, families often have lost their savings and their homes by the time the perpetrators are caught. Imposter landlords also steal from the lawful owners of residences and inhibit their ability to make full use and enjoyment of their property. By targeting the range of conduct of imposter landlords, this bill seeks to prevent this nature of criminality from occurring in the first place. | In Committee |
| S2520 | Establishes pre-loan counseling requirements and borrower rights of recission for reverse mortgage loans. | Establishes pre-loan counseling requirements and borrower rights of recission for reverse mortgage loans. | In Committee |
| SR67 | Memorializes Congress to provide Medicare coverage for eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures. | This resolution respectfully memorializes the United States Congress to enact legislation to provide Medicare coverage for eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures. | In Committee |
| S2489 | Establishes publicly accessible domestic violence Internet registry. | This bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts in conjunction with the State Police and the Attorney General to develop and maintain a system to make certain domestic violence registry information publicly available over the Internet. Under the bill, the public would be able to gain access through the Internet to all available information concerning an individual record, any part of, or the entire domestic violence Internet registry concerning all persons who have had domestic violence restraining orders entered against them for aggravated assault. In the case of a person convicted of homicide, sexual assault or aggravated assault involving domestic violence the public may, without limitation, obtain access to the domestic violence Internet registry to view an individual record, any part of, or the entire domestic violence Internet registry including: the defendant's name and any aliases the defendant has used or under which the defendant may be or may have been known; any aggravated assault offense involving domestic violence for which the defendant was convicted; the date and location of disposition; a brief description of any such offense, a general description of the defendant's modus operandi, if any; the defendant's age, race, sex, date of birth, height, weight, hair, eye color and any distinguishing scars or tattoos; a photograph of the defendant and the date on which the photograph was entered into the registry; the make, model, color, year and license plate number of any vehicle operated by the defendant; and the street address, zip code, municipality and county in which the defendant resides. The bill requires the Attorney General to ensure that the system for publicly accessing the domestic violence Internet registry contains (1) warnings that any person who uses the information to threaten, intimidate or harass another, or who misuses the information may be criminally prosecuted, and (2) an explanation of the registry's limitations. The Attorney General is further required to strive to ensure that the information contained in the Internet registry is accurate, and that the registry is revised and updated as appropriate in a timely and efficient manner. The bill also provides that no action is to be brought against any person for failure to investigate or disclose any information from the registry that is compiled or made available to the public through the domestic violence Internet registry. The bill provides that any information disclosed from the domestic violence Internet registry may be used in any manner by any person or by any public, governmental or private entity, organization or official, or any agent thereof, for any lawful purpose consistent with the enhancement of public safety. A person who uses that information to commit a crime is guilty of a crime of the third degree. A person who uses that information to commit a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense is guilty of a disorderly persons offense and would be fined at least $500 but not more than $1,000, in addition to the other applicable penalties. Whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of misuse of the information disclosed pursuant to the bill, the Attorney General, or any county or municipal prosecutor having jurisdiction, or any person aggrieved by the misuse of that information is authorized to bring a civil action in the appropriate court requesting preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against any person responsible for the pattern or practice of misuse. These remedies would be independent of and in addition to any other remedies or procedures that may be available under other provisions of law. | In Committee |
| S2487 | Prohibits State from investing pension and annuity funds in manufacturers or wholesale distributors of tobacco products. | This bill prohibits the investment of the assets of any public pension or annuity fund under the jurisdiction of the Division of Investment in the stocks, securities, or other obligations of any corporation or other entity engaged in the manufacture or wholesale distribution of tobacco products. The bill provides that existing investments in such businesses shall be divested within three years of the bill's effective date. It also requires the Director of the Division of Investment to file periodic reports with the Legislature which will describe the progress made in divesting these assets and analyze the fiscal impact of the bill on the affected pension and annuity funds. The purpose of the bill is to prevent public pension funds from being used to support the manufacture and distribution of a product which is known to be harmful. | In Committee |
| S2523 | Requires health care facilities be built according to Type I or Type II construction standards. | This bill would require that a health care facility be built with noncombustible materials as defined by section 703.5 of the 2018 International Building Code, or fire resistive materials, in accordance with the requirements of Type I or Type II construction as defined by section 602.2 of the 2018 International Building Code. Type I construction requires the use of fire resistant materials to prevent fires from burning and spreading at an accelerated pace. Type I structures are constructed of concrete and protected steel coated with a fire-resistant material, most often a concrete mixture, and are designed to resist fire for an extended amount of time. Type II construction requires the use of noncombustible materials to reduce the likelihood of a fire. The walls and roofs of a type II structure are constructed of non-combustible materials, specifically reinforced masonry. Due to the limited mobility of health care facility patients, specifically those in hospitals and nursing homes, these facilities should be built to Type I or Type II construction standards to reduce the likelihood of a fire and provide sufficient evacuation time for patients in the event of a fire. | In Committee |
| S2390 | Requires State and private correctional facilities to allow inmates to make telephone and video calls at no cost to inmate or other party. | This bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and the appropriate person on behalf of a private correctional facility to allow inmates incarcerated in State and private correctional facilities to make telephone and video calls with no charge imposed upon the inmate or the other party. Under current law, certain requirements are imposed upon telephone service contracts for inmates in State, county, and private correctional facilities, including the requirement that the rate for inmate telephone calls is not to exceed 11 cents per minute for domestic debit, prepaid, and collect calls. Under the provisions of this bill, inmates incarcerated in State and private correctional facilities would be permitted to make telephone or video calls with no charge imposed upon the inmate or the other party, including international calls; provided that the telephone service contracts that the facilities enter into still adhere to the State contracting and procurement laws. In the sponsor's view, the more incarcerated people stay in touch with their families, the better they do when they reenter society while those with weaker support systems due to lack of communication during incarceration, are more likely to re-offend. Some studies indicate that frequent and consistent family phone calls reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation after release. The sponsor notes that some families go into debt in their attempt to maintain contact with incarcerated loved ones through phone calls and visitations. It is the sponsor's intent to reduce the enormous financial burden of inmate phone calls as the high cost of prison phone calls have sapped savings from low-income families trying to communicate with their loved ones. | Dead |
| S1392 | Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program. | Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program. | In Committee |
| S1551 | Authorizes creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct; appropriates $600,000. | This bill would authorize municipalities and counties to establish civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct. These boards would serve to foster transparency, fairness, and equality in policing practices and policies, which in turn will help promote positive relations between police and the local communities they serve. A municipal civilian review board would consist of at least seven members who are appointed by the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality with the consent of the governing body of the municipality. A county civilian review board would consist of at least seven members appointed by the board of county commissioners or, if the county is organized pursuant to the provisions of the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.), the county executive, the county supervisor, or the county manager, as applicable, with the consent of the board of county commissioners. A county civilian review board would operate in municipalities that opt to participate with such board. The members of a civilian review board would be residents of the municipality or county, as applicable, who are qualified persons with training or experience in community relations, civil rights, law enforcement, juvenile justice, sociology, or other relevant fields. They would serve for terms of six years, with certain shorter terms for some of the initial board members to allow for staggered terms. Members of a civilian review board would be required to take a training course developed and provided by the Attorney General, or an alternative course approved by the Attorney General, within six months of appointment. The Attorney General would be required to develop its training course within 45 days of the bill's effective date and offer the first course as soon as practicable thereafter. A civilian review board could not investigate the conduct of any law enforcement officers, or recommend the imposition of discipline of such officers or members, without a quorum of members who have competed this training. A civilian review board would be permitted to utilize resources of the municipality or county to the extent that funds for the utilization of such resources are made available by the municipality, county, State, or other entity. The bill provides that it would be the duty of a civilian review board to: (1) conduct an investigation of the operation of the police force of the municipality, or other law enforcement officers that serve in the capacity of a municipal police force for the municipality, as applicable; (2) recommend the establishment of policies by the appropriate authority; (3) review and investigate the conduct of any law enforcement officer; and (4) recommend the imposition of discipline of such officer consistent with any tenure or civil service laws and contractual agreements. A civilian review board could only initiate one of these actions in response to a civilian complaint of excessive or unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or offensive language. A civilian review board would have the power to subpoena witnesses and documentary evidence. The board would also have any additional powers of inquiry delegated to the board by the municipality or county as deemed necessary for the conduct of any hearing or investigation. A civilian review board investigation may run concurrent to an internal affairs investigation of related conduct by law enforcement, but the civilian review board investigation would have to cease upon the initiation of a criminal prosecution concerning the related conduct. Further, a law enforcement agency may refrain from sharing evidence, or may direct a civilian review board to cease an investigation, if the law enforcement agency determines that evidence sharing, or the investigation itself, would be significantly detrimental to its disciplinary process due to the existence of a related criminal investigation. The bill permits an ordinance or resolution establishing a civilian review board to set forth guidelines for the operation of the board consistent with the provisions of the bill. The guidelines may adopt any relevant guidelines issued by the Attorney General. A civilian review board would report its findings and recommendations concerning police operations and conduct to the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality, the governing body of the municipality, the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer of the municipality, the county prosecutor, and, in the case of a municipality in which the State Police serves in the capacity of a municipal police force for the municipality, the Superintendent of State Police and the Attorney General. Under the bill, all records made, maintained, or kept on file by a civilian review board would be confidential and unavailable to the public while an investigation is pending, and all personal identifying information contained in all records made, maintained, or kept on file by a civilian review board would be confidential and unavailable to the public at all times. The bill also provides that the "Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures" of the Police Management Manual promulgated by the Police Bureau of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety be revised to require the disclosure of reports, complaints, and other investigative materials, including video, sound, or other recording, to the appropriate authority, as defined in N.J.S.40A:14-118, as well as any civilian review board. Lastly, the bill would appropriate $600,000 from the General Fund to the Attorney General to fund the civilian review board training course, or any reimbursements for the alternative training course, required by the bill. | Dead |
| S2399 | Requires voter approval at the annual school election or by the board of school estimate prior to the establishment of charter school. | This bill provides that the Commissioner of Education may not approve an application for the establishment of a charter school unless the establishment of the charter school has been approved by the voters of the district at the annual school election in the case of a charter school to be established in a Type II district. In the case of a charter school to be established in a Type I district, the bill provides that the board of school estimate must approve the establishment of the charter school. | In Committee |
| S2391 | "Homeowners' Historic Property Reinvestment Act"; allows homeowners to claim credit against gross income tax for certain costs of rehabilitating historic properties. | This bill establishes the "Homeowners' Historic Property Reinvestment Act." The bill allows homeowners to claim a refundable credit against gross income tax in an amount equal to 25 percent of the homeowner's outlay for rehabilitating a historic property in this State. The credit is capped at $25,000 per property during a ten-year period. To qualify for the credit, a property that is to be rehabilitated is required to meet certain criteria, as specified in the bill. The bill requires a homeowner seeking a tax credit under the bill to spend no more than 60 percent of the cost of rehabilitation on interior rehabilitation and to own and occupy the qualified property as the homeowner's principal residence for twelve consecutive months following the completion of the rehabilitation. The bill requires rehabilitation expenditures to be at least 50 percent of the equalized assessed value of the structure for local real estate tax purposes as indicated on the most recent property tax bill for the property prior to the start of the rehabilitation. The bill provides that the cumulative amount of tax credits approved cannot exceed $15 million. The bill requires the State Historic Preservation Officer, in consultation with the director of the Division of Taxation, to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31st of the fourth year following the bill's effective date. The report would detail the number and total monetary amount of tax credits granted for the rehabilitation of qualified properties, the geographical distribution of the credits granted, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the tax credits in promoting the rehabilitation of historic properties, recommendations for administrative or legislative changes to increase the effectiveness of the program, and any other information that the officer or the director may deem useful or appropriate. | In Committee |
| S2355 | Establishes "Revolutionary War Park Study Commission." | This bill would establish the "Revolutionary War Park Study Commission" to evaluate the feasibility of forming a National Historical Park that would include the existing Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton Battle Monument, and Princeton Battlefield State Park. The commission would consist of nine members: the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; the Executive Director of the New Jersey Historical Commission; and three public members appointed by the Governor, all of whom would be required to have expertise in a field essential to preserving historical resources. The commission would evaluate: (1) the feasibility of establishing a National Historical Park; (2) the impact, advantages, and disadvantages of creating a National Historical Park; and (3) solutions to mitigate any potential issues arising from the establishment of a National Historical Park. The commission would issue a final report of its findings and conclusions to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following the first meeting of the commission. The commission would expire upon the submission of the commission's report. | In Committee |
| S2401 | Regulates smoking in multiple dwellings; requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to promulgate construction standards for new multiple dwellings permitting smoking. | This bill would regulate smoking in both new and existing multiple dwellings. This legislation requires the Commissioner of Health to promulgate standards delineating where smoking is prohibited in multiple dwellings. The Commissioner of Community Affairs would be required to promulgate standards for the construction of new multiple dwellings to reduce the risks of second-hand smoke for nonsmokers. For new and existing multiple dwellings, this bill supplements the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.) to permit owners of multiple dwellings to prohibit smoking in individual dwelling units. If enacted, the legislation would require multiple dwelling owners to designate any units in which smoking is prohibited, and to maintain a floor plan of the smoking and nonsmoking units. That floor plan must accompany every new written lease or agreement for occupancy of a unit in a multiple dwelling. This bill also would prohibit the conduct of business in spaces in a multiple dwelling used exclusively for smoking. The bill would limit the size of all separate smoking rooms and require that the rooms have self-closing doors. The bill also requires that newly constructed multiple dwellings that permit smoking meet construction standards promulgated by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. At a minimum, these standards must include separate ventilation for smoking rooms and areas where smoking is permitted, and structural separation between interior spaces where smoking is prohibited and those where it is permitted. Separate smoking areas would also be required to maintain lower air pressure than surrounding areas to keep cigarette smoke from drifting into adjoining spaces. | In Committee |
| SCR83 | Proposes temporary constitutional amendment allowing State constitutional convention convened to reform system of property taxation to propose statutory changes. | This concurrent resolution proposes a temporary amendment to the New Jersey Constitution which would allow the property tax reform constitutional convention, to be convened pursuant to a separate ballot question, to propose revisions to the statutes which are within the scope of the convention's mandate. Without this amendment, the convention would only be able to submit proposed constitutional amendments for voter approval, but not proposed statutory changes that may be needed to help implement those amendments. This amendment would become part of the New Jersey Constitution upon approval by the voters and would expire three years after its approval by the voters. Statutory changes proposed by the convention will take effect upon voter approval if this temporary constitutional amendment authorizing the convention to propose such changes receives voter approval not later than the general election at which the proposal prepared by the convention is submitted to the voters. | In Committee |
| S2394 | 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 |
| S2353 | Requires boil water notices to be provided by certain public water systems via telephone, email or text message. | This bill requires public water systems to provide prompt public notice when a boil water notice is in effect. Under the bill, the owner or operator of a public water system is required to notify its affected customers of a boil water notice as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the public water system learns of the emergency or other condition. Beginning 90 days after the bill is enacted into law, a public water system is required to notify its customers of a boil water notice via the preferred means of contact of each customer of the water system. A public water system is required to acquire the capability to notify its customers of a boil water notice by telephone, electronic mail, or text message. The bill requires that a boil water notice contain the following information: the name of the public water system affected; the geographical area affected; the date of the occurrence giving rise to the boil water notice; the corrective actions to be taken by the consumers; and a telephone number where customers may reach an appropriate party to address questions or other concerns. The bill also requires the owner or operator of the public water system to notify its customers of the rescission of a boil water notice in the same manner that the notice was issued. | In Committee |
| S2396 | Excludes certain unemployment compensation recipients from paying civil service open competitive examination application and appeal fees. | This purpose of this bill is to exclude persons receiving unemployment compensation benefits, or unemployed persons whose unemployment compensation benefits terminate within the previous six months, from having to pay the application fee to take a civil service open competitive examination, or the fee to file an appeal under the provisions of the statute. | In Committee |
| S2403 | Establishes Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.The purpose of the program is to address the current and projected critical shortage of educators in the State by providing an incentive for the State's top high school graduates to pursue a career in teaching. The program will provide loan redemption to finance the undergraduate or graduate study of program participants in exchange for full-time employment as an educator at a public school in the State. The bill establishes certain eligibility requirements for the program, and requires the authority to establish additional academic eligibility requirements, including quantitative measures of academic aptitude and achievement. The bill directs the authority to, subject to the availability of funds and a sufficient number of qualified applicants, select a minimum of 100 high school graduates each year to be eligible to receive an initial student loan to pursue a course of study at an institution of higher education in the State. Program participants may apply for loan renewal for four additional years, with the total loan received by any participant not to exceed $40,000 during undergraduate studies, and an additional $10,000 during graduate studies. The bill requires a program participant to enter into a written contract with the authority to participate in the program. The redemption of loans under the program is not to exceed $10,000 for each full year of service satisfactorily completed by the program participant. The total loan redemption amount for a program participant, for five years of service, is not to exceed $50,000. The bill provides that a program participant who has entered into a redemption contract with the authority may nullify that contract by submitting written notification to the authority and assuming full responsibility for repayment of the full amount of the participant's loan or that portion of the loan that has not been redeemed by the State in return for partial fulfillment of the contract. Finally, in the case of a program participant's death or total or permanent disability, the authority is required to nullify the service obligation of the participant, thereby terminating the participant's service obligation; or where continued enforcement of the contract may result in extreme hardship, the authority may nullify or suspend the participant's service obligation. | In Committee |
| S2397 | Enhances transparency and accountability of online tax sales. | This bill is in response to an investigative report issued by the State Commission of Investigation, dated June 30, 2015, concerning questionable contracting in online tax sales. Tax lien auctions have generated controversy in recent years because the interest rates associated with liens from unpaid residential taxes and municipal fees are exorbitant and unfairly burdensome. Concerns over improprieties in the administration of tax lien auctions--particularly with regard to online tax sales--prompted the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation ("SCI") to investigate the integrity of the process. This bill would implement SCI's recommendations in order to reform the online tax sale system. Under the bill, the Department of Community Affairs ("DCA") would evaluate and select vendors to conduct electronic tax lien sales. The bill requires DCA to publish on its website a request for quotations from nationally recognized electronic municipal tax lien services. Vendors seeking selection would be required to disclose their corporate or other ownership and to submit other information required by DCA. After evaluating the quotations submitted by interested vendors, DCA would create a list of at least five qualified vendors from which municipalities may select a vendor to conduct online tax sales. Under the bill, a municipality may, without advertising for bids, contract with a vendor selected and approved by the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to this bill to conduct electronic tax lien sales. To contract with a municipality, a vendor must provide the municipality with a corporate disclosure form for its significant subcontractors. The bill defines "significant subcontractor" as any entity expected to receive 50 percent or more of estimated contract revenue. The bill also requires the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation to report to the Governor and the Legislature, within 90 days of the effective date, on the efficacy of online tax lien sales. The report must include:· an assessment of the pilot program established in P.L.2001, c.160 (C.54:5-19.1), including an evaluation of the performance of the lone vendor receiving approval from the department to conduct online tax sales under the pilot program;· a determination of whether tax sales should be carried out at the county level rather than the municipal level;· a determination of whether the State should adopt a mandatory minimum for which delinquencies would lead to a lien being sold at a tax sale; and· a determination of whether the State should adopt a maximum tax delinquency interest rate indexed to prevailing market rates. The bill also requires tax collectors, after completing a tax lien sale, to notify the property owner that the lien on the owner's property has been sold. The notice would be provided with a description of how the owner can pay off any outstanding debt and a clear disclosure of the consequences of the tax lien sale, including any delinquency interest or other fees the owner may incur. Lastly, the bill facilitates the establishment of electronic tax sales by eliminating the pilot program status of such sales. | In Committee |
| S2388 | Requires advance notice of water supply discontinuations for non-payment of local government water bills; requires offer of payment plan in certain circumstances. | This bill would require local government water purveyors to provide written notice at least 15 days in advance of discontinuing water supply to a property due to the non-payment of water bills. The bill would also require these local government water purveyors to offer a payment plan if a reasonable request is made before the scheduled date of the water supply discontinuation. The supply of water is a vital and basic need, and every effort should be made to ensure that there is a reasonable opportunity to address any payment issues in order to maintain water supply services. The notice required under the bill would have to be sent to the property owner, the last customer of record, if different, and also to the affected property itself, by hand-delivery, mail, or posting, in order to ensure that any tenant who may not be the customer of record has an opportunity to address the unpaid water bills. If the property is a multiple dwelling, the tenant notice would also have to be posted in the common areas of the building. | In Committee |
| S2393 | Mandates that certain personnel critical to certain State finance and revenue generating activities are essential employees during state of emergency or government shutdown. | This bill clarifies the authority of the executive branch under the emergency management act to determine that personnel critical to preserving and protecting the State's financial assets and resources, and State revenue generating activities that are licensed by the State are essential employees during a state of emergency or when the State fails to meet its constitutional obligation to enact a State budget act for a fiscal year. This bill ensures that, in the event of a state of emergency or a State government shutdown, State personnel that are critical to preserving and protecting the State's financial assets, resources, and revenue generating operations that are licensed by the State will continue to work. This will ensure that all tax liabilities that arise from State licensed activities will be appropriately collected and safeguarded. This bill will avoid uncertainties concerning the continued operation of such activities and ensure that State revenue collections essential to reestablishing the functioning of State government at the conclusion of a state of emergency or any budget impasse will be fully functioning. | In Committee |
| SR65 | Supports National Black Caucus of State Legislators efforts to ensure 40 percent of certain federal investments are made in communities of color and other disadvantaged communities. | This resolution supports the resolve and efforts of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators to: 1) ensure 40 percent of federal infrastructure investments are made in communities of color and other disadvantaged communities; 2) establish, through legislation, oversight committees to interact with federal agencies; and 3) otherwise work to accomplish the goals of President Biden's Justice40 Initiative so that the disadvantaged and underserved constituents of the legislators in the National Black Caucus of State Legislators receive the maximum economic, environmental, and infrastructure investment benefits from federal funding initiatives. The National Black Caucus of State Legislators issued Resolution ETE-23-34, in which the caucus resolved to establish, through legislation, oversight committees to interact with federal agencies to further President Biden's Justice40 Initiative and coordinate with local and State agencies to assure maximum benefits are received by the constituents of the legislators in the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. | In Committee |
| S2337 | Implements child safety provisions in custody disputes. | This bill establishes a training and educational program for certain court personnel, includes child safety as a factor in court decision-making when a party raises abuse allegations or safety concerns, and implements expert evidence standards in child abuse and domestic violence proceedings. This bill requires the Administrative Director of the Courts to create a training and educational program related to child abuse that includes information concerning all aspects of abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, implicit and explicit bias, trauma, neglect, maltreatment, and the impact of child abuse and domestic violence on children. The program is required to implement best practices from evidence-based and peer-reviewed research. Under the bill, a judge is prohibited from ordering a child to be removed from or restricted from contacting a parent who is competent, protective of the child, and not physically or sexually abusive, or a parent with whom the child is bonded or to whom the child is attached, solely for the purpose of improving a deficient relationship with the other parent. The court also is prohibited from ordering reunification therapy that is predicated on removing or restricting a child from a parent with whom the child is bonded or attached. Further, in making an award for custody, a court is required to consider the existence of any prior restraining order or protective order against a parent. Finally, this bill implements minimum requirements for expert evidence and evidence that may be admissible in child custody proceedings where a parent has been alleged to have committed domestic violence or child abuse. Expert evidence may be admitted only if the professional possesses demonstrated expertise and clinical experience working with domestic violence or child abuse victims. Further, in making a finding regarding any allegation of domestic violence or child abuse, evidence of past sexual or physical abuse committed by the accused parent may be considered including, but not limited to, any: (1) past or current restraining orders or protection orders against the accused parent, including sexual violence abuse protection orders; or (2) arrests or convictions of the accused parent for domestic violence, sexual violence, or child abuse. This bill implements the "Kayden's Law" provisions of the federal "Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022," enacted in March 2022. The "Kayden's Law" provisions were named for seven-year-old Kayden Mancuso of Lower Makefield, PA. In 2018, Kayden was murdered by her father during an unsupervised visitation period ordered by the court. Kayden's mother had objected to unsupervised visitation on the grounds that Kayden's father had a history of violence and was mentally unstable. | In Committee |
| S2359 | Concerns annual reporting requirements of SHBP and SEHBP commissions. | This bill concerns the annual reporting requirements of the State Health Benefits Plan Commission and the School Employees' Health Benefits Plan Commission. This bill establishes an annual reporting requirement for the State Health Benefits Plan Commission and the School Employees' Health Benefits Plan Commission. It requires each commission to annually publish a rate setting recommendation analysis report that is prepared by an actuarial firm. The report will include an executive summary, the plan overview for the upcoming year, a trend analysis, financial projections, rate setting developments, and any exhibits to further support the findings of the report. The commission will submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature, and the Division of Pensions and Benefits will post the report on its website for the public. The commission will accept comments from the public for a period of time after the report is released. The commission will then hold at least one public hearing after the release of the report to allow for input on the rate setting recommendation analysis. | In Committee |
| S2350 | Prohibits information from Statewide voter registration system from being published on Internet. | This bill prohibits voter registration information from the Statewide voter registration system from being published on the Internet. Under current law, the Statewide voter registration system is accessible by the Secretary of State, executive departments and State agencies designated by the Secretary of State, each county commissioner of registration, each county and municipal clerk, and other individuals under certain circumstances. Voter registration lists are also provided to the chairmen of the county committees of each political party, and are accessible by voters who apply and pay for a copy of the list. This bill specifically prohibits any information from the system from being published on the Internet, in order to further protect the privacy of registered voters in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| SJR68 | Expresses support for end to hostilities between Israel and Palestine, and hopes for peace and respect between Israel and Palestine. | This joint resolution expresses the Legislature's support for the end of hostilities between Israel and Palestine, and expresses hopes for peace and respect between the two countries. Since October 7, 2023, many innocent civilians have lost their lives and many more have been injured as a result of hostilities and other human tragedies in Israel and Palestine. This State, through many of its community members, has personal connections to non-combatant victims and residents in Israel and Palestine and thus sheds its tears for all the children and families harmed in this conflict. This Legislature recognizes the thousands of innocent lives lost, extends its deepest condolences, and hopes for a quick end to all hostilities and the complete restoration of peace in the region. The citizens of both Israel and Palestine deserve to live in peace and harmony forged by a sense of freedom, dignity, and country. This Legislature is committed to supporting a peaceful coexistence among the State's diverse communities and rejects any kind of hatred and bigotry. Many in this State, and specifically this Legislature, take a pledge to "stand up for the other" which means, "while interacting with members of my own faith, or ethnic, or gender community, or with others, if I hear hateful comments from anyone about members of any other community, I pledge to stand up for the other and speak up to challenge bigotry in any form." This Legislature seeks to convey to all communities this pledge and requests every member of the State to "stand up for the other." | In Committee |
| S2392 | Authorizes medical cannabis for treatment of sickle cell anemia. | This bill expands the list of medical conditions that qualify a patient for the medical use of cannabis to include sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized primarily by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain. The medical use of cannabis can treat or alleviate the pain or other symptoms associated with certain medical conditions. | In Committee |
| S2387 | Expands Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Programs to include assistance for water utility bill. | This bill adds assistance for water utility bills to the Lifeline Credit Program, established pursuant to P.L.1979, c.197 (C.48:2-29.15 et seq.), and the Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program, established pursuant to P.L.1981, c.210 et seq. (C.48:2-29.30 et seq.). Under current law, these programs provide a $225 benefit only on gas and electric utility bills to eligible customers who are participating in the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program (PAAD), receiving or eligible to receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program established pursuant to P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85), or receiving disability benefits under the federal Social Security Act and also meet eligibility requirements for PAAD. Under this legislation, these programs would be expanded to include water utility bills. | In Committee |
| S2356 | Exempts sales of condoms from sales and use tax. | This bill provides and exemption from the sales and use tax for sales of condoms. According to the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report, there has been a steady increase in the number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. The CDC data suggest that multiple factors are contributing to the overall increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STD), including drug use, poverty, stigma, and unstable housing, all of which can reduce access to STD prevention and care, and decreased condom use among vulnerable populations. It is the sponsor's view that exempting the sale of condoms from the sales tax will make them more affordable and encourage people to engage in responsible personal behavior. The bill takes effect immediately, but provides for the exemption to apply to receipts received from all sales made on or after the first day of the fourth month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| SJR69 | Designates first week of March as "Civic Learning Week" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of March as "Civic Learning Week" in New Jersey to encourage schools and civic organizations to hold educational programs regarding civic duty and urge New Jersey citizens to reflect upon the importance of their civic duty and responsibilities. Research has shown the importance of engaging and educating the youth of their civic duty and responsibility. Students involved in school or community based civic activities have elevated psychological well-being, increased academic engagement, and have displayed more involvement in activities than peers who were not involved in these activities. Communities are more united when their youth participate in civic engagement activities and philanthropy. Service learning projects, civic duty educational outreach programs, class discussions, and extracurricular civic activities are some of the many ways that students can learn the importance of civic engagement. This joint resolution would designate the first week of March of each year as "Civic Learning Week" to encourage schools and civic organizations to hold educational programs regarding civic duty and urge residents of New Jersey citizens to reflect upon the importance of their civic duty and responsibilities in order to uphold the democratic values of this state and nation. | In Committee |
| S2357 | Excludes certain contributions to deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings under the gross income tax. | This bill excludes from gross income taxation the elective contributions that employees of the public and non-profit sectors make toward their retirement savings, and allows a deduction for federally qualifying IRA contributions. The New Jersey gross income tax currently allows the employees of private, for profit, businesses to make tax-deferred contributions to the retirement savings plans authorized under section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Employees of the public and nonprofit sectors do not enjoy the same access to 401(k) plans as private sector employees. This bill expands the current provision to incorporate tax deferrals for the elective deferred compensation systems allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits. Charitable, educational and religious organization employees and public school employees are authorized by federal law to contribute toward their retirement savings under plans established under subsection (b) of section 403 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. State and local government and authority employers are authorized by federal law to make contributions under plans established under section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, and federal employees are authorized by the federal Internal Revenue Code to make contributions to the federal Thrift Savings Plan. This bill gives the employees of federally tax-exempt charitable, educational or religious organizations; the employees of public school systems; the employees of state and local government and federal employees similar tax incentives for retirement savings that are provided under the New Jersey gross income tax to private sector employees. This bill also allows a gross income tax deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts, or premiums paid to individual retirement annuities, that qualify for federal income tax deductions. IRA's are a significant retirement savings vehicle for employees whose employers do not offer a pension plan. | In Committee |
| S2398 | Requires proprietary degree-granting institutions to disclose status as for-profit businesses and requires institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to disclose accreditation status. | This bill requires a proprietary degree-granting institution to disclose the institution's status as for-profit businesses and requires institutions of higher education to disclose the institution's accreditation status. Under the bill, each proprietary degree-granting institution is required to disclose its status as a for-profit business in a prominent place on: the institution's official website; contracts for instruction; catalogs; and all promotional digital and print media created on or after the bill's effective date. The disclosure is required to be made in a type size as large or larger than any other text on the website, page, or document, except for the type size of the name of the institution. The disclosure will be presented in a manner reasonably calculated to draw the attention of the reader. The bill also requires each institution of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institution to disclose its accreditation status on the institution's official website, contracts for instruction, catalog, and all promotional digital and print media created on or after the bill's effective date. The disclosure is required to be made in a type size as large or larger than any other text on the institution's official website, contracts for instruction, catalog, and promotional digital and print media, except for the type size of the name of the institution. The disclosure must be presented in a manner reasonably calculated to draw the attention of the reader. Under the bill, if the institution's official website, contracts for instruction, catalog, or promotional digital or print media includes content pertaining to the institution's accreditation with an agency not recognized by the United States Department of Education, the accreditation disclosure required by the bill is required to be restated on each page in which a reference to accreditation appears. | In Committee |
| S2395 | Requires State Investment Council report certain information quarterly; requires council's regulations addressing political contributions apply to federal or national committees and non-State political committees. | This bill requires the State Investment Council to issue certain reports required under current law by August 1, October 1 by February 1, and May 1, of each fiscal year listing in the aggregate and segregated by asset class, the investment returns achieved by the State-administered retirement system funds under the council's supervision by external managers. The bill requires that these reports be submitted to the Governor, the Legislature, and the State Treasurer. The bill requires that the rate and fees external managers need to disclose under current law are for investment funds in commodities, hedge funds, private equities, real estate, bonds, equities, and any other asset class, and that the rate and fees be included in the new quarterly report. In addition, the bill provides that regulations adopted by the council that address political contributions are to apply equally to contributions to any federal or national committee or a non-State political committee as to any other committee covered thereby. | In Committee |
| S2400 | Prohibits late penalties from being made against senior citizen tenants in certain senior citizen rental housing in certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the landlord of public housing for seniors, as defined in the bill, from imposing certain late charges upon senior citizen tenants who are unable to make timely rent payments due to their admittance to a health care facility. Under current law, a landlord is prohibited from imposing late charges on all residential tenants, including senior citizen tenants, during the five business day period following the due date of a rental payment. This bill would expand these provisions to include the period during which certain senior citizen tenants (tenants) have been admitted to a health care facility and a five business day period following discharge from the facility. Specifically, the bill provides that, upon receipt of written proof that a tenant was admitted to a health care facility, a landlord is to be required to waive any late charge incurred by the tenant during the period of hospitalization and the grace period of five business days following discharge from the facility. If the full rent payment is not remitted within that period, the landlord may thereafter impose late charges. However, the grace period is not to begin if, following discharge from the health care facility, the tenant is immediately admitted to a subsequent health care facility without returning to the rental premises, but the tenant is to remain responsible for rent due before the lease expires or is terminated under the provisions of the lease agreement or State law. A person who violates the provisions of the bill is to be subject to a fine of $100 for a first offense, a fine of $250 for a second offense, and a fine of $500 for a third or subsequent offense. Additionally, the bill provides that the Attorney General is to bring the action against the landlord in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Additionally, under the bill, a "senior citizen" includes a person 62 years of age or over and a surviving spouse, if that person is 55 years of age or over. | In Committee |
