Legislator
Legislator > Teresa Ruiz
State Senator
Teresa Ruiz
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 29
In Office - Started: 01/08/2008
contact info
Newark Office
475 Bloomfield Ave.
Newark, NJ 07107
Newark, NJ 07107
Phone: 973-484-1000
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | This bill exempts certain contracts awarded for preschool education services from public advertising and bidding and permits the contracts to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education. The bill also extends the maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. Under current law, certain contracts under the Public School Contracts Law may be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The Public School Contracts Law also limits awarded contracts to no more than 24 consecutive months unless otherwise authorized for a longer term. This bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded for a period not to exceed three years. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5908 | Amends FY2026 appropriations act to revise various language provisions concerning early childhood education. | The bill amends the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations act. The bill amends various language provisions concerning Preschool Education Aid to align that language with legislation that modifies the allocation of Preschool Education Aid. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | 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. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3928 | Limits general application of certain consumer contracts. | This bill limits the general application of certain consumer contracts. Under the bill, a consumer contract for a service offered by a company must apply solely to the service offered by the company and purchased by the consumer. The consumer contract will be prohibited from containing provisions that allow or require the contract to govern the circumstances under which the consumer purchases other products or services from the contracting company, or an affiliate of the company, that are not offered pursuant to the contract. For the purpose of this bill, "consumer contract" means a written agreement in which an individual contracts for a service and is obtained for personal, family, or household purposes. "Consumer contract" does not include a written agreement involving a transaction in securities with a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or a transaction in commodities with a futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | Requires municipal tax collectors who obtain payments in lieu of taxes under "Long Term Tax Exemption Law" to transmit county portion directly to county. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1439 | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1297 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | 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 |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Passed |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Passed |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill codifies the current policy of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to issue an annual report summarizing compensation awards granted to eligible victims. Under the bill, the report is to summarize compensation awarded to victims during the previous fiscal year. The report is also to include the number of applications for compensation, the number of applications granted and denied and the reasons for the dispositions, the amount of awards, demographics concerning awards, services for which awards were provided, funding received by the office, and any other information deemed relevant by the Attorney General and the Executive Director of the VCCO. The bill requires the report to be completed within six months following the last day of the previous fiscal year. The report is to be issued to the Governor and the Legislature, as well as made available on the official website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. | Passed |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Passed |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Passed |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Passed |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Passed |
| 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. | Passed |
| 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. | Crossed Over |
| S1034 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | In Committee |
| S2223 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill codifies the current policy of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to issue an annual report summarizing compensation awards granted to eligible victims. Under the bill, the report is to summarize compensation awarded to victims during the previous fiscal year. The number of applications for compensation, the number of applications granted and denied and the reasons for the dispositions, the amount of awards, demographics concerning awards, services for which awards were provided, funding received by the office, and any other information deemed relevant by the VCCO also is to be included in the report. The bill requires the report to be completed within six months following the last day of the previous fiscal year. The report is to be issued to the Governor and the Legislature, as well as made available on the official website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. | In Committee |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Passed |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | Passed |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Passed |
| 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. | Passed |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Passed |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3818 | Requires third-party discounts and payments for individuals covered by health benefits plans to apply to copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs for covered benefits. | Requires third-party discounts and payments for individuals covered by health benefits plans to apply to copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs for covered benefits. | In Committee |
| S4475 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | In Committee |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Passed |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Passed |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Passed |
| S4361 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | In Committee |
| 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. | Passed |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Passed |
| S4071 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing puropses. | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | In Committee |
| SR133 | Respectfully urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject results of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s 2025/2026 Base Residual Auction and require rebid. | Respectfully urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject results of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s 2025/2026 Base Residual Auction and require rebid. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4567 | Appropriates $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition, park development, and planning projects, and for certain administrative expenses. | This bill appropriates $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues and various Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $102,679,000 would be used by the DEP to provide grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, $3,000,000 would be used for a new planning grant program, and $2,320,000 would be used for the DEP's associated administrative costs. The total amount of funding allocated for local government projects listed in this bill is $102,679,000. Of this amount, $22,427,000 is for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 4 of the bill, and $80,252,000 is for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 5 of the bill. Of the sum for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $19,959,000 is allocated for planning incentive open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities and counties that have an open space tax and an approved open space plan); $2,086,000 is allocated for open space acquisition projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; and $382,000 is allocated for site-specific incentive acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that have an open space tax, but do not have an open space plan). Of the sum for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $29,145,000 is allocated for local park development projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; $11,951,000 is allocated for local park development projects in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties; $6,638,000 is allocated for standard local park development projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not meet the criteria of the prior two categories); $4,247,000 is allocated for stewardship activity projects; and $28,271,000 is allocated for completely inclusive playground projects, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.104 (C.13:8C-27.1), otherwise known as "Jake's Law." The projects approved by the bill include projects in "urban aid" and densely or highly populated municipalities and counties. The bill defines a "densely or highly populated municipality" as a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or a population of at least 35,000 persons; a "densely populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile; and a "highly populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. In addition, the bill would appropriate $3 million to the DEP in order to establish a new a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which would be to provide matching grants to local governments to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. To the extent that there are funds remaining after the local government unit projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the DEP, with the approval of the JBOC, to use those funds to provide additional funding for local government unit projects listed in this bill as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT). | Passed |
| S4569 | Appropriates $13,640,000 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants of certain nonprofit entities for open space acquisition, park development, and planning projects, and for certain administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $13,640,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $11,959,000 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, $1,000,000 is to establish a new planning grant program, and $681,000 is to be used by the DEP for associated administrative costs. Of the amount appropriated by the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities: $8,346,000 is allocated for eight acquisition projects; $2,133,000 is allocated for two park development projects; and $1,480,000 is allocated for four stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill would appropriate $1,000,000 to the DEP in order to establish a new a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which would be to provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. The bill also would allow the DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. This additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. 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. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. | Crossed Over |
| S4695 | Amends FY2026 appropriations act to revise various language provisions concerning early childhood education. | The bill amends the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations act. The bill amends various language provisions concerning Preschool Education Aid to align that language with legislation that modifies the allocation of Preschool Education Aid. | Introduced |
| S4632 | Establishes grant program in DOE for public schools to purchase and install point-of-use filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets. | Establishes grant program in DOE for public schools to purchase and install point-of-use filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4658 | Eliminates sales tax on baby necessities and sunscreen. | This bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the sales of certain baby products and sunscreen. The exemption provided for baby products would include baby wash or soap, baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby powders; child restraint systems; cribs; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers. A "child restraint system" is defined under the bill to mean any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant or young child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or sleeping enclosure designed to accommodate an infant or young child including bassinets and toddler beds. In addition, the bill further defines a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant or young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. The bill also provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sales of sunscreen. "Sunscreen" is defined under the bill to mean a lotion, cream, spray, or gel regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration that is primarily used for purposes of absorbing, reflecting, or scattering ultraviolet radiation and preventing sunburn or any sun-related skin damage. The definition of sunscreen would not, however, include products marketed or intended for use as cosmetics or otherwise intended to be applied for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. | In Committee |
| S3530 | Establishes "Incarcerated Women's Protection Act" and concerns correctional facility board of trustees. | Establishes "Incarcerated Women's Protection Act" and concerns correctional facility board of trustees. | In Committee |
| S1558 | Upgrades certain crimes related to manufacturing firearms from second to first degree. | Upgrades certain crimes related to manufacturing firearms from second to first degree. | In Committee |
| S2495 | Requires training of cosmetologists-hairstylists, beauticians, barbers, and hair braiders to include working on textured hair. | Requires training of cosmetologists-hairstylists, beauticians, barbers, and hair braiders to include working on textured hair. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| S1989 | Enhances criminal penalties for persons invloved in certain human trafficking activities. | Enhances criminal penalties for persons involved in certain human trafficking activities. | Crossed Over |
| S3426 | Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service firefighter applicants. | This bill requires the Civil Service Commission to establish and maintain a mentoring program for civil service firefighter applicants. The purpose of the mentoring program would be to assist applicants residing in a municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level through the civil service application, examination, and selection process, and to help address obstacles unique to their circumstances. The program will include a study group to help applicants in any municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level with the resources needed to compete with applicants in other communities that benefit from outside private study groups. The program may be conducted through mentoring projects, including workshops, group discussions, and dissemination of information about civil service practices which provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment. The program will be designed to provide mentoring to an applicant for the duration of the exam cycle, until the mentee completes the hiring process. The commission would develop criteria to determine eligibility in the program as a mentor and as a mentee. A mentor may be a current or former firefighter in good standing who obtained a firefighter position through the civil service process, or any other person deemed appropriate by the commission. A mentor or mentee may be removed from the mentoring program for good cause as determined by the commission. A mentee would be removed from the program upon the mentee's acceptance of an offer of employment. An applicant may participate in the program as a mentee a maximum of three times within a 10-year period. A former mentee may be eligible to participate in the program as a mentor. No monies would be provided to a mentor to participate in the program, and no fees would be charged to a mentee to participate in the program. At least once a year, the commission would review the program for its efficacy, and make any necessary adjustments to continue to meet the needs and purpose of the program. | Crossed Over |
| S3423 | Requires standards for organization and deployment of career fire fighters to be consistent with certain national standards. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules for the deployment of career fire fighters that are consistent with the standards promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA 1710 (2020 edition). The bill also requires the appointing authority of each career fire department to ensure the deployment of fire fighting personnel, for rescue, fire suppression, and related activities, consistently with the standards set forth in NFPA 1710 (2020 edition) and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this bill. While a municipality may have authority to determine the overall level of fire protection to provide within its jurisdiction, a municipality that has established and maintains a paid or part-paid fire department and force is to deploy fire-fighting personnel consistently with NFPA 1710, the national standard designed to enhance the safety of the employees of career fire departments. This bill will prevent local units from relaxing fire fighter safety requirements due to possible fiscal constraints or political concerns. | Crossed Over |
| S4477 | Bans carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, flame resistant chemicals, and volatile organic compounds from certain hair products. | This bill bans certain materials from being intentionally added to hair products manufactured, sold, or distributed in this State. The bill defines hair product to mean a product made through the synthesis of artificial materials such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, or cellulose to create fibers that undergo various processes to resemble human hair. Under the bill, carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and flame resistant chemicals are prohibited from being intentionally added to hair products. The bill defines a carcinogen as a chemical identified by the World Health Organization as a "Group 1 carcinogen" or "group 2A carcinogen"; a chemical identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as "known to be a human carcinogen" and "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen"; or a chemical recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as "group A carcinogens" or "group B carcinogens." The bill also defines reproductive toxicant to mean any chemical identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a reproductive or developmental toxicant. The bill provides that it is an unlawful practice and a violation of the consumer fraud act for any person to manufacture, sell, distribute, or offer for sale in this State a hair product that emits VOCs when used as intended, or contains an intentionally added carcinogen, reproductive toxicant, or flame resistant chemical. A violation of the bill's provisions is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. | In Committee |
| S3890 | Requires public institution of higher education to provide students with information on food assistance programs. | Requires public institution of higher education to provide students with information on food assistance programs. | Crossed Over |
| S1951 | Establishes requirements for sanctions and other actions involving low-performing nursing homes. | This bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services (DHS) to take certain actions involving nursing homes that receive a one-star quality rating from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS currently rates the quality of care in nursing homes on a scale of one to five stars. Specifically, if the nursing home receives a one-star rating, but did not receive a one-star rating in the preceding quarter, the division will be required to issue a warning to the nursing home: 1) urging the nursing home to improve the quality of care provided to residents; 2) advising the nursing home that a second or subsequent one-star rating may result in the division requiring the nursing home to take specific steps to improve the quality of care; and 3) advising the nursing home that the failure to improve quality of care at the nursing home may result in the division imposing sanctions against the nursing home. If the nursing home receives a one-star CMS rating in two consecutive quarters, the division will be required to evaluate whether to impose sanctions against the nursing home, which sanctions may include, but will not be limited to: issuing an order prohibiting the nursing home from admitting new Medicaid enrollees; limiting the total number of Medicaid enrollees who may be admitted to the nursing home; and reducing or limiting payments to the nursing home under the DHS quality incentive payment program. If the nursing home receives a one-star CMS rating in three consecutive quarters, the division will be required to evaluate whether to impose additional sanctions against the nursing home, which sanctions will be in addition to, and more severe than, any sanctions imposed for a one-star CMS rating in two consecutive quarters. The sanctions may include, but will not be limited to: issuing an order prohibiting the nursing home from admitting new residents; removing current residents who are Medicaid enrollees from the nursing home; stopping all payments to the nursing home under the DHS quality incentive payment program; declining to approve or revoking the approval of the owner or operator of the nursing home to participate in Medicaid; and, in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), prohibiting the owner or operator of the nursing home from obtaining an interest in, or contracting with, any other nursing home in the State. The division may additionally institute any actions as are necessary to protect the health and well-being of residents and staff at the nursing home. When evaluating whether to impose sanctions against a nursing home, the division will be required to consult with the DOH concerning its recommendations for action against the nursing home and review the information concerning the nursing home that is available on the DOH's nursing home data dashboard. In the event the division does not take action against a nursing home as authorized under the bill, the division will be required to document the reason why action was not taken. In addition to any other actions taken against a nursing home under the bill, the division is to require a nursing home that receives a one-star CMS rating in three or more consecutive quarters to submit an improvement plan to the division, in a manner and method to be determined by division, providing a description of the action steps to be taken by the nursing home over an 18-month period to resolve the quality issues indicated by nursing home's consecutive one-star ratings. The division, in consultation with the DOH, will review the plan and either approve it or return it to the nursing home with a description of the changes needed for the plan to be approved. Upon approval of its improvement plan, a nursing home will be required to begin implementing the plan immediately. If an improvement plan is returned to the nursing home for revision, the nursing home will then have 30 days to submit an updated plan to the division for approval. If the division determines the updated plan cannot be approved, it will have the discretion to allow the nursing home to submit a second updated plan or to make a determination that the nursing home is noncompliant with improvement plan requirements, which will result in the division removing all Medicaid enrollees from the nursing home, as outlined below. Within 60 days after completing its improvement plan, a nursing home will be required to submit a report to the division documenting the execution of the plan, as well as the outcomes of the action steps. The division, in consultation with the DOH, will evaluate the report and determine the nursing home's compliance in implementing the plan as approved by the division. At the division's discretion, a nursing home determined to be noncompliant with the implementation of the facility's improvement plan may be provided additional time to fulfill the actions steps outlined in the plan. A nursing home that fails to comply with the requirements concerning the submission and implementation of an improvement plan will be ineligible to receive reimbursement under the Medicaid program, although reimbursement for services will continue until all Medicaid beneficiaries residing at the nursing home have been relocated. The nursing home will be responsible for: 1) informing Medicaid residents, in writing, of the nursing home's noncompliance with the improvement plan requirements; and 2) providing the division with a patient-centered discharge plan for current Medicaid residents within 30 days of the determination of noncompliance. Nursing homes will have the right to appeal the determination of noncompliance. Commencing one year after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, the division will be required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the sanctions imposed against nursing homes under the bill in each quarter of the preceding year, explaining the reason why sanctions were not imposed against any nursing home for which sanctions were authorized under the bill, and outlining the results of any nursing home improvement plans required under the bill and the actions taken against each nursing home that was determined to be noncompliant with the improvement plan requirements established under the bill. In addition to the sanctions authorized under the bill, the bill specifies that the division may, at any time, institute any actions necessary to protect the health and well-being of residents and staff at a nursing home. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to diminish the authority of the DOH or any other department or agency having regulatory authority over nursing homes, and a sanction or other action imposed against a nursing home under the bill will be in addition to any other penalties imposed against the nursing home for violations of State or federal law. The division will be required to promulgate regulations establishing the criteria the division will consider when determining whether to impose sanctions against a nursing home and which sanctions are appropriate for the nursing home. These criteria will include, at a minimum, consideration of the preferences of nursing home residents and the availability of other nursing homes in the same region. The division will be also be required to promulgate regulations establishing an appeals process for noncompliant nursing homes. This bill implements the recommendations of the Office of the State Comptroller outlined in its February 2022 report titled, "An Examination of the Lowest-Rated Long Term Care Facilities Participating in New Jersey's Medicaid Program." | In Committee |
| S3091 | Requires New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to establish public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services. | Requires New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to establish public awareness campaign on benefits of doula and midwife services. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S172 | Provides paid leave for employee to attend certain events of child of employee; establishes tax credits for employer that provide those leave benefits. | Provides paid leave for employee to attend certain events of child of employee; establishes tax credits for employer that provide those leave benefits. | In Committee |
| A5606 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to clarify distribution of Meals on Wheels Program grant to Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. | An Act amending P.L.2024, c.22, the Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act, to clarify distribution of Programs for the Aging funding for the Meals on Wheels Program. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4375 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | In Committee |
| S4474 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to clarify distribution of Meals on Wheels Program grant to Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. | The annual appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2025 currently appropriates $500,000 for a grant for the Meals on Wheels Program. This bill amends the appropriations act to specifically allocate these funds to the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. In its current form, the annual appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2025 appropriates these funds to the Jewish Federation of New Jersey. However, because this is not the official name of an organization, this bill assigns the responsibility for distributing these funds to the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey as intended. | In Committee |
| S4568 | Requires governing board of public institution of higher education to notify Secretary of Higher Education of proposed merger or consolidation. | This bill requires the governing board of a public institution of higher education to notify the Secretary of Higher Education of a proposed merger or consolidation. The bill requires that, prior to commencing an institutional merger or consolidation, including a merger or consolidation of one or more schools within the same institution, the governing board of a public institution of higher education is to notify the Secretary of Higher Education of the proposed merger or consolidation. Under the bill, the notice is to include, at a minimum: (1) the reason for the proposed merger or consolidation; (2) the projected cost of the proposed merger or consolidation and a preliminary assessment of any fiscal impacts; and (3) the effect on the students and employees of the institutions and schools. The bill requires that the notice be provided to the secretary within 14 days of the date upon which the governing board adopts a resolution, or otherwise enters into an agreement, to commence an institutional merger or consolidation. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SCR114 | Urges Congress to enact "Find It Early Act." | Urges Congress to enact "Find It Early Act." | In Committee |
| S1277 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Passed |
| S4512 | Expands responsibilities of Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board and establishes "Problematic Sexual Behavior Program"; appropriates $8.5 million. | This bill expands the responsibilities of the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board (the board) established in P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.107 et seq.) and establishes the Problematic Sexual Behavior Program (the program). Specifically, the bill amends various sections of P.L.2017, c.90 (C.9:6-8.108 et seq.) to: (1) include definitions relating to the establishment of the program; (2) stipulate that the board is to establish an annual progress review, instead of a certification process, as originally required by law, for the State's child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams; (3) establish a Problematic Sexual Behavior Subcommittee; and (4) administer, in coordination with the DCF, the "Child Treatment Assistance Fund" established in the bill. The bill also amends P.L.2017, c.90 to increase the number of members of the board from 10, as originally provide by the law, to 13, update the guidelines of practice for child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams must adopt to receive satisfactory annual progress reviews, and clarify how the grants distributed by the DCF to centers and teams, through the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Fund, are to be spent. The bill establishes the Problematic Sexual Behavior Program administered by the New Jersey Children's Alliance and funded by the DCF. The purpose of the program is to institute a Statewide, coordinated response to, and address the medical and mental health care services needs of those impacted by, problematic sexual behavior. The bill also establishes the "Child Treatment Assistance Fund" in the DCF. The fund is to be the repository of monies appropriated to cover the cost of the medical and mental health care services provided through the program. As defined in the bill, "problematic sexual behavior" means behavior, initiated by youth under the age of 18, involving the use sexual body parts in a manner that is developmentally inappropriate or potentially harmful to the person or persons impacted by the behavior, and also includes technology facilitated adverse sexualized behaviors that can be considered problematic and harmful. The bill appropriates $8,500,000 from the General Fund to the DCF to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4509 | Provides additional licensing eligibility for activities involving intoxicating hemp products. | This bill makes various updates to P.L.2024, c.73 (Intoxicating Hemp Act) related to intoxicating hemp products sold in New Jersey. Several provisions in this bill address issues raised in the October 2024 holding by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Loki Brands, LLC et al. v. Matthew Platkin et al., which held that provisions of P.L.2024, c.73, which regulates the production and sale of intoxicating hemp products, violate the Dormant Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution and are federally preempted. The court held that the enactment is thus unenforceable due to the variable treatment of out-of-state hemp producers and sellers versus in-State hemp producers and sellers. Definitions This bill amends various definitions in the "New Jersey Hemp Farming Act," P.L.2019, c.238 and the "Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act," P.L.2021, c.16 (CREAMMA). Specifically, the bill updates the New Jersey Hemp Farming Act to add the definition of "non-intoxicating total THC concentration" and "THC." Further, the bill clarifies in the New Jersey Hemp Farming Act, that "hemp product" does not mean: (1) a product that contains artificially or synthetically produced cannabinoids of any kind; (2) a cannabinoid produced using chemical synthesis, chemical modification, chemical conversion process, isomerization, or any other synthesis methodology as may be identified by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (commission); or (3) an intoxicating hemp product. This bill also makes changes to the definitions in CREAMMA. Specifically, the bill clarifies that "intoxicating hemp product" is separate and distinct from a "cannabis item." Moreover, the bill adds the definition of "intoxicating hemp product establishment" and "intoxicating total THC concentration" to CREAMMA. The bill clarifies that a "license" and "licensee" also include a license issued by the commission or a license holder holding a valid license pursuant to the Intoxicating Hemp Act. The bill clarifies that under N.J.S.A.24:21-2, "drugs," "hashish," and "marijuana" do not include intoxicating hemp products, as that term is defined in the Intoxicating Hemp Act, that are produced, manufactured, or sold in accordance with the Intoxicating Hemp Act. Relatedly, the bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:35-2, the definitions section of the "Comprehensive Drug Reform Act of 1987," P.L.1987, c.106, to clarify that terms "drugs," "hashish," and "marijuana" also do not include intoxicating hemp products, as that term is defined in the Intoxicating Hemp Act, that are produced, manufactured, or sold in accordance with the Intoxicating Hemp Act. The bill also amends N.J.S.A.40:48I-1 to apply to licensed establishments, and removes reference to cannabis establishments. The bill defines "licensed establishment" as the holder of a license issued by the commission pursuant to CREAMMA or the Intoxicating Hemp Act. Licensing Intoxicating Hemp Product Establishments In addition to the licensing rules under the Intoxicating Hemp Act, this bill permits the commission to promulgate rules and regulations that: (1) establish a new license type related to intoxicating hemp products; (2) ensure that the intoxicating hemp product market in New Jersey is safe and effective; (3) streamline the application process for any person currently licensed under CREAMMA; and (4) permit out-of-state hemp entities to apply for licensure in this State, provided that standards for licensure in the out-of-state applicant's home state are substantially similar to those of New Jersey. The bill provides that any holder of a plenary wholesale or plenary retail distribution license issued by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) that currently sells intoxicating hemp beverages may continue to do so until the Cannabis Regulatory Commission adopts rules and regulations related to such products. The bill further provides that such ABC licensees must be approved by the commission in accordance with the Intoxicating Hemp Act and this bill within 120 days of the adoption of the rules and regulations in order to continue to sell intoxicating hemp beverages. Prohibitions The bill also prohibits a retailer of an intoxicating hemp product, including an intoxicating hemp beverage, from dispensing or offering for sale a product from a vending machine. Moreover, the bill prohibits direct to consumer sales, including online sales, of intoxicating hemp products. Sales of such products are required to be conducted at the physical location of the licensed premises. Further, the bill prohibits selling or distributing products or samples of products in public spaces, such as sidewalks, public streets, or parks. The bill prohibits the knowing sale of an intoxicating hemp product that is not accompanied by a certificate of analysis issued within the previous six-month period by a laboratory in compliance with testing standards as established by the commission. Finally, the bill prohibits the holder of any valid and unrevoked plenary wholesale license or plenary distribution license from selling or distributing any product besides intoxicating hemp beverages. Any employees of such licensees are also required to participate in the education program developed and implemented by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Federal Law The bill provides that nothing in this bill, nor the Intoxicating Hemp Act, prohibit the transportation or shipment of hemp or hemp products through the State which is authorized by subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1945, in accordance with 7 U.S.C. s.1639o et seq. Taxes and Excise Fee The bill subjects the sale of intoxicating hemp products to the Sales and Use Tax in the State. The bill directs that tax revenue will be split evenly: (1) 50 percent of the all revenue generated from such tax is deposited into the "Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Fund," established under N.J.S.A.24:6I-50; and (2) 50 percent of the revenue generated from such tax is deposited into a special nonlapsing account in the State General Fund. The bill, based upon the definitional changes to the New Jersey Hemp Farming Act and CREAMMA, amends N.J.S.A.40:48I-1 to clarify that a municipality may adopt an ordinance imposing a transfer tax on the sale of cannabis, cannabis items, or intoxicating hemp products. The bill imposes a $30 excise fee on the transfer of intoxicating hemp products, not including intoxicating hemp beverages, from a manufacturer to a retailer of such products. The bill imposes an excise tax in the amount of $5.50 per gallon on the sale of intoxicating hemp beverages. Such tax is levied and imposed on the sale of any intoxicating hemp beverage made within this State or upon any delivery of intoxicating hemp beverages made within or into this State. The per-gallon tax and $30 excise fee imposed on intoxicating hemp products is intended to fund social equity programs. Background Checks The bill permits the commission to require any person who seeks a license under the Intoxicating Hemp Act to undergo a background check. This includes any person involved in the intoxicating hemp product establishment's operations, including any owner, director, officer, or employee. Prior to conducting a criminal history background check, an individual must consent to such check being conducted. If a person refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, the securing of a background check, the commission is prohibited from considering such person for licensure to conduct activities related to the manufacture, distribution, or sale of intoxicating hemp products. The commission is prohibited from disqualifying an applicant for licensure based on certain past convictions, including for those cannabis-related or controlled dangerous substance offenses set forth under CREAMMA. However, convictions for indictable offenses involving fraud, deceit, or embezzlement, or the use of minors in a drug scheme may be deemed to be disqualifying, if the offense occurred within the last five years. The commission is required to provide written notification to an applicant if the licensure to conduct intoxicating hemp activities is denied. If the denial is based on a prior conviction, the commission is required to provide written notification to the applicant indicating the conviction. The bill requires the Division of State Police to notify the commission if any person who was subject to a criminal history background check commits an offense subsequent to the time that the background check for application for licensure was completed. Employer Rights The bill clarifies that nothing in the bill: (1) requires an employer to amend or repeal, or affect, restrict, or preempt, the rights and obligations of employers to maintain a drug- and alcohol-free workplace or require an employer to permit or accommodate the use, consumption, being under the influence, possession, transfer, display, transportation, or sale of intoxicating hemp products, including intoxicating hemp beverages in the workplace, or to affect the ability of the employers to have policies prohibiting the use of intoxicating hemp products or intoxication by employees during work hours. (2) is intended to allow driving under the influence of intoxicating hemp products, or driving while impaired by intoxicating hemp products or to supersede laws related to driving under the influence of intoxicating hemp products or driving while impaired by intoxicating hemp products; or (3) is intended to permit the transfer of intoxicating hemp products, with or without remuneration, to a person under 21 years of age or to allow a person under 21 years of age to purchase, possess, use, transport, or consume intoxicating hemp products; provided, however, that a person who is under 21 years of age, but at least 18 years of age, and an employee of intoxicating hemp product manufacturer or distributor, or delivery service acting in the person's employment capacity, may possess or transport intoxicating hemp products. Effective Date This bill amends the Intoxicating Hemp Act effective date to delay certain provisions of the Intoxicating Hemp Act to not take effect until 120 days after the commission adopts rules and regulations pursuant to the Intoxicating Hemp Act and this bill. | In Committee |
| S4401 | Establishes Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program. | This bill codifies in permanent law the ARRIVE Together Crisis Response Pilot Program established pursuant to P.L.2022, c.36. The bill establishes the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program in the Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS). The bill requires the Attorney General (AG) to issue guidelines for a mental health services provider or mental health services agency to contract with a law enforcement agency to respond to a request for assistance involving a person alleged, reported or suspected to be experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis. The bill permits an eligible police force to participate in the ARRIVE Together Program, including the Division of State Police, a county police department or force established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-106, a municipal police department or force established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-118, or any other police department or force the AG deems appropriate. Under the bill, a law enforcement agency that chooses to participate in the ARRIVE Together Program is required to designate at least one person as the crisis response support coordinator to develop and implement the agency's procedures to comply with AG's guidance. The bill also requires the county prosecutors to designate a county crisis response support coordinator to develop and implement county level guidance issued by the AG and to provide documentation or information to the AG as necessary. The bill also provides certain protections for personal identifying information. In the bill, "personal identifying information" is defined as information pertaining to the assessment, diagnosis, treatment or health status of an individual, including but not limited to an individual's name or identity; whether the individual is the subject of an emergency call or other report; whether the individual is alleged or suspected to be experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis or other emergency, incident or distress; and whether the individual is receiving an assessment for crisis intervention, a mental health screening, or other support services through the ARRIVE Together Program. Under the bill, personal identifying information is confidential and is not to be disclosed except upon express consent of the individual subject to an ARRIVE Together response, as determined necessary by the AG to implement the provisions of the bill, or as otherwise required by court or by law. Information and records created by a law enforcement agency solely as a result of the ARRIVE Together Program or maintained by the DLPS for the ARRIVE Together Program are also confidential and exempt from the open public records act, P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), under the bill. Finally, the bill supplements the Good Samaritan Act, P.L.1963, c.140 (C.2A:62A-1 et seq.), by providing that a licensed mental health services provider or mental health services agency contracted to provide crisis response services for the ARRIVE Together Program or a substantially similar program would not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any acts or omissions taken in good faith. | In Committee |
| S4495 | Requires health benefits coverage for treatment of lipedema. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers; health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for expenses incurred for the treatment of lipedema. The expenses for which coverage is to be provided include compression garments for all of the covered person's affected extremities, manual lymphatic drainage, medical nutrition therapy, mental health care, lipectomy that is determined to be medically necessary by the covered person's surgeon, and pre-and post-lipectomies appointments with the covered person's physician and surgeon. The bill requires a covered person to provide a carrier with documentation from the covered person's physician diagnosing the covered person with lipedema and, if applicable, documentation from the covered person's surgeon that includes photographs of the covered person that support the diagnosis and information on the number of lipectomies the covered person's surgeon deems medically necessary. Under the bill, a carrier is to provide coverage for the total number of lipectomies deemed medically necessary by the covered person's surgeon and shall not require a covered person's surgeon to remove less fat than the surgeon deems medically necessary to be removed from the covered person during lipectomy in order to receive coverage. If a carrier denies coverage for expenses incurred for the treatment of lipedema, the carrier is to provide the covered person with a detailed explanation of the reason for the denial. A carrier cannot deny coverage for expenses incurred for the treatment of lipedema solely based on photographs of the covered person submitted pursuant to the bill. Additionally, the bill provides that prior authorization granted by a carrier for a lipectomy is valid for a period of one year from the date the covered person's surgeon receives the prior authorization. A carrier is required to honor a prior authorization granted to a covered person for a lipectomy by the covered person's previous carrier for the remainder of the duration of the prior authorization. Coverage is to be provided consistent with the current standard of care for lipedema. Lipedema is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by abnormal and often painful fat accumulation in specific areas of the body. The condition does not have a cure, but lipectomy can help remove fat and reduce the pain associated with the condition. | In Committee |