| S2389 | Broadens definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" in Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. | This bill amends the definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" in the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act to encompass acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying against all students, not just students in protected classes. As currently defined, "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" is required to be reasonably perceived as being motivated by an actual or perceived characteristic. The definition sets forth examples of such characteristics - race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental, physical or sensory disability, or other distinguishing characteristic. This bill eliminates the requirement that the conduct is motivated by these actual or perceived characteristics from the definition. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to update the model policy on harassment, intimidation, or bullying upon any revision of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. The bill also provides that a school district's policy on prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying be amended upon any revision of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. The bill removes the requirement that a school district ensure that its training on harassment, intimidation, or bullying include instruction on preventing bullying on the basis of protected categories since these categories are eliminated by the bill. Finally, the bill requires that as part of the information provided by the superintendent of schools twice a year to the board of education regarding acts of violence, vandalism, and bullying which occurred during the previous reporting period, the superintendent is to provide the board with information on the number of reports of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, disaggregated by race, gender, sexual orientation, eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch under the National School Lunch Program, special education designation, and English language learner designation. Similarly, the bill requires the information that is to be reported to the Department of Education include this disaggregated data. | In Committee |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | In Committee |
| S2008 | Establishes Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The purpose of the program is to encourage students who graduated high school from a school district, or lived in a school district, with a shortage of teachers to teach in that school district. Under the bill, HESAA will offer loan redemption up to $10,000 of principal and interest of eligible student loan expenses for each full year of employment by the program participant. The total loan redemption amount for a program participant, for five years of employment, will not exceed $50,000. HESAA will not spend more than $500,000 for program implementation in any State fiscal year. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State and maintain domicile in the State during participation in the program; have previously graduated high school in a school district designated by the Department of Education as having a shortage of teachers during the year in which the applicant submits a program application to HESAA or have resided in the jurisdiction in which the school district is located for more than five years; be hired as a certified teacher by the school district from which the applicant graduated high school or a school district located in a jurisdiction in which the applicant has resided for more than five years, provided that the district is experiencing a shortage of teachers as determined by the department; and have an outstanding balance on a State or federal student loan and not be in default on any loan. A program participant will enter into a written contract with HESAA to participate in the program. The contract will specify the duration of the applicant's required employment, which will be no less than five years, and the total amount of eligible student loan expenses to be redeemed by the State in return for employment as a teacher in the school district. | In Committee |
| S2316 | Requires certain ratios of school library media specialists to students in public schools. | This bill establishes minimum ratios of school library media specialists to students required in school districts. The ratios are:· in each public school having an enrollment of less than 300 students on October 15 of the prior school year, the board of education is required to employ, at a minimum, one half-time staff member who holds an educational services certificate with a school library media specialist endorsement;· in each public school having an enrollment of between 300 and 1,499 students on October 15 of the prior school year, the board of education is required to employ, at a minimum, one full-time staff member who holds an educational services certificate with a school library media specialist endorsement; and· in each public school having an enrollment of 1,500 or more students on October 15 of the prior school year, the board of education is required to employ, at a minimum, two full-time staff members who hold an educational services certificate with a school library media specialist endorsement. The bill specifies how much time in each school day the school library media specialist is required to devote to school library work in public secondary schools, which is dependent upon the enrollment in the school. The bill also requires a public school having an enrollment of 500 or more students on October 15 of the prior school year to employ a minimum of one full-time staff member to serve as a library clerk, and to employ one additional full-time staff member to serve as a library clerk for each additional 500 students enrolled in the school. In order to be college- and career-ready in the twenty-first century, students must be able to use a wide range of information resources including books, media, technology, and the Internet. All students must be able to locate, evaluate, and interpret information accurately for academic and professional success. A qualified school library media specialist is uniquely suited through educational training and professional development to provide this educational foundation for all students. Many states currently require school library media specialists in their schools and most use student enrollment to determine the number of school library media specialists the schools employ. | In Committee |
| S1812 | Establishes requirements concerning methods for determining whether student has specific learning disability under federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. | Establishes requirements concerning methods for determining whether student has specific learning disability under federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. | In Committee |
| S1532 | Applies provisions of "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act" to proprietary schools and limits eligibility for State student assistance programs to students enrolled in certain proprietary schools. | According to a December 2010 report of the Education Trust, only one in five students who enrolls in a proprietary school graduates within six years and these students are likely to assume greater levels of student loan debt than students at public and independent colleges. The study reported that the median debt load for graduates at proprietary schools is $31,190, nearly twice the amount for graduates of independent colleges and four times the amount for graduates of public colleges. This bill prohibits proprietary schools from receiving direct State aid. The bill further provides that a student enrolled in a proprietary school will not be eligible to receive any form of student assistance from the State unless the school meets a specified graduation rate to be determined by the Secretary of Higher Education. The bill also included proprietary schools authorized to grant academic degrees within the "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act." Specifically, the bill provides that each such proprietary school will have to annually disclose on its website various measures of student graduation rates, school costs, and student loan indebtedness, among other indicators of school quality. The bill also directs the Secretary of Higher Education to include the student consumer information reports submitted by proprietary schools within a comparative profile that it already prepares of four-year public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| S1356 | Allows limited brewery license holder to engage in certain activities; establishes farm brewery and winery-brewery license. | This bill amends current law to authorize certain activities in which a holder of a limited brewery license is permitted to engage. Specifically, this bill authorizes the holder of a limited brewery license to engage in activities which include, but are not limited to including: (1) an unlimited number of on-premises special events, for which the license holder may sell tickets without requiring the license holder to obtain a permit or provide electronic notification to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), and (2) up to 18 off-premises special events per year pursuant to a permit issued by the director of the ABC for each event. If an event is to be held on a publicly-owned or controlled property, the licensee would be required to obtain consent from the political subdivision that owns or controls the property or the chief law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the property. Under the bill, a license holder also is permitted to deliver its product to a consumer's home; sell soda and coffee, whether or not manufactured by the license holder; coordinate with a food vendor to provide food on the licensed premises; and provide menus to consumers. In addition, the bill eliminates the requirement that the license holder provide a tour to a consumer prior to serving alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises. The bill further provides that pourers and servers employed by the licensed brewery are not required to be certified by an industry-recognized server training program. The bill defines "on-premises special event" to mean an event that is open to the public and held on the licensed premises or the sidewalk, parking lot, or other area owned by the license holder that is adjacent to or adjoining the licensed premises and includes, but is not limited to: private parties such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, civic and political functions, professional and trade association events, class reunion and alumni events; trivia and quiz games; paint and sip; craftmaking; pop up shops; DJs, live music, and open mic; televised or streamed sporting events; educational events and seminars; movies and theatrical events; animal adoption, to the extent permitted by local ordinance; and yoga and other exercise classes. "Off-premises special events" are defined as special events that take place at a location other than on the licensed premises or the sidewalk, parking lot, or other area owned by the license holder that is adjacent to or adjoining the licensed premises and include, but are not limited to: beer, music, and arts festivals; civic events; foot races, mud races, bike races and other athletic events; limited brewery anniversary celebrations; and holiday celebrations. The bill also establishes a winery-brewery sublicense that would permit wineries to produce malt alcoholic beverages for retail sale to consumers for consumption off the licensed premises and establishes a farm brewery license that would permit the licensee to produce malt alcoholic beverages for retail sale to consumers for consumption off the licensed premises. A farm brewery would operate in much the same manner as a farm winery, using locally grown farm products in brewing malt beverages which would be sold at the farm. A licensee would be required to be actively engaged in farming on or adjacent to the brewery site and to be actively cultivating hops or other products used in the production of the malt alcoholic beverages. A farm brewery licensee would be permitted to brew up to 2,000 barrels of malt alcoholic beverages per year for retail sale for consumption off the premises and to offer samples. A graduated license based on volume would range in cost from $100 to $300 annually. A single individual or entity would be permitted to hold only one farm brewery license. The winery-brewery sublicense established by the bill would be available to plenary and farm winery licensees, provided they are actively engaged in farming on or adjacent to the winery premises and are growing and cultivating hops or another product used in the production of the malt alcoholic beverages. Under the provisions of the bill, the holder of a winery-brewery sublicense would be permitted to brew up to 3,000 barrels of malt beverages per year and to sell this product at retail for off premises consumption and to offer samples. The bill does not authorize a licensee to sell any malt alcoholic beverages to wholesalers and retailers. The annual fee for this sublicense would be $750. A winery-brewery licensee would be permitted to hold only one sublicense under the bill. | In Committee |
| S1568 | Provides child tax credit for taxpayers with children ages six to 11 and increases amount of credit for taxpayers with children under 12 over period of two years. | This bill would provide a child tax credit for certain taxpayers with children ages six to 11 and increase the amount of the credit over a period of two years for taxpayers with children under age six and taxpayers with children ages six to 11. Under current law, a resident taxpayer with New Jersey taxable income of $80,000 or less is allowed a credit against the State income tax for each child under age six. The amount of the credit is $500 per child if the taxpayer's income is $30,000 or less and is incrementally reduced with respect to levels of income in excess of $30,000. The credit is completely phased out once a taxpayer's income exceeds $80,000. In addition to those taxpayers with children under age six, the bill expands eligibility for the child tax credit to taxpayers with children ages six to 11. The bill also increases the amount of the credit over a period of two years. Taxpayers with levels of income under $30,000 and a child under age six would be eligible for a $750 credit for the 2023 and 2024 tax years with an incremental reduction of the credit for levels of income over $30,000 before being completely phased out once the taxpayer exceeds $80,000 of income. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, the credit would increase to $1,000 for those taxpayers with levels of income under $30,000 with an incremental reduction of the credit for levels of income over $30,000 before being completely phased out once a taxpayer exceeds $80,000 of income. Taxpayers with an income of $30,000 or less with a child ages six to 11 would be eligible for a $500 credit for the 2023 and 2024 tax years with an incremental reduction of the credit for income that exceeds $30,000 before being completely phased out once the taxpayer exceeds $80,000 of income. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, the credit would increase to $600 for those taxpayers with levels of income under $30,000 with an incremental reduction of the credit for levels of income over $30,000 before being completely phased out once the taxpayer exceeds $80,000 of income. | In Committee |
| S1529 | Establishes a Gun Court Pilot Program in Mercer County. | This bill creates a three-year Gun Court Pilot Program in the Superior Court in Mercer County. Under the provisions of the bill, the Administrative Office of the Courts would administer the program. Any criminal case where a gun or other dangerous weapon was used in the commission of the crime could be referred to the Gun Court. Judges assigned to the Gun Court are to have extensive knowledge of and experience in criminal law, criminal procedure, and criminal sentencing. The Administrative Office of the Courts is to monitor the Gun Court and report to the Legislature 12 months after the organization of the pilot program and within six months after its expiration. The reports are to include the impact of the pilot program on criminal sentencing and the court's calendar and workload. The report also would evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and recommend whether the program should be continued or expanded. | In Committee |
| S339 | Requires State Board of Education to permit candidates awaiting teacher certification to submit affidavit to hiring school district affirming certification requirements have been met. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize an alternative means for teaching candidates to secure employment as a teacher with a school district while awaiting the issuance of a certificate of eligibility or certificate of eligibility with advanced standing from the Department of Education. The board would be required to allow a candidate for a certificate to submit to a hiring district a signed affidavit affirming that applicable certification requirements have been met as part of the candidate's application for employment with the hiring district. A candidate who submits an affidavit pursuant to this bill would be required to provide accompanying documentation demonstrating that the candidate has applied for a certificate with the department. In the event that a candidate submits a signed affidavit in good faith and subsequently learned that the certification process is incomplete, the candidate will not be liable to reimburse the district for salary or benefits received. Within 90 days from the date an affidavit has been submitted to a hiring district, a candidate would be required to provide confirmation to the hiring district that a certificate has been issued by the department. A hiring district would be required to terminate a candidate who does not provide confirmation to the district that a certificate has been issued or has been found to have misrepresented information provided on the affidavit. | In Committee |
| S1575 | 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 |
| S1566 | Prohibits placing primary election candidates into political party lines on primary ballot. | The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the placement of primary election candidates on the ballot used in the election onto political party lines or onto a particular row or in a column that indicates endorsement by a particular political party or a faction of a particular political party. Nothing in this bill would prohibit two or more candidates who are members of the same political party and are seeking the same office party or public office from being grouped or bracketed together in a primary election. | In Committee |
| S2250 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services; appropriates $20 million. | This bill appropriates $20 million in order to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to determine the amount of the increases as follows: The primary care services reimbursement rates associated with the most frequently used medical billing codes under Medicaid in calendar year 2022 are to be increased so that each rate is no less than 100 percent of the payment rate that applies to the same service under part B of Medicare. The commissioner is to determine the number of primary care services rates increased under this subsection such that the annual aggregate amount of the rate increases is equal to $20 million, as appropriated under the bill, combined with the anticipated receipt of increased federal Medicaid matching funds. Under the bill, primary care services means the same as defined under section 1202 of the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," and includes evaluation and management services, which cover the non-procedural services patients receive from a provider, and services related to immunization administration. Mental health services means procedures or services rendered by a health care provider, in a traditional setting as well in an integrated behavioral health setting or via a collaborative care program, for the treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders, or drug or alcohol abuse. Primary care and mental health services include those services furnished by: (1) a physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; (2) a health care professional, including but not limited to an advance practice nurse or a physician assistant, who is working in the area of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; or (3) a midwife. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require any decrease in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for a primary care service from the previous fiscal year's reimbursement level for the same service. Moreover, the requirements established under the bill apply whether the services are reimbursed under the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the Medicaid managed care delivery system, and only to services delivered by approved Medicaid providers. The bill directs the commissioner, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature providing information on the implementation of the bill, including data indicating any changes regarding access to primary care services, as well as the quality of care of these services, for Medicaid beneficiaries following any rate increases associated with the bill. The report is also to include any recommendations for further enhancements to the Medicaid rates for these services to improve provider access and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved areas of the State. | In Committee |
| S1508 | Establishes gross income tax credit for full-time tuition cost at certain New Jersey institutions of post-secondary education. | This bill expands opportunities for New Jersey residents to pursue post-secondary education by establishing a gross income tax credit for the costs of full-time tuition at New Jersey institutions of higher education, county colleges and accredited post-secondary training schools. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of tuition costs of up to $10,000 paid by a taxpayer with a gross income not exceeding $150,000 either for the taxpayer or a resident dependent under 22 years of age. Tuition and fees for New Jersey State college students exceed the national average by 26 percent. The College Board relates in its "Trends in College Pricing 2017" report that the national average cost of in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges is $9,970 for academic year 2017-2018. The New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education conveys that the equivalent average for New Jersey senior public colleges is $13,464. The State's 19 county community colleges provide access to higher education for many New Jersey residents who might otherwise be denied the benefits of a college education. Post-secondary business, technical, trade or vocational schools, on the other hand, allow the non-college bound to improve their occupational and economic chances by acquiring specialized skills. | In Committee |
| S1546 | Establishes task force to study issues and make recommendations regarding Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf. | This bill establishes a 21-member task force to study issues and make recommendations related to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf in New Jersey. The task force will study current issues concerning the school, identify areas for improvement, and make recommendations concerning the future direction of the school that will enable the school to achieve its goal of preparing students who are deaf or hard of hearing for a postsecondary education or career upon graduation. The task force will be comprised of: the Commissioner of Education; the Director of the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs; two members appointed by the Senate President, including one student and one parent of a student who attends the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf; two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, including one student and one parent of a student who attends the school; and 15 members appointed by the Governor. The Governor's appointees will include one representative of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority; two representatives of the New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; two representatives of the New Jersey Association of the Deaf; the current superintendent of the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf; a former superintendent of the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf; two alumni of the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf; two representatives of Leadership and Excellence in Education for the Deaf (LEED); two recognized experts in the area of deaf education, both of whom are residents of New Jersey and are deaf; and two representatives of the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf's Citizen Advisory Board. Under the bill, the duties of the task force will include, but need not be limited to:- reviewing facility conditions to identify repairs, modifications, and improvements to the school that are necessary to meet the educational and residential needs of the students;- identifying barriers, including any instructional challenges, that prevent the school from best achieving its goals, and identifying strategies to remove those barriers;- studying the demographics of the population of students who are deaf or hard of hearing in New Jersey, making projections regarding this population over the next 10 years, and generating strategies to increase enrollment at the school and better serve this population;- evaluating the current scope of programs and services provided by the school and in the State for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and assessing what additional programs and services are needed to improve educational opportunities for these students;- evaluating the current governance structure of the school and considering what type of governance system would best address current operating issues and provide support for the long-term viability of the school;- identifying and reviewing other successful public or private schools for the deaf nationwide, and drawing ideas for improvement to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf from these models; and- developing a set of recommendations for the school regarding: an efficient and flexible system of school governance; programs and services that incorporate next generation methods of instruction and technology; state-of-the-art facilities that will best meet the needs of the students; and expanded Statewide services to meet the needs of a broader spectrum of deaf and hard of hearing children and youth, their families, and the New Jersey deaf community. The task force is required to issue a report to the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature within six months of its organization, which contains its findings and recommendations concerning the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf. | In Committee |
| S1948 | Revises reporting requirements for nursing homes concerning financial disclosures and ownership structure. | This bill revises the reporting requirements for transfers of nursing home ownership and assignments of substantial management control over a nursing home to a third party entity. Specifically, the bill requires nursing home owners and operators, as well as applicants for a transfer of ownership of a nursing home and third party entities exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, to provide an organizational chart identifying: parent entities and wholly-owned subsidiaries; principals that provide a service, facility, or supplies to the nursing home; and unrelated parties that provide a service, facility, or supplies to the nursing home that are paid $200,000 or more by the nursing home. In the case of an applicant for a transfer of ownership of a nursing home, these disclosures will be based on expectations with regard to services, facilities, supplies, and payments. For applications for transfer of ownership of a nursing home, the organizational chart is to be posted on the Department of Health's (DOH's) Internet website, along with a copy of the transfer of ownership application, which is currently required to be posted on the DOH's website. The bill removes a current provision of law that allows applicants for transfers of ownership to prepare and submit a summary of the application information that omits proprietary information and can be used for public disclosure purposes. The bill additionally removes a provision of current law that provides nothing in a transfer of ownership application may be used in an adverse licensure or disciplinary action against the applicant. The bill revises the current requirements for approval of a transfer of ownership application to provide that approval is contingent on review of the applicant's history of disciplinary actions involving facilities owned, operated, or managed by the applicant in both New Jersey and in any other jurisdiction; under current law, this review is limited to New Jersey facilities. Under current law, approval is additionally conditioned on payment of outstanding and issued Medicaid audit claims and penalties issued by the Department of Health (DOH); the bill adds as a condition of approval that there be payment of all Medicaid overpayments, and requires payment of any State-issued penalty, not just those issued by the DOH. The amended bill further specifies that, if any Medicaid overpayments are identified after the transfer of ownership occurs, the new owner will be required to submit an affidavit to the DOH and to the State Comptroller identifying the responsible party for the overpayments. The bill revises the mandatory components of the annual reports nursing homes are required to submit to the DOH to additionally require balance sheets include information concerning equity, and statements of operations include specifically itemized expenses related to leases of land, buildings, and equipment, loans of equipment, and contracts in excess of $10,000 per year for any service, as well as details concerning any mortgagee for the land or building used by the nursing home. The reporting requirements will also include information concerning the owners and operators of related parties to the nursing home and entities other than a nonprofit organization that have an ownership interest of five percent or more in a private equity fund that is invested in the nursing home. The bill revises the threshold for reporting certain interested party transactions from $2,500 per year to $10,000 per year. The bill further requires enhanced disclosure of the owners and principals of the owners, management companies, and related parties to a nursing home, including the owners and principals of holding and parent companies and subsidiaries, as well as limited liability companies. The bill further revises the current financial disclosures required for nursing home owners and operators, to require the submission of an owner-certified financial statement that: 1) is reviewed or audited by a certified public accountant and performed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect the day the application or statement is submitted; and 2) includes: a balance sheet detailing the assets, liabilities, and equity the end of the reporting entity's fiscal year; a statement of income, expenses, and operating surplus or deficit for the annual fiscal period; a statement of changes in equity; a statement detailing patient revenue by payer, including, but not limited to, Medicare, NJ FamilyCare, and other payers, and revenue center; a statement of cash flows, including, but not limited to, ongoing and new capital expenditures and depreciation; a combined financial statement that includes all entities reported in the owner-certified financial statement; and any other information, data, and documents as may be required by the Commissioner of Health or the State Comptroller. The bill specifies that an owner-certified financial statement required under P.L.2021, c.457 (C.26:2H-46.3 et seq.) is to meet the requirements for owner-certified financial statements established under the bill. The bill further specifies that a health care system consisting of more than one nursing home will be required to submit owner-certified financial statements that consolidate the financial data across all nursing homes that are a part of that health care system, together with a statement of operations or income with respect to each nursing home in the health care system, which statements of operations or income may be submitted in a supplemental schedule. A nonprofit nursing home that files a copy of its most recent Internal Revenue Service Form 990 Public Inspection Copy with the DOH and the State Comptroller, and a nursing home that files with the DOH and the State Comptroller a cost report with an audited financial statement that has been submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, may each be deemed to have satisfied all or part of the requirements of an owner-certified financial statement established under the bill. For applicants for a transfer of ownership and entities seeking to delegate management of a nursing home, this information will be included with certain materials that current law requires be provided to the Department of Health (DOH). The bill expands the disclosure requirements under current law to additionally reference limited liability companies, which will be required to make the required disclosures for each member of the limited liability company. The bill revises a current requirement for nursing homes to submit certain information to the DOH within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year to require the information be submitted 150 days after the end of the fiscal year. The DOH will be required to immediately transmit submitted nursing home reports to the State Comptroller. All information submitted under the bill with regard to transfers of ownership, annual reporting, and delegations of substantial management control, is to be certified under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and complete. All information submitted will additionally be deemed a public record. The bill revises the current penalties that apply for failure to make a required report or for submitting false information. Current law authorizes a civil penalty of $10 to $100 per day for each day the report is not filed or corrected. The bill revises the civil penalty to up to $200 per day, makes the penalties discretionary, and authorizes the DOH to curtail resident admissions to the nursing home. The bill provides that the State Comptroller, in consultation with the DOH and the Department of Human Services, will be authorized to monitor, review and audit owner-certified financial statements in accordance with certain existing statutory authorities, and will be authorized to obtain information and testimony, issue reports, make referrals, and coordinate with and require the cooperation of State agencies in the same manner as permitted under those existing statutory authorities. The bill grants the DOH and the State Comptroller express authority to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the bill, and the authority to issue temporary notices to implement the bill, which notices will be valid for no more than one year after the date the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| SCR57 | Proposes constitutional amendment to require payments by State to State-administered retirement systems and establish in Constitution right of public employees to pension benefit; provides for enforcement of funding obligations and benefit rights. | The purpose of this amendment to the State Constitution is to require the State to fund the pensions of public employees on a timely basis. Current law requires the State to do this under the provisions set forth in subsection c. of N.J.S.A.43:3C-9.5, as enacted by section 26 of P.L.2011, c.78, commonly referred to as Chapter 78. However, currently these provisions cannot be enforced by the courts of this State. Chapter 78 requires the State and local government employers to make annual contributions to the various pension systems administered by the State: Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund; Judicial Retirement System; Prison Officers' Pension Fund; Public Employees' Retirement System; Consolidated Police and Firemen's Pension Fund; Police and Firemen's Retirement System; and State Police Retirement System. The pension funding provisions of Chapter 78 were part of a historic bipartisan compromise, endorsed by Governor Christie, to ensure the solvency of the public employee pension systems. Chapter 78 increased pension contributions by public employees and suspended the payment of cost of living adjustments (COLA) to retirees until certain funding threshold levels are achieved. Chapter 78 also established a constitutionally protected contractual right to the payment of the annual required contributions to the pension systems by the State and all other public employers. This amendment to the Constitution is necessary to address a 2015 decision of the New Jersey Supreme Court, Burgos v. State, 222 N.J. 175, which held the contractual obligation of the State to make its annual required contributions to the pension systems unenforceable because it was "subject to appropriation" and contravened the Debt Limitation Clause of the Constitution unless approved by the voters. This amendment addresses that holding and ensures that the commitment and requirement for annual funding to eventually reach full funding for the pension systems are protected by the New Jersey Constitution. In Burgos, the Supreme Court relied on certain provisions of the New Jersey Constitution, including the Debt Limitation and Appropriations Clauses, to declare unenforceable the contractual promise made in statute to public employees that the State will make its annual required contributions to the pension systems. Therefore, this amendment provides that its provisions will be given effect notwithstanding any other provision of the Constitution. As a result of the State's failure to fund the pension systems at levels determined to be necessary by the actuaries of the pension systems, the pension systems are approaching insolvency. Notwithstanding the enactment of Chapter 78, governors have made contributions to the pension systems that were less than that required of the State by law. The purpose of this amendment to the Constitution is to ensure full funding of the pension systems under generally accepted actuarial principles. The amendment requires the State to make its full pension contribution payment commencing July 1, 2023, and in each fiscal year thereafter. Quarterly payments are required to accelerate the return on investment of the pension systems. Under current law, State instrumentalities and local governments will continue to be obligated to make full payments. This amendment requires the pension payment to be included in the annual State budget law. However, the appropriation obligation would be subject to and subordinate to appropriations for State general obligation bonds heretofore authorized in accordance with Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 3 of the Constitution. This amendment to the Constitution also incorporates in the Constitution subsections a. and b. of N.J.S.A.43:3C-9.5 to protect the contractual right of vested members of pension systems hired prior to May 21, 2010, the effective date of P.L.2010, c.1, to the pension benefits in effect upon the attainment by a public employee of five years of service credit in a pension system. This means that the pension benefit program for any employee for whom the right has attached, inclusive of all pension service earned during their employment, cannot be reduced. The amendment also establishes the rights of all other employees, meaning that they will have vested contractual rights to earned pension benefits after ten years of service credit, and to the benefit earned each year thereafter; however, the benefit formula can be reduced prospectively. These provisions of the amendment are necessary because the Supreme Court in the Burgos case left unresolved the issue as to whether laws that create non-forfeitable and vested rights to pension benefits are enforceable. The amendment does not alter current law that authorizes pension service credit or benefits to be reduced or forfeited for an employee's crime or misconduct. This amendment does not impose any obligations on the State concerning post-retirement health care benefits, which will continue to be addressed through lawmaking and the State budget process. The substantive constitutional rights and obligations established by this amendment are enforceable by the courts of this State, which can issue declaratory, injunctive, or other orders appropriate to secure compliance with these rights and obligations. This too is a necessary part of the amendment because in the Burgos decision, the Court expressed concern that under the separation of powers doctrine it would be inappropriate for the courts to enmesh themselves in the enforcement of contractual rights to pension contributions and benefits. By providing for enforcement through the courts, the amendment allows State courts to issue necessary remedial orders to ensure compliance with the State's pension payment obligations. | In Committee |
| S1502 | Establishes standards for expiration of rental housing affordability controls. | This bill establishes standards for the expiration of rental housing affordability controls, such as extending the rental protections provided for certain lower-income households and requiring written notice before the controls may expire. Specifically, the bill provides that if upon the expiration of the affordability controls, the household occupying the restricted rental unit continues to earn a gross annual income of not more than 80 percent of the regional median income, then the landlord may not increase rent in a manner that conflicts with the affordability controls until the household vacates the rental unit. Alternatively, if at such time the household earns an income in excess of 80 percent of the regional median income, then the landlord may lease the rental unit to any tenant at fair market rent beginning on the next scheduled lease renewal or after 60 days, whichever occurs later. The bill further provides that no more than 180 days, and no less than 90 days prior to the expiration of the affordability controls of a restricted rental unit, the administrative agent would be required to conduct an income certification for the household occupying the unit in order to determine the appropriate course of action regarding rent increases on the unit. As long as the household occupying a restricted rental unit continues to reside in the unit following affordability control expiration, and continues to earn a gross annual income of not more than 80 percent of the regional median income, the administrative agent would be required to conduct an additional income certification on an annual or biennial basis until the household is found to earn a gross annual income in excess of 80 percent of the regional median income, at which time the rent restriction could be lifted. The bill also requires the lease or renewal agreement of a restricted rental unit to contain a prominently displayed and highlighted provision that states the date on which the affordability controls will expire. If the lease or renewal agreement does not contain this provision, then the landlord may not increase rent in a manner that conflicts with the affordability controls until the next scheduled lease renewal. In addition, the bill requires the landlord of a restricted rental unit to provide the tenant with written notice not less than 120 days before the scheduled expiration of the affordability controls. The written notice is required, at a minimum, to include: (1) the date on which the affordability controls will expire; (2) the amount of any proposed rent increase; and (3) an explanation that if the household occupying the rental unit continues to earn a gross annual income of not more than 80 percent of the regional median income, the rent may not be increased in a manner that conflicts with the affordability controls. If the landlord fails to provide this notice, then following the expiration of the affordability controls, the landlord may not increase rent in a manner that conflicts with the affordability controls until the next scheduled lease renewal, or after 120 days following notification of the expiration of the affordability controls, whichever occurs later. | In Committee |
| S1564 | Requires planning board reexamination report to set forth recommendations for the siting of warehouses consistent with State Plan and with warehouse siting guidance policy adopted by State Planning Commission. | The development of industrial-scale warehousing for goods storage and distribution has undergone rapid change in recent years, which has caused the State Planning Commission to adopt Distribution Warehousing and Goods Movement Guidelines for the purpose of providing municipalities with guidance to follow in the siting of warehouses. Previous warehouse types used to be a less conspicuous land use, often limited to industrial parks in peripheral areas. Distribution warehouses that are being developed currently are significantly larger than previous warehouse types, and their development has often imposed detrimental externalities on adjacent municipalities and residential neighborhoods. While recognizing that the development of distribution warehouses is of Statewide economic importance, the State will benefit from greater consistency and coordination in the decision-making that leads to warehouse development approvals. Under current law, every planning board that has adopted a master plan is required to reexamine its master plan at least every 10 years. This bill would require each planning board's reexamination report to set forth the planning board's recommendations concerning locations appropriate for the development of warehouses, and would require the recommendations to be consistent and compatible with the State Development and Redevelopment Plan, and with the most recent warehouse siting guidance policy adopted by the State Planning Commission. | In Committee |
| S283 | Requires chief law enforcement officer of municipal police departments to hold two community roundtables on police relations each year. | This bill requires certain law enforcement officials to hold periodic community roundtables on police relations. Under the amended bill, the chief law enforcement officer of each municipal police department in this State is required to sponsor at least two community roundtables on police relations each year, and the Superintendent of State police is required to sponsor in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State an open community roundtable discussion on police relations at least once per calendar year in each region. To maximize community participation, the bill requires the sponsor of the regional community roundtable to provide ample notice to the regional community, hold the roundtable at a central location, and schedule the roundtable during evening hours. Topics to be addressed at the community roundtables include race relations and racial profiling; recruitment, selection, and retention of officers; training and education of recruits and supervisors; regulation of body worn cameras; and use of force, police misconduct, and internal affairs investigations. | In Committee |
| S1498 | Requires new employers to reimburse certain former employers for law enforcement training costs. | This bill expands upon a reciprocity arrangement among county and municipal law enforcement agencies, institutions of higher education, which include county colleges, State law enforcement agencies, and the New Jersey Transit Corporation for the reimbursement of the hiring and training costs incurred when one entity hires a law enforcement officer who resigned from one of the other entities within the first three years of a permanent appointment, and the officer is hired within 120 days of the date of resignation. Under current law, in those cases where the officer has held a probationary appointment at the time of resignation or held a permanent appointment for 30 days or less, the new employer must reimburse the officer's former employer for all the costs associated with the officer's hiring and training. In those cases where the officer has held a permanent appointment for more than 30 days, but less than two years, the new employer must reimburse the officer's former employer for one-half of the costs associated with the officer's hiring and training. The purpose of this bill is to extend the reciprocity arrangement to require a hiring entity to reimburse the officer's former employer for 100 percent of the cost of the officer's hiring and training if the officer resigns within three years of being hired to a permanent position. | In Committee |
| S85 | Establishes Division of Minority and Women Business Development and State Chief Disparity Officer to monitor efforts to promote participation by minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State contracting. | This bill establishes in the State Department of the Treasury a Division of Minority and Women Business Development to be headed by a State Chief Disparity Officer. The division will administer and monitor policies, practices and programs that further this State's efforts to ensure equal opportunity for minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises in purchasing and procurement by State departments and agencies, including independent State authorities. The State Chief Disparity Officer will monitor the State's public contracting process for the purpose of compiling information on the awarding of contracts to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises, including the total value of all contracts and the percentage of the value of those contracts awarded to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises. The officer will periodically report the officer's findings to the Governor and the Legislature. The bill directs each State department and agency, including independent State authorities, to designate a disparity officer to act as a liaison with the State Chief Disparity Officer. The Division of Minority and Women Business Development was originally established in the State Department of the Treasury pursuant to Executive Order No. 34 of 2006; this bill would codify the Division in State law, and clarify its structure and purpose. The bill also requires that provisions of existing law concerning State certification of minority-owned and women-owned businesses be fully implemented and prohibits self-certification by these businesses. In addition, the bill provides that contracts awarded through the State's small business set-aside program that are valued at less than the threshold for the entire cost of the erection construction, alteration, or repair by the State of any public buildings in this State established pursuant to subsection a. of R.S.52:32-2 will not be publicly advertised for bids but will, instead, be negotiated with small businesses using a competitive contracting process. Currently, the threshold set forth in R.S.52:32-2 is $2,000. | In Committee |
| S1550 | Eliminates use of standardized assessments as measure of student growth or progress in evaluations of teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals. | This bill provides that standardized assessments may not be used as a measure of student growth or progress in the evaluation of a teacher, principal, assistant principal, or vice-principal. Under the "Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act," P.L.2012, c.26 (C.18A:6-117 et seq.), student progress on standardized assessments may be used as a factor in teacher evaluations, although it may not be the predominant factor in the overall evaluation of a teacher. This bill revises the relevant section of law. | In Committee |
| S1039 | Establishes and codifies certain privileges for limited and restricted brewery license holders. | This bill grants certain privileges to the holders of limited and restricted brewery licenses. In addition, privileges currently held by limited brewery licensees are clarified and codified by the provisions of the bill. Under current law, the holder of a limited brewery license is entitled to brew and distribute beer to retailers and manufacturers, but is limited in the amount of beer that he or she may brew in one year. The holder of a restricted brewery license is entitled to brew beer and operate a restaurant provided the licensee also holds a Class C consumption license generally issued to bars and restaurants. Under the bill, the holder of a limited brewery license would be entitled to serve customers tableside utilizing servers or wait staff employed by the holder of this license. The limited brewery license holder also would be entitled to serve malt alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption in outdoor spaces that are a part of an approved outdoor space utilizing a permanent or portable tap system located in the approved outdoor space. Pourers and servers employed by the restricted brewery are to be certified by an industry-recognized server training program. The bill also removes from current law the requirement that limited breweries provide a tour. Under current law, limited breweries are authorized to sell their product at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for on-site consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the brewery or distillery. Under this bill, consumers would not be required to take a tour of the brewery to purchase beverages for on-site consumption. The bill also allows the limited brewery license holder to offer for sale or make the gratuitous offering of de minimis food items such as, but not limited to, packaged crackers, chips, nuts, and similar snacks to consumers. The license holder would be entitled to sell non-alcoholic beverages regardless of whether the non-alcoholic beverages are manufactured on the license premises. Under the bill, the license holder would be entitled to coordinate with a food vendor for the provision of food on the licensed premises and provide menus to consumers for the sale of food. The bill also clarifies that limited breweries are entitled to offer for sale suitable gift items and novelty wearing apparel identified with the name of the licensed limited brewery. This bill also allows limited breweries to hold an unlimited number of on-premises special events for which the license holder may advertise and charge a cover fee. A license holder would not be required to obtain a permit or provide electronic notification to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) prior to holding on-premises special events or private parties. In addition, the bill allows limited breweries to hold an unlimited number of off-premises special events by obtaining a permit from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. An off-premises special event permit may be issued for an event that is held for up to three consecutive days. The licensee would be entitled to coordinate with food vendors for the provision of food at off-premises events. If an off-premises special event is held on a publicly-owned or controlled property, the holder of the limited brewery license would be required to obtain the consent of the political subdivision that owns or controls the property or the chief law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the property. Under the bill, a limited brewery also would be entitled to hold an unlimited number of private parties per year to occur on the licensed premise including, but not limited to, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, civic and political functions, professional and trade association events, or class reunions and alumni events. The host of a private party, subject to the brewery's consent, may provide wine or malt alcoholic beverages purchased off the licensed premises to be served at the private party. A private party host may hire the employee of a limited brewery to pour the alcoholic beverages served at the party. The limited brewery would not be required to obtain a permit or provide electronic notification to the division of a private event. The bill also allows organizations operating for civic, religious, educational, charitable, fraternal, social, or recreational purposes, and not for private gain, to obtain a social affair permit to hold an event on the licensed premises of a limited brewery. Under the bill, the holder of a limited brewery license would be entitled to host not more than 25 social affair events on a limited brewery premises. The social affair permit holder may, at the brewery's consent, sell and serve wine and malt alcoholic beverages manufactured off the licensed premises for on-premises consumption only, provided the wine and malt alcoholic beverages. A host of a social affair permitted event may hire the employees or agents of a limited brewery licensee to pour the alcoholic beverages served at the event. The bill allows limited breweries to sell their products for consumption off the licensed premises during a social affair permitted event. Finally, the bill increases annual production limits placed on restricted breweries from 10,000 barrels to 300,000 barrels of 31 gallons capacity per year. In addition, restricted breweries would be entitled to sell their products directly to a retailer, rather than through a wholesaler. The bill further allows restricted breweries to maintain a warehouse. This bill is in response, in part, to a recent special ruling issued by the Director of ABC to limit the number of special events and private parties held by limited breweries. It is the sponsor's intent to foster and encourage New Jersey's flourishing craft beer industry and its contribution to the local economy by granting additional privileges and codifying existing privileges for both limited and restricted breweries. | In Committee |
| S1243 | Directs Secretary of State to contract with qualified vendor to develop national marketing campaign promoting State's innovation economy; appropriates $1,000,000. | This bill requires the Secretary of State to enter into a contract or agreement with a qualified vendor to develop and undertake a national marketing campaign to promote the State's assets as an innovation economy, to attract people, businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors in other states, and to both promote and increase the State's high-technology and high-skilled workforce. The bill requires the qualified vendor to be a private nonprofit organization qualified for exemption from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) and that supports business relocation to, and entrepreneurship in, the State. The marketing campaign would include, but would not be limited to, the following elements: (1) a branding strategy to publicize the State's assets and to strengthen the State's innovation economy brand; (2) promotion of the State's employment opportunities in the high-technology and high-skilled sectors of the economy, the well-paying wages in those sectors, as well as the infrastructural, workforce, investment, and other assets that make it ideal for people, businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors to locate and grow their business in New Jersey; (3) targeted marketing to specific populations, including out-of-state businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, recent college and graduate school graduates, young professionals, and other persons interested in starting a high-technology business or bringing a research idea to commercialization; (4) promotion of the quality careers in manufacturing, a critical part of the innovation economy; and (5) any other element the Secretary of State deems appropriate. The marketing campaign would incorporate radio, television, print, and internet media platforms. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of State the sum of $1,000,000 and such sums as the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury deem necessary to effectuate its provisions. | In Committee |
| S1272 | Permits certain breweries, wineries, cideries, meaderies, and distilleries to sell each other's products on licensed premises. | This bill permits certain New Jersey breweries, wineries, cideries, meaderies, and distilleries to sell each other's products on the licensed premises. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, limited breweries, plenary wineries that produce less than 250,000 gallons per year, farm wineries, cideries, meaderies, and craft distilleries are permitted to sell each other's products for consumption off the licensed premises. | In Committee |
| S2136 | Concerns psychological testing of police officers. | This bill requires that prior to appointment, candidates for positions as municipal, county, and campus law enforcement officers, as well as sheriff's officers, submit to a psychological evaluation. The bill defines a "psychological evaluation" as an oral interview and at least one professionally recognized clinical test developed by a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist to determine that the candidate or officer is free from any emotional or mental condition which may adversely affect the performance of law enforcement duties, including but not limited to implicit bias. These law enforcement officers also would be required to submit to a second psychological evaluation at the conclusion of the probationary period and then every five years thereafter. In addition, the bill permits "fitness-for-duty" evaluations with reason or for cause. The purpose of these evaluations is to determine if the officer remains able to carry out the officer's law enforcement duties. Reason or cause is established if an officer engages in conduct that poses a danger to the officer or another person. The conduct may include drug or alcohol abuse, acts of violence, abuse of authority or receipt of a disproportionate number of citizen complaints against the officer. The bill provides that law enforcement officers are entitled to review the results of any psychological evaluations performed on them and that they have the right to hire a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist of their choice to review the evaluations. Officers terminated based on the results of a psychological examination would be entitled to an ordinary disability retirement allowance. Under current law, ordinary disability retirement is granted to law enforcement officers under the age of 55 with four or more years of service who cannot perform their duties or any other available duties due to a certified mental or physical incapacitation that is likely to be permanent. Under the bill, psychiatrists and licensed psychologists who act in good faith and in accordance with currently accepted medical standards in performing the required evaluations would not be held civilly liable with respect to these evaluations. The bill further requires the Attorney General to promulgate rules and regulations governing the psychological evaluations of law enforcement officers. The rules are to include a list of licensed psychiatrists or psychologists who the Attorney General has deemed qualified to administer the evaluations. Although many police departments currently require police officer candidates to pass a psychological test, there is no statutory law that imposes this requirement. Under the bill, all police departments, including those that currently do not require these evaluations, would be required to psychologically test candidates. Further, every police department would be required to perform psychological evaluations of police officers after they complete initial police academy training, as well as every five years thereafter. | In Committee |
| S694 | Establishes one-year pilot program for certain persons with disabilities; appropriates up to $85,000. | This bill establishes a one-year pilot program for certain persons with disabilities in the Department of Human Services. Under the bill, the purpose of the pilot program is to: (1) create a vocational program for individuals with disabilities; (2) provide individuals with disabilities opportunities to learn recreational, social, and vocational skills; (3) provide individuals with disabilities the ability to engage in recreational, social, and vocational activities in order to develop relationships within the community; and (4) provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to explore their interests and build confidence in their abilities. The bill provides that the pilot program is to: (1) select one or more direct support professionals, as this term is defined in the bill, who possess training tailored to the specific needs of program participants, to assist these individuals with social, vocational, and recreational activities and skills; (2) select at least three individuals who meet certain qualification criteria to participate in the program; (3) provide program participants a minimum of six hours of weekly recreational, social, and vocational development activities as provided for in the bill; (4) collect data on a regular basis regarding the development of the program participants; and (5) provide quarterly progress reports, as well as a final, year-end report to participants' parents or guardians, as appropriate. Under the bill, no later than three months following the completion of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Human Services is to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature containing information necessary to assess the success and budgetary needs of the pilot program. Any information included in the report concerning program participants will be de-identified. In order to effectuate the purposes of the pilot program, the bill appropriates up to, but not more than, $85,000, to be determined by the Commissioner of Human Services and subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| S2098 | Directs DCA to establish online database of affordable housing settlement agreements and other declaratory judgment actions. | This bill would direct the Department of Community Affairs to produce a database that details each affordable housing declaratory judgment action, including each settlement agreement entered by a municipality in order to comply with the "Fair Housing Act," ("FHA") P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.) since the beginning of 2015. The database would be based on information submitted by the parties to each action, the courts, and other sources. Upon request by the department, the bill requires the courts, each municipality, and each other party to the action, to provide the information necessary. The database would be accessible to the public on the department's website. The database would contain: (1) a list of the municipalities that have completed a declaratory judgment action; (2) the number of affordable housing units that, under the completed action, represent the municipality's fair share of the regional need for affordable housing, commonly referred to as its fair share obligation; (3) the ratio of rental units to ownership units amongst affordable housing in the municipality, and, as applicable, among the units within the municipality's fair share obligation that have not yet been constructed; (4) the ratio of affordable units to market-rate units and total number of affordable units and market-rate units mandated pursuant to any declaratory judgment action amongst housing in the municipality, and among the developments that may be constructed under the completed declaratory judgment action in furtherance of the municipality's fair share obligation; and (5) a list of the payments made by each municipality to each other party to a declaratory judgment action, including but not limited to the Fair Share Housing Center, for expenses associated with a settlement agreement. In 2015, having concluded that Council on Affordable Housing was not capable of functioning as intended by the FHA, the New Jersey Supreme Court, through a decision in 2015, designated "Mount Laurel judges" in the Superior Court vicinages to both establish affordable housing obligations for New Jersey's municipalities and certify municipal plans to meet those obligations through declaratory judgment actions. These actions were primarily resolved through settlement agreements between the municipalities and the Fair Share Housing Center, an affordable housing advocacy organization based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. This bill is meant to enhance the transparency of these actions. | In Committee |
| S1622 | Allows ranked-choice voting options for municipal and school board elections under certain circumstances. | This bill, the "Municipal and School Board Voting Options Act," allows municipalities and school boards in this State to adopt ranked choice voting for conducting their local elections under certain circumstances. Under the bill, "ranked-choice voting" means a method of voting in which each voter gets one vote, where voters rank multiple candidates in order of their preference, the ballots are counted in rounds, and the votes are counted and transferred to candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot. Under the bill, for conducting and counting ranked-choice voting elections, the instant runoff method would be used for single winner races like mayor elected at-large or council or school board member elected from wards or districts, and the single transferable vote method would be used for multiple-winner races. The bill defines the terms necessary for implementing these two ranked-choice voting methods and the manner of counting the votes and declaring elected candidates. The bill provides that all municipal governing bodies and all school boards in this State would be permitted to adopt ranked-choice voting by adopting an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to be submitted to the voters for approval through a referendum on the ballot. The bill also allows the voters to place a direct petition on the ballot to adopt ranked choice voting, using the petition process currently established under current law for "Faulkner Act" municipalities. The direct petition would be submitted to the municipal clerk or clerks, as the case may be, and would be required to be signed by the legal voters equal in number to at least 10 percent of the total votes cast in the municipality or municipalities, as the case may be, at the last election at which members of the General Assembly were elected. The petition would include the proposed public question and a clear and concise interpretative statement explaining ranked-choice voting. If approved by the voters of the municipality or school district, all elections for the offices of mayor or a member of a municipal governing body, or a member of an elected school board, as appropriate, other than any primary election, would be conducted using ranked-choice voting. Finally, the bill directs the Division of Elections in the Department of State to adopt the rules and regulations necessary to effectuate its provisions and provide guidelines and technical rules to assist local election officials in implementing and counting a ranked choice voting election. | In Committee |
| S710 | Requires DCA to conduct surveys and report data related to homelessness in administering the Rental Assistance Navigation Program. | The bill clarifies the roles of a Resource Navigator and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in administering the Rental Assistance Navigation Program, established pursuant to P.L.2021, c.313. The bill requires the DCA to develop and conduct a survey of any newly evicted tenant who is willing to participate in a survey. The survey is to be used by the Resource Navigators to assess the circumstances and needs of individuals facing eviction and homelessness. The bill would require the survey to include questions concerning demographic information about the recently evicted tenant and their household. The survey would also include questions to assess: (a) the ability of a recently evicted tenant and their household to secure housing immediately following eviction and in the future; (b) the municipality and county in which the recently evicted tenant was evicted and the municipality and county in which the evicted tenant will seek shelter or new housing; and (c) the recently evicted tenant and their household's financial circumstances. The DCA is required to establish record retention and reporting standards for the surveys to include regular reports of all relevant information to the organization commissioned by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to coordinate point-in-time counts of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The bill also requires the DCA to refer newly evicted tenants to housing assistance and homelessness prevention services and | Dead |
| S1514 | Requires State Investment Council to publish reports comparing returns earned by external and internal managers and requiring Council to make recommendations regarding investments. | This bill requires the State Investment Council to publish reports comparing the returns earned by hired fund managers with the returns earned by Division of Investment managers. The bill also requires the Council to recommend whether hired fund managers should continue to manage funds, and to recommend whether funds under the council's supervision should be invested in commodities, hedge funds, private equity, real estate, or any asset class other than bonds and public equities. The comparative report and its recommendations are required to be issued every three months. Under current law, the Council is required to annually report the returns earned by hired fund managers and the fees they charge as well as report on the performance of all funds generally, but the Council is not required to compare the returns of hired fund managers with those of Division of Investment managers or to make recommendations. | In Committee |
| S2028 | Establishes teacher certification route for candidates with Montessori teaching credentials. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize a route to teacher certification for candidates who possess a Montessori teaching credential. The provisions of the bill apply to candidates seeking a certificate of eligibility with preschool through grade three endorsement or an elementary school (kindergarten through grade six) endorsement. To be eligible for this route to teacher certification, a candidate is required to:? hold a Montessori teaching credential issued by the American Montessori Society, the Association Montessori Internationale, or an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education;? hold a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution of higher education; and? meet the applicable test requirements for a certificate of eligibility. The Montessori certification supplants the 50 pre-service hours required through the alternative route, in addition to the educational requirements of the provisional teacher program. In order to obtain a provisional or standard instructional certificate, a candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility with a preschool through grade three endorsement or an elementary school (kindergarten through six) endorsement who meets the criteria established under this bill is not required to complete:? 50 hours of pre-professional experience or credits of preschool through grade three pedagogy;? 350 hours of credits of coursework after employment if the candidate is seeking an elementary school (kindergarten through grade six) endorsement; or? 24 credits after employment if the candidate is seeking a preschool through grade three endorsement. Under the bill, the State Board of Examiners will issue a certificate of eligibility to a candidate who meets the criteria established under the bill. A candidate eligible for a certificate of eligibility will not be required to complete a State-approved education preparation program, but will be required to complete a Montessori teacher preparation program that:? is affiliated with the American Montessori Society, the Association Montessori Internationale, or is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education; and? requires a minimum of 200 academic hours and 400 practicum hours. The bill defines "certificate of eligibility" as a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet the degree, academic, and applicable test requirements for teacher certification. | In Committee |
| S1556 | Establishes grant program for alternate route police officer training. | This bill establishes a grant program known as the "New Jersey Alternate Route Opportunity Fund" for the purpose of identifying, recruiting, and providing financial assistance to economically disadvantaged residents of this State who are seeking basic police officer training through the State's alternate route program. Generally, police officers in this State are appointed to a local police department before they complete the basic training course for police officer recruits. These police officer recruits are employees of the police department when they attend a police academy for this training. The police department to which they are appointed pays the cost of their training. But under the alternate route program, persons seeking appointment as a police officer who do not hold an appointment with a police department may enroll in the basic police training course at their own expense. Financial assistance would be available under the opportunity fund for alternate route trainees. The business and operations of the opportunity fund are to be administered by a board of directors under the general supervision of the Police Training Commission. The commission is responsible for developing and administering basic training courses for police officers and approves and oversees police training academies. The board of directors is to consist of a representative of the commission and eight public members appointed by the Governor. The public members of the board are to be selected without regard to political affiliation. They should have knowledge of, or interest in, police and law enforcement matters. The commission and the board are to mutually select a chief executive officer of the opportunity fund who will be responsible for organizing the work of the opportunity fund. The board is responsible for: developing and maintaining a Statewide system for the identification of police officer candidates in need of financial assistance to complete an alternate route program; devising methods for recruiting candidates; developing, establishing, and publicizing criteria for the determination of eligibility for financial assistance based on need and potential for success as a police officer; establishing procedures for determining the amount of each award based on need, according to the total financial need of each police officer applicant; reporting to the Governor and the Legislature on the performance of its duties; adopting bylaws and rules for its operation; and receiving and disbursing any contributions to the fund from private and public sources. A police officer applicant is eligible for an opportunity fund grant if the applicant has been a State resident for at least a year; has demonstrated financial need for an opportunity grant; and has complied with the board's rules and regulations. According to the sponsor, the purpose of the opportunity fund established by the bill is to provide economically disadvantaged persons with the opportunity to become a police officer and consequently increase diversity in the ranks of these officers. | In Committee |
| S2064 | Establishes New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to reduce financial barriers to teacher certification. Under the bill, the program is to provide scholarships to students completing required clinical practice through a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing educator preparation program at an institution of higher education in the State. A student is eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $7,200 for each semester of full-time clinical practice completed in a school in the State. To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State; be enrolled full-time in an approved program of study; and complete any steps required by the approved program of study to be eligible to apply for clinical practice. The bill requires the authority to establish an application process for the program. The authority, in coordination with the Department of Education, may establish additional eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program. Additionally, the authority, in coordination with the department, is to annually collect data on the program. Finally, the bill details reasons for which a student's scholarship may be terminated. The bill also stipulates that the scholarship is to be terminated if the student is dismissed from the institution of education preparation program for academic or disciplinary reasons or withdraws due to illness. Under the amended bill, the student would not be required to repay the scholarship in either situation. | In Committee |
| S1554 | Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to develop pathway to nursing scholarship for health care workers who want to become nurses; appropriates $1 million. | This bill requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in consultation with the New Jersey Board of Nursing, to develop a pathway to nursing scholarship program. The purpose of the scholarship program is to address the current and projected critical shortage of nurses in the State by providing an incentive for persons who currently work in the field of healthcare to enter an approved course of study in a nursing education program to ensure that sufficient numbers of trained nursing staff are available to provide quality health care services to the residents of this State. Under the bill, HESAA will award 100 scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each to qualified recipients enrolled in an approved course of study in a nursing education program in the State. To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must: be a resident of the State and maintain domicile in the State during participation in the program; currently work in, or have previously worked in, the healthcare industry; be enrolled in an approved course of study concerning nursing instruction at an institution of higher education or at a school of professional nursing; and submit a written statement to the authority detailing the applicant's ongoing commitment to working as a nurse upon completion of an approved course of study concerning nursing instruction at an institution of higher education or at a school of professional nursing. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to HESAA to effectuate the purposes of this act. | In Committee |
| S1510 | Establishes permanent daylight saving time in NJ. | This bill provides for the State of New Jersey to permanently observe daylight saving time by remaining on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) year-round. For four months, the standard time of New Jersey is Eastern Standard Time (EST), or five hours offset from Coordinated Universal Time. From 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March until 2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November, the State participates in the one-hour advancement of time, commonly referred to as "daylight saving time." The people of New Jersey have become more accustomed to the eight months of daylight saving time each year than the four months of standard time. Several studies have shown the biannual change between EST and EDT is disruptive to commerce and to the daily schedules, safety, and health of the citizens of the country, and therefore, the residents of this State. Under the federal "Uniform Time Act of 1966," states are not permitted to observe daylight saving time year-round. If the federal government amends federal law to authorize states to observe daylight saving time year-round, the Legislature shall require that the State of New Jersey observe daylight saving time year-round. Sections 1 and 2 of this bill would take effect immediately. Sections 3, 4, and 5 of this bill would take effect on the first Sunday in November following the effective date of federal authorization to observe daylight saving time year-round. | In Committee |
| S1296 | 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, intended to help former prisoners successfully transition back into their communities. The bill requires the regulations to include standards for: (1) ensuring the physical safety of the residents; (2) providing emergency and longer-term housing; (3) counseling and support services 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 |
| S1574 | Makes FY 2024 supplemental appropriation of $10 million to State Capitol Joint Management Commission for State Capitol Park Complex. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $10 million from the General Fund to the Legislature for the State Capitol Complex Park overseen by the State Capitol Joint Management Commission. Skirmishes at Trenton were pivotal during the War for American Independence and the city remains home to State government operations and many New Jersey residents. New Jersey should develop and enhance greenspace around the Capitol Complex to celebrate Trenton's history and create a vibrant area for the intersection of government and city life. The FY 2024 Appropriations Act already includes $3 million for the State Capitol Complex Park. | In Committee |
| S1585 | Establishes ranked-choice voting procedure for elections for Governor, State Senate, State General Assembly, United States Senate and House of Representatives, and presidential primaries and general elections for electors for United States President and Vice-President. | This bill establishes a ranked-choice voting procedure for primary and general elections to elect candidates to the offices of Governor, New Jersey Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives, and for presidential primary elections and general elections for electors of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States. Ranked-choice voting is an election method in which voters rank candidates in order of their preference, the ballots are counted in rounds, and the votes or fractions of votes are distributed to candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot. The bill requires the ballot to be designed to allow voters to assign a ranking order to each qualified candidate on the ballot for such offices, including write-in candidates. In the event that the voting equipment cannot feasibly accommodate a ballot containing a number of rankings equal to the number of qualified candidates, the ballot is permitted to be designed to allow a voter to rank the maximum number allowed by the voting equipment, but not less than six candidates. Under the bill, single-winner elections to the offices of Governor, New Jersey Senate, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives, and presidential primaries and general elections for electors of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, would be tabulated in rounds. Each ballot counts as one vote for the highest-ranked candidate on that ballot. If a candidate reaches the election threshold of 50 percent of the votes plus one, that candidate is elected and the tabulation is complete. If two or fewer continuing candidates remain, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is defeated, the candidate with the greatest number of votes is elected, and the tabulation is complete. However, if more than two continuing candidates remain, the continuing candidate with the fewest number of votes is defeated, and a new round of counting begins until a candidate reaches the election threshold. For multi-winner elections to the office of member of the New Jersey General Assembly, which include two members elected from each election district, the bill establishes a tabulation procedure that involves the transfer of vote fractions. Under the bill, if in the initial tabulation the number of continuing candidates is less than or equal to two (which is the number of offices to be filled for the New Jersey General Assembly in the legislative district), then all continuing candidates are elected and the tabulation is complete. If not, a series of tabulation rounds would proceed sequentially until candidates are elected by reaching the election threshold of 33 percent of the votes plus one. If the sum of the number of elected candidates and the number of continuing candidates is equal to three (the sum of one and the number of offices to be elected), then the candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, all other continuing candidates are elected, and the tabulation is complete. However, if at least one continuing candidate has more votes than the election threshold, then each such candidate is elected, and each ballot counting for an elected candidate is assigned a "transfer value" so that the candidate's surplus votes (beyond the election threshold) are distributed to the next ranked continuing candidate on those ballots. If, after these steps, no candidate is elected, then the continuing candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, and a new round of counting begins until the positions are filled as the remaining candidates reach the election threshold. The bill directs the Secretary of State to issue guidelines and promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the ranked-choice voting procedures established by the bill. The bill would take effect immediately, but would remain inoperative until the January 1st following 12 months after the Secretary of State officially certifies that all voting machines used in this State have the capability to support ranked-choice voting. However, the bill's provisions concerning elections to the office of Governor would be implemented if the voters approve an amendment to the State Constitution authorizing ranked-choice for that office. | In Committee |
| S1525 | Decreases the penalty for certain parole violations. | This bill decreases the penalty for certain parole violations committed by an adult parolee. Under the bill, the term of re-incarceration for certain "technical" parole violations by a parolee who is 26 year of age or older would be reduced from 12 months to 9 months. Currently, only young adult parolees, ages 18 to 25, are subject to re-incarceration for a period of nine months for certain parole violations. Under current Department of Corrections regulations, adult parolees may have their parole revoked and be sentenced to 12 months re-incarceration if they fail to: (1) report to their parole officer; (2) comply with a special condition of parole; or (3) refrain from using a controlled dangerous substance or analog (CDS). This 12-month period may be increased or decreased by up to three months in the case of an adult inmate if, in the opinion of a two-member board panel, the circumstances of the parole violation and the characteristics and past record of the adult inmate warrant an adjustment. Under the bill, the period of re-incarceration would be reduced from 12 to nine months for failure to report to the parole officer or for failure to comply with a special condition of parole. The period also would be reduced for failure to refrain from using a CDS if a two-member board panel determines the parolee is addicted to the CDS. | In Committee |
| S1041 | Requires DEP and Drinking Water Quality Institute to perform study concerning regulation and treatment of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Drinking Water Quality Institute, to conduct a study on the regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The study would include an assessment of the feasibility of establishing a maximum contaminant level or other standard for the entire class, or for certain subclasses or mixtures, of PFAS in drinking water, rather than for each individual substance. The study would also include an assessment of treatment technologies that may be effective in removing PFAS from drinking water or wastewater. The bill would require the DEP to publish the report no later than 24 months after the bill's enactment. PFAS are man-made chemical compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms bonded to a chain of carbon atoms. Since the 1930s, PFAS have been widely used in countless consumer products because they repel oil, water, and grease. The carbon-fluorine bond that forms PFAS is one of the strongest chemical bonds found in nature and does not break down under typical environmental conditions. As a result, the presence of PFAS in the environment is widespread. There are over 12,000 different types of PFAS, and new types are continually being developed and used in commerce. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were first developed in the 1940's and are the two most commonly found PFAS in the environment and are also the two most studied and regulated PFAS. In 2018, the DEP adopted amendments to its Safe Drinking Water Act regulations to establish drinking water standards for another common PFAS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), at a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 13 parts per trillion. In 2020, the DEP adopted additional drinking water standards for PFOA at a MCL of 14 parts per trillion and for PFOS at a MCL of 13 parts per trillion. | Dead |
| SCR12 | 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 |
| S1571 | Requires State Board of Education to reduce clinical practice requirements for certain teacher candidates. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to reduce certain clinical practice requirements for a teacher candidate to be eligible for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing. A "certificate of eligibility with advanced standing" is defined as a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and test requirements for teacher certification and complete an educator preparation program. The bill defines "clinical practice" as a field-based experience or internship in a kindergarten through grade 12 environment where a teacher candidate demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to be an effective educator. Under current State Board of Education regulations, a teacher candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing is required to complete clinical practice that (1) occurs during at least two semesters; and (2) includes the completion of at least 175 hours prior to one full-time semester, of which at least 100 of the 175 hours are to be completed in the semester immediately preceding the semester of full-time clinical practice. This bill authorizes the State Board of Education to reduce these clinical practice requirements. This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop recommendations for reducing the clinical practice requirements and those recommendations are required to be submitted to the State board. In developing the recommendations, the commissioner is required to consult with representatives of the education community including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. It is the intent of this bill to reduce the 175 hours of clinical practice in order for a teacher candidate to fulfill the clinical practice requirements in only one semester. Reducing the amount of clinical practice hours will help eliminate the burden of a costly and redundant second semester of clinical practice. | In Committee |
| S1533 | Requires spousal consent to election of certain pension payout options under TPAF, JRS and PERS. | This bill requires written spousal consent whenever a member of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), the Judicial Retirement System (JRS), or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) elects a retirement benefit which is payable for the life of the member only or any other payout option that provides a benefit to the member's spouse that is less than one-half of the member's retirement allowance. Current law requires that whenever a TPAF, JRS or PERS member elects a retirement benefit that is payable only during the life of the member and terminates at death, without payment of any kind to the spouse, the division must send a notice, by certified mail, to the spouse that the retirement benefit chosen by the member is payable only during the member's lifetime and that no benefits, other than any applicable life insurance benefits, will be payable to any beneficiary after the member's death. Under the bill, whenever a member of the TPAF, the JRS, or the PERS elects a retirement benefit that is payable only during the life of the member and terminates at death, without payment of any kind to the spouse, or any other payout option that provides a benefit to the member's spouse that is less than one-half of the member's retirement allowance to be continued throughout the life of the spouse, the election will not take effect unless: 1) the spouse of the member consents in writing to such election; 2) such election designates a beneficiary or an option neither of which may be changed without spousal consent, or the consent of the spouse expressly permits designations by the member without any requirement of further consent by the spouse; and 3) the spouse's consent acknowledges the effect of such election and is witnessed by a representative of the Division of Pensions and Benefits or a notary public. Such consent will not be required if it is established to the satisfaction of the retirement system that the consent may not be obtained because there is no spouse, the spouse cannot be located, or there are such other circumstances as the Division of Pensions and Benefits may prescribe by regulations. These requirements are similar to those of nongovernmental plans regulated by federal law pursuant to the Employees Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). | In Committee |
| S989 | Concerns automatic fire sprinkler systems within newly constructed townhouses. | This bill 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 the effective date of the bill, and requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations incorporating International Residential Code guidance pertaining to such installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems within five months of the date of enactment. | Dead |
| S635 | Requires State Board of Education meetings to be accessible virtually and in person. | This bill requires all public meetings of the State Board of Education to be accessible to the public both in person and virtually. The bill also requires that a link providing virtual access to meetings be publicly available on the State Board of Education's website. Finally, for any meeting in which the State Board of Education accepts public comment, the bill stipulates that members of the public will be able to provide comments by means of remote communication. | In Committee |
| S1513 | Requires Medicaid cover emergency contraception without requiring prescription or other authorization. | This bill would require that the Medicaid program provide coverage for emergency contraceptives obtained over the counter without requiring a prescription or other authorization. At this time, Medicaid provides coverage for emergency contraceptives if they are obtained with a prescription. Individuals can obtain emergency contraceptives without a prescription, but the individual must pay for these out-of-pocket. This bill would enable individuals greater access to needed contraceptives without the unnecessary visits to a provider to obtain a prescription. | In Committee |
| S2009 | Requires certain boards of education to select minimum of three financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide tax sheltered annuity plans. | This bill requires a board of education of a school district with a student enrollment of at least 1,000 students that offers a 403(b) plan to school district employees to select a minimum of three financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide services to the 403(b) plan. If fewer than three such financial institutions or pension management organizations are available, the board of education must select the number of financial institutions or pension management organizations available to meet the requirements of the bill. A financial institution or pension management organization that provides services to the 403(b) plan under the bill must: (1) enter into an agreement with the board of education that requires the financial institution or pension management organization to provide in an electronic format all data necessary for the administration of the 403(b) plan as determined by the board of education; and (2) provide all data required by the board of education to facilitate disclosure of all fees, charges, expenses, commissions, compensation, and payments to third parties related to investments offered under the 403(b) plan. A board of education would not be responsible for any investment loss or failure of an investment to earn any specific return for the services provided by the selected financial institutions or pension management organizations providing services to the 403(b) plan. | In Committee |