| S4507 | Requires Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to maintain minutes of meetings; provides Governor veto over minutes. | This bill requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to maintain minutes of all meetings and public hearings of the commissioners and to submit these minutes to the Governor for approval. No action may be taken unless the action is taken at a meeting or public hearing for which minutes are provided. The bill further authorizes the Governor to review the minutes and approve or veto them within 15 days of receiving the minutes. No action taken at any meeting or public hearing may take effect until the 15-day period has elapsed, unless the Governor approves the minutes in less than 15 days. Finally, the bill provides that after the required period has elapsed, if the Governor has not notified the commissioners of a veto of the minutes, the minutes and any action taken at that meeting or public hearing to which the minutes correspond are to take effect. | In Committee |
| S4500 | Requires NJTA, NJT, and SJTA to provide notice of proposed fare, charge, and toll increases; requires BPU to provide notice of certain filings and decisions. | This bill creates certain notice requirements for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation), the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), and the Board of Public Utilities (board). Under this bill, NJTA, the corporation, and SJTA are required to provide copies of any proposal that would result in the creation of or an increase to a toll, fare, or charge, as applicable, to the Governor and the Legislature at least 15 days prior to providing public notice that the entity is considering the proposal. Further, when NJTA fixes, revises, charges, or collects a toll, fare, or charge, this bill requires NTJA to provide 70 days notice prior to implementing the creation of or an increase to a toll, fare, or charge. The bill further requires the board to provide copies of any filing submitted by a public utility that would result in the creation of or an increase to an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule to the Governor and the Legislature 15 days prior to providing public notice that the board will consider that filing by a public utility that would result in the creation of or an increase to an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule The bill also requires the board to provide copies of the board's final decision and order on a filing submitted by a public utility that would result in the creation of or an increase to an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof to the Governor and the Legislature within 15 days of adopting such final decision and order. | In Committee |
| SJR165 | Designates August 10 of each year as Ecuador Day. | This joint resolution designates August 10 of each year as Ecuador Day. On May 24, 1822, after a 13-year war, Ecuador assured its independence from Spain with the decisive victory of the Battle of Pichincha. The United States recognized the independence of Ecuador on June 18, 1822 and recognized Ecuador as a separate state in 1832. The two countries began their diplomatic relationship in 1838 by signing a treaty of peace and the United States sent its first resident diplomatic agent to Quito in 1848. Today, the United States is one of Ecuador's principal trading partners. In May 2024, Daniel Noboa, the President of the Republic of Ecuador, held an official gathering at New Jersey City University as part of his first official visit to the United States. During his visit, President Noboa witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between New Jersey City University and el Grupo Latinoamericano de Cónsules en New Jersey. Additionally, New Jersey is home to the second-largest community of Ecuadorian immigrants in the United States with 237,532 residents, comprising almost three percent of the State's population. Essex County and Hudson County claim the second and third largest Ecuadorian immigrant population by county in the United States, respectively. Ecuador is known as one of the most environmentally diverse countries in the world, and has made notable contributions to the environmental sciences, including research that has led to the establishment of basic theories of modern geography, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Overall, Ecuador has served as an important international partner for the United States, as well as New Jersey, by means of trade and academic and cultural exchanges. | In Committee |
| S664 | Increases amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research to $10 million; establishes dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund. | This bill increases the amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) to $10 million. The bill also establishes a dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the Department of the Treasury. In doing so, the bill prioritizes funding: 1) to expand the NJCCR's capacity to fund research regarding the causes, prevention, treatment, and palliation of all cancers and to serve as a resource of information to providers and consumers of cancer care and treatment services; and 2) for cancer research grants that reduce and eliminate disparities among the various racial and ethnic populations within the State's minority and vulnerable communities by increasing access to clinical trials and high-quality cancer care and treatment. Pursuant to current statute, the NJCCR annually receives $1 million in cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues. This money is deposited into an existing lapsing Cancer Research Fund and then appropriated to the commission. In recent years, pursuant to the annual appropriations act, this money has been transferred from the Cancer Research Fund to the General Fund. The appropriations act then provides the NJCCR funding via a budget line. Despite the statutory requirement, in FY 2022, the NJCCR was appropriated $4 million in funding. Under the bill, the existing lapsing Cancer Research Fund is replaced by a non-lapsing, revolving fund. This fund is to be the repository of the $10 million in cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues deposited into the account under the bill and any other funds approved by the Department of Health or the NJCCR. Moneys deposited in the fund, and any interest earned thereon, are to be used exclusively for providing grants for cancer research projects authorized and approved by the commission, with at least $5 million to be used to fund general cancer research and at least $5 million to be used to fund pediatric cancer research. The State Treasurer will be the custodian of the fund and all disbursements from the fund are to be made by the State Treasurer upon vouchers signed by the chairperson of the NJCCR or the chairperson's designee. The monies in the fund are to be invested and reinvested by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury in the same manner as other trust funds in the custody of the State Treasurer, in the manner provided by law. Interest received on the monies in the fund are to be credited to the fund. | In Committee |
| S3525 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | An Act concerning financial institutions servicing mortgages and supplementing P.L.2009, c.53 (C.17:11C-51 et seq.). | 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 |
| S4126 | Prohibits certain uses of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene. | This bill would prohibit certain uses of the chemicals perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). Specifically, the bill would (1) prohibit all uses in commerce of TCE and (2) prohibit all consumer and commercial uses of PCE, and require an owner or operator of a facility that utilizes PCE to take appropriate measures to protect the facility's worker from exposure to PCE. The bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt rules and regulations to implement these requirements. The bill would additionally specify that the DEP codify, on the state level, the rules and regulations that were adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December, 2024 concerning the use of PCE and TCE. PCE is a solvent that is used in brake cleaners and adhesives, in dry cleaning, and in many industrial applications. The EPA has found that PCE is associated with health risks such as damage to the kidney, liver, and immune system, neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity, and cancer from inhalation or skin exposure. TCE is a volatile organic compound that is used in industrial cleaning and degreasing applications, lubricants, adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, automotive care products, cleaning products, and furniture care products. The EPA has found that TCE is associated with health risks including liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| S2236 | Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. | An Act concerning exemption from jury service and amending N.J.S.2B:20-10. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR166 | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | 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 |
| S4294 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | This bill requires Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and the medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries who are experiencing infertility. In doing so, this bill mirrors the existing infertility benefit provided under Medicaid in New York. Specifically, the bill mandates that Medicaid is to provide coverage for expenses incurred in the provision of medically necessary ovulation enhancing drugs and the medical services related to prescribing and monitoring the use of such drugs for individuals 21 through 44 years of age who are experiencing infertility, provided that there is federal financial participation available. As defined under the bill, "infertility" means a condition characterized by the incapacity to conceive, as defined by either: the failure to establish a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse for individuals 21 through 34 years of age; or the failure to establish a clinical pregnancy after six months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse for individuals 35 through 44 years of age. Medical services covered under the bill are limited to office visits, hysterosalpingograms, pelvic ultrasounds, and blood testing. A hysterosalpingogram is an x-ray procedure used to see whether the patient's fallopian tubes are open and if the inside of the uterus is normal. | In Committee |
| S4295 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $144.2 million to provide additional Outcomes-Based Allocation funding to four-year public institutions of higher education. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of approximately $144.2 million to provide additional Outcomes-Based Allocation funding to the State's public four-year institutions of higher education. The FY 2025 Appropriations Act appropriates a total of $220.5 million in Outcomes-Based Allocation funding to the State's 13 public four-year institutions of higher education. Pursuant to budget language in the FY 2025 Appropriations Act, an institution's allocation is based on the institution's share of Statewide overall totals on the following metrics: the total number of degrees awarded; the number of degrees awarded to individuals from underrepresented ethnic and racial minority groups; the number of students at the institution with adjusted gross income between $0 and $65,000; degrees awarded to students with adjusted gross income between $0 and $65,000; degrees awarded to transfer students; degrees awarded in the STEM and healthcare fields; and the number of doctoral degrees awarded. This bill would supplement the existing amount of funds distributed through the Outcomes-Based Allocation program in FY 2025. The amount of funds provided pursuant to the bill is calculated based on estimated future needs of the institutions and is disbursed in the same manner as is currently provided in the FY 2025 Appropriations Act. | In Committee |
| S3955 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S4291 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation (division) to develop, and update as necessary to reflect current law, an online training program for the purpose of providing instruction on the process of filing and remitting State taxes, including, but not limited to, the corporation business tax, gross income tax, and sales and use tax. The training program is required to be designed specifically for use by small businesses and micro-businesses and to be made available, free of charge, on the Internet website of the division. | In Committee |
| S4290 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | This bill provides businesses with the option of receiving notifications from the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and, as applicable, from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on new statutory and regulatory requirements and economic incentives related to their industry. Current processes require that all businesses registered in the State receive these updates via traditional paper communication. The bill allows any business with the option of providing a registered email address to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, which will coordinate the dissemination of these statutory, regulatory and economic incentive-related communications through the provided email. The bill also provides a method for businesses to revert to the traditional means of paper communication. | In Committee |
| S4292 | Requires EDA to include social media development services in services offered through Small Business E-commerce Support Program. | This bill requires that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) include the provision of social media development services among the services offered to eligible small businesses through its Small Business E-commerce Support Program. The authority created the Small Business E-commerce Support Program as a pilot product under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, established pursuant to the "New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020." Under this pilot product, the authority offers e-commerce and digital marketing consulting services to eligible small businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses that are situated in a commercial location within the State. Currently, the consultancy services offered through the pilot product generally include assistance related to the development of Internet websites, e-commerce platforms, and digital marketing plans. The bill requires that these services also include assistance related to the development of social media platforms. | In Committee |
| S3610 | Requires Department of Treasury and DHS to annually identify State funds available for NJ FamilyCare and child care services, evaluate programs, and create prioritized list of initiatives to improve quality of care under programs. | Requires Department of Treasury and DHS to annually identify State funds available for NJ FamilyCare and child care services, evaluate programs, and create prioritized list of initiatives to improve quality of care under programs. | Crossed Over |
| S3447 | Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force. | Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S1192 | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | In Committee |
| S3153 | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| S3457 | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | In Committee |
| S3934 | Codifies Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for 365-day period beginning on last day of pregnancy. | This bill codifies Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for a 365-day period beginning on the last day of a woman's pregnancy. The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services has been mandated to provide this benefit, via budget language included in the State's Annual Appropriations Act, since FY 2022. Moreover, the division has included this policy in the NJ FamilyCare 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration, which governs the operations of significant components of New Jersey' s Medicaid program. The current demonstration is effective through June 30, 2028. The State's efforts regarding Medicaid coverage for pregnant individuals are aligned with changes at the federal level. For example, a provision in the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" gave states a new option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months, instead of 60 days, via a state plan amendment for the purposes of improving maternal health and coverage stability, and addressing racial disparities in maternal health. This new option took effect on April 1, 2022 and was originally available for five years; however, the option was made permanent by the "Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023." This bill also clarifies that the State's existing coverage of Medicaid services for pregnant individuals is extended to those individuals whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under the State Medicaid plan. | Crossed Over |
| A4091 | Expands services that can be provided by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. | An Act concerning audiologists and hearing aid dispensers and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1950 | Expands scope of Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. | This bill expands the scope of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (ombudsman) to provide that the office of the ombudsman will oversee all long-term care facility residents, not just the elderly. The bill updates certain statutory references to reflect this change, and additionally removes references to "patients" and "clients" of a facility. Current law provides that, upon completing an investigation, the ombudsman's findings and recommended action are to be submitted to the Commissioner of Health or the Commissioner of Human Services, as appropriate, as well as to any other governmental agency that regulates or operates the facility. The bill revises this requirement to provide that the report be furnished to these entities upon request, and upon substantiation of the report or complaint. The bill further provides that the report may also be provided to the complainant, if the resident or the resident's legal representative consents to the complainant receiving a copy of the report. The bill provides that, in addition to obtaining the name and address of a person on a consent form, the ombudsman is to make reasonable efforts to obtain the person's phone number and email address. The bill removes a requirement for the ombudsman to provide notice before inspecting the premises, books, files, medical records, or other records of a facility or government agency during the course of an investigation. The bill revises a requirement for the Legislature to review the development, administration, and operation of the office through certain standing reference committees to instead make the Legislature directly responsible for the review. The bill makes various technical and stylistic changes to the current statutory law involving grammar and citation. | In Committee |
| S3616 | Requires health care professionals to perform lead screening on pregnant persons under certain circumstances. | Requires health care professionals to perform lead screening on pregnant persons under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3558 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for the treatment of stuttering. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) and the State Medicaid program to provide coverage for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy. Whether treatment is a medical necessity is to be determined by the covered person's medical doctor. The bill requires coverage to be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth, without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements, and without cost-sharing. Pursuant to the bill, "habilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living; and "rehabilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person restore or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired. | In Committee |
| S3694 | Prohibits cryptocurrency automatic teller machines. | This bill prohibits any business entity from owning, controlling, installing, or managing a cryptocurrency automatic teller machine (ATM) in this State. Under the bill, cryptocurrency is defined as any digital form of currency that functions as a medium of exchange through a decentralized computer network without reliance on any central authority such as a government or financial institution. In addition, a cryptocurrency ATM means a physical, internet-connected kiosk allowing users to buy, sell, send, or receive cryptocurrency by depositing money using a debit card, credit card, or cash. Under the provisions of the bill, owning, controlling, installing, managing, selling, or offering for sale a cryptocurrency ATM in this State is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations may result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. While cryptocurrency ATMs offer a convenient way for individuals to buy, sell, send, or receive digital currencies, there has been a significant rise in scams associated with their use. According to the United States Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Sentinel Network, fraud losses linked to these cryptocurrency automatic teller machines have surged nearly tenfold since 2020 to more than $110 million in 2023 and exceeded $65 million in just the first half of 2024. Since many incidents of fraud go unreported, these figures likely represent only a portion of the overall impact. It is the sponsor's intent to protect consumers from falling victim to financial losses associated with the use of cryptocurrency automatic teller machines. | 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 |
| S4127 | Imposes additional penalties for invasion of privacy where victim is candidate for public office. | This bill prohibits the non-consensual disclosure of an intimate image or forged intimate image of a candidate for public office, and makes unlawful disclosure a crime of the third 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 candidate who is the victim of an unlawful disclosure may also pursue a civil action against the perpetrator. Under the bill, "intimate image" is defined as any photograph, film, videotape, recording, digital file, or any other reproduction of the image of a person whose intimate parts are wholly or partially exposed or covered only by an undergarment, or who is engaged in an act of sexual penetration, sexual arousal, or sexual gratification. Intimate image includes an image that, by means of naming through captioning, metadata, or any other accompanying description, purports to be an image of the person named. Under the bill, "forged intimate image" is defined as any image that is generated or substantially modified using technological means such that it falsely appears to be a realistic intimate image, regardless of whether the image or any accompanying description indicates in any way that the purported intimate image is not authentic. Such an image is also commonly known as a "deepfake." The bill is intended to be applied in conjunction with the existing law on the invasion of privacy, N.J.S.A.2C:14-9. While the bill does not require any proof of intent to interfere in an election, such intent can be reasonably presumed and inferred from the fact that the victim of an invasion of privacy is a candidate for public office. Especially with respect to deepfakes, it has been widely reported that there are malicious actors who seek to disrupt or pervert the democratic process through the non-consensual disclosure of intimate images. Therefore, in the view of the sponsor, additional penalties are necessary in the election context to punish and deter such interference. | In Committee |