| S1573 | Requires notice to be provided by municipal court to applicant for public defender of fee and process to waive fee for inability to pay. | This bill provides that, if a municipality requires by ordinance that a person applying for representation by a municipal public defender pay an application fee, the municipal court would be required to provide notice to the applicant of the fee and the process to waive the fee in the event of any inability to pay. No fee other than that permitted by section 17 of P.L.1997, c.256 (C.2B:24-17) is to be assessed for representation by a municipal public defender Under the provisions of section 17 of P.L.1997, c.256 (C.2B:24-17), a municipality may require that a person applying for municipal public defender representation to pay an application fee of not more than $200. The statute provides that the fee must be in an amount necessary to pay the costs of municipal public defender services. The municipal court may waive the application fee if the court determines upon a clear and convincing showing by the applicant that the fee represents an unreasonable burden on the person seeking representation. The bill would take effect 60 days after enactment. | In Committee |
| S1318 | Clarifies process for administrative appropriations to UEZs; makes appropriation. | This bill clarifies the process for appropriating revenue under the State Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) Program for use within UEZs. Specifically, this bill clarifies this process by: (1) requiring the revenues collected in UEZs from retail sales subject to the 50 percent sales tax exemption to be deposited in the Zone Assistance Fund (ZAF); (2) providing that the UEZ revenue flows directly to the ZAF; (3) appropriating $82.5 million to the ZAF from the General Fund; (4) excluding the sales of medical and recreational cannabis, and related supplies from the 50 percent sales tax exemption within UEZs, as is currently the case for alcoholic beverages and other goods and services; and (5) making certain technical changes. | Dead |
| S1492 | Requires health insurance coverage and limits cost sharing for certain birth control methods. | This bill amends P.L.2005, c.251, the statute requiring health insurance carriers and the State health benefits programs to cover prescription female contraceptives, by also requiring coverage for male sterilization procedures and by prohibiting insurers from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on these coverages. Currently, federal law requires coverage for female contraceptives to be provided without cost sharing in certain circumstances. This bill would expand State law to also require coverage for female contraceptives and male sterilization procedures to be provided without cost sharing. The bill also specifies that, in the case of a high deductible health plan, the limitation on cost-sharing shall not be applied until the expenditures applicable to the deductible under federal law have been met. Once the foregoing expenditure amount has been met under the plan, coverage for prescription female contraceptives and male sterilization procedures benefits is to be provided without cost-sharing. | In Committee |
| S1562 | Eliminates high school graduation proficiency test. | This bill eliminates the high school graduation proficiency test, which is required under current law to be taken in the 11th grade. It is the belief of the sponsor that graduation exit testing does not accurately represent student learning or career and college readiness. Studies have shown numerous flaws with standardized testing, including variation in student performance based on external circumstances, strong racial and socioeconomic biases, and inconsistency with material taught in class. The purpose of using standardized tests as graduation requirements is often to assess college readiness, however studies have shown that other metrics, such as grade point average, can predict the likelihood of graduation from college up to five times better than standardized test scores. In recent years, many states have eliminated graduation exit testing for these reasons, and currently only 11 states still maintain a testing requirement for high school graduation. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from including in the standards for graduation from high school a requirement that students achieve satisfactory performance on the Statewide graduation proficiency test. The bill also amends current law to remove various references to the graduation proficiency test, including: the requirement that a Statewide proficiency test be included in the State or district standards for graduation from high school; the requirement that an out-of-school youth or adult age 18 or older pass the graduation proficiency test before being granted a State endorsed diploma; the requirement that school district report cards include information regarding the results of the graduation proficiency test; and the requirement that renaissance school projects be evaluated based on students' performance on the graduation proficiency test. The bill clarifies that a student participating in the State Seal of Biliteracy program would not be required to take a State graduation proficiency test as a condition of graduation from high school. Finally, the bill repeals the section of law that requires the State to administer a graduation proficiency test to all 11th grade students and certain 12th grade students, and repeals the section of law that requires the Commissioner of Education to consult with educators, parents, students, business and community representatives, and members of minority groups while developing the graduation proficiency test. The bill also repeals sections of law requiring the commissioner and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools to review and report on performance on the graduation proficiency test. | In Committee |
| SCR55 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase annual income limitation for eligibility to receive property tax deduction for senior and disabled citizens. | This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing an increase from $10,000 to $15,000 in the annual income limitation for eligibility to receive the annual senior and disabled property tax deduction. The change to the income limitation would take effect in 2023. In order to qualify for this deduction, a senior citizen must be 65 years of age or older, and have an annual income that does not exceed the Constitutional income limit (currently $10,000). A person who is permanently and totally disabled does not need to meet an age requirement, but does need to meet the Constitutional income limit. The annual income limit has not been increased since 1983, when the State's voters approved an increase from $9,000 per year to the current $10,000 per year. | In Committee |
| S1558 | Upgrades certain crimes related to manufacturing firearms from second to first degree. | This bill upgrades purchasing firearm parts to manufacture a firearm without a serial number; manufacturing a firearm with a three-dimensional printer; manufacturing a covert or undetectable firearm; and transporting a manufactured firearm without a serial number from second degree crimes to first degree crimes. Under current law, it is a second degree crime for a person: · not licensed as a manufacturer to purchase or otherwise obtain separately or as part of a kit a firearm frame or firearm receiver which is not imprinted with a serial number; · not licensed as a manufacturer to manufacture a firearm or certain components of a firearm using a three-dimensional printer; · to distribute to an unlicensed person, including via the Internet, digital instructions to manufacture a firearm or certain components of a firearm using a three-dimensional printer; and · to manufacture, cause to be manufactured, transport, ship, sell or dispose of any covert firearm or undetectable firearm. The bill's provisions upgrade each of these offenses to first degree crimes. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the first degree is punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S2238 | Requires school district to provide majority of preschool pupil placements at licensed child care provider programs. | This bill requires a school district receiving preschool education aid through the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) to provide no less than 50 percent of preschool pupil placements at licensed child care provider programs. The remaining preschool pupil placements will be provided in district programs and Head Start programs. The bill permits, upon application, a school district to be granted a waiver by the Department of Education of the bill's requirements if sufficient preschool pupil placements are not available at licensed child care provider programs within the school district. A school district that requests a waiver is required to provide such information as the Department of Education specifies to justify the request. | In Committee |
| S1565 | Increases statutory mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court Justices, Superior Court Judges, Tax Court Judges, Administrative Law Judges, and Workers' Compensation Judges from 70 to 75. | This bill would amend various sections of the statutory law to reflect the new mandatory retirement age of 75 for Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Superior Court, pending an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution. The bill would also increase the statutory mandatory retirement age for Judges of the Tax Court, Administrative Law Judges, and Judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation to 75. This bill has a bifurcated effective date since the retirement age for Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Superior Court Judges are set forth in the New Jersey Constitution. In this regard, those sections which pertain to the justices and judges, as well as Judges of the Tax Court (whose statutory salary, pension, and benefits are the same as those for Superior Court judges) would only take effect if the voters of this State approve a constitutional amendment increasing the mandatory retirement age from 70 to 75 within one year of such a proposed amendment being submitted to the voters (see bill sections 1, 3, and 4). Those sections of the bill which increase the retirement age for Administrative Law Judges and Judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation from 70 to 75 would take effect immediately (see bill sections 2, 5, 6, and 7). It is not the intent of the sponsor to make any other substantive changes to existing law other than to increase the mandatory retirement age, and thus the bill would not affect the current service eligibility requirements for retirement at age 70. | In Committee |
| S1501 | Establishes guidelines for creditworthiness determinations concerning affordable housing programs. | This bill would supplement the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.), to establish guidelines for determining the creditworthiness of applicants seeking to rent affordable housing units. The critical shortage of affordable housing in New Jersey has forced many low- and moderate-income households to reside in market-rate housing they cannot afford but must occupy to avoid homelessness. These struggling families and individuals are frequently left with less money than needed to meet other basic household obligations. Late or partial payments, as well as missed payments made up in subsequent months, are often the result. These undesirable but unavoidable decisions negatively affect the households' credit reports and inevitably lead to lower-credit scores. As a result, many in the State are coping with damaged credit. Except in the specific circumstances provided in the bill, the bill would prohibit landlords from considering credit scores and other risk scores or assessments when determining the creditworthiness of a rental housing applicant who is the holder of a State or federal tenant-based housing subsidy. The bill provides that the consideration of negative credit history for such rental housing applicants would only be permitted if the tenant has, within the previous three years and while in receipt of a rental subsidy, failed on two or more occasions to pay the unsubsidized tenant share of the monthly rent in accordance with a rental agreement. Prior to making the decision to deny such an applicant, the bill would require the landlord to conduct an individualized assessment of the specific facts and circumstances surrounding the failures to pay. After a review of the circumstances, the holder of the State or federal tenant-based housing subsidy would still be deemed creditworthy if the tenant has a bona fide reason for late rental payments. Regarding other applicants for affordable rental housing who do not hold State or federal tenant-based housing subsidies, the bill would only permit the landlord to assess the applicant's creditworthiness if the landlord also conducts an individualized assessment of the applicant's income, employment, payment, and credit history. The individualized assessment would include, at a minimum, an evaluation of the following factors: employment history and wage history, especially the amount of household income in relation to the cost of living in the region; rent or mortgage and utility payment history; health history, including any health issues affecting other members of the applicant household; the need for a reasonable accommodation in the case of a household which includes a person with a disability; and the extent to which the household attempted and was able to develop a budget or payment plan that enabled it to meet most of its expenses most of the time, keeping payments of expenses as close to current as was reasonably possible, and considering the occurrence of unanticipated problems, and emergencies or other factors that significantly affected the household's ability to adhere to any such budget. Additionally, the bill would require that, for the purposes of evaluating the creditworthiness of an affordable housing applicant, there would be a rebuttable presumption that the applicant household is creditworthy if (1) the applicant household has demonstrated an ability to pay rent, as defined in the bill, (2) a member of the household has a history of regular employment or has been in receipt of another source of regular income, and (3) despite a household income that in the past was, for a period of time, below the self-sufficiency level or was otherwise inadequate to meet its basic needs, the household made a good faith effort to meet its regular rent or mortgage obligations and other household expenses, and was able to do so most of the time. An affordable housing applicant who has completed a credit counseling or debt management course certified by the Department of Community Affairs would also be presumed creditworthy, provided that the applicant household has demonstrated an ability to pay rent. The bill further directs that, if a landlord denies a rental housing application from an affordable housing applicant, approves an application with conditions that exceed reasonable conditions routinely imposed upon a prospective tenant, or takes any other adverse action, then the landlord would be required to provide a written notice of the adverse action to the applicant. The adverse action notice would disclose any screening information about the applicant accessed by the landlord, and append any screening report that the landlord accessed. The adverse action notice would include the findings as to each of the factors that are required for consideration in the individualized assessment. An adverse action notice that does not include a specific finding as to each factor or that does not consider the facts and circumstances relevant to the particular applicant would be deemed presumptively invalid and would not be considered to constitute a lawful basis upon which to take adverse action against an applicant. The bill requires the notices to be printed in both the English and Spanish languages and given to the applicants. In any county in which the Language Access Plan of the Department of Community of Affairs indicates that five percent or more of the residents' primary language is any language other than English or Spanish, all written notices in that county would also be printed in that additional language. The bill requires each landlord that denies, or takes any adverse action against, any applicant for creditworthiness reasons to submit to the Attorney General, on an annual basis, a report that contains the following information for the preceding 12-month reporting period: (1) the number of applications for housing reviewed over the preceding 12-month reporting period; (2) the number of denials of applications for housing rendered on the basis of creditworthiness reasons; (3) the number of denials to which the applicant filed a complaint in Superior Court; (4) the number of denials that were overturned or found unlawful in Superior Court; and (5) a disaggregation of the information provided based on the race of the applicant, the ethnicity of the applicant, the sex of the applicant, and whether the applicant had a disability. The bill allows a person claiming to be aggrieved pursuant to the provisions of the bill to file a complaint or action with the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or in the Superior Court of New Jersey, alleging a violation of the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.). Following the receipt of a complaint the Director of the Division on Civil Rights would be authorized by the bill to prohibit the landlord from renting out the housing unit that the claimant applied for, pending the investigation of the claim. The bill directs the Attorney General, and in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the bill on or before the first day of the third month next following enactment of the bill, which would coincide with the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1543 | Requires Type I school districts and charter schools to establish citizen budget oversight committee to monitor district's or charter school's financial position. | This bill requires that the board of education of a Type I school district and the board of trustees of a charter school establish a citizen budget oversight committee. The committee would act as an advisor to the board and work with the board to monitor the financial position of the school district or charter school. The committee's responsibilities would include, but need not be limited to: (1) Reviewing the school district's or charter school's revenues and expenditures on a monthly basis with the school business administrator and reporting monthly to the entire board on the financial status of the district or charter school and the committee's activities; (2) At the discretion of the committee or at the request of a majority of the board, providing a review, analysis, and recommendations regarding special school district or charter school initiatives or the school district or charter school budget; and (3) Making information requests to the board through a person designated by the board to be its committee liaison.In the case of a committee established in a Type I school district, the committee will also review the school district's recommended school tax levy. The citizen budget oversight committee would consist of at least five members with, to the extent feasible, at least two of the members having the educational or vocational expertise to review financial statements. For a Type I school district, the committee will consist of parents, educators, and taxpayers residing in the school district. For a charter school, the committee will consist of parents with students in the charter school, educators residing in the charter school district of residence, and a representative of the Department of Education. A selection committee designated by the board will evaluate applications submitted by individuals seeking appointment to the citizen budget oversight committee and present the candidates it has identified to the board of education or board of trustees for approval at a regular meeting of the board. Each new member of the citizen budget oversight committee will be required to complete a training program developed by the Department of Education within the first two months of the member's first term. The training program will consist, at a minimum, of two hours and cover the following topics: an overview of the school district or charter school budget process and timelines; instruction in the basic rules of budgeting; and reporting requirements. | In Committee |
| S1891 | Permits certain portion of municipal development trust funds to be spent on housing affordability assistance to veterans. | This bill provides that a municipality that is authorized to collect affordable housing fees pursuant to the rules of the Council on Affordable Housing may set aside up to 30 percent of the development fee amounts permitted to be spent on affordability assistance programs to be directed to a municipal program for first-time homebuying veterans to provide grants for down payment assistance. Grants under the program are to be limited to $15,000 per recipient, and is not to be considered as income concerning eligibility requirements for other State programs, or for purposes of taxation. The bill is to help veterans by supplementing other State programs available for first-time homebuyers, such as the low-interest loans program offered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. | In Committee |
| SR47 | Encourages NJ residents to "Shop Main Street." | This Senate Resolution encourages the residents of New Jersey to "Shop Main Street" throughout the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Residents are encouraged to purchase holiday gifts at smaller stores and local businesses on their Main Streets. There are approximately 800,000 small businesses operating in New Jersey, employing an estimated 1.7 million individuals in this State. These small businesses are the backbone of our State, providing services and employment to individuals throughout the State in such varied industries as finance, health care, the arts, real estate, manufacturing and retail, among many others. Small businesses located on the Main Streets of towns anchor those towns and provide a sense of community to residents as well as visitors. The promotion of "Shop Main Street" is intended to promote shopping and increase sales at small local businesses, assisting them to thrive in the competitive marketplace. | In Committee |
| S1520 | Requires each board of education to adopt policy establishing temperature control standards and guidelines for school district facilities. | This bill requires each board of education to adopt a policy establishing temperature control standards and guidelines for school district facilities. The policy must ensure, to the greatest extent feasible, that school buildings provide students with a temperature-controlled environment that is conducive to learning. The policy must: 1) require that a staff member is designated in each school building in the district to monitor compliance with the standards and initiate permitted corrective action; 2) establish a protocol to follow in instances where classroom temperatures are identified as being not conducive to learning; 3) identify what temperature control measures are permitted in accordance with local building and fire codes; 4) be informed by the Indoor Air Quality Standard established by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and 5) require that corrective measures be addressed, where feasible, by action outlined in the Indoor Air Quality Standard. The bill directs the Department of Education and the Department of Health to jointly develop guidance to assist school districts in establishing and implementing a policy concerning temperature control. | In Committee |
| S1490 | Converts senior freeze reimbursement into credit applied directly to property tax bills. | This bill would transform the homestead property tax reimbursement program, commonly known as the senior freeze program, from a reimbursement program into a credit program for most eligible homeowners. Currently, eligible seniors and disabled persons may apply for a senior freeze benefit that reimburses them for any property tax increases paid in the prior tax year over and above the amount of property taxes paid in the applicable base year. This bill would allow most of these eligible homeowners to realize these savings in the form of a credit directly applied to reduce the payable amount for their third and fourth quarter property tax bills for the current tax year. Eligible homeowners who reside in a unit in a cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or continuing care retirement community, and who do not pay property taxes directly to the municipality, would receive a rebate payment instead of a credit directly applied to the applicable property tax bill. These rebates would be paid during the current tax year for which the senior freeze benefit is sought so that these homeowners also do not have to wait until the next year to receive their senior freeze benefit. | In Committee |
| S1488 | Establishes "Opioid Prevention and Rehabilitation Program Fund" and tax on opioid drugs. | This bill establishes the "Opioid Prevention and Rehabilitation Program Fund," which would support programs that provide treatment for individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in the Medicaid program. The fund would be supported by a tax on the first wholesale distribution of an opioid drug in this State at the rate of one cent per milligram of active opioid ingredient. As used in the bill, "distribution," "drug," and "wholesale distributor" have the same definitions as the current law providing for the licensure of pharmaceutical wholesale distributors. | In Committee |
| S1499 | Requires correctional police officers to wear body worn cameras under certain circumstances. | This bill requires correctional police officers in this State's correctional facilities to wear body worn cameras under certain circumstances. The bill specifically requires correctional police officers employed in State correctional facilities who are acting in the performance of their official duties to wear a body worn camera: (1) when designated by the Department of Corrections as a member of the Special Operations Group; (2) while in a close custody unit; (3) while in a housing unit; (4) when providing mobile security; and (5) when in contact with a member of the public. According to the sponsor, the use of body worn cameras in correctional facilities enhances the surveillance capabilities in the facility, particularly blind spots, which can result in a reduction in instances of sexual assault. The cameras also provide unbiased accounts of use of force occurrences, provide evidence in prosecutions and intelligence gathering, deter negative behavior by both staff and inmates, and provide protection against frivolous lawsuits. | In Committee |
| S1506 | Enhances penalties upon corporate violators of housing codes. | This bill would empower a court that convicts a corporation of violating a municipal housing code ordinance to impose upon the corporation a fine of up to three times the maximum fixed for violation of the ordinance. The bill also provides that when a corporation or its high managerial agent is convicted of violating a housing code ordinance, the court may request the Attorney General to institute proceedings to dissolve the corporation, forfeit its charter, revoke any franchises held by it, or to revoke the certificate authorizing the corporation to conduct business in this State. The bill defines "high managerial agent" as an officer of a corporation or any other agent of a corporation having duties of such responsibility that the agent's conduct may fairly be assumed to represent the policy of the corporation. Under current law a municipal governing body may provide the following penalties for the violation of its ordinances: imprisonment for any term not exceeding 90 days; a fine not exceeding $2,000; or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days. While the threat of imprisonment may serve as a sufficient inducement for an individual to comply with provisions of a municipal housing code, this penalty may not be imposed upon a corporation. Allowing a court to impose enhanced penalties upon a corporation will serve as an inducement for compliance with a municipality's housing code. Similarly, allowing a court to seek dissolution of a corporation will serve as an additional inducement for corporations to comply with municipal housing codes. These initiatives are modeled after N.J.S.2C:43-4 which authorizes courts to impose similar penalties when corporations are convicted of offenses under the criminal code. | In Committee |
| S1495 | 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 |
| S1531 | Requires schools to universally provide free meals to all students, regardless of whether students are federally eligible for free or reduced price meals. | This bill would require all schools in the State to serve free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students, regardless of whether the students are federally eligible for free or reduced price meals pursuant to the National School Lunch Program and federal School Breakfast Program. Existing State law requires school lunch programs to be offered by all schools, except those that have fewer than five percent of students who are federally eligible for free or reduced price lunches, and it requires school breakfast programs to be offered by any school in which 20 percent or more of the students enrolled in the school on October 1 of the preceding school year were federally eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts or lunches. State law additionally requires a breakfast after the bell program, which is used to facilitate the provision of breakfasts under a school's breakfast program, to be offered in each public school in which 70 percent or more of enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts or lunches. Finally, it requires a school district in which at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced price meals to participate as a sponsor or site under the federal Summer Meals Service Program, pursuant to which meals are provided to students during the summer months and other planned periods of school closure. This bill would alter the existing law to require all schools to offer school lunch and breakfast programs, regardless of the percentage of students at the school who are federally eligible for free or reduced price meals. In addition, the bill requires any meals provided to students, whether under a school lunch program, a school breakfast program, a breakfast after the bell program, or a summer meals program, to be provided to students free of charge, without regard to each student's income eligibility status. The bill would additionally require school meals to be provided to students, free of charge, and without regard to a student's eligibility status, whenever a school is required to provide school meals to students at an external distribution site, due to a public health-related school closure resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic. Each school district, and the Department of Agriculture (DOA), would be required, by the bill, to publicize, to parents and students, the fact that free meals are being made available to all students under all of these programs, pursuant to the bill's provisions. In order to avoid establishing an unfunded mandate, the bill would require the State to provide funding to each school district, as may be necessary to reimburse the costs associated with the district's provision of free meals to students who are otherwise ineligible for free or reduced price meals pursuant to the National School Lunch Program or federal School Breakfast Program. The bill would further clarify that, in accordance with federal law, a school district that executes a summer program meals agreement with the DOA will be eligible to receive reimbursement from the State for free meals that are provided to students under a summer meals program operated pursuant to the federal Summer Food Service Program or the Seamless Summer Option. The bill's reimbursement provisions are is similar to current law, at section 1 of P.L.2019, c.445 (C.18A:33-21.1), which provides that a student who is federally eligible for reduced price meals shall not be required to pay any cost for those meals, and that the State shall reimburse schools for the difference between the federal allocation for reduced price meals and the total cost of the meals served to public school students who are eligible for reduced price meals. Under the bill's provisions, any school that serves lunch or breakfast and is eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision (a special assistance alternative federal reimbursement method that authorizes reimbursement for free school meals provided by eligible, high-poverty local educational agencies and schools participating in both the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program) would be required, to the greatest extent practicable, to participate in, and maximize the receipt of federal resources available under, that reimbursement alternative. The bill would further provide that, if a school participates in a special assistance alternative reimbursement method authorized under the National School Lunch Program (including Provision 2, Provision 3, or the Community Eligibility Provision), the school may determine student eligibility for free or reduced price meals on a four-year basis (rather than every year) for the purposes of school aid determinations under the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et seq.). Specifically, the bill would authorize such a school to establish a base year, for these purposes, by doing either of the following: (1) carrying over, from the school year in which the school initially applied to participate in the special assistance alternative, the number of students at the school who were eligible for free or reduced price meals in that base year, and using each student's eligibility status in that base year to report eligibility for up to each of the following three school years; or (2) determining the number of students at the school who are currently eligible for free or reduced price meals, and using each student's eligibility status in that base year to report eligibility for up to each of the following three school years. In addition, the bill provides that, whenever a student transfers, between schools in the same school district, to a school that participates in a special assistance alternative, documentation supporting the student's eligibility, for the purposes of school aid determinations, may be transferred from the student's old school to the student's new school, as long as the documentation supporting the student's eligibility is less than four years old and is updated at least once every four years thereafter. To the extent permitted by federal law, the bill would authorize a school to establish a new base year, for the purposes of the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program, at the same time that the school establishes a new base year for the purposes of school aid determinations. Although the submission of applications and the performance of eligibility determinations will no longer be required in order for a student to receive free school meals under the bill's provisions, a school or school district will still need to be aware of a student's income eligibility status in order to: (1) facilitate school aid determinations under the "School Reform Funding Act of 2008"; (2) determine whether the school is required either to implement a breakfast after the bell program or to participate in the Summer Food Service Program; and (3) ensure that the school receives appropriate reimbursement, from State and federal sources, for meals provided to students free of charge. As a result, the bill would require a school district, either at the beginning of each school year or upon a student's initial enrollment, to request that the parent or guardian of each student complete a household income data collection form, provided by the DOA, for use in determining the household's economic status for these purposes. This requirement would not apply if the district is able to obtain equivalent data through other lawful means. Income data reported by a parent or guardian, under the bill, would be confidential, and may not be used or shared by the school district, or by the student's school, except for the limited purposes described in the bill. Any request for household income data is to be communicated in a language that the parent or guardian understands, is to specify the limited purposes for which the reported data may be used, and is to be submitted either in writing or electronically. The bill would repeal various sections of existing law, pertaining to school lunch programs, school breakfast programs, and summer meals programs, which are contrary to the bill's provisions. Some of the sections being repealed would be replaced by new sections of the bill. The sections being repealed, and the provisions replacing those repealed sections, are as follows: (1) Section 1 of P.L.2006, c.14 (C.18A:33-3.1). This section pertains to prepayment for school lunches. Because students will no longer be required to pay for school lunches under the bill, this section is being repealed. (2) Section 2 of P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-5). This section exempts, from school lunch requirements, any school in which less than five percent of enrolled students meet federal eligibility requirements for receipt of free meals. Because the bill requires all schools to provide free school lunches, this section is being repealed. (3) Section 3 of P.L.2003, c.4 (C.18A:33-11). This section requires a school district to publicize the availability of the federal School Breakfast Program, to ensure that students eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts are not treated differently than other students, and to encourage students who are not eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts to, nonetheless, participate in the federal School Breakfast Program. Because the bill provides that income-eligibility may not be considered when providing free meals to students, this section is being repealed, and its publicity provisions are being moved to, and restated in, other provisions of the bill. (4) Section 3 of P.L.2018, c.25 (C.18A:33-11.4). This section provides that the implementation of a breakfast after the bell program will be subject to the applicable requirements of section 3 of P.L.2003, c.4 (C.18A:33-11) and section 1 of P.L.2014, c.66 (C.18A:33-11.1), as well as any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Because the bill is repealing section 3 of P.L.2003, c.4 (C.18A:33-11), referenced in this provision, and because section 1 of P.L.2014, c.66 (C.18A:33-11.1) does not actually provide any requirements for implementation of a breakfast after the bell program (and instead, merely encourages schools to participate in a breakfast after the bell program), this section is being repealed. (5) Section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21). This section provides procedures to be implemented by a school district, and establishes certain prohibitions on discriminatory treatment, when a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears. Because students will not be required to pay for school lunch or breakfast under the bill's provisions and the determination of school meal arrearages will, therefore, not be relevant to whether a student receives school meals under the bill, this section is being repealed. (6) Section 1 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21a). This section established a short title for section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) and sections 3 and 4 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21b and C.18A:33-21c) - the "Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act." However, the bill is repealing both section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) and section 3 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21b), cited in this section. In addition, because the last cited section - section 4 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21c) - contains only a single sentence related to the receipt of school meals by homeless students (not a more detailed provision establishing a "bill of rights" for all students), it no longer seems necessary or appropriate to attach a short title to this sole remaining provision, particularly when the existing short title does not reflect the purpose of the remaining provision. As a result, this short title section is being repealed. (7) Section 3 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21b). This section requires a school district to provide, to a student's parent or guardian, either at the beginning of the school year, or upon a student's initial enrollment, information on the National School Lunch Program and federal School Breakfast Program, as well as an application to apply for free and reduced meals under these programs, and information on the rights that apply under section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) and P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21a et al.), regarding school meal arrearages. Because students will no longer be required to apply for free school lunches or breakfasts under the bill's provisions, and because the bill is repealing section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) (regarding meal arrearages), this section 3 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21b) is also being repealed. However, it is being replaced with a new section (section 13 of the bill, to be codified at C.18A:33-21b.1), which would require school districts to request that a student's parent or guardian complete a household income data collection form for the limited purposes specified in the bill. (8) Section 1 of P.L.2017, c.387 (C.18A:33-23). This section requires school districts and nonpublic schools to notify each enrolled student, and the student's parent or guardian, about the availability of, and criteria of eligibility for, the school's summer meals program and the locations at which summer meals are being made available. Because eligibility determinations will not be relevant to a student's receipt of summer meals under the bill's provisions, and because section 1 of P.L.2017, c.387 (C.18A:33-23) despite being the only section of law that addresses "summer meals programs," fails to adequately describe what a summer meals program is or how it works, this section is being repealed and replaced with a new section (section 15 of the bill, to be codified at C.18A:33-23.1), which clarifies the rules applicable to school districts that provide meals to students through a summer meals program, and which additionally requires school districts to provide notice to parents and guardians regarding the availability of summer meals, the locations where such meals are offered, and the fact that summer meals are offered to students free of charge. In addition to the repealers described above, this bill would also clarify and reorder the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of P.L.2018, c.28 (C.18A:33-24 an C.18A:33-25), in order to make it clear that section 1 applies to school districts that are required to become a sponsor or site under the Summer Food Service Program, while section 2 applies to school districts that elect to become a sponsor or site under the Summer Food Service Program, despite not being required to do so. Finally, the bill would add a new central definitions section that incorporates all definitions relevant to the provision of school meals in the State. This definitions section would be applicable to the bill's new sections, as well as to the remaining (un-repealed) provisions of Chapter 33 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, which is the chapter of law that addresses the provision of school meals in the State, and in which the provisions of this bill will be codified. | In Committee |
| S1300 | Establishes loan program in Department of Treasury for certain entities offering health benefits plans; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes a loan program in the Department of Treasury for certain entities offering health benefits plans. Specifically, the bill requires the State Treasurer to establish a program providing loans to entities offering health benefits plans in the State that are faced with insolvency as a result of providing coverage for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic due to circumstances such as a large number of catastrophic claims or premium threshold issues. The bill requires the State Treasurer to evaluate applications from any entity offering a health benefits plan in this State. The loans are only to be made available to an applicant the State Treasurer determines would likely face insolvency without receiving the loan, and are limited to the amount needed by the entity to avoid becoming insolvent. The bill provides that no loan is to be awarded after the end of the ninth month following the effective date of the bill. An entity receiving a loan pursuant to the bill may not be charged interest or fees associated with the loan. The State Treasurer may extend the term or forgive repayment of the loan if the State Treasurer determines an extension or loan forgiveness is necessary for the continued solvency of the entity. The bill provides that the State Treasurer is to appropriate the funds from the General Fund that are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| SR46 | Urges NJ residents to continue to support "Small Business Saturday." | This Senate Resolution encourages the residents of New Jersey to continue to support and observe "Small Business Saturday," a day that is promoted by small businesses to encourage residents to purchase holiday gifts at smaller stores and businesses in their local communities. There are approximately 800,000 small businesses operating in New Jersey, which employ an estimated 1.7 million individuals in this State. These small businesses are the backbone of our State, providing services and employment to individuals throughout the State in such varied industries as finance, health care, the arts, real estate, manufacturing and retail, among many others. "Small Business Saturday" was initiated by the American Express Company in 2010. The program offers incentives to consumers through additional credit on their credit cards for purchases made on that Saturday in registered small businesses. Furthermore, small businesses benefit through subsidized advertising activity intended to promote shopping at local, small businesses. | In Committee |
| S1504 | Increases minimum income thresholds requiring filing and paying of gross income tax. | This bill would increase the minimum income threshold at which a person becomes liable for New Jersey gross income tax and is required to file a return. Currently, a single taxpayer, an estate or trust, or a married person filing separately with a gross income of $10,000 or less is not subject to the gross income tax or required to file a return. A married coupled filing a joint return or an individual filing as head of household or as surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes with a gross income of $20,000 or less is not subject to the gross income tax or required to file a return. Under this bill, beginning in tax year 2022, these income thresholds would be increased from $10,000 to $12,000 and from $20,000 to $24,000. These income thresholds have not been increased since tax year 2001. | In Committee |
| S1530 | Revises and codifies schedule for childhood lead screenings; requires lead screenings as precondition of child's initial entry into school system. | This bill would strengthen the existing State requirements for childhood lead screening by: (1) codifying, in the statutory law, the existing schedule for childhood lead screening that appears in regulations adopted by the Department of Health (DOH); (2) requiring a child to undergo three screening tests, as opposed to the two that are currently required by the DOH; (3) allowing health care professionals to perform lead screenings at the point-of-care, in the regular course of a well visit; and (4) requiring a child's parent or guardian to provide the child's school with documentation showing the child's lead screening results, as a precondition of the child's initial entry into the school system. The bill would specify, in particular, that every physician, registered professional nurse, or health care facility, agency, or program that is subject to the State's childhood elevated blood lead level prevention laws will be required to perform a lead screening on each patient between six months and six years of age to whom services are provided, during the course of a well visit, in accordance with the following schedule: 1) when the child is between nine and 18 months of age; preferably on the date of, or as close as possible to, the child's first birthday; 2) at least six months after the first lead screening test, when the child is between 18 and 26 months of age; preferably on the date of, or as close as possible to, the child's second birthday; and 3) immediately prior to, and as a precondition of, the child's initial enrollment in school. "Initial enrollment in school" is defined to mean the enrollment of a child in a public or private pre-kindergarten class, or the enrollment of a child in a public or private kindergarten class, whichever occurs first. A physician, registered professional nurse, or health care facility, agency, or program performing a lead screening in accordance with this schedule will be authorized to perform the screening on-site, at the point of care, during the course of a well visit. The physician, registered professional nurse, or health care facility, agency, or program performing lead screening will be required to record in the child's permanent health record the date on which the lead screening test was administered and the results of the test. This same information will also need to be noted on any physical examination form that a public or private school or school system requires parents or guardians to submit as a condition of school admission or enrollment. Commencing with the 2024-2025 school year, the principal, director, or other person in charge of a public or private school in this State will be prohibited from knowingly admitting or enrolling in a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten class any child whose parent or guardian fails to submit acceptable documentation showing the child's test results for lead screening. If the documentation submitted by the child's parent or guardian indicates that the child has not yet been screened for elevated blood lead levels in accordance with that testing requirement, the child's initial enrollment in school is to be deferred until such time as the child has been screened, and acceptable documentation showing the results of that screening test have been submitted to the school. The bill requires the DOH to modify its existing lead screening public information campaign to inform the parents and guardians of small children, as well as physicians, registered professional nurses, and other health care providers, about the lead screening schedule and requirements, and the conditions for initial school enrollment, established by the bill. The bill additionally requires the DOH to establish an educational outreach campaign providing the same information to the same populations. Any information or documentation that is prepared for the public information and educational outreach campaigns is to be posted at a publicly accessible location on the DOH Internet website. The bill clarifies that any DOH regulations adopted pursuant to P.L.1995, c.316 (C.17:48E-35.10 et al.), concerning the provision of insurance coverage for lead screenings, are to be consistent with the revisions to the State's lead screening laws adopted under the bill. | In Committee |
| S668 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services, and associated transportation services, for adults. | this bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for partial care and intensive outpatient services by 35 percent. Rates increased under the bill include, but are not limited to: per diem and hourly reimbursement rates for partial care and intensive outpatient services, as well as services provided during partial care and intensive outpatient treatment, such as intake evaluation, psychiatric evaluation, family counseling, individual counseling, and group counseling. The bill also provides that the aggregate Medicaid reimbursement rate for transportation services and mileage to or from a partial care or intensive outpatient services provider is to be no less than $10 for each one-way trip. As defined under the bill, "partial care services" means comprehensive, individualized, structured, non-residential intensive treatment services, including access to psychiatric, medical, and laboratory services, for an adult with severe mental illness or substance use disorder provided at a licensed outpatient facility for a minimum of 20 hours per week. "Intensive Outpatient Services" means comprehensive, individualized, structured, non-residential treatment sessions for an adult with severe mental illness or substance use disorder provided at a licensed outpatient facility for a minimum of nine hours per week. | In Committee |
| S1521 | Requires law enforcement agencies to provide law enforcement officers with cultural diversity training and develop diversity action plan. | This bill requires law enforcement agencies to provide cultural diversity training to its law enforcement officers and develop a cultural diversity action plan. Current law authorizes State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies to provide to their officers in-service cultural diversity training that utilizes course materials and an on-line tutorial developed or identified by the Department of Law and Public Safety. This bill makes this cultural diversity training mandatory. The bill also requires these law enforcement agencies to develop and adopt a cultural diversity action plan. The plans are to include strategies for outreach programs that address the social needs and concerns regarding crime in the community. The plans also are to include strategies to form partnerships with various cultural, religious, and civic organizations, including those formed on the basis of preventing discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. A primary objective of each plan is to emphasize positive relationships between the police and various community groups that encourage a willingness to collaborate in identifying community safety issues and establishing innovative strategies designed to create safe and stable neighborhoods and campuses. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to submit the plans to the Attorney General within one year of the bill's effective date and at least once every three years thereafter. The bill also authorizes the Attorney General to periodically assess the plans to determine whether each agency is meeting its goals in providing the in-service training and formulating the cultural diversity action plans. | In Committee |
| S1517 | Requires 45 day notice concerning tuition rate changes by licensed child care centers. | This bill requires child care centers licenses pursuant to P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) to prepare and make available a notice of any change in the tuition rate charged by the center, 45 days prior to the change, to every parent or legal guardian of a child attending the center. The notice would be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested or by receipted first class mail addressed to the parent or legal guardian at the last known address identified in the center's records, or would be delivered in person to the parent or legal guardian by a staff member of the center. The center would also be required to post the notice on its internet website or by other electronic means, and to display the notice in a prominent location within the center. | In Committee |
| S398 | Creates New Jersey Innocence Study and Review Commission. | This bill would establish the New Jersey Innocence Study and Review Commission. The commission would be composed of nine members, to be appointed within 45 days of enactment of the bill. The membership would be as follows: one member appointed by the Governor, who shall be the chairperson of the commission, and who shall be a retired judge of the Superior Court or retired justice of the Supreme Court; two members appointed by the President of the Senate and two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; the Public Defender or a designee; the Attorney General or a designee; the Administrative Director of the Courts or a designee; and a representative of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey. Under the bill, the commission would be charged with studying and reviewing all aspects of criminal cases involving wrongful conviction in New Jersey and recommend reforms to reduce the likelihood of wrongful conviction occurring in the future, including but not limited to the following issues: (1) identifying the main causes of wrongful conviction; (2) studying existing research on these causes; (3) reviewing cases of wrongful conviction; (4) reviewing additional cases that will assist the commission in understanding the causes of wrongful conviction, and recommending best practices to appropriate constituencies; (5) examining the existing system of restitution to compensate wrongfully convicted persons and programming to assist persons to reintegrate back into society; and (6) making a specific recommendation for the establishment of a permanent innocence review panel before which convicted and incarcerated individuals may present a request for review of their own conviction, unless such recommendation is expressly rejected by the commission. The commission would be required to report its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Legislature and the Governor within 18 months of appointment of the members. | In Committee |
| S1387 | 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 |
| S1967 | Revises law establishing Office of Food Security Advocate, and establishes certain conditions for use of monies appropriated to emergency food organizations. | This bill amends and supplements P.L.2021, c.483 (C.52:27J-1 et seq.), which established the Office of the Food Security Advocate. The bill establishes, in statute, certain conditions concerning the use of monies appropriated to emergency food organizations pursuant to an annual appropriations act. The bill defines "emergency food organization" as a food bank which receives funding for Food and Hunger Programs pursuant to an annual State appropriations act. P.L.2022, c.49, which is, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023, provided that the amount appropriated for Food and Hunger Programs would be directly distributed as follows: 53 percent to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey; 15 percent to the Food Bank of South Jersey; 15 percent to Fulfill Monmouth & Ocean; 11 percent to the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank; three percent to Norwescap; and three percent to the Southern Regional Food Distribution Center. The bill requires 10 percent of each emergency food organization's funding allocation to be expended on New Jersey agricultural products, including expenditures related to agricultural capital investment and innovation, up to 30 percent to be expended for the administrative and staffing costs and the purchase of capital investments or infrastructure, including the purchase of necessary technology, vehicles, and storage, and no less than 60 percent to be expended in order to support local distribution agencies. Support for local distribution agencies will include purchasing food that fulfills local distribution agencies' stated needs, awarding cash funds to local distribution agencies, or reimbursing local distribution agencies based on costs incurred. Emergency food organizations will be permitted to apply to the Office of the Food Security Advocate for a waiver to utilize these funds to fill a demonstrated need for a program that supports local distribution agencies. The bill requires the Office of the Food Security Advocate, in consultation with emergency food organizations, to develop a process for eliciting and gathering data about local distribution agencies' food and capacity needs, and requires each emergency food organization to use that process and data to develop a data-informed plan for the equitable support of local food distribution agencies. Data-informed plans will be tailored to the service area and needs of the specific emergency food organization. The bill requires each emergency food organization, on a monthly basis, to prepare and submit a State funding expenditures report to the Office of the Food Security Advocate. Funding for emergency food organizations will be contingent on the successful implementation by the organizations of a data-informed plan and satisfying the fiscal and programmatic requirements and other contractual obligations detailed in their contracts. | Dead |
| S1941 | Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities. | This bill establishes staffing standards for registered professional nurses in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. As specified in the bill, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios will vary depending on the type of unit, and will range from one registered professional nurse for every five patients in a behavioral health or psychiatric or a medical/surgical unit, to one registered professional nurse for every patient under anesthesia in an operating room. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any nurse-to-patient staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing direct care registered professional nurse staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The acuity and staffing system will be based on: patient classification or acuity; professional nurse staffing standards adopted by nurse specialty organizations; skill mix; and the staffing levels of other health care personnel and the use of agency or temporary staff. The system is to be established in the facility by the facility's department of nursing, with the approval of a majority of the unit staff nurses or their bargaining agent. The bill requires the acuity and staffing system to allow for the forecasting of staffing levels, and to provide a method to adjust staffing levels for each patient care unit based on objective criteria currently set forth at N.J.A.C.8:43G-17.1(a)3, including, but not limited to: (1) the documented skills, training, and competency of staff to plan and provide nursing services in the nursing areas where they function; (2) a patient database incorporating objective factors such as the case mix index, specific or aggregate patient diagnostic classifications or acuity levels, patient profiles, critical pathways or care progression plans, length of stay, and discharge plans; (3) operational factors, such as unit size, design, and capacity, the admission/discharge/transfer index, and support service availability; (4) contingency plans to address critical departures from the staffing plan, including policies and procedures to regulate the closure of available beds if staffing levels fall below specified levels; and (5) policies and procedures for the reassignment of staff, including float and agency staff. The acuity and staffing system will additionally be required to permit waiver of minimum staffing level requirements in the event of an unforeseen emergent circumstance which causes significant changes in the patient census for a regular shift. Waiver will not be permitted unless the facility has made reasonable efforts to provide sufficient additional staff to meet the required minimum staffing levels, including seeking volunteers and making use of on-call staff, per-diem staff, agency staff, and float pools. The bill defines "unforeseeable emergent circumstance" to mean an unpredictable or unavoidable occurrence requiring immediate action. The Commissioner of Health will also be permitted to waive the minimum staffing level requirements for any hospital or facility that the commissioner determines is in financial distress. A waiver may be revoked upon a determination that the facility is no longer in financial distress. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce minimum staffing ratios by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. The bill provides a system, pursuant to which a registered professional nurse, other staff member, or member of the public, believing that a facility is in violation of the staffing requirements or the staffing and acuity system, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation, and to take such other action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| S1938 | Requires restaurants to provide healthy beverages with meals designated for children. | This bill requires restaurants to provide a healthy beverage with any meals designated for children. Under the bill, a restaurant's default beverage for a children's meal could be: (1) water, sparkling water, or flavored water, with no added natural or artificial sweeteners; (2) nonfat or one percent milk or non-dairy milk alternative containing no more than 130 calories per container or serving as offered for sale; or (3) one hundred percent fruit juice or fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water, with no added sweeteners, in a serving size of no more than eight ounces. The bill does not prohibit or preclude a restaurant from selling or offering another beverage as a replacement to the default beverage included with the children's meal. | In Committee |
| S2073 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish matching grant program for certain school districts and schools using federal funds to increase instructional time and accelerate learning. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a matching grant program to support school districts that use a portion of their eligible funds to increase student instructional time and accelerate student learning. Eligible funds as defined in the bill are moneys under a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project's local educational agency subgrant from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act ESSER Fund, excluding any amount required by the provisions of the ARP Act to be spent on evidence-based learning loss interventions. A district or school would be eligible to apply for funds under the grant program only if the percentage of students in the district or school who are not meeting or partially meeting grade-level expectation increased compared to the 2018-2019 school year. The aggregate amount of funds provided to school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects under the bill would not exceed $200 million. Under the bill, the program would be funded from the monies received by the State under the federal ARP Act. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project seeking funds under the program is required to submit an application to the commissioner that is to include certain information enumerated in the bill. If the commissioner approves the application, the school district will receive a matching grant equal to 50 percent of the amount of the district's local educational agency federal allotment under the ARP Act that is dedicated to the intervention or program to increase student instructional time and accelerate student learning which has been specified in its application. | In Committee |
| S2016 | Appropriates $70 million in federal funds to EDA to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill appropriates $70 million in federal funds to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations, including for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill, the EDA, in consultation with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (council), would be required to award $50 million in grants to support the financial recovery, resiliency, and growth of qualifying arts and culture organizations. However, of this total, $10 million in grants would be dedicated to arts education organizations that provide programs and services for public schools or afterschool programs. Specifically, these grants may be used to offset any revenue losses that occurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic or provide the cash reserves necessary to ensure continued operations in the event of future pandemic-related shutdowns. Additionally, the bill requires the EDA, in consultation with the council, to award $20 million in grants to qualifying arts and culture organizations to support the completion of placemaking projects in public spaces. Under the bill, placemaking projects would include any creative or artistic project intended to beautify or enrich public spaces, such as artistic paintings on roadways or sidewalks, landscape plantings in public areas, educational signage, and other artistic, cultural, or educational installations. The monies appropriated under the bill would be provided from the State's allocation of funds from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021". | In Committee |
| S261 | Provides for spaying and neutering stray or feral cats and establishes fund therefor; designated as "Compassion for Community Cats Law." | The bill, designated as the "Compassion for Community Cats Law," provides for the spaying and neutering of stray or feral cats. In particular, the bill provides, with limited exceptions, that: (1) no cat may be released for adoption from an animal rescue organization facility, shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound unless the cat has been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian; and (2) any community cat trapped and impounded at a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound, or trapped and taken to an animal rescue organization facility, must be spayed or neutered, ear-tipped, and vaccinated against rabies before being returned to the location where the community cat was trapped or given to a person assuming ownership of the community cat. The spaying and neutering requirements do not apply to a cat or a community cat that: (1) is less than two months old; (2) a licensed veterinarian determines cannot be spayed or neutered for other health reasons affecting the cat; (3) is placed in a foster home or transferred to another shelter, pound, kennel operating as a shelter or pound, or animal rescue organization facility by a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound; or (4) is to be euthanized in accordance with the provisions of section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16) and R.S.4:22-19, which provide for humanely euthanizing animals after a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound has offered the animal for adoption for at least seven days. The bill authorizes an animal rescue organization facility, shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound to charge the cost of spaying or neutering the cat to the person assuming ownership of the cat. The bill also amends various sections of existing law to allow for the implementation of the new spaying and neutering requirements established by the bill and other provisions of the bill. The bill authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to adopt regulations necessary to implement grant programs and fund the spaying and neutering requirements established in the bill. The bill establishes the "Compassion for Community Cats Fund" in the DOH to provide grants to municipalities and counties to establish programs to humanely trap community cats, and sterilize, ear-tip, and vaccinate them against rabies, and return each feral cat to the location where the cat was trapped. The "Compassion for Community Cats Fund" is to be credited with the monies collected for violations of the bill, the surcharge on dog licenses imposed by section 1 of P.L.1983, c.181 (C.4:19-15.3c), any moneys appropriated by the Legislature, and any return on investment of moneys deposited in the fund. Finally, the bill repeals sections 2 and 3 of P.L.2011, c.142 (C.4:19-15.30 and 4:19-15.31), known as the "Pet Sterilization Pilot Program." The committee amendments to the bill: (1) correct cross-references and citations in the bill; (2) correct typographical errors in the bill's reproduction of existing statutory text; and (3) delete a statutory reference to a program for aid to families with dependent children that was replaced by the Work First New Jersey program pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38. | In Committee |
| S1537 | Establishes Extended School Day and School Year Study Commission. | This bill establishes the Extended School Day and School Year Study Commission. The commission will consist of the following: 13 members: two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President, no more than one of whom shall be of the same political party; two members of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, no more than one of whom shall be of the same political party; the Commissioner of Education, ex officio, or a designee; and eight members to be appointed by the Governor including one each from the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Parent Teacher Association, and two public members. It will be the duty of the commission to study the effects of a longer school day and school year on advancing student achievement, enhancing the overall school learning environment, and increasing student enrichment opportunities and educational offerings. In conducting its study the commission will examine any extended school day and school year schedules utilized in other states. The commission will issue a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Governor and the Legislature no later than six months after its organizational meeting. The commission will expire 30 days after the submission of the report. | In Committee |
| S1544 | Revises gross income tax credit for child and dependent care expenses by expanding income eligibility and increasing credit. | This bill expands eligibility for the credit against the New Jersey gross income tax for employment-related expenses incurred while caring for a child or dependent. Currently, the credit is available to resident taxpayers who are allowed the federal child and dependent care credit and have New Jersey taxable income of $60,000 or less for the taxable year. The bill raises the $60,000 income limit to $150,000. The bill also increases the amount of the State credit available to taxpayers by expanding qualifying income brackets. For example, under current law, the State credit a taxpayer with income less than $20,000 receives is equal to 50 percent of their federal credit. The bill increases the $20,000 income limit to $50,000, and all other brackets have also been expanded to allow more taxpayers to qualify for enhanced benefits. In addition, the bill increases the maximum credit allowed for a taxable year to $1,000 for employment-related expenses paid by the taxpayer for one qualifying individual and $2,000 for employment-related expenses paid by the taxpayer for two or more qualifying individuals. Under current law, the maximum credit allowed is $500 for employment-related expenses paid by the taxpayer for one qualifying individual and $1,000 for employment-related expenses paid by the taxpayer for two or more qualifying individuals. | In Committee |
| S995 | Establishes "Household Water Assistance Program"; appropriates $75 million. | This bill would require the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), to establish the "Household Water Assistance Program" (program). The purpose of the program would be to provide affordability assistance for water, sewer, and stormwater utility services, to eligible households throughout New Jersey. Under the bill, "eligible households" means a household regardless of the federal immigration status of the members of the household that: (1) has an income at or below an adjusted gross income to be determined by the department, which shall be equal to or greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; (2) has individuals residing in the eligible household who are receiving the following: (a) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; (b) Supplemental Security Income payments under title XVI of the Social Security Act; (c) food stamps; (d) payments under section 415, 521, 541, or 542 of the title 38, United States Code, or under section 306 of the "Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act of 1978;" or (e) payments under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; (f) benefits under the Universal Service Fund; (g) benefits under the Lifeline Credit Program; (h) benefits under the Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program; (i) benefits under the Winter Termination Program; (j) benefits under the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled program; or (k) benefits as defined under P.L.1997, c.14; or (3) can demonstrate either temporary or ongoing financial hardship according to the department. Additionally, the bill defines "water system" to include all of the following: (1) a public community water system, as that term is defined by section 3 of P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-3); (2) a stormwater utility established pursuant to P.L.2019, c.42 (C.40A:26B-1 et seq.); and (3) an authority, as defined in P.L.1983, c. 313 (C.40A:5A-3), municipal public utility, as defined in P.L.1960, c.169 (C.40A:1-1), or public utility, as defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1983, c.78 (C.48:2-13.1), that provides sewer service. The bill provides that the program would provide the following types of financial assistance: (1) direct assistance; (2) assistance to renters and other households who do not receive a bill from a water system but pay other amounts, fees, or charges related to residential water system service; (3) water crisis intervention assistance; (4) water efficiency, leak detection, and plumbing repair measures for eligible households; and (5) debt relief for arrears, including arrears accrued prior to implementation of the program. The commissioner is required to coordinate the program with any existing assistance programs and in developing the program, the commissioner would consider adapting elements of one or more existing low-income energy assistance programs, including the Universal Service Fund and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The bill provides that in administering the program, the commissioner is required to consult and coordinate with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the Household Water Assistance Advisory Group to develop and publish performance metrics that are disaggregated by utility name, type of water service provided, municipality, and zip code, which include enrollment levels water shutoffs for inability to pay, and on-time payment levels. The bill would establish a "Household Water Assistance Advisory Group" to advise the commissioner in the development of the program. The advisory group would include representatives of each of the following entities, to be appointed by the Governor: a public community water system that is not a public utility; a public community water system that is a public utility; a stormwater utility once created; an authority or municipal public utility that provides sewer services; three representatives of non-governmental organizations; a member from the public that comes from an eligible household; at least one technical assistance provider, such as organizations that support the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or other low income utility assistance programs; at least one local agency or non-profit organization that manages multifamily housing serving low-income residents; at least one person with technical expertise in measuring the affordability of water services; at least one municipal official appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities; and at least one county official appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Counties The bill provides that the commissioner would be required to consult, coordinate, and collaborate with the advisory group on certain matters. The bill would also require the commissioner to annually adopt an expenditure plan for assistance to be provided under the program through the "Water Rate Assistance Fund" (fund) created pursuant to the bill. The fund would be a non-lapsing fund to contain monies appropriated annually by the Legislature, federal and other grants received by the State, and any other monies made available to fund the water affordability assistance required to be provided in the bill. The bill provides that no later than one year after the enactment of this bill, BPU would be required to establish a mechanism for public utilities that provide electric or natural gas services to regularly share data with the department regarding customers currently enrolled in low-income energy assistance programs. Additionally, the commissioner would be allowed to enter into agreements with municipal public utilities that provide electric or natural gas service, for the purposes of regularly sharing data with the department regarding utility customers enrolled in, or eligible to be enrolled in, affordability programs benefiting low-income households. The board and the commissioner would be required to ensure that the data shared and collected under the bill would be subject to existing confidentiality protections provided under State law. The bill would appropriate $75 million to the fund within the department for the purpose of administering the program from the funds provided to the State by the United States government under the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L. 117-2. | In Committee |
| S1985 | Legalizes growing or possessing up to six marijuana plants for personal recreational use, and up to 10 plants for personal medical use, by persons aged 21 or older. | This bill would make it legal for a person aged 21 or over to grow and possess certain amounts of marijuana for personal use. P.L.2021, c.16, which legalized the personal use of cannabis, provides that possession of six ounces or less of marijuana, including any adulterants or dilutants, is not subject to any punishment, as this possession is not a crime, offense, act of delinquency, or civil violation of law. Under the enactment, possession of more than six ounces of marijuana, including any adulterants or dilutants, constitutes a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine of up to $10,000 or both. P.L.2021, c.16 does not make it legal for a person to grow their own marijuana for personal use. Under the bill, growing or possessing marijuana plants for personal recreational use or personal medical use by a person aged 21 or older would also not be a crime, offense, act of delinquency, or civil violation of law. The bill would apply under the following circumstances: (1) A person aged 21 or older may grow or possess up to six marijuana plants for personal recreational use, with a maximum of 12 plants per household; and (2) A qualifying patient as defined in section 3 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-3), aged 21 or older, or a designated caregiver, as defined in section 3 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-3), aged 21 or older, on behalf of the qualifying patient, may grow or possess up to 10 marijuana plants for personal medical use, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. | In Committee |
| S1497 | Permits persons participating in Drug Court and other programs to earn credit against amount owed on certain court-imposed financial obligations. | This bill would permit a person admitted into a court-ordered supervisory treatment program for drug or alcohol dependency, such as Drug Court, to earn credit against the amount owed on any court-imposed financial obligations, other than restitution or child support, or other support or maintenance ordered by a court. The credit would be based upon the performance of reformative service ordered by the court as a condition for admission into the supervisory treatment program, and could include such activities as substance abuse treatment or services, educational or vocational services, employment training or services, family counseling, and volunteer or other work. The court would determine the amount of credit that would be applied against the court-imposed financial obligation upon successful completion of the supervisory treatment program. If a person's participation is terminated before the person's successful completion of the supervisory treatment program, collection of the entire court-imposed financial obligation would be enforced. This bill embodies Recommendation No. 9 of the Report of the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees, issued June 2018. As indicated in the report, providing a mechanism for persons participating in supervisory treatment programs to eliminate or reduce outstanding court-ordered financial obligations further incentivizes their participation and successful completion of such programs. | In Committee |
| S1535 | Concerns local taxation of business personal property of local exchange telephone companies. | This bill clarifies the application of the business personal property tax on local exchange telephone companies that were subject to the tax as of April 1, 1997. This bill clarifies the changes made in 1997 to the business personal property tax that defined local exchange telephone companies that were subject to that tax on April 1, 1997. The Tax Court, in Verizon New Jersey Inc. v. Borough of Hopewell, which was decided on June 26, 2012, incorrectly construed the plain meaning of the language of the statutory change made in 1997 in a manner inconsistent with Legislative intent. That statutory change was intended to permanently make part of a municipality's property tax base the business personal property of all incumbent local exchange companies that were then subject to that tax and were a telecommunications carrier then meeting the definition of providing dial tone and access to 51 percent of a local telephone exchange. Local exchange telephone companies have taken advantage of the Tax Court's interpretation of the statute and informed municipalities in which their business personal property is located that it will no longer pay tax on that business personal property, such as equipment, utility poles, cables and more in any given municipality where it claims on an annual basis that it does not provide 51 percent or more of landline service to its residents. This unintended erosion of the local property tax base in the affected municipalities impacts all other local property taxpayers in these municipalities. This bill will restore the local property tax status quo intended to be determined in 1997 by revising the definition of "local exchange telephone company" to mean a telecommunications carrier which held the regional monopoly on landline service before the market was opened to competitive local exchange carriers by the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, or the corporate successors of such a local exchange telephone company. This will accomplish two important purposes: first, it will require that the dominant telecommunications carrier in each region pay the business personal property tax on its business personal property regardless of the percentage of a local telephone exchange that it serves, and will permanently enshrine that business personal property into the tax base of the municipalities in which it is located. The bill would also require that if a municipality is the prevailing party in a court proceeding between it and a local exchange telephone company concerning the taxation of business personal property pursuant to R.S.54:4-1 following a court decision, settlement, or other resolution of that proceeding, the municipality, and any related amicus entities, shall be awarded attorney's fees as costs to the local exchange telephone company. | In Committee |
| S734 | Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer. | This bill requires hospital, medical, and health service corporations, commercial individual, small employer, and larger group insurers, health maintenance organizations, and the State Health Benefits Program to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer for symptomatic women or women at risk of ovarian cancer, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, an annual pelvic examination, an ultrasound and blood testing for cancer markers, such as CA 125 levels. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. The provisions of this bill will ensure that women who may have symptoms of ovarian cancer, or are at risk of ovarian cancer because of a family history or other health conditions, are able to receive appropriate and necessary diagnostic screening tests for this deadly disease. | In Committee |
| S1563 | Revises "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act" to prohibit smoking at certain outdoor public places. | This bill revises the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act" to prohibit smoking at certain public places. Under the revisions in the bill, smoking is to be prohibited in the following locations: race track facilities, facilities used for sporting events, ambulatory recreational facilities, amusement parks, recreational areas, marinas, historic sites, burial sites, natural areas, and boardwalks. | In Committee |
| S1570 | Prohibits Commissioner of Education from approving certain tests for teacher certification candidates with extended retake waiting periods. | This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Education from approving certain tests for teacher certification candidates with extended retake waiting periods. Under current State Board of Education regulations, a candidate for teacher certification is required to demonstrate basic skills proficiency through the achievement of a minimum score on a commissioner-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics. Currently, the Department of Education uses the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test (Praxis) as the sole commissioner-approved measure of basic skills proficiency. The test provider of the Praxis mandates that a teacher candidate wait at least 28 days after the previous test to be eligible to retake the test. Pursuant to the test provider's policy, any teacher candidate that violates the retake policy will have his or her test scores canceled without reimbursement of test fees. This bill prohibits the commissioner from approving any assessment of basic skills and any subject matter test for a candidate for teacher certification that mandates a retake waiting period of more than 14 days. Alternatively, the regulations provide that a candidate for teacher certification may meet the basic skills testing requirement by demonstrating a score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), ACT Assessment (ACT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) at or above the cut score for the year in which the exam was taken. The provisions of the bill do not affect the retake waiting periods for the SAT, ACT, and GRE. | In Committee |
| SCR54 | Condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. | This resolution condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. Throughout the last decade, there has been clear evidence of increasing incidents and expressions of anti-Semitism throughout the world. More recently, in a 2018 report, the Anti-Defamation League noted that in 2018 there were 1,879 anti-Semitic incidents against Jews and Jewish institutions, which included the deadliest attack on Jewish persons in American history on October 27, 2018 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where 11 worshippers were killed. In 2018, a report showed New Jersey ranked third in the nation in anti-Semitic incidents with 200 anti-Semitic incidents reported. In 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported an increase in hate crimes against Jews or Jewish institutions and found that attacks against Jews or Jewish institutions made up 60.3 percent of all religious-based hate crimes. There is an urgent need to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities, and synagogues, schools, cemeteries, and other institutions. Anti-Semitism is the centuries-old bigotry and form of racism faced by Jewish people simply because they are Jews. Anti-Semitism is a challenge to the basic principles of tolerance, pluralism, and democracy and the shared values that bind Americans together. The First Amendment to the Constitution established the United States as a country committed to the principles of tolerance and religious freedom, and the Fourteenth Amendment established equal protection of the laws as the heart of justice in the United States. Adherence to these principles is vital to the progress of the American people and the diverse communities and religious groups of the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey Legislature unequivocally condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts in this State, the United States, and throughout the world to justify anti-Jewish hatred. In 2021, anti-Semitic incidents were the highest in the past 10 years, reaching an all-time high of 2,717 incidents in the United States. In New Jersey, anti-Semitic incidents in 2021 were the second highest in the nation for the third straight year, and comprised 14 percent of the total number of incidents in the United States. There were 370 anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey in 2021, representing an increase from 345 in 2019 and 295 in 2020. Of these incidents in New Jersey, 123 took place in public areas, 82 took place in non-Jewish K-12 schools, 44 took place at Jewish institutions, 40 occurred at private residences, 35 took place at business establishments, and 29 took place online. The 44 incidents that took place at Jewish institutions in New Jersey in 2021 occurred across 13 different counties, represented a significant 76 percent increase compared to the 25 such incidents recorded in 2020, and included 39 incidents of harassment, four incidents of vandalism, and one incident of assault. Incidents related to Israel or Zionism in New Jersey increased by 35 percent in 2021, reaching a total of 27 incidents. The Anti-Defamation League recorded the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents of 2021 during the month of May, which directly coincided with the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. There were 56 incidents documented in New Jersey in May 2021, which is 86 percent higher than the State's average monthly total of 30 incidents. In New Jersey's schools, there were 82 anti-Semitic incidents in 2021, representing a 110 percent increase relative to 2020, of which 40 were incidents of harassment and 42 were incidents of vandalism. In New Jersey's institutions of higher education, there were 16 anti-Semitic incidents recorded in 2021, which represents a 45 percent increase relative to the 11 incidents recorded in 2020. | In Committee |
| S1539 | Requires nonpublic secondary schools and independent institutions of higher education to make payment to school districts for educational costs of students residing in tax-exempt housing upon adoption of resolution by municipal governing body. | This bill would require that, upon adoption of a resolution by the governing body or bodies of a municipality or municipalities constituting a school district, a nonpublic school which offers an educational program for students in grades 9 through 12, or in any one or more of those grade levels, or an independent institution of higher education to annually make a payment for any student who resides in a tax-exempt facility located on property owned by the entity and is enrolled in a public school district or a charter school. The amount of the payment will equal the district's per pupil general fund local levy amount for the budget year. Under the bill's provisions, annually by November 1 of the budget year, a board of education would notify the nonpublic school or independent college or university of the number of resident students enrolled in the school district or a charter school who reside in a tax-exempt facility owned by the entity, the per pupil general fund local levy amount, and the total payment owed to the district. The payment must be forwarded to the board of education within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the required payment. The recipient district's tax levy growth cap for the subsequent school year will be reduced by the amount of the total payment received under this bill, thus ensuring that the additional revenue is used to reduce property taxes. | In Committee |
| S1509 | Establishes "Police Officer, Firefighter, Public School Teacher, Corrections Officer, and Sanitation Worker Home-buyer Assistance Act"; appropriates $5 million. | This bill is entitled the "Police Officer, Firefighter, Public School Teacher, Corrections Officer, and Sanitation Worker Home-buyer Assistance Act." The bill establishes a program to provide down-payment assistance to encourage qualified police officers, firefighters, public school teachers, corrections officers, and sanitation workers to purchase homes in specially designated neighborhoods of the "SDA" school districts in which they are employed. The bill includes a $5 million General Fund appropriation for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) to administer the program. The bill directs the NJHMFA to administer the down-payment assistance program. Down-payment assistance would be provided in the form of zero percent interest rate second mortgage loans of $10,000 to qualified police officers, firefighters, public school teachers, corrections officers, and sanitation workers. The loans may be used for down payments and closing costs on single or two-family homes. The loans are to be forgiven at a rate of 20% per year for five years. Program assistance is conditioned on maintenance of the home as a primary residence for at least five years. Violation of the primary residence requirement prior to completion of the five year timeframe results in the unforgiven balance becoming due and payable, except in situations of death or divorce. For a municipality to participate in the program, it must be coextensive with an "SDA" school district and its governing body must adopt an ordinance to participate. Subject to further requirements developed by the NJHMFA, the municipality's ordinance must identify participating neighborhoods by street boundary and may limit participation to qualified applicants with a specified number of years of service. For all participating municipalities, qualified applicants must have at least one year of creditable service as a member of the applicable pension system. Employers are required to certify qualified employment of applicants to the NJHMFA. The bill includes rulemaking authority for the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education and the Executive Director of the NJHMFA. The bill is scheduled to take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment. | In Committee |
| S1489 | Imposes requirements on video visitation service contracts for inmates in certain correctional facilities; requires correctional facilities to allow contact visits. | This bill imposes requirements on video visitation service contracts for inmates in State, county, and private correctional facilities and requires correctional facilities to allow inmates to have contact visits. Under the provisions of this bill, the State Treasurer or other appropriate person on behalf of the county or private correctional facility is to contract with a vendor who charges a per minute rate for video visitation, including video visitation that is accessed by visitors from a location other than a correctional facility, which is not to exceed 11 cents per minute and who is the lowest responsible bidder. A vendor is not to bill any service charge or additional fee exceeding the per minute rate. The bill also provides that a State, county, or private correctional facility is not permitted to receive a commission or impose a surcharge for video visitation usage by inmates in addition to the charges imposed by the service provider. Further, under the bill, the contract is to include a term that requires monetary penalties to be imposed on a vendor who does not maintain consistent and reliable quality of the video visitation service. In addition, a video visitation service provider is required to refund, in a timely manner, any charges imposed: (1) for a scheduled video visitation that does not occur for any reason other than the fault of the visitor; or (2) any video visitation in which communication between the inmate and the visitor is substantially impaired due to low quality audio or video. The bill prohibits a State, county, or private correctional facility from imposing a charge for video visitation between an inmate and the inmate's attorney, a representative of the attorney, or a member of the clergy. In addition, correctional facilities are required to allow inmates to have contact visits with approved visitors and may only impose reasonable conditions necessary for safety and security within the correctional facility. Finally, correctional facilities are required to implement reasonable visiting hours for both contact visits and video visitation. | In Committee |