| S1000 | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | 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 |
| S2331 | "Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act"; establishes procedures regarding collection of child support on behalf of children in custody of DCPP. | An Act concerning the liability for maintenance costs of children in the care or custody of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and amending and supplementing P.L.1962, c.142. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| S720 | Requires DCPP to consult with Division of Developmental Disabilities following finding of child abuse or neglect to create services plan for person with developmental disability under certain circumstances. | An Act concerning the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and amending P.L.1974, c.119. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3179 | Concerns certain emergency operations plans required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies. | An Act concerning certain emergency operations plans and amending P.L.2010, c.78. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S715 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | An Act concerning sexual assault forensic evidence kits and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | 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 |
| S2874 | Expands services that can be provided by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. | Expands services that can be provided by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. | In Committee |
| SJR104 | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | Urges Congress to continue progress on National Museum of the American Latino. | In Committee |
| S4032 | Establishes "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act"; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes the "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act." Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health will be required to, in coordination with advocacy and mental and behavioral health organizations serving populations of Hispanic and Latino individuals or communities, develop and implement an outreach and education strategy to promote mental and behavioral health and reduce stigma associated with mental and behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders among Hispanic and Latino populations in this State. The strategy will: be designed to meet the diverse cultural and language needs of the various Hispanic and Latino Populations in the State and be developmentally and age appropriate; increase awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses common among Hispanic and Latino populations, taking into account differences within subgroups; provide information on evidence-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate and adapted interventions and treatments; ensure full participation of, and engage, both consumers and community members in the development and implementation of educational materials on mental and behavioral health; seek to broaden the perspective among both individuals in these communities and stakeholders serving those communities to use a comprehensive public health approach to promoting behavioral health that addresses a holistic view of health by focusing on the intersection between behavioral and physical health; and address the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the mental and behavioral health of the Hispanic and Latino populations. Beginning not later than one year after the date of enactment of the bill and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Health will prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report on the extent to which the strategy development and implemented pursuant to the bill improved mental and behavioral health outcomes associated with mental and behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders among Hispanic and Latino populations in this State. The bill appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4035 | Requires State and county correctional facilities to make feminine hygiene products of varying absorbency levels available to female inmates. | This bill requires State and county correctional facilities to make feminine hygiene products of varying absorbency levels readily accessible to female inmates. Under current law, the Commissioner of Corrections in State correction facilities, or the chief executive officer or warden in county correctional facilities, is required to ensure that standard feminine hygiene products, including but not limited to tampons and sanitary pads, are provided at the request of and free of charge to female inmates. This bill amends current law to require that feminine hygiene products of varying absorbencies be provided to female inmates. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S3152 | Concerns notification requirements for certain utility assistance programs; repeals law establishing notification requirements for public and local utilities during coronavirus 2019 pandemic. | Concerns notification requirements for certain utility assistance programs; repeals law establishing notification requirements for public and local utilities during coronavirus 2019 pandemic. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| S3981 | "CJ's Law"; Criminalizes manufacture and distribution of substances containing kratom under certain circumstances. | This bill, designated as "CJ's Law," would criminalize the manufacture, possession and sale of products containing kratom. Kratom, as known as mitragyna speciosa korth, mitragynine extract, biak-biak, cratom, gratom, ithang, kakuam, katawn, kedemba, ketum, krathom, krton, mambog, madat, Maeng da leaf, nauclea, or Nauclea Speciosa, is a botanical substance that grows naturally in Southeast Asia. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that kratom poses a threat to public health and has the potential for abuse. Kratom is frequently marketed on the Internet for its psychoactive and opioid-like analgesic effects, and for use in the treatment of morphine and heroin addiction. However, kratom is not approved in the United States for any medical use. In a statement released in April 2022, the FDA warned the public against using kratom, warning that the substance "affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine" and that it appears to have "properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence." According to the FDA, scientific literature has disclosed serious concerns regarding the toxicity of kratom in multiple organ systems, with consumption leading to a number of health issues, including depressed respiratory function, nervousness, agitation, aggression, sleeplessness, hallucinations, delusions, loss of libido, tremors, skin hyperpigmentation, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and severe withdrawal signs and symptoms. Currently, possession and distribution of kratom is not barred by federal or New Jersey law. However, the FDA Import Alert # 54-15 provides guidance for FDA field personnel regarding the detention of dietary supplements and bulk dietary ingredients that contain kratom. The FDA has also issued a number of warning letters and conducted seizures of illegally sold, unapproved, or misbranded drug products containing kratom that make unproven claims about their ability to treat or cure opioid addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Kratom is banned or its uses restricted in several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Finland, France , Germany, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Kratom is also illegal in several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Several states have passed laws restricting its sale and use, while several other states have introduced legislation that would ban this drug. This bill amends existing law to include kratom as a controlled dangerous substance and to sets out gradations for crimes involving the substance. The bill would make it a crime of the second degree to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or possess or have under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a substance containing kratom in an amount of one ounce or more, including adulterants and dilutants. 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. It would be a crime of the third degree to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or possess or have under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a substance containing kratom in an amount of less than one ounce, including adulterants and dilutants. 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. Under the bill, there is an exception for the possession and manufacture of kratom, mitragyna speciosa korth, mitragynine, or any derivative of those chemical compounds, for any person who is a practitioner as defined in N.J.S.A.24:21-1. N.J.S.A.24:21-1 defines a "practitioner" as a physician, dentist, veterinarian, scientific investigator, laboratory, pharmacy, hospital, or other person licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to, or administer a controlled dangerous substance in the course of professional practice or research in this State. CJ's Law is designated in remembrance of Christopher James (CJ) Holowach, who died at age 33 from cardiac arrest caused by mixture of drugs that included his physician prescribed Adderol and kratom. While awaiting arm surgery, CJ Holowach consumed kratom to numb his arm pain without jeopardizing his recovery from opioid addiction. However, he was unaware of the dangers of kratom as the supplement's bottle provided no warning labels or suggestions on safe dosage amounts. Kratom is marketed in a way to make it appear to be a safe herbal pain supplement, when it poses serious health risks. Further, addiction experts warn, echoing the sentiments of FDA warnings, that kratom can be highly addictive and create risk of abuse and dependence. It is the sponsor's hope that this bill will stop the sale of kratom in New Jersey, avoiding further tragedies including death. | In Committee |
| S3927 | Establishes penalties for appraisers who engage in discriminatory real estate appraisals and requires certain information to be provided to present and prospective owners or occupants of real estate. | Establishes penalties for appraisers who engage in discriminatory real estate appraisals and requires certain information to be provided to present and prospective owners or occupants of real estate. | In Committee |
| S3611 | Provides grant to study and map mental health care resources for children; makes appropriation. | An Act concerning mental health services for children, supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1430 | Provides for expanded use of affordable housing voucher program funding. | An Act concerning use of affordable housing vouchers for homeownership expenses, amending P.L.2004, c.140, and supplementing P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S2693 | Establishes interagency council on menopause in DOH and requires certain lincensed health care professionals to distribute menopause informational pamphlets under certain circumstances. | Establishes interagency council on menopause in DOH and requires certain licensed health care professionals to distribute menopause informational pamphlets under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S2814 | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | In Committee |
| A3446 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | An Act concerning public school libraries and public libraries and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3494 | Requires four-year public institution of higher education to develop and implement reproductive health services plan; requires county college to develop referral network for reproductive health care services. | This bill requires four-year public institutions of higher education to develop and implement a reproductive health services plan. Pursuant to the bill, the plan is required to include: making available on-campus services provided by health care professionals, or referrals to off-campus services provided by health care professionals or health care facilities, for: obtaining contraception, including non-prescription and prescription emergency contraception and pharmacist authorized, self-administered hormonal contraceptives; services for preventing, testing for, and treating sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; prenatal care; and abortion. The plan is also required to include: methods to provide students with 24-hour access to over-the-counter contraception through the student health center, on-campus retail establishments, or vending machines; the provision of evidence-based reproductive health education services provided by the student health center, peer educators, or other health education programs; and the development of a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus health care services located within the county that the four-year institution of higher education is located. The bill also requires county colleges to develop a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus reproductive health care services in the county in which the county college is located in. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Human Services, to develop guidelines to assist public institutions of higher education in developing and implementing a reproductive health services plan and county colleges in developing the referral network. Finally, the bill stipulates that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require a public institution of higher education to be a direct provider of reproductive health care services, including abortion. | In Committee |
| S3496 | Provides for voluntary contributions for taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support reproductive health care services. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support equitable access to reproductive health care services for individuals who cannot afford them. Under the bill, the State would be required to annually appropriate the amounts deposited into the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" for distribution, in equal amounts, to the three largest providers of reproductive health care services to Medicaid patients in the State during the previous calendar year, as determined by the Commissioner of Health. The bill requires these monies to be used to provide reproductive health care services to individuals who cannot afford such services. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" to mean medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy. | In Committee |
| S3492 | Creates "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to strengthen access to reproductive health care. | This bill implements various measures to strengthen access to reproductive health care services in the State and establishes the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to address those purposes. The fund will be used for the following purposes: (1 "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program"; (2) "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program"; and (3) "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program". The purpose of the "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program" established in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety will be to protect access to reproductive health care by ensuring that there are sufficient number of health care professionals to provide reproductive health care services. For instance, the program will ensure that the coordinating organization has demonstrated experience in coordinating health care training programs for reproductive health care services and family planning services. The coordinating organization will also be responsible for administering grants to develop and sustain reproductive health care services. The bill provides that the "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program" in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness will make available grants to eligible reproductive health care facilities which the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness determines are at a high risk of being the target of unlawful activity, including acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, cyber attacks, and harassment. Grants provided under the program will be used to hire security personnel and target-hardening equipment. Further, the "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program" will award loans to eligible reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care services. Under the bill, loans awarded will be used to support establishing or renovating existing health care facilities, investments in technology to facilitate care, the recruitment and retention of staff, and other operational needs that increase reproductive health care services. The bill requires that the Department of Health conduct a Statewide needs assessment to examine the gaps in access and delivery of reproductive health care services in the State, including the impact that out-of-State restrictions have had on the need for reproductive health care services and the provider network in the State. Finally, the bill appropriates monies from the General Fund, subject to availability, to the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund." The FY 2024 Appropriations Act includes a $5 million appropriation for OBGYN Clinical Training Program to provide training to licensed members of the health care community. Another $5 million in FY 2024 is appropriated for the Reproductive Health Security Grant Program toward securing clinics. These grants support reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care with target hardening support. The FY 2024 Governor's Budget recommends language in which the Office of Homeland Security Preparedness will receive reimbursement to administer the grant. | In Committee |
| S3493 | Requires affirmative written consent for certain entities to disclose individual's medical information regarding reproductive health care services, with limited exceptions, unless disclosure is necessary to provide those services. | This bill requires health care providers, business associates of a covered entity, and carriers to receive affirmative written consent in order to disclose a patient's or covered person's medical information regarding reproductive health care services, with limited exceptions, unless disclosure is necessary to provide those services. Under the bill: "health care provider" means an individual or entity which, acting within the scope of its licensure or certification, provides a health care service; a "business associate of a covered entity" means the same as those terms are defined under federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" rules, or a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on behalf of, or provides services to, health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers; "carrier" means an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State; and "reproductive health care services" means all medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system including, but not limited to, services relating to pregnancy, contraception, or termination of a pregnancy. Specifically, this bill prohibits a health care provider, a business associate of a covered entity, or carrier from intentionally sharing, selling, using for marketing, or otherwise disclosing any personally identifiable medical information regarding reproductive health care services for any purpose not necessary to provide, or pay benefits for, those services, without the affirmative written consent of the patient or the covered person, or an authorized legal representative. Under the bill, "Medical information" includes information that is acquired using in-person or telephone communication, submitted documentation, a mobile application, an Internet website, or a wearable device. Further, "affirmative written consent" means a freely given, specific agreement collected on a standalone form, which clearly states to the patient how records containing medical information could be used and to whom the contents of the records could be disclosed, and allows the patient to refuse consent for specific disclosures. The bill further mandates that a health care provider, a business associate of a covered entity, or carrier are required to inform a patient or a covered person, or authorized legal representative, of the right to withhold such affirmative written consent at or before the time reproductive health care services are rendered or at such time as the covered person discloses any information relating to reproductive health care services that have been previously rendered. The bill allows for disclosure without affirmative written consent under certain circumstances. These exceptions include when disclosure is: 1) to medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a bona fide medical emergency; 2) to the extent that the health care provider or carrier is a covered entity and the disclosure is made to a business associate under a valid business associate agreement; 3) as required to comply with the laws of this State, federal law, or the Rules of Court; 4) pursuant to a court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this State upon a showing of good cause; 5) by a health care provider or carrier against whom a claim has been made, for use in the defense of the action or proceeding; 6) to certain State entities or licensing boards for records of a patient or covered person in connection with an investigation of a complaint, if the records are related to the complaint; 7) to a federal or State agency charged with investigating known or, in good faith, suspected child abuse, abuse of an elderly individual, abuse of an individual who is incapacitated, or abuse of an individual with a physical or mental disability, if such disclosure is requested in connection with an investigation of abuse that would constitute a crime under the laws of this State and such records are related to such investigation; and 8) pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commissioners of Health and Banking and Insurance. Under the bill, if a court of competent jurisdiction finds that a health care provider or carrier has violated the provisions of this bill, the court may award damages, computed at a rate of $1,000 per violation, reasonable attorney's fees, and the costs incurred in maintaining that civil action. Finally, nothing contained in the bill is to be construed to limit, diminish, or abrogate the rights of a person under the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-191 or the obligations of a health care provider or carrier under that law. | In Committee |
| S3916 | Adds language authorizing transfer of General Fund appropriations for certain licensed health care entities to Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services to maximize federal Medicaid payments to certain faculty physicians and non-physician professionals. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Act to add language authorizing the transfer of General Fund appropriations for a licensed hospital or health care entity to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services, consistent with federal guidelines, in order to maximize federal Medicaid payments to faculty physicians and non-physician professionals who are affiliated with the licensed hospital or health care entity under the Medicaid Access to Physician Services (MAPS) program. Authorization for these transfers will be subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The MAPS program, which was created to improve beneficiaries' access to primary and specialty care services following the expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, provides enhanced NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates for services delivered by physician practices that are affiliated with the State's public medical and dental schools. MAPS program reimbursement rates are similar to those paid by private insurers for the same services. | 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 |