| S1961 | Provides for presumptive eligibility for home and community-based services and services provided through program of all-inclusive care for the elderly under Medicaid. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (department) to provide for the presumptive eligibility for home and community-based services, nursing home services, and the program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) under Medicaid for an individual who is: seeking home and community-based services, nursing home care or PACE enrollment; awaiting an eligibility determination for Medicaid and any applicable Medicaid waiver program offering home and community-based services, nursing home services, or services provided through PACE; and likely to be financially and clinically eligible for Medicaid and any applicable Medicaid waiver program offering home and community-based services, nursing home services, or services provided through PACE as determined by the department. The department will provide Medicaid coverage for eligible home and community-based services, nursing home services, services provided through PACE to an individual who is granted presumptive eligibility. Coverage will begin upon the receipt of an individual's request for services and will end if the individual is determined clinically or financially ineligible for home and community-based services, nursing home services, or services provided through PACE under Medicaid during the eligibility determination process. An individual seeking presumptive eligibility for home and community-based services, nursing home services, or services provided through PACE under Medicaid will be required to submit a request to the department in a manner and form as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner). An individual granted presumptive eligibility will be required to submit a completed application for Medicaid and any applicable Medicaid waiver program offering home and community-based services, nursing home services, or services provided through PACE no later than the end of the month following the month in which presumptive eligibility is granted. The department will provide each individual granted presumptive eligibility pursuant to this bill a written notice explaining the terms and conditions of presumptive eligibility and the home and community-based services, nursing home services, or services provided through PACE that the individual will be eligible to receive. A home and community-based services provider, nursing home facility, or PACE center is to be reimbursed for all Medicaid-eligible services rendered to an individual who has been granted presumptive eligibility, regardless of whether the individual granted presumptive eligibility is determined clinically or financially ineligible for home and community-based services, nursing home services, or services provided through PACE under Medicaid during the eligibility determination process. The commissioner will apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this bill and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. | Dead |
| S2241 | 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 |
| S1983 | 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 |
| S1553 | Allows public schools to let certain students not enrolled in school participate in high school interscholastic athletics; allows public high schools in same district to enter into cooperative sports programs under certain conditions. | This bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to allow public high schools in the same school district to enter into a cooperative sports program for any sport at the varsity level if either of the schools demonstrates an inability to field a team at the varsity level due to: a decline in interest or participation in the sport at one of the schools that impacts the ability of that school to safely field a team; or budgetary constraints which force the elimination of certain sports programs at one of the schools. Under the current rules of the NJSIAA, schools are prohibited from entering into cooperative sports programs for basketball, baseball, softball and spring track, and in football if one of the schools is classified as a Group III school. This bill requires the NJSIAA to allow the schools to enter into cooperative sports programs regardless of the sport or the member schools' Group classification. The bill also permits school districts to allow students who attend nonpublic schools to try out for, and participate in, a high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence if the district is unable to field a team due to a decline in interest or participation in the sport that impacts the ability of the district to safely field a team or squad, and if the nonpublic school does not sponsor a high school interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Comparable provisions are included in the bill that will permit school districts to also allow homeschooled students and charter school students to try out for, and participate in, a high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the district. Public school students who may wish to participate in a school-sponsored high school interscholastic athletics team or squad at a charter school would also be permitted to do so, under similar criteria. School districts and charter schools are permitted to charge students who participate in a school-sponsored high school interscholastic athletics team or squad pursuant to this bill, other than students with a financial hardship, a fee no greater than the actual cost per pupil of participating in the sport. | In Committee |
| S1301 | Concerns discriminatory appraisals of property on basis of race, creed, color, national origin, or certain other characteristics. | This bill concerns discriminatory appraisals of property on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, or certain other characteristics. Under the bill, named the "Fair Appraisals Act," holders of an appraisal license, certificate, or appraisal management company registration, will be subject to fines or have their licenses, certificates, or registrations suspended or revoked, if the holder is found to have discriminated in the appraisal of real estate on the basis of the actual or perceived race, creed, color, national origin, affectional or sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, or other characteristic listed pursuant to New Jersey's "Law Against Discrimination" of the property buyer, property owner, agents of the property buyer or owner, or present owners or occupants of the properties within the neighborhood of the property subject to appraisal. Any appraisal of real estate found to be discriminatory shall be void and of no effect and the holder of the license, certificate, or registration shall be required to make restitution of the cost of the discriminatory appraisal. If the State Real Estate Appraiser Board suspends a holder of a license, certification or registration, then the board is required to notify the holder of the board's rationale in writing. The board must also provide opportunity for a hearing to be held in accordance with the State's Administrative Procedure Act. Additionally, prior to the initiation of a property appraisal, a holder of a license, certification or registration is to provide a property owner or agent of the property owner with a document, given free of charge and in a form and manner prescribed by the State Real Estate Appraiser Board, informing the property owner of the opportunity to report, through the Division on Civil Rights within the Department of Law and Public Safety Internet website or telephone number, any suspicion of a discriminatory appraisal by the holder of a license, certificate, or registration pursuant to the provisions of the bill. When receiving a report of an alleged discriminatory appraisal, the Division on Civil Rights shall ascertain the basis for the allegation and solicit from the complainant relevant demographic information, including but not limited to, the identity of the complainant within the characteristics listed under the bill. The complainant may provide the demographic information solicited by the division on a voluntary basis. Information concerning the prohibition of discriminatory appraisals of property, including the statutory basis for the prohibition, is to be published on the Division of Consumer Affairs website. The bill requires a licensed real estate broker, broker-salesperson, or salesperson to provide, upon first interaction with a property owner or agent of the property owner, a free document informing the property owner of the opportunity to report any suspicion of a discriminatory appraisal. The bill requires a property owner to provide, during a private sale of real estate and upon first interaction with a property buyer or agent of the property buyer, a free document informing the property buyer of the opportunity to report any suspicion of a discriminatory appraisal. The bill requires a licensed mortgage broker, real estate broker, broker-salesperson, or other mortgage salesperson to, within three days of receiving a mortgage loan application, provide a mortgage loan applicant with a document informing the applicant of the opportunity to report any suspicion of a discriminatory appraisal to the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety. | In Committee |
| S2287 | Establishes NJ Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Pilot Program within EDA. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ("EDA") to establish and maintain the New Jersey Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Pilot Program ("program") and the New Jersey Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Fund ("fund"). Under the bill, the authority is required, within six months of the effective date of the bill, to provide financial assistance in the form of loan guarantees to non-profit organizations to support the construction of new physical spaces that are capable of generating income sufficient to repay the loans. Application Criteria The bill requires the EDA to establish an application process. A non-profit organization that seeks a loan guarantee agreement under the program is required to submit an application to the EDA in a form and manner prescribed by the EDA. In addition to any other information that the EDA may deem appropriate, the application is required to request the non-profit organization to submit proof that the non-profit organization has: 1) been determined by the federal Internal Revenue Service to be a tax-exempt organization pursuant to federal law; 2) been in existence for 10 years prior to the effective date of the bill; and 3) received financial assistance from the State, including grants, loans, or any other form of assistance prior to the effective date of the bill. The EDA may only approve the application if the EDA determines: 1) that the loan for which the application for a loan guarantee has been submitted is expected to result in the creation of 10 or more full-time jobs upon completion of construction of a new physical space financed under the provisions of the bill; 2) based on the projections by the non-profit organization, including the data and assumptions forming the basis thereof, of the profitability and financial stability over the term of the loan guarantee, that the loan for which the application for a loan guarantee has been submitted will support the construction of new physical space that is capable of generating income sufficient to repay the loan through box office sales, private donations, sponsorships, or other sources of revenue; and 3) that the non-profit organization has a record of financial stability, good reputation, and credit worthiness. Loan Guarantee Agreements Under the bill, the EDA would enter into an agreement with a participating bank and a non-profit organization qualified pursuant to the bill to use the moneys from the fund to guarantee a direct loan or revolving line of credit provided by the participating bank to finance the construction of a new physical space by the qualified non-profit organization. Each loan guarantee agreement that the EDA enters into with a participating bank and non-profit organization will not exceed $15 million per qualified applicant or a period of more than 20 years. The agreements are also required to provide for any other terms or conditions that the EDA and the participating banks determine as being necessary or desirable to effectuate the purpose of the program. The EDA is also required to establish sufficient reserves and liquid reserves to provide a sufficient and actuarially sound basis for its pledges contained in any loan guarantee agreement entered into pursuant to the bill. Loan Fund The bill requires the fund to be credited with: 1) an amount from the Economic Recovery Fund that the EDA determines is necessary to effectively implement the program, within the limits of funding available from the Economic Recovery Fund; 2) any moneys received by the EDA from the repayment of the moneys in the guarantee fund used to provide loan guarantees pursuant to the bill and interest thereon; and 3) any other moneys of the EDA, including but not limited to, any moneys available from other business assistance programs administered by the EDA that are authorized and determined by the EDA to be deposited in the fund. Report Requirements Finally, within 24 months following the effective date of the bill, and on or before February 15 of each year thereafter in which a loan guarantee agreement entered into under the bill is in effect, the EDA is required to prepare a report on the program. The report may be issued separately, or in combination with any reports required by any law concerning financial assistance to non-profit organizations in New Jersey. The report is required to include, but need not be limited to, a description of the demand for the program from qualified non-profits and participating banks, the efforts made by the EDA to promote the program, the total amount of loan guarantees approved by the EDA under the program, and an assessment of the effectiveness of the program in meeting the goals of the bill. The EDA is required to submit its report to the Governor and the Legislature, including any recommendations for legislation to improve the effectiveness of the program. | In Committee |
| S1511 | Provides televisions in State buildings shall display closed captioning for programming. | The purpose of this bill is to enable hearing-impaired persons to more easily understand television programs in State buildings. The bill provides that every television that is located in any portion of a building owned or leased by the State that is available for viewing by members of the public or public employees shall display closed captioning for all programming for which closed captioning is available. Under the bill, "closed captioning" is the visual display of written words on a television screen of the audio portion of video programming. The bill will not apply to any television manufactured before the bill's effective date that cannot accommodate closed captioning. | In Committee |
| S2170 | Requires DOE to maintain list of textbook vendors that use inclusive material and school districts to use textbooks from those vendors. | This bill requires the Department of Education to develop and maintain a list of textbook vendors that incorporate inclusive material in their textbooks and to distribute the list to school districts and make the list publicly available on the department's website. "Inclusive material" as defined in the bill means content in a textbook that accurately portrays the diversity of our society, in such areas as gender, race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation. Under the bill, when a school district determines to acquire a new textbook, the district will be required to select the textbook from a vendor that is included on the department's list. Notwithstanding, the bill allows a school district to propose to the Commissioner of Education a textbook vendor that is not currently on the department's list and to acquire and use textbooks from that vendor upon the approval of the commissioner. The requirements of the bill would not apply to textbooks acquired by a school district using the Statewide textbook bank created pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2002, c.98 (C.18A:34-3) or to textbooks that require replacement due to damage or loss. | In Committee |
| S2164 | Expands liability of certain individuals associated with limited liability companies and other commercial entities, when acting as residential landlord. | This bill expands the liability of certain individuals associated with limited liability companies and other commercial entities in relation to residential properties that they lease. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to retaining the ability to hold a commercial entity itself liable for housing, building, and health code charges, and charges issued under the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," ("HMDL") P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.), a court may hold certain members of a member-managed limited liability company, the managers of a manager-managed limited liability company, and the directors and officers of a corporation, jointly and severally liable for such charges, so long as:(1) there are at least three charges concerning the property leased by the entity for residential purposes;(2) at least three charges remain unpaid on the first day of the thirteenth month following the due date of the first charge;(3) notice of the charge and impending enforcement has been issued to the address of the record owner, the registered agent, the managing agent, the members in the case of a limited liability company, the directors and officers in the case of a corporation, and each holder of a recorded mortgage and other existing lienholders, if provided within the landlord's registration information. If the landlord is not registered, in violation of section 2 of P.L.1974, c.50 (C.46:8-28), then this notice requirement would not apply. The notice provided to an individual would be sufficient even if the commercial entity ceases to own the property, so long as the same individual has a role as a registered agent, managing agent, member, manager, director, or officer of the property's new owner;(4) the individual, if a member of a member-managed limited liability company, possesses at least a 10 percent interest in the business and(5) the defendant does not successfully assert an affirmative defense showing a lack of ability to ensure payment of the charge. Additionally, landlord registration requirements, under section 2 of P.L.1974, c.50 (C.46:8-28), currently require submission of the name and address of a registered agent who may accept service of process if the landlord is a corporation. This bill requires a landlord organized as any other legal or commercial entity, to also submit the name and address of a registered agent, as well as the name and address of the members of a member-managed limited liability company who possess at least a 10 percent interest in the business, and the officers and directors in the case of a corporation, when registering as a landlord. Upon filing this information, the bill requires the municipal clerk to notify the construction official and the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury of the name and address of the record owner, and registered agent as applicable. Finally, this bill allows municipalities to amend their housing, building, and health codes to direct that any charge issued to a landlord for violating the code may, after serving notice, be enforced as a lien on the property. However, enforcement as a lien would only be permitted if the charge remains unpaid on the first day of the thirteenth month following the due date of the charge. | In Committee |
| SCR56 | Amends Constitution to give public employees the right to collective bargaining. | This constitutional amendment provides that public employees have the specific right to engage in collective bargaining. | In Committee |
| S1505 | Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for persons 18 or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs. | This bill requires health insurance carriers, including insurance companies, health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, or health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey or any entity contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program or School Employees' Health Benefits Program to provide coverage for persons 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs. The bill requires that the benefits be provided for expenses incurred in conducting medical services, procedures, or testing, nursing care, and the purchase of medical equipment or prescription drugs to persons 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs, provided the attending licensed health care provider determines it medically necessary. In addition, the bill requires that health insurance carriers and contracts for health benefits or prescription drug benefits purchased by the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program approve any benefit for a person 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs within three days of receipt of a letter from the attending licensed health care provider and shall not condition the payment of any benefit for a medical service, procedure, test, nursing care, or purchase of medical equipment or prescription drug upon any pre-approval or precertification of any kind if that medical service, procedure, test, nursing care, or purchase of medical equipment or prescription drug is otherwise covered under the health benefits plan and it has been prescribed by a licensed health care provider. | In Committee |
| S1486 | Permits counties to establish a central municipal drug court. | This bill permits counties to establish by ordinance a central municipal drug court. This court would have jurisdiction to hear cases arising in the county involving crimes of the fourth degree or disorderly persons offenses or petty disorderly persons offenses related to controlled dangerous substances. Juveniles may be referred by the Presiding Judge of the Family Part of Superior Court for the vicinage in which such a court is established. The bill establishes procedures for the appointment of judges to this drug court. In a county that has established a central municipal drug court, the judge of the central municipal drug court shall be nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. In those counties having a county executive, the county executive may submit the names of judicial candidates for judge of the central municipal drug court to the Governor. In all other counties, the governing body may submit the names of judicial candidates for judge of the central municipal drug court to the Governor. The bill makes community service or sentencing to a drug treatment program an option in lieu of incarceration. The county or municipal official in charge of the community service program or the director of the drug treatment program shall report to the central municipal drug court any failure of a person subject to a court order to complete either. Upon receipt of such a report, the central municipal drug court may revoke its order and impose any sentence consistent with the original sentence. The bill provides that a county or municipality may employ an attorney-at-law as a prosecutor, under the supervision of the Attorney General or county prosecutor, who may represent the State, county or municipality in any matter within the jurisdiction of the central municipal drug court. The bill also makes provision for representation of indigents. | In Committee |
| SCR50 | Amends Constitution to dedicate money credited to the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" to maintain 9-1-1 system and emergency response. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution prohibiting money from being drawn from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" for any purpose or in any manner other than as established under current law.Under current law, money from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" is used for funding the State's capital equipment, facilities, and operating expenses that arise from emergency response, emergency response training, operating the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services, operating the Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission, implementing the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission concerning 9-1-1 service, planning, designing, or implementing automatic location identification technology, and planning, designing, or acquiring replacement equipment or systems related to enhanced 9-1-1 network service. In the past, money from the trust fund account has been used for other purposes.This amendment to the State Constitution prohibits money in the trust fund account from being used for any other purpose other than those established under current law. | In Committee |
| S1937 | Requires public and nonpublic secondary schools to annually conduct written or verbal substance use screening on all students using a particular screening program. | This bill will require school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools to provide for an annual written or verbal substance use screening on each high school student. The screening will assess the student's risk for substance abuse using the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) program. If the student screens positive for potential substance misuse, the person administering the screening will be required to provide brief counseling using motivational interviewing and assist the student with referral to treatment options, if needed. The Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, using existing public and private training resources, will make available to school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools, training for personnel using the SBIRT program. Under the provisions of the bill, the parent or guardian of a student being screened must be given prior written notice of the screening and an opportunity to have the student opt out of the screening. The bill also includes a provision regarding the privacy of information collected during the screening. Statements made by a student during a screening are considered confidential information and cannot be disclosed by a person receiving the statement to any other person without the prior written consent of the student and the student's parent or guardian, except in cases of immediate medical emergency or if disclosure is otherwise required by State law. A school district, charter school, or nonpublic school is permitted to opt out of the SBIRT program required pursuant to the bill, if it is implementing an alternative screening program and provides to the Department of Education a detailed description of the alternative program and the reasons why the SBIRT program is not appropriate for its use. The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Human Services, will promulgate regulations to effectuate the provisions of this bill, including standards pursuant to which the SBIRT program will be conducted. | In Committee |
| S2137 | Requires civil service examination for police and correctional police officers to include questions to identify implicit racial bias. | This bill requires the State Civil Service Commission to include on the Civil Service entry-level law enforcement examination questions designed to identify implicit bias, including racial bias, in candidates applying for appointment to law enforcement officer positions. The test is required for applicants for municipal and county police officers, adult and juvenile correctional police officers, sheriff's officers, and other law enforcement officer positions. Implicit bias refers to unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions and may cause feelings and attitudes about other people based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, age, and appearance. | In Committee |
| S1541 | Permits voter registration at polling place on election day. | This bill allows a person eligible to vote to register on the day of a municipal, primary, or general election at the person's assigned polling place, and to vote in that election. An applicant would be required to present an identifying document as specified under R.S.19:31-5, complete a voter registration form, and sign an affidavit declaring that he or she is not already properly registered to vote, has lived in the county for at least 30 days, has not previously voted in the election being held on that day, and upon voting will not vote again in that election. A designee of the county commissioner of registration would then issue a temporary registration certificate to a qualified applicant, who would be permitted to vote by provisional ballot at that election. Within two days after the election, the commissioner of registration would notify the applicant by mail that he or she is registered to vote. The bill also provides for the investigation and verification of the voter registration forms of voters who registered on election day if the notification of voter registration is returned by the post office as undeliverable. | In Committee |
| S287 | Concerns carbon monoxide detectors in multiple dwellings and certain hotels. | This bill provides an additional layer of protection for occupants of certain multiple dwelling units requiring carbon monoxide detectors. The bill requires that any hotel or multiple dwelling unit that is required to be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector and that is already equipped with a monitored fire alarm system, also be equipped with a monitored carbon monoxide system. The bill defines a "monitored fire alarm system" as a fire detection or suppression system that, in addition to sounding a localized siren or alert, also transmits a notification to the local fire department or emergency services entity in order to alert that entity of a potential fire emergency requiring response from the department or entity. A "monitored carbon monoxide system" is defined by the bill as a carbon monoxide sensor device that, in addition to sounding a localized siren or alert, also transmits a notification to the local fire department or emergency services entity in order to alert that entity of a potential carbon monoxide emergency requiring response from the department or entity. | In Committee |
| S1512 | Requires DHS to implement payment strategy to encourage the use of long acting reversible contraceptives. | This bill would require the Department of Human Services to implement payment strategies to encourage the use of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). The payment strategy is required to include, but not be limited to, the following initiatives: (1) provide timely, patient-centered comprehensive coverage for the provision of LARCs for women; (2) reimburse for immediate postpartum insertion of LARCs separate from other labor and delivery services; (3) remove logistical barriers for supply management of LARC devices; and (4) remove administrative barriers for provision of LARC devices. Furthermore, the bill would require the department to ensure that the managed care organizations which provide health insurance coverage for a vast majority of Medicaid clients also implement these strategies. Nationally, the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services launched the Maternal and Infant Health Initiative in July 2014 to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. One goal of the initiative was to increase access and use of effective methods of contraception. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified LARCs as among the most effective family planning methods, with pregnancy rates of fewer than 1 pregnancy per 100 women in the first year. Yet, the use of LARCs in the United States is relatively low when compared to other countries. Two reasons cited for the low utilization of LARCs in the United States are administrative and reimbursement barriers that result in high upfront costs for devices, and payment policies that reduce (or do not provide) reimbursement for devices or placement. This bill is intended to motivate the department to adopt policies to increase access and availability of LARCs to State Medicaid clients. | In Committee |
| S1555 | Requires that workers' compensation judges and administrative law judges be included in database of appointed officials. | This bill requires that workers' compensation judges and administrative law judges be included in the database of appointed officials maintained by The Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The Eagleton Institute of Politics maintains two databases containing information on the personal characteristics of those appointed to certain State positions, such as boards, commissions, authorities and judgeships. This bill will require that those appointed to be workers' compensation judges and administrative law judges be included in the database. | In Committee |
| S442 | Increases penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. | This bill would increase the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. Fentanyl is an anesthetic and analgesic, first synthesized in the 1950's, that in recent years has become a drug of abuse. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and is potentially lethal even at very low doses. Under current law, set out in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:35-5 and section 6 of P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-6), unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of one ounce or more is a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both. Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of less than one ounce is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both. However, the fine imposed for the third degree offense involving fentanyl is increased to up to $75,000. Under the bill, the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl would match the penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing heroin or cocaine under current law. The bill provides that unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of five ounces or more would be a crime of the first degree. A crime of the first degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years or a fine of up to $200,000, or both. Under the bill the defendant would be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which the defendant would be ineligible for parole. The defendant would also be sentenced to pay an increased fine of up to $500,000. The bill provides that if the quantity of fentanyl unlawfully manufactured, distributed, or dispensed is one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the second degree. If the quantity is less than one-half ounce, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the third degree with an increased fine of up to $75,000. | In Committee |
| S2232 | Establishes New Jersey Community Learning Program in DOE to provide comprehensive extended learning time programs in certain communities; dedicates portion of State cannabis revenue to support program. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Community Learning Program in the Department of Education to support the provision of comprehensive extended learning time programs in certain areas most impacted by the criminalization of cannabis ("impact zones"). The costs of the program would be supported by a portion of the annual State revenues collected from the retail sale of recreational cannabis products. Under the bill, every school district located within an impact zone ("impact district") would be required to establish and implement an extended learning time program. These programs would endeavor to close the achievement gap and provide services for enrolled students during non-school hours, including summer and holiday recesses. The bill allows these services to be provided at one or more locations, including existing school facilities and approved off-site locations, except that the district would be required to provide participating students with transportation to and from any such location. Following the effective date of the bill, each impact district, in collaboration with the governing body of each municipality located within the district, would be required to conduct two public hearings to receive community input concerning the establishment of an extended learning time program. Before implementing the program, the board of education of an impact district would also be required to submit a program plan to the commissioner for approval. At a minimum, the program plan would be required to include: (1) a detailed description of the services that will be provided through the program; (2) a detailed description of the background and qualifications of the personnel who will supervise and staff the program; (3) a schedule of the days and hours during which the program will operate; (4) the criteria that will be used to determine eligibility for student participation in the program; (5) an estimate of the number of students who will participate in the program; (6) the locations in which academic assistance and community enrichment services will be provided; (7) an estimate of the annual cost of implementing the program; and (8) any other information that the board of education may deem necessary. The bill requires the commissioner to approve or conditionally approve each program plan within 30 calendar days of receipt. If the commissioner conditionally approves a program plan, the plan would be deemed approved when the board of education adopts all revisions contained in the conditional approval. Thereafter, an impact district may modify its extended learning time program by submitting a revised program plan to the commissioner for approval. Under the bill, the department would be required to annually distribute such funding as is necessary to each impact district to defray the full costs of implementing the extended learning time program. The bill requires all State funds received by an impact district to be accounted for in a special revenue fund and used exclusively to implement the extended learning time program. The bill provides that an impact district would not be required to implement an extended learning time program during any year in which State funding is not provided pursuant to this bill. The bill also establishes the New Jersey Community Learning Assistance Fund, which would be used to distribute program funding to impact districts. Beginning in State Fiscal Year 2022, the bill requires the State to annually deposit into the assistance fund an amount determined by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission from the State revenue collected from the tax imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) on the retail sale of recreational cannabis products. However, if in any year, these amounts are insufficient to support the full distribution of funding to impact districts, the State would be required to appropriate such additional amounts as are necessary from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the assistance fund. This bill would take effect on the date of enactment, or on the effective date of an amendment to the State Constitution to legalize cannabis for personal, non-medical use by adults who are 21 years of age or older, whichever occurs later. | In Committee |
| S2263 | Establishes Co-Curricular Activity Emergency Grant Program to support operations of co-curricular activities at public schools; appropriates $750,000. | This bill establishes a Co-Curricular Activity Emergency Grant Program in the Department of Education to support the continued operations of certain academic-related, co-curricular activities that are offered to students by public schools. The bill permits any school district, charter school, or renaissance school to apply to the Department of Education for a co-curricular activity emergency grant. Each grant would be dedicated to supporting the operations of one or more co-curricular activities that are offered to students who attend the recipient school. When submitting an application, the school district, charter school, or renaissance school would be required to designate the co-curricular activities to which grant funding would be dedicated. Under the bill, each grant would be awarded in an amount determined by the Commissioner of Education. When awarding grants, the commissioner may give preference to applicants that experienced the largest reduction in revenues due to the outbreak of COVID-19, or dedicate funding to specific co-curricular activities. As used in the bill, a "co-curricular activity" means a voluntary activity or program that is conducted outside of regular school hours and supplements the academic experience of participating students, including such activities as model United Nations, debate competitions, theatrical performances, musical performances, and other academic-related activities. The bill also appropriates $750,000 from the General Fund to support the operations of the grant program. | In Committee |
| S1547 | Provides that salary and other costs associated with Commissioner of Education's appointment of State monitor and other staff under "School District Fiscal Accountability Act" will be paid by State. | This bill provides that the salary and other costs associated with a State monitor and any additional staff appointed by the Commissioner of Education under the provisions of the "School District Fiscal Accountability Act," P.L.2006, c.15 (C.18A:7A-54 et seq.), to provide direct oversight of a board of education's business operations and personnel matters will be paid by the State. Under current law, these costs are assumed by the school district. | In Committee |
| S296 | Requires mail-in ballot applications to include prepaid postage. | Under current law, a voter may complete and return to the county clerk by regular mail an application requesting to receive a mail-in ballot. This bill requires the mail-in ballot application form sent by mail to include prepaid postage, to be paid by the State. The bill will be implemented following the 2023 primary election. | In Committee |
| S1561 | Establishes increased penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on public beaches. | The New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act prohibits the smoking of cannabis and marijuana, as well as cigarettes, on a public beach. Penalties for smoking in violation of this act are $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. This bill increases the penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on a public beach to $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $1,500 for the third and subsequent offenses. The penalties for smoking cigarettes on a public beach would remain unchanged. Beach towns in New Jersey have experienced difficulty in enforcing the Smoke Free Air Act in light of the legalization of recreational cannabis and the decriminalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. It is the sponsor's view that these increased penalties will help deter the smoking of cannabis and marijuana on public beaches in this State. | In Committee |
| S2204 | Establishes "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program"; appropriates $95,000. | This bill establishes the three-year "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program," which is to be developed and operated by the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner is to select one or more institutions of higher education that offers an educator preparation program, and one or more school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects that each employ at least one male teacher of color to participate in the pilot program. Under the pilot program, the commissioner is to select 19 male students of color from among the institutions of higher education selected for participation in the pilot program and 19 male teachers of color from the school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects selected for participation in the pilot program. To be eligible for the program, a student is required to be in the final year of an educator preparation program. The commissioner is required to pair each selected student with a current teacher, who is to serve as the student's mentor through the candidate's last year of the educator preparation program and, if the student is hired for employment in the participating district, charter school, or renaissance school project upon the student's graduation from an educator preparation program, for the first two years of the student's teaching career. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that provides mentoring services under the provisions of the amended bill is to conduct a review of the student's performance under the pilot program following completion of the student's final year in an educator preparation program. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that provides mentoring services to a student under the pilot program is required to make a good faith effort to hire the student following the student's graduation from an educator preparation program, if the student receives a favorable performance review under the review conducted by the school district, charter school, or renaissance school project. Under the pilot program, a mentor is to receive a stipend of $5,000 for each year of participation in the pilot program. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner is to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program, including the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts, charter schools or renaissance school projects, and institutions of higher education in the State. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Education $95,000 to establish the "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program." | In Committee |
| S2243 | Establishes five-year community schools pilot program. | This bill establishes a five-year Community Schools Pilot Program in the Department of Education. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education is to identify and enter into a contract with an institution of higher education or a qualified nonprofit organization with the appropriate capacity and experience located in the State to manage the pilot program. The organization or institution and the department will be responsible for selecting one public school of a school district, renaissance school, or charter school in each county of the State that would receive direct assistance from a site coordinator assigned to the school. Additionally, the selected institution or organization is required to establish a technical assistance center that would be available to schools participating in the pilot program and would be responsible for making group training sessions and information about community schools available to any school district, renaissance school, or charter school interested in establishing a community school. The technical assistance center will be responsible for the Statewide dissemination of information on effective and promising practices in the establishment and ongoing management of community school strategies through professional development and technical assistance activities. Under the bill, the department, in coordination with the organization or institution, and the New Jersey Community Schools Coalition, is to develop specific criteria for selecting schools to participate in the program and receive direct support from a site coordinator. The selection criteria would be posted on the department's website. The organization or institution is required to employ and train individuals who would be assigned to serve as a site coordinator. Site coordinators are to be employees of the organization or institution, and not the school district, renaissance school, or charter school to which they are assigned. The salaries, wages, and other financial compensation of the site coordinators would be the responsibility of the organization or institution. The bill directs a public school selected to participate in the pilot to enter into an agreement with the selected institution or organization outlining at a minimum the role, responsibilities, and authority the site coordinator has in supporting the establishment of the community school site. The organization or institution can enter into an agreement with another nonprofit entity to assist it in fulfilling responsibilities enumerated in certain sections of the bill, subject to approval of the commissioner. The commissioner would receive an annual audit of the accounts and financial transactions of the organization or institution for the duration of the pilot program. The bill also directs the commissioner to enter into a contract with an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the pilot program. The final report, which the commissioner would forward to the Governor and the Legislature, would be due no later than six months following the conclusion of the pilot program. The bill establishes the Community Schools Pilot Program Fund in the Department of Education. The fund is to consist of any funds that are appropriated by the Legislature, investment earnings of the fund, and moneys contributed to the fund by private sources. The bill allows the moneys in the fund to be invested and reinvested as other trust funds in the custody of the State in the manner provided by law. | In Committee |
| S1528 | Establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with certain firearm offenses be detained prior to trial. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime or as a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm in violation of section 6 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:39-7) is to be detained prior to trial. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the "Criminal Justice Reform Law," criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of defendants who are found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Under section 6 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:39-7), persons convicted of certain serious crimes are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. A violation of this statute constitutes a crime of the second degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under this bill, if a court finds probable cause that a defendant possessed a firearm during the commission of a crime or was a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm there would be a rebuttable presumption that the person is to be detained pending trial because no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or combination thereof would reasonably assure the safety of any other person or the community. This presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of a preponderance of the evidence in support of the defendant. This rebuttable presumption applies under current law when a prosecutor makes a motion for the pretrial detention of a defendant charged with murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. | In Committee |
| S2240 | Provides temporary corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures. | This bill provides businesses with credits against the corporation business tax and the gross income tax for certain employer-provided child care expenditures. The bill allows the tax credits for the three calendar years beginning after enactment. The bill permits businesses subject to the corporation business tax or the gross income tax to apply a credit against the tax liability otherwise due for a percentage of up to $50,000 of eligible expenditure made to acquire, construct, reconstruct, renovate, or otherwise improve real property to be used as a qualified child care center. The bill also permits businesses to apply a separate, additional credit for a percentage of up to $50,000 of eligible expenditures made in connection with the provision of certain child care services. The bill provides that the amount of the credit allowed for the construction of a child care center is equal to 50 percent of up to $50,000 of the cost paid or incurred by a business to acquire, construct, reconstruct, renovate, or otherwise improve real property in this State that is to be used by the business, or another person under contract or agreement with the business, to conduct, maintain, and operate a qualified child care center primarily for the children of individuals employed by the business. The bill provides that the amount of the credit allowed for the provision of child care services is equal to: -- 50 percent of up to $50,000 of the cost paid or incurred by a business to conduct, maintain, and operate a qualified child care center of the business that is used primarily by the children of individuals employed by the business; -- 50 percent of up to $50,000 of the amount paid by a business to another person to conduct, maintain, and operate, under contract or agreement with the business, a qualified child care center of the business that is used primarily by the children of individuals employed by the business; -- 50 percent of up to $50,000 of the amount paid by a business to another person under contract or agreement with the business, for the provision of child care to children of individuals employed by the business at a qualified child care center; or -- 10 percent of up to $50,000 of the cost paid or incurred by a business for the provision, by the business or by another person under contract or agreement with the business, of qualified child care information and referral services to individuals employed by the business. The bill provides that to be eligible to apply the credit for the construction of a child care center a business must make and enter into an agreement with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The bill specifies that the agreement must require the business to demonstrate the intended use and status of the real property acquired, constructed, reconstructed, renovated, or otherwise improved in this State, and require the business to use that property to conduct, maintain, and operate a qualified child care center primarily for the children of individuals employed by the business for a 60-month period. The bill defines a "qualified child care center" as a facility that is licensed as a child care center by the Department of Children and Families, and participates in Grow NJ Kids, but specifically excludes from that definition facilities licensed by the department if: the principal use of the facility is for some purpose other than the care, development, and supervision of children; the facility is not used on a regular basis to provide for the care, development, and supervision of children; enrollment in the facility is not open to children of individuals employed by the business claiming the credit; or use of the facility is limited or restricted under procedures, criteria, or other systems of selection that unfairly discriminate. The purpose of this bill is to encourage New Jersey businesses to take a more active role in the provision of child care to employees and their children. Businesses that are active in providing child care typically have a more engaged and productive workforce and play an integral part in reducing the overall demand for quality, affordable child care in this State. | In Committee |
| S1393 | Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis. | This bill authorizes the home cultivation of medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient's personal medical use. Specifically, the bill provides that a registered qualifying patient who is 21 years of age or older who provides notice to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission of the intent to home cultivate medical cannabis will be allowed to either home cultivate medical cannabis himself or herself, or authorize a designated caregiver to home cultivate medical cannabis on the patient's behalf. A home cultivator will be allowed to cultivate and possess up to four mature cannabis plants and up to four immature cannabis plants. Medical cannabis may only be home cultivated at the residence of the authorized home cultivator that is on file with the commission. The notice of intent to home cultivate medical cannabis provided to the commission is to specify which individual will home cultivate the medical cannabis. In no case may more than one individual home cultivate medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient at one time. A patient may change the designated home cultivator upon providing 10 days' notice to the commission. At least 10 days after providing the notice of change, but no more than 30 days after providing notice, any medical cannabis plants in the former home cultivator's possession may be transferred to the new designated home cultivator. Any plants that are not transferred to the new home cultivator are to be promptly surrendered to law enforcement for destruction. The failure to provide notice of a change in designated home cultivator will result in the patient's registration with the commission being deemed null and void. The commission will be required to promptly update the registry information for the patient and any affected designated caregiver upon receiving notice of the patient's intent to home cultivate medical cannabis or of a change in who is authorized to home cultivate medical cannabis for the patient. Any designated caregiver of a patient who elects to home cultivate medical cannabis will be authorized to possess, transport, and assist the patient with the administration of home-cultivated medical cannabis in dried form or in any other consumable form, regardless of whether the designated caregiver is designated as the patient's home cultivator. In addition to any other civil or criminal penalties as may apply, any individual in possession of home-cultivated medical cannabis in the form of a mature or immature plant or in any consumable form, who sells, donates, or furnishes the home-cultivated medical cannabis to any individual who is not authorized to be in possession of the home-cultivated medical cannabis under the bill, will be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000. In addition, the individual's registration with the commission will be deemed null and void, and the individual will be permanently ineligible for re-registration with the commission as a qualifying patient, a designated caregiver, or an institutional caregiver. It is the sponsor's intent to expand access to medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients who may find the medical cannabis that is available through a medical cannabis dispensary unaffordable, or who may otherwise benefit from the convenience of home cultivation or the ability to readily access medical cannabis in the strain and form appropriate to the patient's individual treatment needs. Of the 36 states that have approved a comprehensive medical cannabis program, 17, or nearly half, currently allow for home cultivation of medical cannabis: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. | In Committee |
| S1538 | Establishes greater discretion in court concerning child support related license suspension and credit reporting. | This bill establishes greater discretion in the court concerning license suspension and credit reporting due to failure to pay child support. Section 1 amends N.J.S.A.2A:17-56.41 concerned with consequences of an obligor's noncompliance, to make discretionary, instead of mandatory, the suspension of an obligor's license where arrearages equal or exceed the amount of child support payable for six months or court-ordered health care coverage for the child is not provided for six months. The amendment further expressly permits an obligor to reach an agreement with the Probation Division on a payment amount that is approved by the court including the resumption of timely ongoing support payments. Section 2 amends N.J.S.A.2A:17-56.43 concerned with suspension, revocation of license, to give the court discretion to consider suspending or revoking a driver's license prior to a professional or recreational license. The amendment further gives the court discretion to allow the obligor to pay a lump sum, in lieu of 25% of the past due child support amount, within a time frame not to exceed ten days, instead of three days of the hearing, over a longer period of five years, instead of one year to satisfy the remainder of the arrearage. The amendment permits both an extension and modification of the payment plan, upon a showing of good cause. Further, the amendment deletes the provision of N.J.S.A.2A:17-56.41 that provides a payment plan shall not extend beyond the date the dependent child reaches the age of 18, permitting a longer repayment period, in some instances. Section 3 amends N.J.S.A.2A:17-56.8 concerned with the enforcement of child support orders, to delete language permitting denial, suspension or revocation of the driver's license and professional or occupational licenses, or recreational or sporting license held or applied for if a warrant for the obligor's arrest has been issued by the court due to failure to pay child support as ordered, failure to appear at a hearing to establish paternity or child support, or failure to appear at a hearing to enforce a child support order and said warrant remains outstanding. Section 4 amends N.J.S.2A:17.56.44 concerned with suspension, revocation procedures, clarifies certain certifications required by licensing authorities, including that the applicant is not the subject of a child-support related warrant. Section 5 amends N.J.S.A.56:11-31 concerned with furnishing of consumer report; permissible circumstances. The amendment deletes the requirement that 10 days' notice has been provided to the consumer whose report is requested by the head of a State or local child support enforcement agency. | In Committee |
| S1523 | Upgrades crime of invasion of privacy under certain circumstances; eliminates presumption of nonimprisonment. | This bill would increase the criminal penalties for the crime of invasion of privacy and eliminate the presumption of nonimprisonment under certain circumstances. Under the provisions of N.J.S.A.2C:14-9, known as the "video voyeurism" statute, it is a crime of the fourth degree if a person, knowing he is not licensed or privileged to do so, and under circumstances in which a reasonable person would know that another person may expose intimate parts or may engage in sexual penetration or sexual contact, observes another person without that person's consent and under circumstances in which a reasonable person would not expect to be observed. This bill would upgrade the fourth degree crime of observing another person without consent to a crime of the third degree. The bill would also eliminate the presumption of non-imprisonment for this crime. In addition, this bill would upgrade the third degree of photographing or disclosing such images to a crime of the second degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000 or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000 or both. This bill also amends N.J.S.2C:44-1 to expand the current list of crimes that are not entitled to the presumption of nonimprisonment to include the newly upgraded third degree crime of invasion of privacy. | In Committee |
| S1145 | Provides that firearms purchaser identification card is valid for four years; requires training prior to issuance of firearms cards and handgun purchase permits; revises procedures for passing of firearms to heir or legatee. | This bill imposes additional safeguards on the issuance of firearms purchaser identification cards, imposes training requirements, and revises the procedures for an heir or legatee to inherit or receive possession of a firearm. Under current law, a firearms purchaser identification card is valid indefinitely, unless the holder becomes subject to any of the disabilities that disqualify a person for firearms ownership. The bill provides that a firearms purchaser identification card issued or renewed after the bill's effective date would expire during the fourth calendar year following its date of issuance and on the same calendar day as the card holder's date of birth. The holder of a firearms purchaser identification card issued prior to the bill's effective date would expire to within four years of the bill's enactment and on the same calendar day as the card holder's date of birth. The bill further provides that a firearms purchaser identification card may be renewed if the holder is not subject to any of the statutory disabilities and after filing of a renewal application and payment of the required fee. In addition, this bill requires certain applicants for a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card to demonstrate that, within four years prior to the date of the application, he or she satisfactorily completed a course of instruction approved by the Superintendent of State Police in the lawful and safe handling and storage of firearms. This provision is not applicable to an active or retired law enforcement officer or a veteran who was honorably discharged as a member of the United States Armed Forces or National Guard and who received substantially equivalent training. A person who obtained a permit to purchase a handgun or firearms purchaser identification card prior to the bill's effective date would not be required to complete a course of instruction. Under current law, a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card is not required for the passing of a firearm to an heir or legatee upon the death of the owner, whether the firearm is passed by testamentary bequest or by the laws of intestacy. This bill requires the heir or legatee to possess a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card prior to taking possession of the firearm. An administrator or executor of the estate who does not possess a valid firearms purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun is to surrender custody of the firearm within 30 days to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the decedent resided or, if municipality does not have a police department or force, the superintendent. The chief law enforcement officer or superintendent, as appropriate, would retain custody of the firearm until the heir or legatee obtains a valid permit to purchase a handgun or firearms purchaser identification card. If the heir or legatee does not obtain a permit to purchase a handgun or firearms purchaser identification card, the heir or legatee is required to sell the firearm to a licensed retail dealer of firearms or arrange for the sale of the firearm by the licensed retail dealer. The licensed retail dealer is to provide the heir or legatee with a receipt and record the date of surrender, the name of the heir or legatee, and the serial number, manufacturer, and model of the surrendered firearm. The bill permits an heir or legatee who possesses a valid permit to purchase a handgun or firearms purchaser identification card to take possession of the firearm directly from the administrator or executor of the estate or from the chief law enforcement officer or superintendent, as appropriate, if the heir or legatee files a signed certification as prescribed by the superintendent. The certification would be filed with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the decedent resided or, if there is no chief law enforcement officer, the superintendent. | In Committee |
| S262 | Establishes fire safety standards and protocols for certain light frame residential construction; requires placards identifying primary structural systems of buildings. | This bill would establish a number of fire safety standards for light frame construction of new multiple dwellings, hotels, and rooming and boarding houses with more than two dwelling or sleeping units, and a fire warden requirement for all light frame construction. Under the bill, covered residential buildings may only be newly constructed utilizing light frame construction if: (1) an automatic sprinkler system is installed throughout the building in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13; (2) the number of stories permitted is measured from grade plane excluding any pedestals or podiums; (3) the fire partitions and horizontal separations have a fire-resistance rating of at least two hours; (4) the fire partitions extend from the foundation to the attic; (5) the fire walls are resistant to moisture and capable of passing the hose stream test in accordance with the construction code; and (6) if any light framing is unprotected, the building is limited to three stories and does not exceed 60 feet above grade plane or, if all light framing is protected, the building is limited to four stories and does not exceed 85 feet above grade plane. In addition, for all new construction projects, this bill would require the owner or developer to hire a fire watch warden to provide monitoring of the construction project during non-working hours, or install comparable technology. A fire watch warden must be present from the time the construction project begins until the final sprinkler inspection is completed or a temporary certificate of occupancy is issued. In the event of a fire or other emergency, the fire watch warden must alert local first responders. The fire watch warden must also report fire safety issues to the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, which may request that the local construction code official revoke construction permits for projects posing fire safety risks. The Division of Fire Safety may assess owners and developers of covered construction projects reasonable fees to cover the costs incurred by the division for carrying out its responsibilities under the bill. The bill also requires that an identifying emblem be affixed to each exterior entrance of a structure with light frame or truss construction to warn firefighters and the general public of the existence of light frame and truss-type construction in the structure. Under current law, an identifying emblem must be affixed to the front of a structure utilizing truss construction only. Lastly, the bill requires that placards identifying the primary structural system of a structure be placed adjacent to the fire alarm control panel and on an exterior wall within 10 feet of the main entrance to the structure. | In Committee |
| S1534 | Increases annual property tax deduction for senior citizens and disabled persons from $250 to $500. | This bill would increase the amount of the annual property tax deduction provided to eligible senior citizens and disabled persons from the current $250 to $300.00 in tax year 2023, $350.00 in tax year 2024, $400.00 in tax year 2025, $450.00 in tax year 2026, and $500.00 in tax year 2027 and in each tax year thereafter. The amount of this annual property tax deduction has not been increased since 1983. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of the State of a constitutional amendment authorizing this increased property tax deduction for senior citizens and disabled persons. | In Committee |
| S1491 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| S1542 | Permits voter registration up to 14 days before election. | Currently, a person eligible to vote is required to register at least 21 days prior to an election in order to vote in that election. This bill would provide that a person eligible to vote may register up to 14 days prior to an election and vote in that election. The bill would not affect the constitutional requirement that a person must reside in a county for 30 days prior to an election in order to be eligible to vote in that election. | In Committee |
| S1986 | Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. | This bill establishes the School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study, evaluate, and assess the provision of State school aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA). The task force will consist of seven members, including: the Commissioner of Education or a designee; and six public members, each of whom shall have educational experience and expertise in education and municipal finance and school budgeting. Two of the members will be appointed by the Senate President, two members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly will each appoint one member. Under the bill, the duty of the task force is to study the effectiveness of, and provide recommendations on potentially improving, various aspects of the SFRA including, but not limited to:? the manner in which school district adequacy budgets and local shares are calculated;? the current methodology of measuring and weighting at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency and the impact on the educational outcomes of those students; ? the weights applied to students in different grade levels, as well as those applied to students enrolled in county vocational school districts; ? the current methodology used to calculate the geographic cost adjustment;? the formula's use of the census-based funding methodology for determining the amount of State aid a school district receives to educate its special education population and the effects of potentially employing different methodologies; ? the provision of extraordinary special education aid and the cost thresholds used as the bases for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; ? the methodologies used to calculate security categorical aid and transportation aid; and ? the impact that the reallocation of State school aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S-2," had on school districts' finances. The bill requires that the task force will issue a final report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The report will be posted in a prominent location on the Internet website of the Department of Education. | In Committee |
| SR48 | Urges federal government to revise official poverty measure to account for high cost of living, non-discretionary expenses, and cash and noncash income. | This resolution urges the Social Security Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and the United States Census Bureau in the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to take action to revise and regularly update the official measure and methodology that has been used to determine poverty status in this nation since the 1960s, in order to ensure that the measure provides an accurate indication of poverty levels by accounting for the high cost of living and variations in cost of living, and by reflecting the true extent and financial impact of non-discretionary and basic survival expenditures, and cash and noncash income. The resolution would also urge the President and Congress of the United States to take action, as necessary, to ensure that the appropriate executive agencies engage in the updating and revision of the official poverty measure as described herein. The official poverty measure (OPM) is designed to evaluate a family's poverty status by comparing the family's pre-tax cash income with a poverty threshold (variable by family size, composition, and householder age) that represents three times the cost of a minimum food diet in 1963, in today's prices. Since its initial implementation, however, concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy and adequacy of the OPM in determining poverty levels, and in 2010, a supplemental poverty measure (SPM) was developed by an Interagency Technical Working Group (ITWG) comprised of representatives from various federal agencies, for use in evaluating poverty levels in conjunction with the OPM. The SPM determines a family's poverty status by evaluating whether the family's money inflows (including cash income and the value of noncash government benefits such as housing subsidies, school lunch subsidies, low income nutritional assistance, and low-income home energy assistance), less non-discretionary expenses (including taxes, medical out-of-pocket expenses, commuting costs, child support, and child care expenses), falls below the SPM poverty threshold. The SPM poverty threshold is determined by identifying the actual, present-day costs associated with satisfaction of a family's basic needs - including food, clothing, shelter, and utilities - based on the location of the family's residence and its type. In contrast to the SPM, the OPM does not account for any variances in the cost of living across states or regions, or recognize the cost-of-living increases that have taken place throughout the nation over the past 50 years; nor does it account for a family's receipt of any noncash income or the expenditure of family income on non-discretionary expenses or necessities other than food. Because the OPM has remained essentially unchanged since its initial publication in the 1960s, moreover, it can no longer be deemed to provide an accurate indication of poverty levels in the nation. Although the federal government clearly recognizes the importance of making regular revisions to the SPM, in order to reflect new data and more accurately account for cost-of-living increases, new anti-poverty measures, and non-discretionary expenditures, it has apparently failed to recognize the importance of making similar updates to the OPM to ensure the continued reliability and accuracy of this official measure in light of changing societal circumstances. Because the OPM is universally used by federal statistical agencies, and is often used to determine low-income eligibility for federal and state benefits programs, it is essential that this official measure be updated to more accurately reflect poverty levels in the nation, in full consideration for the current high cost of living, the variances in cost of living, the non-discretionary nature of many family expenses, and the many forms of cash and noncash income that may be used to offset a family's non-discretionary expenditures or otherwise satisfy the family's basic survival needs. | In Committee |
| S1503 | Concerns automobile insurance practices. | This bill requires the Department of Banking and Insurance to conduct an investigation of practices of the automobile insurance industry in regard to increases in automobile insurance premiums for drivers who have had motor vehicle driver's license suspensions for any reason - either driving related or not. Further, the commissioner of the department is to investigate the use of credit ratings and addresses in determining premiums for drivers. In performing its investigation, the department is to determine whether increases are justified for certain offenses not related to driving including credit ratings. This bill was prompted by a recommendation from the Motor Vehicles Affordability and Fairness Task Force. | In Committee |
| S1500 | Concerns body worn cameras for law enforcement officers. | This bill concerns body worn cameras for law enforcement officers. Under current law, subject to the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available, every uniformed State, county, and municipal patrol law enforcement officer, with certain exceptions, is required to wear a body worn camera that electronically records audio and video while acting in the performance of the officer's official duties. This bill requires every State, county, and municipal operational detective, while on patrol, to also wear a body worn camera, without being subject to the limit of any appropriation. This bill defines an "operational detective" as a non-uniformed law enforcement officer this is deployed outside of a law enforcement station, barracks, or other law enforcement facility to engage in the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the laws of this State. As set forth above, there are certain exceptions to the requirement to wear a body worn camera under current law. This bill removes the following exceptions to this requirement: 1) while engaging in union representation of a member of the collective bargaining group; and 2) when directed by the Chief or a superior officer for a lawful purpose. The bill also provides that certain exceptions only apply when the officer or detective is assigned to non-uniformed duties which are not included in the definition of an operational detective. In addition, the bill adds the following exceptions to the requirement to wear a body worn camera: 1) while assigned to conduct surveillance activities; 2) while installing electronic surveillance equipment; or 3) an officer or detective who is appointed as a liaison or member of a task force operation where the lead law enforcement agency is not subject to the provisions of this bill. The bill also provides that an operational detective that is required to wear a body worn camera may conceal the camera. Under current law, the video and audio recording functions of a body worn camera may be deactivated, consistent with directives or guidelines promulgated by the Attorney General, under certain circumstances. This bill provides that the video and audio recording functions of the body worn camera also may be deactivated, consistent with directives or guidelines promulgated by the Attorney General, when an operational detective is developing intelligence from a prospective confidential informant in order to protect the identity of the potential informant. Under current law, a body worn camera is not to be used to gather intelligence information based on First Amendment protected speech, associations, or religion, or to record activity that is unrelated to a response to a call for service or a law enforcement or investigative encounter between a law enforcement officer and a member of the public, provided this does not prohibit activation of video and audio recording functions of a body worn camera as authorized under law and in accordance with any applicable guidelines or directives promulgated by the Attorney General. This bill removes this provision. Finally, the bill clarifies that a law enforcement officer is not to be permitted to review or receive an accounting of a body worn camera recording from the officer's assigned body worn camera that is subject to a certain retention period prior to creating any required initial reports, statements, and interviews regarding the recorded event. Under current law, the officer is not to review or receive an accounting of a body worn camera recording. | In Committee |
| S1527 | Subjects most State property to local property taxation beginning on July 1, 2022. | This bill would end the tax exempt status of property owned by the State, its agencies, and authorities created by the State, although the tax exempt status of property owned by local units of government would continue. State property would become taxable on July 1, 2022, except when a certification, prepared by an appropriate official, is filed with the municipal tax assessor stating that removal of the tax exempt status of a specific parcel would impair the rights of bondholders pursuant to a covenant entered into prior to July 1, 2022. Those parcels would continue to be subject to the law concerning State payments in lieu of taxes, N.J.S.A.54:4-2.2a et seq. If the State becomes delinquent on the property taxes due and payable for a parcel, then the tax lien would be enforced in the same manner as all other tax liens. This bill is intended to require the State and its agencies and authorities to pay their fair share of the local tax burden so that the local residents and businesses are not unduly burdened by the cost of subsidizing State government operations. The bill also prohibits the State from reducing a municipality's formula aid in an attempt to offset the new property tax liability due and payable to that municipality, except with respect to State payments in lieu of taxes for those properties that will now be subject to taxation. | In Committee |
| S1494 | Establishes crime of law enforcement officer choking another person; designated as George Floyd's Law. | This bill establishes a first degree crime of a law enforcement officer choking another person. Under the bill, a law enforcement officer who knowingly places pressure on a person's throat, windpipe, or carotid artery, thereby hindering or preventing that person's ability to breathe, or interfering with the flow of blood from the person's heart to the brain, is guilty of a crime of the first degree. First degree crimes are punishable by a prison term of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. On June 5, 2020, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General issued notice that it will ban police departments from using chokeholds, carotid artery neck restraints, or similar tactics, except where deadly force is necessary. This bill prohibits these chokeholds. The bill is designated as George Floyd's Law, after George Floyd, who died while being choked by a Minneapolis law enforcement officer during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. | In Committee |
| S1516 | Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses employing qualified ex-offenders. | This bill allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses that employ qualified ex-offenders. The amount of each credit would be equal to 15 percent of the wages paid to the ex-offender with a maximum of $900 per ex-offender. A qualified ex-offender is defined in the bill as a person who: (1) has been convicted of a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree in this State; and (2) has been hired within one year of the date of conviction or release from incarceration. These State tax credits are modeled on the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which encourages employers to hire targeted groups of employees, including ex-felons. Under the federal WOTC, employers may claim a federal tax credit of up to 40 percent of the first $6,000 earned by the employee, or $2,400. | In Committee |
| S1515 | Increases from six to 10 the number of motor vehicle penalty points necessary to incur surcharges. | This bill increases from six to 10 the number of motor vehicle penalty points that a driver may accrue before being subject to motor vehicle surcharges. Motor vehicle surcharges are fines imposed on drivers who have accumulated six or more penalty points in less than three years for traffic violations or have been convicted in court for a specific offense. A person who accumulates six or more points within three years from his or her last posted violation is subject to a $150 surcharge plus $25 for each additional point. Failure to pay surcharges may result in a driver's license suspension. In order to reduce the number of driver's licenses suspended for failure to pay surcharges, this bill increases the number of penalty points a person may accrue before surcharges are assessed. Under the bill, a person who accrues 10 or more penalty points within three years from his or her last posted conviction is subject to motor vehicle surcharges. | In Committee |
| S1064 | Requires State Board of Education to authorize alternate route to expedite teacher certification of persons employed as paraprofessionals in school districts. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize an alternate route to expedite the teacher certification of persons who are employed or have been employed by a school district as a paraprofessional or an instructional assistant. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop recommendations for the alternate route and those recommendations are required to be submitted to the State board. Under the provisions of the bill, in developing the recommendations, the commissioner is to consult with representatives of the education community, including the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, and the State Professional Learning Committee. Also, the bill provides that in addition to any other requirements established by the State Board of Education, the alternate route program is required to include: (1) a formula for applying a candidate's direct classroom service to any student teaching requirements, provided that the candidate is currently employed by a school district and is providing direct classroom service, including tutoring. Under the formula, the direct classroom service is to earn the candidate full credit, if appropriate; (2) a requirement that the school district in which the candidate is currently employed make every reasonable effort to permit the candidate to perform any required student teaching in the school district while, if possible, continuing employment as a paraprofessional or an instructional assistant; and (3) a formula to allow a grade point average waiver for candidates who otherwise demonstrate qualification for the expedited teacher certification. | Dead |
| S1569 | Requires schools and child care centers to test drinking water for lead every two years and install filters certified to reduce lead levels. | This bill would require schools and child care centers to test their drinking water for lead at least every two years, and to take certain actions if they find a lead concentration greater than five parts per billion is found. The bill would also require schools and child care centers to install filters that are certified to reduce lead levels at each drinking water fountain or faucet that is regularly used for drinking water or food preparation. Specifically, the bill would require the governing authority of a school and the owner or operator of a child care center to test each drinking water outlet at their facilities in accordance with a lead sampling plan. The bill would establish certain minimum requirements for the lead sampling plan, as enumerated in subsection b. of sections 2 and subsection b. of section 6 of the bill, including the requirement that samples be taken after the water supplying the outlet has sat undisturbed in the pipes for between eight hours and 48 hours. The bill would also establish certain requirements on how the analysis of the water samples is performed, as enumerated in subsection c. of sections 2 and subsection c. of section 6 of the bill, including that the analysis be conducted by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to analyze for lead in drinking water. Within 96 hours after a school or child care center receives the results of a lead test, it would be required to make the test results public. In addition, if any results exceed a lead concentration of 5 parts per billion, the school or child care center would be required to provide a written notification to the parents, the staff, and the Department of Education (in the case of a school) or the Department of Children and Families (in the case of a child care center). The bill would require the notification to include information regarding the health effects of lead and a description of the following: (1) measures taken by the school or child care center to immediately end use of each drinking water outlet where lead concentration exceeds five parts per billion; (2) any additional remedial actions taken or planned by the school or child care center; and (3) the measures taken to ensure that alternate drinking water has been made available to all students, children, and staff members at the school or child care center. The bill would also require a school or child care center to install and maintain point-of-use water filters, which are certified by an accredited third-party certification body to meet National Sanitation Foundation-American National Standards Institute standards 42 and 53, at any drinking fountain or faucet in the facility that is regularly used by students, children, or teachers for drinking water or food preparation. The bill would also require a school or child care center to install, or cause to be installed, replacement cartridges for the filters at the frequency recommended by the manufacturer. Current regulations adopted by the State Board of Education, specifically N.J.A.C.6A:26-12.4, require schools to conduct lead water testing in a nearly identical way to the provisions in this bill. However, this bill would require the testing to occur every two years, rather than every three years, as under current regulations. The bill would also require schools to take action if a lead concentration of five parts per billion is found. Current regulations use the federal action level for lead, which is 0.015 milligrams per liter (approximately equal to 15 parts per billion). The bill would also extend the modified testing requirements for schools to child care centers as well, which are currently covered under substantively different regulations, adopted by the Department of Children and Families, at N.J.A.C.3A:52-5.3. | In Committee |
| S1947 | Prohibits sale of flavored cigarettes, non-premium cigars, and oral nicotine pouches. | This bill extends the current State statutory ban on the sale of flavored cigarettes to include menthol and clove cigarettes. New Jersey generally banned flavored cigarettes in 2008, but included in that law exceptions for menthol and clove cigarettes. In 2009, the federal government adopted a law banning all flavored cigarettes, including clove, but also provided an exception for menthol cigarettes. Under the bill, the existing penalties for prohibited sales of flavored cigarettes will apply to sales of menthol and clove cigarettes. The substitute makes the prohibitions and penalties under the flavored cigarette ban applicable to retailers, rather than individuals. The revision to the flavor ban means that a retailer is not to, either directly or indirectly by an agent or employee, or by a vending machine owned by the retailer or located in the retailer's establishment, sell, offer for sale, distribute for commercial purpose at no cost or minimal cost or with coupons or rebate offers, give or furnish, to a person a cigarette, or any component part thereof, which contains a natural or artificial constituent or additive that causes the cigarette product or any smoke emanating from the cigarette or product to have a characterizing flavor other than tobacco. In no event is a cigarette or any component part thereof to be construed to have a characterizing flavor based solely on the use of additives or flavorings, or the provision of an ingredient list made available by any means. The existing penalties under the current law concerning flavored cigarettes will continue to apply, such that a retailer who makes a prohibited sale will be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation, and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. In addition, the retailer's tobacco retailer license may be suspended or revoked upon a second or subsequent violation, under certain circumstances. The licensee will also be subject to administrative charges, based on a schedule issued by the Director of the Division of Taxation, which may provide for a monetary penalty in lieu of a suspension. | In Committee |
| S1552 | Requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts and establishes uniform age requirement for enrollment in kindergarten. | This bill requires all school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs for their students. If a school district does not currently provide a full-day kindergarten program, and is classified in district factor groups A, B, CD, or DE, then the district would be required to begin offering such a program by the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. All other school districts would be required to provide such a program by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The bill also establishes a uniform age requirement for a student to enroll in kindergarten. Under current law, each school district determines the date by which a child must attain the age of five years in order to enroll in kindergarten. Under the bill, a child would have to be five years old by October 1 of the school year in order to enroll in kindergarten. | In Committee |
| S1399 | Allows canvassing of early votes and mail-in ballots before election day under certain conditions. | This bill allows county clerks to begin canvassing early votes cast during the early voting period, and county boards of elections to begin canvassing mail-in ballots, before election day under certain conditions. However, the bill excludes provisional and emergency ballots from being counted during the early canvassing process for early votes and mail-in ballots: Under current law, early votes cast during the early voting period may not be canvassed or counted until the polls close on election day. Similarly, mail-in ballots may begin to be canvassed or counted on election day. Under this bill, county clerks are permitted to begin canvassing each early vote no earlier than 24 hours after the conclusion of the early voting period. The bill also allows county boards of elections to open the inner envelopes of mail-in ballots no earlier than five days prior to election day and may begin canvassing each mail in ballot from the inner envelopes no earlier than three days prior to election day. The bill provides that the Secretary of State can establish guidelines concerning the canvassing process to ensure the security and secrecy of the votes cast. The canvassing results would remain confidential and be disclosed only in accordance current law, regulations, and guidelines concerning the disclosure of election results. The bill prohibits the disclosure of the canvassing results prior to the close of polls on the day of the election. Under current law for mail-in ballots, any person who is authorized to receive and canvass completed mail-in-ballots who knowingly discloses to the public the contents of a mail-in ballot prior to the time designated by law for the closing of the polls for each election is guilty of a crime of the third degree. This bill extends the same penalties to the disclosure of early voting results. The bill also requires the board of elections to transmit the media for the early vote canvass to the county clerk no later than the opening of the polls on election day. The bill further requires the county board of elections to transmit the media containing the canvass of mail-in results to the county clerk no later than one hour following the close of the polls. The bill also provides, to the extent capable, the scanning and tabulation system for mail-in ballots to restrict the generation of any tabulation or results report to system administrators only and prohibits administrator passwords from being shared. The bill further prohibits tabulation and results reports from being generated before 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election, and, to the extent such system is capable, requires each county board of elections to submit to the Division of Elections no later than 24 hours following the close of the polls on the day of the election a complete copy of the scanning and tabulation system's audit log. The bill provides that the results from the early canvassing process for mail-in ballots be reported as a separate columns alongside the columns for election day results and early voting results: The bill also requires that the county clerks rather than the board of elections certify the results of the votes cast for members of the county committees to the respective municipal clerks following the canvass of mail-in ballots. | In Committee |
| S1193 | 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 |