| S1325 | Authorizes electronic delivery of documents relating to portable electronics insurance. | An Act concerning electronic delivery of portable electronics insurance documents and amending P.L.2012, c.56. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2652 | Revises statutory terms pertaining to sexual exploitation or abuse of children. | An Act concerning certain criminal offenses involving sexual exploitation or abuse of children and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S912 | Establishes requirements concerning provision of postpartum care, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth information and development of personalized postpartum care plans. | An Act concerning postpartum care, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1087 | Requires midwives and physicians to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery. | Requires midwives and physicians to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery. | Crossed Over |
| S2421 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | In Committee |
| S3831 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | This bill requires the State Medicaid program and the Plan First program to cover standard fertility preservation services in cases in which a medically necessary medical treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility. The State's Plan First program provides a benefit package of family planning and family planning-related services and supplies for individuals whose annual incomes are below 205 percent of the federal poverty level and who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid or the NJ FamilyCare program. The bill defines "iatrogenic infertility" as an impairment of fertility caused by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other medical treatment affecting reproductive organs or processes. The bill further defines "standard fertility preservation services" as procedures which are consistent with established medical practices and professional guidelines published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or as defined by the New Jersey Department of Health, including the storage of sperm, oocytes, embryos, and cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Subsequent to enactment of P.L.2019, c.306, State-regulated health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), and the School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) cover standard fertility preservation services if a medically necessary treatment may, directly or indirectly, cause iatrogenic infertility. This statute, however, specifies that standard fertility preservation services for individuals insured by the SHBP, the SEHBP, and State-regulated health insurers does not include storage of sperm or oocytes. The bill will provide Medicaid and Plan First participants who face iatrogenic infertility with access to fertility preservation services that are frequently cost-prohibitive for low-to-moderate income patients. | In Committee |
| A4811 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, P.L.2024, c.22. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3794 | Requires Division of Children's System of Care to make changes to certain polices regarding the provision of family support and respite care services for certain eligible individuals. | This bill requires the Division of Children's System of Care (DCSOC) in the Department of Children and Families to: (1) establish an authorization period of 12 months for the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend respite, and self-hired respite care, to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability; (2) once an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability has been authorized to receive family support services from an agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), ensure that the individual's family or guardian be provided with a bank of respite care service hours, in addition to, and separate from, any other family support service hours the individual, the individual's family or guardian, or both are eligible to receive, that can be used during each authorization period, including, but not limited to, agency-hired, agency-weekend respite, or self-hired respite care, based on the specific needs of the individual, the individual's family or guardian, or both; and (3) establish a process by which the family or guardian of an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability who has been authorized to receive family support services undergoes an annual reevaluation of the need for the family support services received during the authorization period. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to allow the DCSOC to reduce the amount of respite care service hours an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability, the individual's family or guardian, or both have been authorized to receive during a 12 month authorization period. As defined in the bill: "agency-hired respite care" means respite care, including social and recreational experiences, provided by a trained respite care worker employed by an agency contracted with the DCF to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability in, or outside of, the individual's home; "agency-weekend respite care" means social and recreational experiences provided during the weekend by a trained respite care worker employed by an agency contracted with the DCF to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability outside of the individual's home; and "self-hired respite care" means an arrangement that allows the family or guardian of an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability to recruit and hire a trained respite care worker, paid directly by individual's family or guardian, to provide social and recreational experiences to the individual in, or outside of, the individual's home. Currently, DCSOC policy reauthorizes the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend, and self-hired respite care every 90 days, stipulates that certain respite care services are limited to a set number of service hours (60 hours for agency-hired and self-hired respite care and 75 hours for agency-weekend respite care), and requires the families of individuals under the age of 21 with a developmental disability receiving family support services to undergo an annual reapplication process to continue to receive such services. This bill would require the DCSOC to expand the authorization period for the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend, and self-hired respite care from the current 90 days to 12 months, ensure that certain respite care services are not limited to a set number of service hours during each authorization period, and replaces the annual reapplication process with an annual reevaluation process of the family supports services provided by DCSOC to eligible individuals to afford families the flexibility to access respite care based on their specific needs. | In Committee |
| S3781 | Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. | This bill would expand the establishments in which the Commission on Human Trafficking is required to post public awareness signage as described under section 18 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-11). The commission is currently required to develop a public awareness sign containing information on how to identify and report suspected human trafficking, including, but not limited to, by providing the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking described under section 18 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-11). This bill expands the required public awareness signage to the following establishments: gas stations; staffing agencies; State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices; nail salons; and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices. | In Committee |
| S3762 | Requires health insurers, SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare coverage for sign language interpreter services for covered individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | This bill requires private health insurance plans, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), the School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), and the NJ FamilyCare program to cover the services of a qualified sign language interpreter during a medical encounter for an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing. A "qualified sign language interpreter" is defined as an interpreter, preferably with expertise in medical interpreting, who is certified by the New Jersey Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or by an accredited certifying organization designated by the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Human Services. The bill also establishes a minimum reimbursement rate of $42.40 per hour for sign language interpreter services provided during a medical encounter for NJ FamilyCare enrollees, and $42.53 when such services are provided for an individual covered under the SHBP or the SEHBP. Under the bill, sign language interpreter services would be provided upon the request of a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing. Video remote interpreter services also would be covered, provided in person interpreter services are not available. The bill stipulates that interpreter services will not be covered in situations in which such services are provided by a family member or friend of the requester, unless: 1. the family member or friend is a qualified sign language interpreter; and 2. the individual requesting sign language interpreter services consents to having the family member or friend interpret during the medical encounter; or 3. the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing is a minor, and the child's parent or legal guardian is present and agrees to interpret during the medical encounter. In cases of suspected domestic violence, a health care provider is prohibited from allowing a family member to serve as a sign language interpreter during a health care encounter for an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; rather, the bill requires the health care provider to provide a qualified sign language interpreter or video remote interpreter services during the encounter. In cases of suspected child abuse or neglect by a parent or legal guardian, the health care provider may not permit the parent or guardian to serve as a sign language interpreter for a minor child who is deaf or hard of hearing. The bill instead requires the health care provider to provide a qualified sign language interpreter for the child during the encounter. NJ FamilyCare coverage of, and the reimbursement rate for, interpreter services will be contingent upon federal approval of the State's application for any requisite Medicaid or CHIP waivers or state plan amendments. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pub.L.101-336 (42 U.S.C., s. 12101 et seq.) and federal regulations grant individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing the legal right to equal access to, and an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from, health care. Federal regulations permit the use of sign language interpreters as one of the acceptable "auxiliary aids and services" that medical providers are required to furnish to ensure accessible and effective communication with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. Federal regulations prohibit medical providers from billing patients for the provision of sign language interpretation; rather, medical providers are advised to treat expenditures on interpreter services as an administrative or an overhead cost of their practice. The ADA provides a limited exemption for medical providers who demonstrate that furnishing a specific auxiliary aid or service, as requested by a patient with a disability, would present an undue burden or cause a fundamental change in the nature of the provider's services and goods. In such instances, however, the ADA stipulates that the medical provider must furnish an alternative auxiliary aid or service that would not present an undue burden and would facilitate effective provider-patient communications. It is the sponsor's intent to codify existing federal requirements concerning sign language interpreter services to ensure that private health insurance plans, the SHBP, the SEHBP, and the NJ FamilyCare program, cover sign language interpreter services during medical encounters for enrollees who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| S3372 | Prohibits delivery of electronic smoking devices and tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age. | Prohibits delivery of electronic smoking devices and tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age. | 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 |
| S3096 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latino and Hispanic Americans as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies and English Language Arts on Latino and Hispanic American history. Under the bill, a board of education is to include instruction on the history and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies and English Language Arts. The instruction is to be historically accurate, culturally relevant, community-based, contemporary, and developmentally appropriate. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to provide professional development to teachers and administrators relating to this newly required curriculum required. Finally, the bill requires the commissioner, in consultation with the Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage, to provide school districts with sample learning activities and resources that may be used to support implementation of the instructional requirement. | In Committee |
| S2283 | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | In Committee |
| A2180 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | An Act concerning school transportation, amending P.L.2015, c.268 (C.18A:39-20.1). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| S3672 | Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." | This bill creates a uniform code for State and local government entities, as well as health care facilities, regarding the use of resources to aid federal immigration law enforcement, and designates the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." Under the bill, the definition of government entities includes any of the principal departments of the executive branch of State government and any parts or creations thereof, any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The bill's definition also includes political subdivisions of the State and combinations of political subdivisions, independent authorities, commissions, instrumentalities and agencies created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions. Under the bill, government entities and healthcare facilities are prohibited from collecting certain personal and identifying information unless it is strictly necessary for program or service administration. Any record resulting from that collection, whether written or oral, would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act" unless an election agency requires it to ascertain the eligibility of a candidate when citizenship is required for an elected office. Any record also shall not be disclosed except as required to administer benefits or services pursuant to State or federal law, or valid court order or warrant, issued by a federal Article III judge or magistrate or the State equivalent. The bill provides that the prohibition on sharing information may be waived if the subject of the record or information provides written consent in that person's preferred language. The written consent shall include the following: (1) the exact record or information to be shared; (2) the purpose for sharing the record or information; (3) a statement clarifying that consent is voluntary and declining to consent shall not result in discrimination or retaliation by the government entity; (4) a statement clarifying that consent may be revoked, but that revocation does not impact a record or information already shared via prior written consent provided pursuant to this section; and (5) the person or agency to receive the record or information. The bill requires government entities to review their confidentiality policies, guidance and recommendations to identify any changes necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and make any changes as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one year after the bill becomes effective. The bill also requires these entities to share their policies prominently on their Internet websites. This bill also requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Public Defender, to prepare a written notice explaining in plain language the provisions of section 6 of the bill. Section 6 of the bill details the prohibition of certain actions by law enforcement. The bill requires the notice and all translations to be posted to the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety and to be considered vital documents pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.). The Attorney General is also required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities in the development of standardized training and guidance for law enforcement to comply with the bill's provisions. The AG also shall provide mandatory training to all State, county and local law enforcement agencies within one year of the bill's effective date. Any newly sworn officer is required to complete this training within a year of the officer's appointment. The Department of Human Services is required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities to develop and lead a multilingual campaign to promote public awareness of the bill's requirements for law enforcement agencies. As part of the awareness campaign, DHS is required to publish the text of section 6 of the bill's provisions and a plain language summary and explanation of those requirements on its Internet website within 180 days of the bill's enactment. . Under the bill, the Attorney General is also required to consult with other government entities and stakeholders in the development of model policies for sensitive locations. These locations include health care facilities, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and any other locations deemed appropriate by the Attorney General to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with government entities. The model policies prohibit the request or collection of certain information regarding a person's immigration status, place of birth or taxpayer identification except to determine eligibility for services or program benefits. The model policies prohibit assistance or participation of immigration enforcement, and prohibit the permission of immigration enforcement on entity premises that are not open without restriction to the general public. The Attorney General is required to publish the model policies on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires government entities with authority to regulate sensitive places to adopt the model policies within 180 days of issuance by the Attorney General's office and encourages facilities not regulated by government entities to adopt the policies. The bill prohibits certain actions by law enforcement. Specifically, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officials shall not: (1) stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law; (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number; (3) make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants; (4) use agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin; or (5) make agency or department databases available to anyone or any entity for the purpose of immigration enforcement or investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin. The bill nullifies any agreement, policy or practice in place that permits in conflict with this clause. Law enforcement agencies in the State are also prohibited from: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; (2) providing to federal immigration authorities any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular person; (3) providing access to any State, county, or municipal law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property; (4) providing access to a detained individual for an interview; (5) facilitating or complying with immigration detainers, notification requests, and transfer requests from federal immigration authorities; (6) continuing to detain a person past the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant; (7) entering into, modifying, renewing, or extending any agreement to exercise federal immigration authority or conduct immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g), or otherwise exercising federal civil immigration authority or conducting immigration enforcement outside of the purview of 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g); or (8) providing or sharing funds, property, equipment, personnel, or access to facilities or real property not open to the general public for purposes of engaging in, assisting, supporting, or facilitating immigration enforcement. The bill provides that violations of the prohibitions on police conduct in the bill would be enforceable under the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143. If an agency or law enforcement official intends to comply with an immigration detainer, notification request, civil immigration warrant, or transfer request concerning a person in custody, a written explanation specifying the legal basis for that action is required to be given to the person is custody. Lastly, the bill requires each State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to submit to the Attorney General a report that includes: (1) the number of detainer requests, transfer requests, and notification requests made by immigration authorities, and the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency. For any request that was granted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting that request; (2) the number of interviews requested and the number of interviews conducted, either in person or telephonically, by immigration authorities of people in State, county, or municipal law enforcement custody. For each interview conducted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting the interview; (3) any other requests made by immigration authorities for the agency's participation in immigration enforcement, the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and the legal basis for granting the request; and (4) to the extent the law enforcement agency has knowledge, any information about State, county, and municipal databases to which immigration authorities have had access to at any time in the course of the year, including: the name of the database; an overview of information available on the database; the purpose for which immigration authorities have access to this database; the process through which immigration authorities requested access and agencies reviewed this request, if applicable; any legal basis for providing immigration authorities access to the database; and the frequency with which immigration authorities accessed the database over the course of the year. Law enforcement agencies have 180 days after the effective date of the bill to produce the first report and must then annually submit a report within 30 days of the end of the State's fiscal year. The Attorney General is initially required to publish the report on the office's website within 90 days of receipt, and then within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year thereafter. The Attorney General is also required to annually submit to the Governor and Legislature a report on each law enforcement agency's compliance with the provisions of this act. | In Committee |
| S3602 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | Makes supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants in summer 2025; provides conditional authority for transfer of additional resources to Summer Tuition Aid Grants account. | Introduced |