| S1524 | The "Owners' Rights and Obligations in Shared Ownership Communities Act." | It has been more than 40 years since the Legislature enacted "The Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act," (PREDFDA), P.L.1977, c.419 (C.45:22A-21 et seq.) to provide State oversight of the marketing of planned developments to prospective purchasers, through a review of documents and advertisements, as well as requiring that certain disclosures be made by a developer to a buyer. Marketing techniques are important because membership in a homeowner association is mandatory for a purchaser of a home in community which has shared property and facilities, such as a condominium, cooperative, or a single family home in a planned development. The shared property of such communities is owned collectively by all of the individual home purchasers. These communities are referred to as "shared ownership communities" in the bill and are often known as common interest communities. It has also been more than 10 years since the Assembly Task Force to Study Homeowners' Associations released its report containing more than 30 recommendations calling for changes in the laws, in order to provide more protections for homeowners. This bill addresses most of those recommendations, as well as updating the laws requiring disclosure by developers and clarifying the powers and obligations of governing boards of associations and the rights of owners living in such communities. The bill revises the manner in which information should be provided prospective purchasers through the Public Offering Statement, (POS) a document required to be provided to prospective purchasers by developers of such communities. Although New Jersey's statutes require certain disclosures by a developer during the sales phase of shared ownership communities, these disclosures have too often been inadequate to properly inform prospective purchasers. Items which are likely to be of extreme importance to a purchaser, such as obligations, governance structures, potential future liabilities, restrictions, or, even in some cases, hidden loans on the part of a developer to the association, may be buried deep within the document, and not disclosed adequately, if at all. The sheer volume of information, which varies widely by developers on matters which could be standardized, also hinders adequate review by the State. The bill requires the POS, and the registration of developments process, to be revised and streamlined. A developer will be required to submit information on standardized forms and in an electronic format. Governance structures will be standardized and developers allowed to highlight variations that they wish to apply. Processing times for registrations of developments will be reduced under the bill from 90 to 45 days for standardized submissions. The information in the Public Offering Statement to be disclosed to a prospective purchaser will be revised to be quickly accessed by the reader, as well as indexed under logical headings, such as pets, parking, restrictions and fees. An executive summary of the offering is required to be made in plain language, explaining the rights, liabilities, obligations and governing form applicable to the association. The bill also addresses the problem that planned communities with fewer than 100 units have been exempted from registration under the act. This has been interpreted by the administering agency as exempting developers from providing a POS, thus providing no protections for purchasers in smaller communities. The exemption has also been extended by regulations to all low and moderate income (Mount Laurel) communities of any size. Exemption from the PREDFDA also clouds many other issues, such as when a developer of a planned community must turn over the assets to the homeowners. The bill removes these exemptions, and requires a Public Offering Statement for every prospective purchaser in a planned community. The regressive flat rate development charge currently charged to developers of planned communities is replaced under the bill with a per unit fee of 3/100 of one percent (.0003) of the sales price. These fees are currently required to be used to defray the costs of the State's review under the statute, and will continue to be used for that purpose, as well as to offset costs for other homeowner protections added by the bill. The change from a flat rate fee to a per unit fee will result in lower fees on lower priced homes, and in most instances will result in decreased fees being paid per development than is the case now. In addition, the bill addresses problems which arise in what may be termed the "governance" stage of a homeowners' association. After the developer has sold at least 75 percent of the homes planned for the community, total control of the management of the commonly-owned property is transferred from the developer to the home owners in the community. Experience shows that owners are not adequately prepared for this event. The bill allows owners to have earlier exposure to operational issues and input into governance matters, as well as requires boards to adopt principles of democratic and transparent governance. The bill requires the creation of an owners' coordinating council in each association, consisting of at least three owners, during the time period that the developer controls the voting interest of the association governing board. The owners' coordinating council will function as a steering committee for owners, and serve as the election monitor when owners other than the developer are entitled by statute to be elected as voting members of the governing board. In addition, the owners' council will be permitted to bring claims to a commission formed under the bill, on matters affecting construction deficiencies in the common elements during the period of developer control. The inability of owners to file warranty claims concerning defects in common elements was found to be a problem by the State Commission of Investigation in its report of abuses in the new home construction industry. The bill addresses the inconsistency in various statutes affecting owners' rights in different types of shared ownership communities, by amending the laws to eliminate these inconsistencies. The bill creates a commission in, but not of, the Department of Law and Public Safety, to serve as a State resource center, liaison and educational resource to owners and their shared ownership community associations, and to coordinate low cost, reliable alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services to these associations. The commission will also serve as a hearing entity concerning violations of statutory law pertaining to associations. The commission is modeled after a very successful program created by Montgomery County, Maryland for homeowner associations under its jurisdiction. The bill addresses a critical need of the many owners whose associations have not provided any ADR or ADR which is not impartial. Many associations have adopted a process too biased or expensive to serve as a viable alternative to litigation. Because associations can charge each owner the cost of the board's attorney as a common expense, many boards are quick to invite litigation, rather than amicably resolve disputes. In some instances, even when a board's actions blatantly violate bylaws, or are flagrantly illegal, State and local officials are often unwilling or unable to get involved, citing the "private" nature of such communities. This places an undue financial burden on individual owners, many of whom are senior citizens on fixed incomes. The bill also addresses the general lack of information about community associations, and a lack of standards for the manner in which they may operate. The commission created by the bill and the State entity responsible for oversight of marketing of new homes is charged with creating a booklet providing detailed information to owners concerning general information, State and federal laws, resources available, and the standards of governance established for association governing boards. The commission will also be responsible for posting the information to a web site. The commission is also required under the bill to promulgate standards for transparent and democratic governance in the operation of shared ownership communities. The standards may be more specific than the provisions of the bill, but must comport with the Legislature's intent to foster open, democratic processes in such communities. The funding for the activities of the commission and the alternative dispute resolution services will come from fees already collected and earmarked for protections of owners under the "The Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act." The bill requires that all associations provide certain information annually to the Commission on Shared Ownership Communities. There is no fee to file under the bill, but those associations that do not provide the information will not be eligible as qualified private communities to seek reimbursement from their municipality for services provided to them, such as trash, leaf and snow removal, and, in addition, will not be permitted to impose fines upon members, or to receive approval to file liens based on fines imposed. In order to recognize the governmental nature of homeowners associations, and to provide the best enforcement of statutory protections for prospective homebuyers in shared ownership communities, the bill moves the responsibility for the "The Planned Real Estate Development Act" to a new bureau within the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to be known as the "Bureau of Homebuyers Protection." The Division of Consumer Affairs currently has significant experience in administering consumer protection programs; for example it has the responsibility for overseeing the "Home Improvement Contractor's Registration Act" and "the consumer fraud act." In addition, relocating homebuyer protections will help to minimize conflicts of interests concerning builders under other programs in the Department of Community Affairs, such as its role as the enforcer of construction codes, licensing of code inspectors, and overseeing the "New Home Warranty Program." | In Committee |
| S346 | Requires publication online of Senate Journals, Assembly Minutes, and their indexes. | Under current law, the Senate Journals, Assembly Minutes, minutes of the joint meetings of both Houses of the Legislature, and their indexes, are printed and bound as a volume for each annual legislative session of each House. Under this bill, the journals, minutes, and indexes would be published online by the Office of Legislative Services, and not as bound volumes. However, the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the General Assembly may have the Office of Legislative Services print not more than 10 copies of a bound volume for an entire annual session of the Senate or General Assembly. | In Committee |
| S1507 | Enhances penalties upon certain violators of housing codes. | This bill would allow municipalities to impose fines of up to $4,000 upon continuing, flagrant violators of housing or zoning codes. While laws governing municipal fines were amended at the end of the 2005 Legislative Session to increase the maximum amounts that can be imposed from $1,250 to $2,000, a provision of that law set forth procedures that must be followed before fines above $1,250 can be imposed for violations of housing or zoning codes. Specifically, current law provides that prior to imposing a fine in an amount greater than $1,250 upon an owner for violations of housing or zoning codes, a municipality must provide the owner a 30-day period to cure or abate the condition and provide an opportunity for a judicial hearing for an independent determination concerning the violation. Once the 30-day period has run, a municipality may impose a fine greater than $1,250 if the abatement has not been substantially completed unless a court has determined otherwise. While allowing the provisions of current law to remain in place, this bill would clarify that continuing, flagrant violators of housing or zoning codes could be subjected to penalties of as much as $4,000, after having been afforded opportunities to cure and a hearing. The bill also provides that a person who holds title to property and who fails to respond to more than three notices of housing or zoning code violations concerning issues of habitability within a 30 day period may be charged with a disorderly persons offense. The bill also specifies that, as permitted under N.J.S.2C:2-7, a corporate agent acting within the scope of his employment and on behalf of the corporation who knowingly fails to respond to such notices may be charged individually as a disorderly person. | In Committee |
| S2006 | Requires certain providers to perform intimate partner violence screenings and all health care professionals to take certain actions to prevent perpetrator of intimate partner violence from obtaining copies of victim's medical record. | This bill would require certain health care providers in the State, including licensed physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, certified midwives, certified professional midwives, and certified nurse midwives, to conduct a periodic intimate partner violence screenings of patients in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines. The bill requires providers to document the findings from each screening in the patient's medical record and requires any health care professional who documents evidence or findings of intimate partner violence in a patient's medical record to advise the patient that the patient may take appropriate action to prevent the disclosure of the patient's medical record to the perpetrator of the intimate partner violence. Under the bill, an intimate partner violence screening performed under the bill is to be performed in a private area, which may include screening the patient using telemedicine and telehealth or by the patient self-administering the screening using a paper-based or electronic screening instrument. If, based on a screening performed pursuant to this bill, a provider finds that a patient is or may be a victim of intimate partner violence, the provider will required to provide the patient: 1) during the same visit, with a list of resources and services that are available in the State and region to assist and protect victims of intimate violence; and 2) with referrals to other appropriate health care providers, as deemed by the provider to be necessary to help the patient fully address the physical or mental consequences of the intimate violence. The Department of Children and Families and the Department of Health, will be required to make available to providers in the State, and update on at least a biennial basis a list identifying all of the resources and services that are available in the State, and in each region of the State, to assist and protect victims of intimate partner violence. | In Committee |
| S1557 | Increases benefit amount under New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit program from 40 percent to 60 percent of federal benefit amount. | This bill increases the benefit amount under the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program to 60 percent of the federal benefit amount beginning in Tax Year 2022. The program, which piggy-backs on the federal EITC program, currently provides a refundable tax credit under the New Jersey gross income tax equal to 40 percent of the federal benefit amount. The federal and State EITC programs are meant to provide tax relief to low- to moderate-income workers and families. In most cases, taxpayers must first file for the federal EITC before they can claim the State EITC. | In Committee |
| S1549 | Requires minimum of one school bus aide for every 15 special needs students on school bus. | This bill requires a board of education or a contracted service provider that provides pupil transportation services to ensure that a school bus has on board at least one school bus aide for every 15 students with special needs. The bill requires this aide-to-student ratio to be maintained at all times when a school bus is transporting students with special needs or a combination of students with special needs and general education students. For purposes of this bill, a "student with special needs" is a student who is classified as eligible for special education programs and services, but does not include a student who is classified as eligible for special education programs and services solely on the basis of a "specific learning disability," as that term is defined in the federal "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act." | In Committee |
| S1195 | Requires public school student with concussion to be evaluated by physician or other licensed health care provider before return to school and return to physical activity at school. | This bill provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion must receive an evaluation by a physician or other licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and written clearance from one of these physicians in order to return to school. In the event that the physician provides notice that the student requires restrictions or limitations, the school district 504 team must immediately implement the restrictions or limitations and notify all teachers and staff who have contact with the student of the restrictions or limitations. The school district's 504 team, in consultation with the physician who provided notice, would promptly identify the manner in which the restrictions or limitations would be provided to the student during recovery and the need for the continuation or adjustment of the restrictions or limitations, and to determine the duration of the restrictions or limitations. The bill also provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion is prohibited from engaging in any physical activity at school including, but not limited to, recess, physical education, or intramural sports. The student may not participate in any physical activity until he is evaluated by a physician or other licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and he receives written clearance from the physician to participate. | In Committee |
| S1526 | Eliminates property tax exempt status of certain school faculty housing. | Under R.S.54:4-3.6, all buildings actually used for colleges, schools, academies, and seminaries, are exempt from property taxation. This exemption extends to faculty housing provided at these educational institutions. These educational institutions that provide faculty housing to faculty members who may have children attending local public schools currently contribute nothing toward the education of those children, thereby burdening other property taxpayers with the cost of educating these children in the local public schools. Property tax exempt faculty housing also does not support the costs of providing municipal and county services. This bill would limit property tax exempt housing at these educational institutions to only student dormitories, a maintenance supervisor's residence, and a presidential residence, and not to housing for faculty or other employees of the educational institution, thereby requiring educational institutions to pay property taxes on the assessed value of their faculty housing for the support of all governmental entities funded through the local property tax levy. | In Committee |
| S2180 | Provides supplemental appropriation of $20 million for loan redemption program and tuition reimbursement program for certain teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation totaling $20 million for a modified version of the loan redemption program and tuition reimbursement program established for certain teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) established under P.L.2019, c.401. Under this bill, an individual would be eligible for loan redemption or tuition reimbursement if that person:· in the case of the loan redemption program, is graduating from a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing educator preparation program in the 2021-2022 academic year and has been initially hired by a school district as a novice teacher to teach a STEM subject or is enrolled in a certificate of eligibility educator preparation program and has been initially hired by a school district as a novice teacher to teach a STEM subject. In the case of the tuition reimbursement program, an individual is required to be graduating in the 2021-2022 academic year from a master's degree or Ph.D. program in STEM or is completing 30 credits in a coherent sequence of courses in STEM;· is eligible pursuant to State Board of Education regulations to teach a STEM subject in a New Jersey public school; and· executes a contract with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority in which the individual agrees to teach STEM classes at a public school in New Jersey for four full school years. A contract executed for the redemption of loans or the reimbursement of eligible tuition expenses would specify: the program participant's dates of required service; the total amount of student loan debt to be redeemed by the State or the total amount of reimbursement of eligible tuition expenses to be received by a program participant; and certain performance standards established by the authority for the program participant to adhere to in the participant's course of service. A contract would also stipulate that, in the event that a program participant does not complete four full school years of service or otherwise violates any other provisions of the contract relating to service requirements, the loan redemption or tuition reimbursement payment provided to the participant would be paid back to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority as a loan. The amount of loan redemption or tuition reimbursement for a program participant would equal 25 percent of the participant's eligible student loan or tuition expenses. The loan redemption or tuition reimbursement payments, however, would not exceed $20,000 for any eligible individual. The bill stipulates that the loan redemption and tuition reimbursement payments would be issued as upfront, lump sum payments. | In Committee |
| S1485 | The "Safe Playing Fields Act"; restricts use of lawn care pesticides at child care centers and certain schools. | This bill would be known as the "Safe Playing Fields Act," and would restrict the use of lawn care pesticides on the grounds of any child care center and certain schools. The bill would prohibit the use of lawn care pesticides on the grounds of any child care center, except as an emergency response to an immediate threat to human health, and would restrict child access to pesticide treated areas for at least seven hours after the application. In addition, the bill would prohibit the use of lawn care pesticides on the grounds of any school which enrolls students in kindergarten or in any grade between grade one through eight, except as an emergency response to an immediate threat to human health, as determined by school officials, in consultation with the local health officer, as appropriate. The bill would direct the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to adopt rules and regulations concerning pesticide application, record keeping, and staff and parental notification procedures at child care centers with the goal of mitigating potential health risks to young children. The bill defines a "lawn care pesticide" as any pesticide labeled, designed, or intended for use on lawns, gardens, turf or ornamental plantings, and the definition of "pesticide" excludes low impact pesticides as defined pursuant to current law. The bill would take effect on the first day of the 13th month following the date of enactment of the bill into law. | In Committee |
| S2191 | Requires DOH to encourage health care facilities and licensed health care professionals to develop a "Reach Out and Read Program." | This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to encourage health care facilities, pediatricians, family practice physicians, and other health care professionals in private practice licensed pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes to implement a "Reach Out and Read Program." The program would be based on the national Reach Out and Read Program that promotes early literacy anticipatory guidance from health care professionals to parents of children between six months and five years of age, as part of a well-child visit. The purpose of the program would be to: encourage parents to participate in developmentally appropriate shared-reading activities with their children; develop a child's language, social, and emotional skills; enhance parent-child relationships; offer pediatricians, family practice physicians, and other licensed health care professionals with tools to monitor a child's health and well-being; and facilitate the sharing of information between parents and pediatricians, family practice physicians, and other licensed health care professionals on topics relating to child rearing and early childhood development. Specifically, DOH would assist health care facilities, pediatricians, family practice physicians, and other licensed health care professionals in implementing a "Reach Out and Read Program" by: preparing and making available for distribution, both in print and in easily printable format on the department's Internet website, information on the national Reach Out and Read Program; and posting in a prominent location on its Internet website a link to the online application to become a Reach Out and Read program site. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatric providers promote early literary development for children beginning in infancy and continuing through kindergarten. The Reach Out and Read Program is an evidenced-based intervention that proves the integration of literacy promotion as part of a pediatric primary care practice can stimulate optimal patterns of brain development, strengthen parent-child relationships, and build a child's early language and literacy skills. This bill would require DOH to encourage health care facilities and licensed health care professionals in this State to implement a program that has been shown to improve children's language development and has led to increases in both receptive and expressive language scores. | In Committee |
| S669 | Extends COVID-19 Medicaid per diem rate, and requires Medicaid coverage without prior authorization, for certain partial care behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services. | This bill requires the extension of certain policies established by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the reimbursement and coverage of partial care behavioral health services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. Under the bill, "partial care services" means comprehensive, individualized, structured, non-residential behavioral health care and support services for an adult with severe mental illness or substance use disorder in order to facilitate community integration and prevent hospitalization and relapse. Partial care services may include, but are not limited to: psychiatric care, individual and group counseling, case management, and prevocational services. First, the bill requires the division to reimburse partial care services providers under Medicaid at the per diem rate, established by the division for partial care services provided by telehealth during the COVID-19 emergency period, for 180 days following the expiration of the federal Medicaid waiver authorizing the per diem rate. Telehealth services reimbursed under the bill are required to be provided without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements and in accordance with the policy guidance issued by the division regarding the qualifications for the per diem rate, provided that a partial care services provider: is open for onsite services; and submits a status report to the division following day 90, day 150, and day 180 of the 180-day period. The status report is required to include data on the total number of patients served, the number of patients receiving in-person services, and the nature of the in-person services rendered as a means to demonstrate the provider's best efforts to expand in-person services over the course of the 180-day period. Furthermore, the bill directs the division to use the status reports to assess the need to continue the per diem rate beyond the 180-day period. The division is required to make a determination to extend the per diem rate no later than 20 days prior to the end of the 180-day period. During an extension of the 180-day period, partial care services providers are required to comply with the provisions set forth in the bill, except that providers are tosubmit a status report to the division every 60 days. The per diem rate was established at the onset of the pandemic to allow partial care providers to continue to support patients via telehealth, while the basis of most programs - in-person, group services intended to promote socialization - was contraindicated because of the virus. Currently, the per diem rate will remain in effect until the end of the federal waiver authorizing the rate, and is equal to $89.60 per diem for partial care behavioral health services provided via telemedicine, and $78.31 per diem for partial care substance use disorder services provided via telemedicine. By extending the per diem rate 180 days beyond the expiration of the federal waiver, this bill affords providers the necessary time to stabilize their operations and cash flow as they gradually transition their staff and patients from primarily telehealth services back to in-person services. Second, the bill permanently extends the division's policy to not require prior authorization requirements for partial care services under Medicaid during the COVID-19 emergency. Under the bill, the division is required to provide coverage of such services to an eligible individual on an hourly basis for up to five hours a day, five days a week, without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements. In doing so, this bill reduces the burden on providers to secure approval for services and allows them to focus, instead, on making the appropriate clinical decisions based on each patient's needs. | In Committee |
| S2239 | 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 |
| S2046 | Require voting machines to be recertified annually and after software modifications. | This bill requires the Secretary of State to examine and recertify all voting machines both annually and when there are modifications to the software on the machines. As part of the examination and recertification, the Secretary of State will develop a test and a check list to confirm that each voting machine is operating properly and is able to accurately record and tabulate all of the votes cast for each election. | In Committee |
| S1567 | Makes FY2023 supplemental appropriation of $1.5 million for matching grants for deer fencing program. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $1.5 million for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Department of Agriculture (DOA) from the General Fund. This appropriation would be used to supplement the monies appropriated to provide matching grants for deer fencing on certain farmland pursuant to P.L.2021, c.451 (C.4:20-6.1). The FY 2023 budget allocated $1 million for this purpose. Pursuant to P.L.2021, c.451 (C.4:20-6.1), a program was established within the DOA to provide matching grants for deer fencing to certain owners and operators of unpreserved farms, farms for which pinelands development credits have been sold or otherwise conveyed pursuant to the Pinelands Development Credit Bank Act, and farms that are located in sending zones under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. Under the program, the DOA awards grants of up to $200 per acre, not to exceed a total of $20,000 per applicant for up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, which would include the cost to purchase deer fencing, maintain existing deer fencing, or any other eligible costs. | In Committee |
| S1522 | Establishes that payment plan for motor vehicle surcharges is mandatory upon request; extends payment period. | This bill requires that the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) enter into a monthly installment plan for paying motor vehicle surcharges upon the written request of a driver with outstanding surcharges. Currently, the MVC has the discretion to authorize payment of surcharges on an installment basis for a period not to exceed one year for assessments under $2,300, or not to exceed two years for assessments of $2,300 or more. The MVC may, for good cause, authorize installment payments for a period not to exceed three years irrespective of the surcharge assessment. Under this bill, upon the written request of a driver, the MVC is required to authorize the payment of surcharges on a monthly basis. The bill prohibits the MVC from denying any request to enter into a monthly installment plan. In addition, this bill extends the time period for monthly installment payments. Under the bill, a driver is authorized to pay assessments on an installment basis for a period not to exceed four years for assessments under $2,300, or not to exceed six years for assessments of $2,300 or more. | In Committee |
| S1496 | Permits use of instant run-off voting in balloting for certain local elective public offices. | This bill permits the governing body of a municipality governed by the provisions of the "Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law," N.J.S.A.40:45-5 et seq., to allow the use of instant run-off voting in elections at which a candidate is to be elected to a local elective public office filled by one individual. Instant run-off voting is a system of voting which allows each voter to vote for the voter's preferred candidate as well as specific alternative choices from among the other candidates appearing on the ballot for that office in order of preference. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast for candidates for that office, the candidate receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated and the second choice votes for that candidate counted, with the process continuing until one candidate is a majority winner. The Secretary of State would be responsible for promulgating rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the bill's purposes. Instant run-off voting would not be implemented until the Secretary of State determines that voting equipment and ballots have been updated to accommodate this process. | In Committee |
| S1545 | Expands Tuition Aid Grant program to part-time undergraduates. | This bill expands the Tuition Aid Grant program to part-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in an eligible institution in New Jersey. The bill provides that part-time grant awards would be prorated against the full-time grant award for public and independent institutions of higher education as determined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Under the current statute, the amount of a tuition aid grant may not exceed the maximum amount of tuition normally charged at a public institution or 50% of the average tuition normally charged at an independent institution. Appropriations for each program category of part-time tuition aid grants would be made separately by line item in order to ensure that funding for the part-time tuition aid grants would not lead to a reduction in the funding for the full-time tuition aid grants. | In Committee |
| S967 | Establishes "Non-College Advancement Act"; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the Career Without College Program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The purpose of the program is provide assistance, free of cost, in the placement of eligible individuals with the best employment opportunities for them. In furtherance of this program, the department is required to: (1) partner with unions, apprenticeship programs, trade schools, vocational-technical schools, and other entities to connect with eligible individuals for employment and training opportunities; (2) create a webpage, accessible to the public, containing the following information on labor and workforce development issues for eligible individuals: career opportunities, including educational and training opportunities that elevate the demand or compensation for an individual's services; job postings; descriptions of careers that can be pursued without a college degree, with instructions on any necessary education or training required for those careers; analyses of jobs versus careers and information warning and identifying potential employment scams; and any other information that the department deems appropriate; and (3) provide marketing information to high schools and high school students in the State of career opportunities for which a college degree is neither necessary or preferred. The bill establishes the "Careers without College Advisory Commission" to advise the program, the department, and the Legislature on ways to advance career opportunities that do not require college degrees, including, but not limited to, by way of an annual report. The bill funds the program from appropriations made to the Workforce Development Partnership Fund through the annual budget process. | In Committee |
| S1518 | Establishes procedures and standards regarding public services privatization contracts. | The purpose of this bill is to ensure that no public services are privatized unless there are cost savings without increased charges or reduced services to the public, or lowered workforce standards. Each prospective private contractor would be required to demonstrate cost reductions based on improvements such as management efficiencies or technical innovation, not based on added burdens imposed on the members of the public using the services or the employees producing them. The bill requires that a contract for the privatization of public services not be entered into without cost analyses demonstrating that there will be actual cost savings for the public agency and the taxpayers without increased fees, fares, or other charges to the public, reduced quantity or quality of services, or lowered workforce standards, including reduced staff qualifications and remuneration. The bill further requires sustained oversight and public disclosure regarding those contracts to provide accountability to taxpayers, public users of the services, and employees producing the services, that the cost savings actually occur without increased charges, or reduced services or workforce standards, and provides penalties and sanctions for any noncompliance involving agency or contractor misrepresentation, fraud or other malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance. The bill prohibits any agency of the State or political subdivision from entering into a contract of $500,000 or more, if the agency is a political subdivision, or $1 million or more if it is not a political subdivision, to purchase from private entities services previously performed by agency employees, other than legal, management consulting, planning, engineering or design services, prevailing wage construction work, or certain services provided by disabled individuals employed by rehabilitation facilities, unless: 1. The agency solicits competitive sealed bids for the contracts based on a comprehensive statement of requirements by the agency; 2. The contract requires that the public not be charged fares, fees or other charges greater than those currently charged, that the quantity and quality of the services provided equal or exceed the quantity and quality of services currently provided, that the contractor is qualified, and that contractor employees have qualifications and wage and benefit rates at least equal to the agency employees currently performing the services. Contractors are required to submit payroll records to the agency and, upon any failure to pay the agreed upon wage and benefit rates, are subject to the remedies and penalties provided by the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act," P.L.1963, c.150 (C.34:11-56.25 et seq.) for failure to pay the prevailing wage; 3. The agency permits the union of the affected agency employees to review the agency's estimate of current costs and submit an alternative cost estimate and propose cost saving measures compliant with requirements of the bill and the agency reviews the union estimate and proposal and makes a determination whether to reduce the agency's estimate of current costs; 4. The contract requires compliance with antidiscrimination standards, requires available positions to be offered to qualified displaced agency employees, and requires the agency to prepare a plan of training and assistance for displaced employees; 5. The contractor and specified associates have no adjudicated record of substantial or repeated noncompliance with any federal or State law pertaining to the operation of a business, including laws regarding contracting and conflict of interest; 6. After receiving bids, the agency publicly designates the bidder to which it proposes to award the contract and issues a comprehensive written analysis of the total contract cost of the designated bid; and 7. The agency provides written certification that the agency and the proposed contract are in compliance with all provisions of the bill and the total estimated contract cost is less than the cost of agency employees performing the services, with a statement of the amount of the savings. The Office of the State Comptroller would be required to review the certification and prohibit the agency from entering into the privatization contract if the office provides a written determination that the bid does not provide cost savings or that the agency has otherwise failed to comply with any requirement of the bill. The State Auditor would be required to conduct post-audits of contracts subject to the bill, evaluating whether the projected cost savings were obtained without raising charges, cutting services, or lowering workforce standards. If the noncompliance was related to agency or contractor misrepresentation, fraud or other malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance, the agency or contractor would be subject to penalties and sanctions including, where appropriate, debarment or rescission of contracts, or reimbursement of excess charges to the public and underpayments of employees. The requirements of the bill do not apply to any privatization contract first entered into before the effective date of the bill or to the renewal, extension, or transfer of any privatization contract first entered into prior to that effective date, but do apply to the renewal, extension, or transfer of any contract entered into after the effective date. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported Favorably | 06/12/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/12/2025 | Yea |
| S4532 | Updates certain notification requirements in "Energy Bill Watch" program. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/12/2025 | Yea |
| S341 | Requires Commissioner of Education to recommend dates for spring break in school districts. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| A1997 | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S2867 | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| A4854 | Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S4312 | Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| SCR128 | Urges school districts to establish concussion management teams. | Senate Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S4440 | Requires key boxes at public school buildings; appropriates $2.5 million. | Senate Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | Senate Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S4515 | Limits certain requirements for certification of career and technical education teachers. | Senate Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S1277 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S1148 | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S1989 | Enhances criminal penalties for persons invloved in certain human trafficking activities. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S265 | Requires owners of certain multiple dwellings of three or more floors to provide priority status to senior citizens and disabled residents moving to lower floors. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Adopt Governor Recommendations | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Adopt Governor Recommendations | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S2376 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A4113 | Prohibits sports wagering partnerships at public institutions of higher education. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A4535 | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/02/2025 | 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. | Senate Floor: Adopt Governor Recommendations | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3426 | Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service firefighter applicants. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3423 | Requires standards for organization and deployment of career fire fighters to be consistent with certain national standards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3607 | Extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3787 | Requires municipal tax collectors who obtain payments in lieu of taxes under "Long Term Tax Exemption Law" to transmit county portion directly to county. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3850 | Permits county boards of elections to extend distance within which electioneering is prohibited. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3890 | Requires public institution of higher education to provide students with information on food assistance programs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3906 | Revises "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" to provide enforcement and penalty provisions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3902 | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3961 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to offer no-fee option to parents for making school lunch and other payments; requires payment processing platforms used by certain schools to provide users with information on user fees. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A5141 | Establishes historic distillery license; allows consumption of licensee's products on and off licensed premises under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| SJR146 | Designates June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | 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. | Senate Floor: Table Motion | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| SJR158 | Designates June 25 of each year as "Delaware and Raritan Canal Day." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S4224 | Establishes education requirements for certain officers of State Board of Medical Examiners. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A5466 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A5466 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Senate Floor: Table Motion | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| A5606 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to clarify distribution of Meals on Wheels Program grant to Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S4439 | Establishes protections for student-athletes and certain institutions of higher education concerning name, image, or likeness compensation; repeals "New Jersey Fair Play Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S4377 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for transportation infrastructure projects for FY2026; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S4499 | Requires defendants, including insurance companies named as defendants, to be properly identified in causes of action. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/02/2025 | Yea |
| S3761 | Permits Department of Human Services to appoint persons separate from civil service eligible list under certain circumstances. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4219 | Concerns administration of employer payroll tax. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4254 | Eliminates five-year residency requirement for employees of NJ Racing Commission. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4282 | 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. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4276 | Provides that State contract for non-commercial sustaining announcements will be awarded as single contract for all State agencies without public advertising for bids. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4366 | Requires Division of Gaming Enforcement to arrange study and implement certain language requirements in gambling advertisements; restricts advertisements and promotion in certain locations. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| A5606 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to clarify distribution of Meals on Wheels Program grant to Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4402 | Provides for filing extension and 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. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4474 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to clarify distribution of Meals on Wheels Program grant to Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S4514 | Permits county clerk to require electronic submission of certain documents. | Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/29/2025 | Yea |
| S1406 | Prohibits surgical declawing of cats and other animals. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S4070 | Establishes Fusion Energy and Technology Incentive Program in EDA to encourage use of power plants for fusion energy and technology purposes; authorizes funds in Global Warming Solutions Fund to support fusion energy and technology facilities. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S4120 | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to businesses employing and retaining certain neurodiverse individuals. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/22/2025 | 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. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S4255 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S4318 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Senate Economic Growth Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S2818 | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/12/2025 | Yea |
| S2881 | Authorizes school districts to establish electric vehicle certification programs. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/12/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/12/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/12/2025 | 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. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Substitution | 05/12/2025 | Yea |
| S4375 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Senate Education Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/12/2025 | Yea |
| S1029 | "Invasive Species Management Act"; prohibits sale, distribution, import, export, and propagation of certain invasive species; establishes NJ invasive Species Council. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S2200 | 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| SJR46 | Designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in State of New Jersey. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| SJR46 | Designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in State of New Jersey. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S699 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S1400 | "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act"; provides alternative process for handling partition actions filed in court concerning real property with multiple owners, at least one of whom had acquired title from relative. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A2813 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A1825 | Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3540 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3881 | Requires State Police to establish online portal allowing persons to obtain status of expungement orders. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3940 | Modifies regulation of mortuary science and establishes oversight of mortuary and embalming science. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S2947 | Prohibits acceptance, offer, or provision of monetary or non-monetary compensation of mail-in ballot messengers or bearers; allows certain facility employees and volunteers to serve as messengers or bearers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S2952 | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | Senate Floor: Amend | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | Senate Floor: Amend | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| SJR121 | Designating May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A4535 | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S3447 | Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S3525 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| Committee | Position | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | New Jersey Joint Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Committee | 4 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Joint Public Schools Committee | 7 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Legislature Legislative Services Commission | 8 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | New Jersey Senate Education Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | New Jersey Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee | 5 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | District 15 | Senate | Democrat | In Office | 01/01/1998 | |
| NJ | District 15 | House | Democrat | Out of Office | 01/01/1994 | 01/16/2024 |