| S3657 | Makes use of algorithmic systems to influence price and supply of residential rental units unlawful. | This bill makes it unlawful to use algorithmic systems to influence the price and supply of residential rental units. Under the bill, it is unlawful and a violation of the "New Jersey Antitrust Act" for a rental property owner, or any agent, representative, or subcontractor thereof, to subscribe to, contract with, or otherwise exchange any form of consideration in return for the use of services of a coordinator and for a coordinator to facilitate an agreement among rental property owners that restricts competition with respect to residential dwelling units, including by performing a coordinating function. A "coordinator" is defined in the bill to mean any person who operates a software or data analytics service that performs a coordinating function for any rental property owner, including a rental property owner performing a coordinating function for their own benefit. "Coordinating function" is defined to mean (1) collecting historical or contemporaneous prices, supply levels, or lease or rental contract termination and renewal dates of residential dwelling units from two or more rental property owners; (2) analyzing or processing of the information described in paragraph (1) through use of a system, software, or process that uses computation, including by using the information to train an algorithm; and (3) recommending rental prices, lease renewal terms, or ideal occupancy levels to a rental property owner. | In Committee |
| S3669 | Bans regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroaklyl substances from menstrual products. | This bill bans the use of regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroaklyl (PFAS) substances from menstrual products. The bill defines menstrual products as those manufactured for the purpose of catching menstruation and vaginal discharge, including but not limited to a tampon, sanitary pad, disc, menstrual cup, and underwear. The term includes both disposable and reusable products. Under the bill, regulated PFAS are defined as PFAS which are intentionally added to a product and have a functional or technical effect in the product, including the PFAS components of intentionally added chemicals and PFAS that are intentional breakdown products of an added chemical that also have a functional or technical effect in the product, or the presence of PFAS in a product or product component at or above 10 parts per million, as measured in total organic fluorine. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a system to test for regulated PFAS and approve of laboratories to conduct the tests. Results of any test conducted pursuant to the bill are required to be available to the Department of Health for inspection, either from the manufacturer or the laboratory. A violation of the bill's provisions would be an unlawful practice under the "Consumer Fraud Act," P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and would be punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. Additionally, a violation of the "Consumer Fraud Act" can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. The bill would be effective 18 months after enactment, but permits the commissioners of DEP and DOH to take anticipatory administrative action. | In Committee |
| S3576 | Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), when offering employment, to consider, and when feasible prioritize, individuals who are minorities and women. The bill also requires the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA, when awarding contracts for service, to consider, and when feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women's businesses. Finally, the bill requires the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to publish on their respective Internet websites information concerning: (1) the number of employees employed by the entity by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average salary range for each group; and (2) the number of contractors the entity has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average contract awarded for each group.The bill requires the information to be maintained and updated on a quarterly basis. The enactment of substantially similar legislation by New York and Pennsylvania, respectively, is required before the bill's provisions concerning the PANYNJ and the DRPA become operative. | In Committee |
| S3644 | Requires inspections of retail cigarette and vapor product dealers. | This bill requires inspections of retail cigarette and vapor product dealers. The bill amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.91 (C.2A:170-51.6) and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.425 (C.2A:170-51.12) to remove the following provision: an official authorized by "statute or ordinance to enforce the State or local health codes or a law enforcement officer having enforcement authority in that municipality shall issue a summons for a violation of the provisions of subsection a. of this section, and shall serve and execute all process with respect to the enforcement of this section consistent with the Rules of Court." The bill amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.91 (C.2A:170-51.6) and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.425 (C.2A:170-51.12) to provide the following: (1) an official authorized by the Attorney General or the Commissioner of Health, including any county or municipal law enforcement agencies or their employees to enforce this section shall inspect retail dealers at least twice annually. A follow-up inspection shall be conducted within three months following a violation of this section; (2) when so ordered by the Attorney General or the Commissioner of Health and in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 1 of P.L.2011, c.80 (C.54:40B-13.1), any cigarettes or vapor products that are found to be the subject of a violation of this section, by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be declared prima facie contraband goods, and may be subject to seizure and disposal or destruction; and (3) a penalty recovered under the provisions of this subsection shall be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality. | In Committee |
| S3640 | Provides for State agencies to issue advanced payments to certified business enterprises awarded State contracts. | The purpose of this bill is to assist certified business enterprises that wish to bid on public contracts or work as subcontractors, but lack the capital to initiate the work required for such contracts. This bill allows a State agency responsible for awarding any public contract for construction, goods and services, or professional services to issue an advanced payment of up to 10 percent of the total value of the contract, if the business being awarded the contract is a certified business enterprise in this State. The bill also requires that the contractor share this advanced payment with its subcontractors, if a subcontractor is also a certified business enterprise. The subcontractor will receive an amount equal to the proportion of the value of the contract for which they are responsible, and the contractor is required to provide this amount to the subcontractor within 60 days of the contractor receiving an advanced payment. Under the terms of the bill, any contractor or subcontractor that does not begin or complete the work for which the advanced payments were issued and received will be liable for repayment of such amounts. The Division of Revenue Business Certification Program in the Department of the Treasury issues certifications to enterprises that are small businesses, LGBTQ+ businesses, minority and women-owned businesses, veteran and disabled veteran-owned businesses, and businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. | In Committee |
| S3642 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions. Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, is directed to establish a targeted leadership development program that prepares Hispanic and Latino faculty for leadership positions at public institutions of higher education in the State. Additionally, the bill requires the secretary to establish a program that develops or expands pipelines that guide Hispanic or Latino undergraduate students into academic careers. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt policies and procedures to promote diverse representation reflective of the student body and the State on any search committee convened for a senior administration or leadership position at the institution. Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education is required to establish a program to assist public institutions of higher education in the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino faculty and staff into leadership positions at those institutions. The purpose of the program is to develop guidance and strategies for the institutions to: · identify and mitigate cultural and institutional barriers experienced by Hispanic and Latino faculty and administrators which may negatively impact the recruitment and retention of those individuals into leadership positions at public institutions of higher education; · provide institutional support and professional development opportunities specifically designed for Hispanic and Latino faculty and administrators;· promote opportunities for academic alliances and collaborative partnerships to share best practices, resources, and support for increasing Hispanic and Latino representation in institution leadership; and · conduct an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the institution's diversity programs and initiatives. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to implement a program to increase the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino individuals into leadership positions at the institution. Finally, the bill requires each public institution of higher education to submit an annual diversity report to the Secretary of Higher Education. The report will include, at a minimum:· the racial and gender composition of all leadership positions at the institution; and· a review of the diversity program implemented pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill directs the secretary to compile the annual diversity reports submitted by the institutions and submit a summative report annually to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| S3639 | Establishes "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act." | This bill establishes the "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act," amends the "Set-Aside Act for Small Businesses, Female Businesses, and Minority Businesses," and repeals various sections of the statutory law. The "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act" establishes a new process for determining preference in awarding State agency contracts. State agencies are required to develop a plan for the fiscal year following the effective date of the bill and each fiscal year thereafter to encourage minority and women-owned businesses to submit proposals and encourage the awarding of contracts to those businesses. The bill establishes contract utilization goals for all State agencies based on the New Jersey Disparity Study on the Availability and Utilization of Small, Minority, Women, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses published in January of 2024. The State agency may adjust the percentages based on persuasive analysis that documents a statistically significant disparity between the availability and utilization of minority and women-owned businesses. In an effort to achieve the goals, the agency may establish bid criteria for contracts that result in a preference being afforded to minority and women-owned businesses. State agencies are required to make a good faith effort to attain the goals set forth in the bill. If the agency fails to make a good faith effort, a remedial action plan will be submitted to the Chief Diversity Officer. If it is determined by the Chief that the agency did not act in good faith to implement the remedial action plan within one year, the Chief may make the remedial action plan public to encourage implementation. If implementation still does not occur, the Chief may require that some or all of the agency's procurement be placed under the direction and control of another agency. Prime contractors are also required to make a good faith effort to attain the subcontractor goals set forth in the bill. Failure by a prime contractor to demonstrate a good faith effort may result in grounds for rejection of bids made by the prime contractor. The bill amends the "Set-Aside Act for Small Businesses, Female Businesses, and Minority Businesses" to only be applicable to small businesses by removing mentions of female and minority-owned businesses. The bill shifts chief, office, and departmental duties from the Chief of the Office of Small Business Assistance, the Office of Small Business Assistance, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Development to the Chief Diversity Officer, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Department of the Treasury. The bill changes the set-aside goals for small businesses from 15 percent to 25 percent and removes goals for minority and women-owned businesses. The bill establishes a goal that State agencies award at least 30 percent of their contracts to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. The bill repeals the law establishing compliance calculations for contracting agencies awarding contracts to minority or women-owned businesses, P.L.1995, c.39 (C.52:32-22.1), and repeals the law establishing the goal of giving due consideration to veteran-owned businesses and the requirement that strategies be identified to expand the number of veteran-owned businesses interested in and eligible to benefit from State procurement, P.L.2011, c.147 (C.52:32-52). | In Committee |
| S3641 | Increases income and resource threshold limit for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. | This bill increases income and resource threshold limits for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. Specifically, the bill increases the income eligibility for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) eligibility group from 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which, in 2024, would increase the income threshold from $15,060 per year to $20,783 per year for an individual. In doing so, the bill provides for an identical income threshold under Medicaid for the ABD population as is currently used for individuals under 65 years of age without disabilities. The Medicaid ABD pathway provides medical coverage to individuals who are age 65 years or older as well as individuals determined blind or disabled by the federal Social Security Administration or by the State. The bill also increases the Medically Needy Income Limit, which allows an income ineligible applicant for ABD benefits to deduct certain medical expenses from the applicant's income in order to become eligible for Medicaid. Under the bill, this threshold would also be 138 percent of the federal poverty level. In 2024, the State's Medically Needy Income Limit is $367 per month for an individual, which would increase to $1,732 under the bill. Finally, the bill increases the resource eligibility limit for the ABD eligibility group and the Medically Needy eligibility group, as well as for qualified applicants for the State's Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Program and Medicare Savings Programs, to $40,000 for an individual and $60,000 for a couple. The current resource thresholds for an individual under these eligibility pathways are as follows: $4,000 for the ABD and Medically Needy; $2,000 for the MLTSS; and $9,090 for the Medicare Savings Programs. The MLTSS program provides access to Medicaid long-term care benefits, in addition to all other covered services, for older adults and people with disabilities who require a skilled nursing facility level of care. Medicare Savings Programs - such as the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program, the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program, and the Qualifying Individual Program - assist low-income individuals with Medicare costs via the Medicaid program. The bill aligns these programs' resource standards with the State's current resource threshold under the Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiver, or JACC, program. JACC provides non-Medicaid recipients access to a range of home and community-based services. | In Committee |
| S3573 | Increases bid advertising threshold on certain purchases, contracts, or agreements. | This bill increases, from $25,000 to $150,000, the bid advertising threshold on certain State contracts. This bill would allow smaller construction and repair projects under $150,000 to be informally bid by the using agency without full advertising thereby reducing the time and cost required to complete these smaller projects. Under current law, any purchase, contract, or agreement may be made, negotiated, or awarded by the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property or the Director of the Division of Property Management and Construction without advertising if the aggregate amount involved including labor and construction materials does not exceed $25,000 or the amount adjusted by the Governor, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury as permitted by current law. This threshold applies to certain contracts or agreements for the erection, construction, alteration or repair of any public building or facility. The most recent adjustment to the amount was made in 2021 and is currently $71,000. This bill increases the bid advertising threshold in the case of purchases of labor and construction materials to $150,000. | In Committee |
| S3532 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4534 | Revises definition of qualified assistance fund expenses under UEZ program to include costs of transportation infrastructure projects and related debt service. | An Act concerning urban enterprise zones and amending P.L.1983, c.303. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR127 | Designates September 14 of each year "Latino Business Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution declares September 14 of each year as "Latino Business Day" in the State of New Jersey. Latino-owned businesses present an opportunity for intergenerational upward mobility and wealth accrual, with growing revenues among Latino owned businesses increasing the assets of subsequent generations. The rapid growth of this industry outpaces the growth of the overall Latino population, as well as the number of business created by other demographic groups. Each year, Latino owned businesses supply the American economy with $800 billion in revenues. The Latino community also represents a prominent consumer base and economic force, contributing $3.2 trillion to U.S. markets. Over the last ten years, Latino-owned businesses have grown ten times faster than white-owned businesses, experiencing a 57 percent growth rate, compared to five percent for non-Latino-owned firms. This rate has slowed in recent years but the trend of demographic outperformance persists; between 2020 and 2023, Latino-owned businesses noticed an 8.7 percent growth rate, against 5.6 percent for white-owned businesses. Latino-owned business are expected to occupy 20 percent of the national labor market in five years, and 29 percent by 2050. Latino entrepreneurs currently account for 17 percent of the U.S. workforce; the 4.7 million Latino-owned businesses in America employ 3.5 million workers across the country. Between 2007 and 2019, the number of jobs created by Latino owned businesses grew from 1.9 million to 2.9 million, a 53.6 percent growth rate. Researchers estimate that unemployment rates would have risen above 10 percent if not for Latino business creation. September 14 is National Support Latino Business Day, recognizing the contributions of Latino-owned businesses to the New Jersey economy as well their positive impact on communities. With this context in mind, it is in public interest to recognize the economic strength of Latino businesses on September 14. | In Committee |
| S2188 | Requires DEP, DOH, owners or operators of certain public community water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings or facilities to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires' disease. | An Act concerning Legionnaires' disease and supplementing P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.) and Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2607 | Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes. | An Act concerning requirements for certain private bus operators and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2280 | Codifies prohibition of discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals and requires real estate appraisers to complete anti-bias training. | An Act concerning discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals and supplementing and amending P.L.1991, c.68. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2837 | Authorizes school districts to submit separate proposals for additional spending for subsequent budget year at special school election. | An Act concerning separate proposals for additional school district spending and amending P.L.1996, c.138 and P.L.2007, c.62. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4619 | Modifies certain provisions of Historic Property Reinvestment and Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive programs. | An Act concerning the "Historic Property Reinvestment Act" and "Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act" and amending P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S2869 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | This bill provides that if the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development finds that an employer has, for the purpose of concealing any violation of State wage, benefit and tax laws, disclosed or threatened to disclose to a public body an employee's immigration status, the commissioner is, in addition to imposing any other remedies or penalties authorized by law, authorized to assess and collect an administrative penalty against the employer. Specifically, the bill provides for administrative penalties as follows: (1) for the first violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000; (2) for the second violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $5,000; and (3) for any subsequent violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000. When determining the amount of the administrative penalty imposed pursuant to the bill's provisions, the commissioner may consider factors which include the history of previous violations by the employer, the seriousness of the violation, the good faith of the employer and the size of the employer's business. The commissioner may not levy an administrative penalty pursuant to the bill's provisions unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator with notification of the violation and of the amount of administrative penalty, and unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator an opportunity to request a hearing before the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2344 | Limits availability of Child Care Facilities Improvement Program grants funded through Child Care Revitalization Act to licensed child care centers. | An Act making certain adjustments to child care funding and amending P.L.2021, c.144. | 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 |
| S3474 | Appropriates $10,067,905 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to provide grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4572 | Appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to help local government units acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3520 | Requires employer to provide one additional paid sick day per benefit year to paid first responders for healthcare diagnostic testing. | This bill requires that paid first responders be provided with one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing. The bill defines "first responder" to mean any paid law enforcement officer; paid firefighter; paid member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association; paid emergency medical technician; or paid paramedic. In addition, the bill defines "healthcare diagnostic testing" to mean medical tests or procedures recommended by a healthcare provider to prevent or diagnose a condition that may relate to the employee's duties as a first responder as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (commissioner). The bill requires the commissioner, in consultation as necessary with any State, county, or municipal employers, to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the bill. | In Committee |
| S3528 | Establishes Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council in DOH; requires council to create report on human trafficking and 2026 FIFA World Cup; appropriates $1 million. | This bill creates the Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council (GSLAC) in the Department of Health, and appropriates $1 million. The GSLAC will be responsible for issuing a report to the Governor and Legislature related to anti-trafficking efforts the State may undertake as a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The council is required to hold at least eight meetings per year until the issuance of the report, the dates for which are to be determined by the chair of the council. The council consists of nine members, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Each member of the council is required to: (1) be a survivor of human trafficking; (2) have experience with developing or enforcing anti-trafficking policies; and (3) have experience with providing assistance and services to victims of human trafficking. The bill requires the council to: (1) evaluate existing law concerning human trafficking, and make recommendations for legislation to be introduced, and guidelines and directives to be issued by the Attorney General, to address the potential increase in human trafficking related crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; (2) review existing assistance programs and analyze whether there is a need to expand current programs or initiate new programs in order to respond to the increased risk of human trafficking crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; (3) promote a coordinated response to the increased risk in human trafficking crimes related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup by public and private resources prior to and during the event; and (4) prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, develop mechanisms to increase the public awareness of human trafficking, victim remedies and services, and trafficking prevention including the creation of public awareness signs to inform the State that persons may be trafficked into the State and United States. Under the bill, the report is required to include, but not be limited to, recommendations on: (1) best practices the State may take in order to raise awareness of human trafficking and how to identify trafficking victims; (2) information campaigns that raise awareness of the risk of human trafficking at large events; (3) the State issuing public service announcements prior to and during the World Cup to inform soccer fans that persons may be trafficked into the State and United States during the event; (4) the State establishing additional human trafficking hotlines for a period of time leading up to and during the World Cup; (5) changes that may be made to State laws related to human trafficking; (6) guidelines and directives to be issued by the Attorney General concerning the identification of and response by law enforcement and prosecuting agencies to the potential increase in human trafficking related crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; (7) engaging State and local organizations to aid with assessing the risk of human trafficking crimes and adopting necessary mitigation strategies; and (8) any other issues the council deems relevant for the prevention of human trafficking during the World Cup. The Department of Health is appropriated one million dollars for the establishment of the GSLAC and the implementation of the requirements established in the bill. The bill also requires the council to develop for distribution a public awareness campaign and signage related to the risk of human trafficking prior to and during the World Cup and requires any entity or business which is currently required to post human trafficking signs to also post the public awareness sign related to the World Cup. The bill requires the Attorney General to issue directives to any or all law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in the State related to the identification of and response to the increased risk of human trafficking crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Finally, the bill requires the Commission on Human Trafficking to meet to ensure the implementation of the councils legislative recommendations before, during, and after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. | In Committee |
| S3473 | Appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and for certain administrative expenses. | This bill appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues, and various Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $99,286,535 would be used by the DEP to provide grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $2,410,000 would be used for the DEP's associated administrative costs. Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $24,321,885 is allocated for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes, as identified in section 4 of the bill, and $74,964,650 is allocated for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, as identified in section 5 of the bill. Of the $24,321,885 sum being appropriated for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $20,766,435 is allocated for planning incentive open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities and counties that have an open space tax and an approved open space plan); $1,437,500 is allocated for standard open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not have an open space tax); $459,950 is allocated for site-specific incentive acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that have an open space tax, but do not have an open space plan); and $1,658,000 is allocated for urban aid acquisition projects. Of the $74,964,650 sum being appropriated for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $29,429,150 is allocated for local park development projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; $7,556,770 is allocated for local park development projects in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties; $3,072,700 is allocated for standard local park development projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not meet the criteria of the prior two categories); $1,758,610 is allocated for stewardship activity projects; and $33,147,420 is allocated for completely inclusive playground projects, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.104 (C.13:8C-27.1), otherwise known as "Jake's Law." While Green Acres funding for Jake's Law purposes has, in prior funding rounds, been made available only to eligible counties, in the current funding round, both counties and municipalities are eligible for non-competitive grant awards for completely inclusive playground projects thereunder. The bill defines a "densely or highly populated municipality" as a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or a population of at least 35,000 persons; a "densely populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile; and a "highly populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT). To the extent that there are funds remaining after the local government unit projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the DEP, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC), to use those funds to provide additional funding for local government unit projects listed in this bill, as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws. | 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 |
| S3452 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected health care services. | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected health care services. | Crossed Over |
| S3439 | Revises definition of qualified assistance fund expenses under UEZ program to include costs of transportation infrastructure projects and related debt service. | Revises definition of qualified assistance fund expenses under UEZ program to include costs of transportation infrastructure projects and related debt service. | In Committee |
| S3521 | Requires employer of volunteer first responder to provide employee with one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing. | This bill requires employers to provide any employee who serves as a State or local volunteer first responder in this State with one additional paid sick day per benefit year to use for healthcare diagnostic testing to prevent or diagnose any condition that may relate to the employee's duties as a volunteer first responder. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation as necessary with other State agencies, is required to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill's provisions. The sponsor notes that there is growing concern across the State that volunteer emergency services organizations are unable to recruit an adequate number of volunteer first responders to meet the community's needs. Volunteer first responders are crucial for maintaining the safety and well-being of the community. When fewer people volunteer, municipalities are forced to hire paid personnel at the taxpayers' expense. The sponsor believes that ensuring that volunteer first responders, who may have been exposed to hazardous conditions as a consequence of their volunteer service, have adequate time to undergo any recommended healthcare diagnostic testing will encourage volunteer recruitment and retention by allowing the volunteers to serve the community while meeting the responsibilities of the volunteer's paid employment. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S1446 | Modifies down payment assistance program for benefit of first-generation and first-time homebuyers; makes an appropriation. | An Act concerning housing assistance for certain homebuyers and amending P.L.2023, c.78. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3491 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| S3490 | Codifies authority for certain health care providers to provide abortions and clarifies certain operational requirements for abortion facilities. | This bill codifies the authority of physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, and advanced practice nurses to provide abortions. Under the bill, physician assistants can perform aspiration abortions consistent with the physician assistant's scope of practice, which can include the administration of sedation consistent with the physician assistant's scope of practice and training and a physician assistant can order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medication abortions. Under the bill, certified nurse midwives and certified midwives can perform aspiration abortions, which may include the administration of moderate sedation, consistent with their scope of practice and training and consistent with regulations of the applicable licensing board. A certified nurse midwife authorized to prescribe drugs pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c. 97 (C.45:10-18), may order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medication abortions. A certified nurse midwife who is not authorized to prescribe drugs pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c. 97 (C.45:10-18) or a certified midwife may provide medication abortions if the use of the medication is authorized by a standing order issued by a physician. Under the bill, advanced practice nurses may perform aspiration abortions, which may include the administration of moderate sedation, and administer medication abortions consistent with the advanced practice nurse's scope of practice and training and consistent with regulations of the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The bill provides that an abortion facility will not be required to be an ambulatory surgical facility or a surgical practice license, to the extent that the facility performs abortion procedures that do not require general anesthesia or an operating room, and such services may be performed in procedure rooms. An entity seeking licensure as an ambulatory care facility or a surgical practice at which early aspiration abortions would be performed will not be subject to certain limitations under current law for ambulatory care facilities, so long as the facility or surgical practice adheres to all applicable regulations with respect to the standard of care. | In Committee |
| S3495 | Establishes Reproductive Health Care Professionals Loan Redemption Program; appropriates $5 million. | This bill establishes the Reproductive Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The loan redemption program is to provide for the redemption of a portion of a program participant's State, federal, or commercial student loans in exchange for the program participant's service at a site providing reproductive health care services, as approved by the authority. Under the bill, the sites may include sites operated by a nonprofit organizations, hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, and other facilities providing reproductive health care services. An approved site under the bill includes sites providing abortion care. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to: (1) be a resident of the State; (2) be employed as an eligible reproductive health care professional, defined as a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services and who is providing reproductive health care services in the State; and (3) submit an application in a manner determined by the executive director of the HESAA. In selecting program participants, the executive director is required to give preference to applicants employed as an eligible reproductive health care professional in a county facing a shortage of reproductive health care professionals. The bill stipulates that a selected program participant is to enter into a written contract with the authority. The contract is to specify the duration of the program participant's required service and the total amount of student loans to be redeemed in return for the service. Under the bill, loan redemption is to amount to 18 percent of a program participant's qualifying loan amounts in return for one full year of service at an approved site, an additional 26 percent for a second full year of service, an additional 28 percent for a third full year of service, and an additional 28 percent for a fourth full year of service. The total loan redemption for a program participant is not to exceed $200,000. Finally, the bill stipulates that a reproductive health care professional, who is participating in the National Health Services Corps Loan Repayment Program or any other loan redemption program administered by the authority, is not eligible to simultaneously participate in the Reproductive Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program. | In Committee |
| S3476 | Establishes grant program to provide thermal imaging and radio equipment to certain fire departments. | This bill establishes a grant program in the Division of Fire Safety to provide thermal imaging body cameras, thermal imaging masks, and radio repeaters to fire departments responsible for providing fire protection to municipalities with a population of 100,000 or more residents. Under the bill, qualifying fire departments in municipalities with a population of 100,000 to 299,000 are to receive $150,000 to be divided equally among the qualifying fire organizations every three years for the purpose of purchasing body cameras, masks, and radio repeaters. Qualifying fire departments in municipalities with a population of 300,000 or more are to receive $150,000 every three years. The bill requires the Division of Fire Safety to review the grant program every five years to verify whether qualifying fire organizations are utilizing the most up-to-date thermal imaging body cameras, thermal imaging masks, and radio repeaters and whether to make recommendations to reinitiate the grant program. The bill defines "thermal imaging body camera" as a heat-resistant, mobile audio and video recording system worn by a firefighter that is capable of recording images through smoke or heat-permeable barriers. "Thermal imaging mask" is defined as a firefighter's mask that contains a lightweight fire-resistant camera that is capable of displaying a thermal image at all times and allows the firefighter to view areas through smoke or heat-permeable barriers. A "radio repeater" is defined as a fixed or portable automatic radio-relay station that allows communication between two or more fire departments that would otherwise be unable to communicate directly with each other due to distance or physical obstructions. | In Committee |
| S3478 | Requires certain court documents to be translated into languages other than English. | This bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to develop and implement policies that will provide translations of pertinent court documents in the primary language of defendants, witnesses, or persons with decision-making authority. The policies established are intended to help those with limited English proficiency (LEP) knowingly and intelligently participate in the proceeding before the court. The bill requires the AOC to develop policies for the translation of nine languages that are widely spoken in New Jersey. These include Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, Hindi, Arabic, Haitian Creole, and French. Further, the bill requires the AOC to develop policies that require courthouses to post signs notifying LEP individuals of language services, including translation and interpretation. It is the intent of the sponsor to provide assistance to certain litigants when English is not their primary language to ensure the judicial system upholds litigants' civil rights. Finding ways to effectively bridge language barriers is necessary to preserve the integrity of the legal system. There is agreement among federal and state courts that in criminal proceedings, LEP defendants are entitled to the assistance of an interpreter under the U.S. Constitution. Access to courts and administrative proceedings is critically important. Whether cases involve child custody, domestic violence, eviction, foreclosure, wage claims or criminal prosecution, the stakes are too high for individuals to be effectively excluded from courtroom participation because of their English proficiency. LEP individuals should not lose custody of their children because of their English ability, nor should LEP victims of domestic abuse have to rely on family, friends, or abusers to interpret in the courtroom, and lastly, LEP defendants should not be interpreted by prosecutors. Regardless of English proficiency, individuals need to understand and have access to judicial proceedings and court operations. Citizens of this country are all considered equal under the law and ensuring equal treatment and access in the judicial system are priorities of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. There are over 25 million people in the United States who are considered limited English proficient individuals, a population that has almost doubled since 1990. Our justice system is a cornerstone of our democracy and our constitutional right to due process. Meaningful language access is not just necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our judicial system; it is required by law. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, entities that receive federal financial assistance cannot discriminate on the basis of national origin, and failing to provide language access in courts violates Title VI. Posting and maintaining signs as required by this bill in areas such as waiting rooms, reception areas, and other initial points of entry will inform applicants and beneficiaries of their right to free language assistance services. The signage is required to invite LEP individuals to identify themselves as persons needing such services. It is critically important during court proceedings that plaintiffs and defendants receive court documents in the language they speak. | In Committee |
| S3477 | Establishes 10 year Menstrual Leave and Remote Work Pilot Program. | This bill establishes a 10 year Menstrual Leave and Remote Work Pilot Program. The purpose of this program is to provide medically necessary leave and remote work options to employees suffering from menstrual disorders, which can be severe, debilitating, and embarrassing. To be eligible for the program, an employee is required to obtain documentation from the employee's treating physician that the employee suffers from a qualifying menstrual disorder and requires an accommodation of leave or a remote work option, as appropriate. The pilot program is divided into the following two components: (1) a medical leave program into which an employer may voluntarily enroll to provide up to two full working days per month of fully paid medical leave, in addition to any other leave required by law, to employees suffering from qualifying menstrual disorders, including, but not limited to: (a) Uterine fibroids; (b) Endometriosis; (c) Polycystic ovary syndrome; and (d) Adenomyosis; and (2) a remote work program into which an employer may voluntarily enroll to provide up to two full days per month that an employee may work remotely to accommodate symptoms arising from qualifying menstrual disorders, including, but not limited to: (a) Uterine fibroids; (b) Endometriosis; (c) Polycystic ovary syndrome; (d) Adenomyosis; (e) Premenstrual syndrome; (f) Premenstrual dysphoric disorder; (g) Dysmenorrhea; and (h) Menorrhagia. Under each program, a participating employer will be entitled to tax credits for wages paid to employees. For the medical leave program, employers will be entitled to a dollar for dollar tax credit for wages paid to employees in the program up to two full days each month. For the remote work program, employers will be entitled to a tax credit equal to 25 percent of the wages paid to employees in the program up to two full days each month. Any personnel action or discrimination taken by an employer against an employee for using or requesting medical leave in accordance or working or requesting to work remotely in accordance with this bill, will be regarded as a violation of the earned sick leave law and subject to the penalties in that law. | In Committee |
| S3475 | Requires NJTA and SJTA to provide written notice of toll violations and process for remedying violations prior to issuing administrative fee. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide a written notice of an alleged toll violation and a process for remedying the toll violation before issuing or collecting any administrative fee. Specifically, the bill requires the NJTA and SJTA to provide a written notice within 60 days of a toll violation to the owner of the vehicle by regular mail, providing the owner with the opportunity to resolve the matter prior to the issuance of a summons and complaint that charges a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations and any administrative fee that is associated with a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations. The written notice is required to contain sufficient information to inform the owner of the nature, date, time, and location of the alleged violation, as well as information pertaining to a process by which the owner may elect to remedy the alleged violation within 30 days of the date the written notice was sent to avoid the issuance of an administrative fee. The NJTA and SJTA are required to include within the written notice, a notification that, if the alleged violation is not remedied within the required time period, the owner will be required to pay a reasonable administrative fee. The bill prohibits the NJTA or SJTA from issuing any administrative fee to, or collecting any administrative fee from, the owner for an alleged violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations unless the written notice has been provided and the time period to remedy the alleged violation has expired. Current law requires the NJTA or SJTA to provide an advisory and payment request within 60 days of a toll violation. The advisory and payment request requires that the owner of the vehicle pay the proper toll and a reasonable administrative fee. | In Committee |
| S2646 | Requires school districts to provide training and coaching to certain teachers on student literacy and reading interventions; requires DOE to establish program for literacy coaches. | This bill requires school districts to provide training and coaching to teachers regarding student literacy and reading interventions necessary for students with reading deficiencies. Under the bill, a school district is required to annually provide training to any teacher in grades kindergarten through 12 who provides reading interventions to students that exhibit a reading deficiency, and any teaching staff member holding an educational services certificate with a reading specialist endorsement. The training is required to include information on: (1) the science of reading; (2) reading intervention techniques; and (3) distinguishing between identification of a student who may be eligible for special education and related services in accordance with the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," and a student who may exhibit signs of a reading deficiency. The bill requires the Department of Education, in consultation with Commissioner of Education-approved educator preparation program providers in the State, to establish and implement a "train the trainer" program for the creation of literacy coaches in public schools. Reading specialists are to provide instruction to interested teachers on the science of reading and reading interventions. The department is required to issue a literary coach certificate to any teacher who completes the training, provided the teacher submits proof of completion on a form as determined by the department. Under the bill, a literacy coach is to receive a one-time stipend from the department. The stipend is to be in an amount determined by the department and subject to available funds. Additionally, the bill requires a school district to provide kindergarten through grade 12 teachers with ongoing coaching support to aid in the delivery of reading interventions. The support is required to include: (1) on-site teacher training on evidence-based reading instruction and data-based decision making; (2) example lessons; (3) classroom observance during the delivery of reading interventions; and (4) immediate feedback for improving reading instruction, if applicable. A literacy coach can conduct this training, provided the training does not conflict with the other job responsibilities of the teaching staff member. Within the limit of available funds, the literacy coach is eligible for a stipend from the department for any school year in which the literacy coach conducts the training. The training and coaching established by this bill are to count towards the current professional development requirement on reading disabilities for certain public school teaching staff members. The bill defines the "science of reading" as evidence-based reading instruction practices that address the acquisition of language, phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension that can be differentiated to meet the needs of individual students. "Reading deficiency" is defined as scoring below grade level or being determined to be at risk of scoring below grade level on a screening assessment, diagnostic assessment, standardized summative assessment, or progress monitoring. "Reading intervention" is defined as an evidence-based strategy frequently used to remediate reading deficiencies that include, but are not limited to, individual instruction, tutoring, or mentoring that target specific reading skills and abilities. | In Committee |
| S2645 | Requires school districts to screen certain students for reading deficiencies. | This bill requires school districts to screen certain students for reading deficiencies. Under the bill, a school district is required to screen each student enrolled in kindergarten through grade three using a reading assessment approved by the Department of Education. The screening is to occur three times per school year. Additionally, a school district is required to screen newly-enrolled students in grades four through 12 using an approved reading assessment. The bill requires a school district to screen any enrolled student at the request of the parent or guardian of the student. Under the bill, the reading assessment is required to: (1) measure phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and (2) identify students who have a reading deficiency. The department is required to enter into a contract with at least two screening providers that have a valid and reliable reading assessment with the ability to screen students pursuant to the provisions of this bill. Within the limits of available funds, the department is required to make these reading assessments available for use by school districts. Additionally, the department is required to establish and distribute a list of providers of reliable and valid reading assessments approved for school district use for the screening and monitoring of student progress toward grade level reading. The bill permits a school district to be granted a waiver of the requirement to use one of the department-approved reading assessments if it demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that it has selected a comparable reading assessment. Under the bill, a school district is required to notify a parent or guardian of a student who exhibits a reading deficiency no later than 15 days after the deficiency is identified. The school district is also required to provide appropriate evidence-based intervention strategies to any student that exhibits a reading deficiency. A school district is also required to annually report to the department the number of students screened and the number of students who were identified through the screening as exhibiting a reading deficiency. The bill defines a "reading deficiency" as scoring below grade level or being determined to be at risk of scoring below grade level based on a screening assessment. | 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 |
| S3441 | Establishes survivor support liaison in Department of Treasury to assist beneficiaries of emergency responders who die in line of duty; "designated as Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's act"; appropriates $1,000,000. | This bill establishes in the Department of Treasury an Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation, which would be responsible for providing information concerning the available benefits to the beneficiaries of any emergency responder who has died in the line of duty. The bill defines "emergency responder" as a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, or other person who has been trained to provide emergency medical first response services in a program recognized by the Commissioner of Health and licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department of Health to provide those services The bill provides that the office would be led by a survivor support liaison and consist of at least an additional three employees, all of whom are to be beneficiaries of first responders who have died in the line of duty. The office would be responsible for providing beneficiaries with a summary of the nature and amount of benefits for which they are eligible. The bill also requires the office to maintain contact with the beneficiaries and assist with any questions or requests during the application process for available benefits. The bill is designated as the "designated as Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's act" in honor of Captains Acabou and Brooks who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty while responding to the cargo ship fire at Port Newark. The designation also honors firefighter, Marques Hudson, who died in a house fire in Plainfield, NJ. | In Committee |
| S3427 | Permits companion to receive PFRS accidental death pension when there is no surviving spouse; requires adjustment of final compensation for calculation of accidental death benefit for surviving spouse, companion, and children of PFRS members. | Under current law, the surviving spouse of a member of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRS) who died in the line of duty receives a pension of 70 percent of the member's compensation, or a minimum of $50,000 annually, during the life of that spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the pension of 70 percent of final compensation is paid to the member's surviving children. This bill requires that the amount of the compensation be adjusted for a period of time after the death of the member, thereby increasing the annual pension for surviving spouses and children. The compensation will be increased by the same percentage increase which is applied in any adjustments of the compensation schedule of active members after the member's death and before the date on which the deceased member of the retirement system would have accrued 25 years of service under an assumption of continuous service. At 25 years, the amount resulting from such increases will become fixed and be the basis for any increases for cost of living granted thereafter. Any adjustments will take effect at the same time as any adjustments in the compensation schedule of active members. The bill provides that adjustments to PFRS accidental death survivors' pension would apply to those granted prior to effective date of the bill but only for payments made on or after the effective date of the bill. In addition, this bill permits that same pension of 70 percent of compensation to be paid to a companion of a member who died in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2023. A companion is defined in the bill. The bill permits a companion of a member who died before the bill's effective date to file, within six months after the bill's effective date, an application for an accidental death pension, and if approved, the pension will be made retroactive to the date of the member's death. The companion of a member who died before the effective date of the bill may apply for a pension only if the deceased member did not have a surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents at the time of death, or if the member's aggregate contributions have not been paid to a beneficiary or the estate, or have been returned to the retirement system. | In Committee |
| S3428 | Establishes marine firefighting training course requirements for certain firefighters; appropriates $140 million. | This bill requires the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to adopt Coast Guard approved basic, advanced, and in-service marine firefighting training courses for land-based firefighters. Under the bill, every firefighter in the State, paid and volunteer, engaged in fire suppression in a municipality within a coastal zone would be required to complete the basic, advanced, and in-service training courses. The bill provides that recruit firefighter training programs would be required to include the basic marine firefighting training course. Under the bill, a firefighter who completed a recruit firefighting training program prior to the bill's effective date would be required to complete the basic marine firefighting training course within one year. The bill provides that all firefighters would be required to complete the advanced marine firefighting training course within two years of completing the basic marine firefighting training course. Thereafter, firefighters would be required to complete in-service training every two years. Additionally, the bill requires the division to adopt a Coast Guard approved training course for qualification as an instructor of marine firefighting for land-based firefighters. A firefighter who has completed the basic and advanced training courses and is in compliance with the in-service training requirement established in the bill, or who otherwise has been certified by the division, would be eligible for marine firefighting instruction training. Upon completion of the training or other certification by the division, the bill provides that a firefighter would be qualified to provide the basic, advanced, in-service, and instruction training courses. The bill defines a coastal zone to mean a municipality included in the State's Coastal Management program, as part of its implementation of the "Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972," 16 U.S.C. s.1451 et seq. | In Committee |
| S3425 | "Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Act." | This bill, the "Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Act," requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Program to purchase menstrual hygiene products and provide such products at no cost to Haitian migrants who have arrived in the State at least two years prior to the effective date of the bill. Under the bill's provisions, the DOH is to contract with community-based, faith-based, and non-profit organizations specifically serving Haitian migrants to distribute sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and other menstrual hygiene products deemed necessary by individuals who menstruate. The DOH is also directed to conduct outreach activities to ensure that eligible Haitian migrants are made aware of the program and the organizations contracted to distribute menstrual hygiene products. The program is to be funded by and subject to annual appropriations allocated to the DOH from the General Fund for the purchase and distribution of menstrual hygiene products, and the DOH may apply for and accept any grant of money from the State or federal government or other sources, which may be available for programs related to period inequity and menstrual health services. The bill requires the DOH to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of, and any recommendations for legislative or administrative action necessary to improve, the program. Period inequity and period poverty significantly impacts the health, dignity, and overall well-being of individuals, especially among marginalized and newly arrived migrant populations. Haitian migrants, as part of these vulnerable groups, often face substantial challenges in accessing basic menstrual hygiene products due to economic, cultural, and logistical barriers. Recent data from the American Community Survey indicates that approximately 46,000 Haitian migrants reside in New Jersey, making up six percent of the State's immigrant population. Addressing the availability of menstrual hygiene products for Haitian migrants is essential for ensuring this population's health and promoting the dignity of a community that has made and continues to make important contributions to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of this State. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the State to support the health and dignity of, and mitigate the economic, cultural, and logistical barriers challenges faced by, Haitian migrants through the creation of a program that ensures the provision of necessary menstrual hygiene products to help this population thrive in the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3386 | Codifies various centers and programs at Rutgers University - Newark; appropriates $6.5 million. | This bill codifies five centers and programs at Rutgers The State University - Newark into law and directs the Legislature to appropriate $6.5 million among all five centers to be allocated accordingly:· $1,000,000 for the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America· $1,000,000 for the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME)· $1,000,000 for the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR)· $1,000,000 for the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN)· $2,500,000 for the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP). The primary objective of the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America is to serve as a nonpartisan research center to investigate the link between race and politics in America. It aims to achieve this by functioning as a comprehensive data resource center that produces and disseminates data on race and politics across all levels of government. Additionally, the center is to facilitate various training programs in data analysis along with a paid internship program to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for careers in public service. The purpose of the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME) is to conduct collaborative public scholarship on issues of structural inequality and systemic racism. Additionally, the center provides opportunities for advanced training in areas such as data analysis, legal primers, and policy evaluation, in order to support the development of future leaders committed to social justice. The goal of the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR) is to serve as an applied research center aimed at enhancing the resilience of New Jersey's supply chain system. The center collaborates with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and community organizations to address key issues such as supply chain disruptions, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The mission of the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN) is to support justice-impacted youth. The program engages with partner organizations to provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for those participating in the program. The objective of the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP) initiative is to provide higher education courses for incarcerated students and to assist in their transition to college life upon release. Additionally, NJSTEP facilitates transition support services, including academic advisement, access to financial aid, and assistance with post-release educational plans. | In Committee |
| S2535 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services. | This bill amends existing law, which established minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services, to include structured day program services. Current law is limited to community residential services. Under existing law, "brain injury service" means community-based services, residential services, day care services, and home care services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries, regardless of whether such services are provided through the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires the Medicaid per diem or encounter reimbursement rates for Structured Day Program Services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for a brain injury, currently at $3.65 for every 15 minutes of services, when such services are provided by an approved brain injury service provider, to be equal to the average of the reimbursement rates for Day Habilitation Services - Tiers D and Tier E provided to a Medicaid beneficiary eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, currently at $9.09 for every 15 minutes of service. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S1311 | Codifies prohibition of discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals and requires real estate appraisers to complete anti-bias training. | Codifies prohibition of discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals and requires real estate appraisers to complete anti-bias training. | In Committee |
| S2284 | Establishes Office of Resilience in DCF. | Establishes Office of Resilience in DCF. | Crossed Over |
| S3000 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | In Committee |
| SJR97 | Designates last week of April of each year as "Reentry Week." | Designates last week of April of each year as "Reentry Week." | 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 |
| S3251 | Establishes "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act." The bill establishes in the Department of Human Services (department) a Migrant and Refugee Resource Coordination Program. The purpose of this program will be to connect migrants and refugees with information and resources regarding public assistance programs for which they are eligible. The department will ensure that the information provided under the program will include, but not be limited to, information on: housing, healthcare, educational opportunities, job training, and legal services. The department will collaborate with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to facilitate access to these resources. Under the bill. the department will develop and implement an outreach campaign to inform migrants and refugees about the program. The outreach campaign will utilize multiple languages and media platforms to ensure widespread dissemination of information about the program. The department will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, which report will: (1) detail the effectiveness of the program, including the number of migrants and refugees served and the types of assistance provided; and (2) include any recommendations for improvements to the program. | In Committee |
| S2531 | Provides police officers may be present at senior residential center or school being used as polling place under certain circumstances; requires school to establish election day security plan. | Provides police officers may be present at senior residential center or school being used as polling place under certain circumstances; requires school to establish election day security plan. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| S3194 | Allows gross income tax deduction for donations of menstrual products to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations. | This bill allows a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for donations of menstrual products, meaning sanitary napkins, tampons, liners, cups, underwear, and any similar items used by an individual with respect to menstruation, that are made to qualified State-based charitable organizations. The bill caps the deduction at $120 per taxpayer for a taxable year. In order to claim the deduction allowed under this bill, a taxpayer is required to obtain a written statement from each qualified New Jersey-based charitable organization substantiating each donation of menstrual products made by the taxpayer during the taxable year. The bill provides that taxpayers and qualified New Jersey-based charitable organizations will not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently usable menstrual products donated in good faith pursuant to the bill. Under the bill, "apparently usable" means, with respect to a product, that the product meets all quality and labeling standards imposed by Federal, State, and local laws and regulations even if the product may not be readily marketable. This release from liability will not apply to an act or omission constituting gross negligence or intentional misconduct that results in injury to or death of a user or recipient of a donated menstrual product. The bill defines "qualified New Jersey-based charitable organization" as a charitable organization that: (1) is registered pursuant to the "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act," P.L.1994, c.16 (C.45:17A-18 et seq.), or an organization that is exempt from the registration requirements of that act pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1994, c.15 (C.45:17A-26); (2) maintains an office or employs person in the State; and (3) provides medical or social services in this State to people who menstruate. | In Committee |
| S3186 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $9 million from General Fund to DOE to support Engaged Learning Strategies - STEM Curriculum Program in certain school districts. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $9 million to Engaged Learning Strategies - STEM Curriculum Program in certain school districts. The appropriation is to establish a three-year pilot program to promote project-based learning in science, technology, engineering, and math for at-risk students in grades six through eight in nine school districts through a contract with Engaged Learning Strategies. The bill defines project-based STEM learning opportunities as hands on courses that offer students the opportunity to engage in the design, development, and implementation of projects that are applicable to real-world learning experiences. The supplemental appropriation stipulates that nine school districts are to be selected for inclusion in the program, four of which may be the following districts: four school districts are to be included in the program: Camden City School District; Newark City School District; Paterson City School District; and Trenton City School District. The appropriation may be used for curriculum development, training of teaching staff members, and classroom supplies and equipment. Additionally, at the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner is to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature. The report is to contain information on the implementation of the pilot program and the commissioner's recommendation on the feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis. | In Committee |
| S3193 | Revises responsibilities and duties of Nursing Home Administrator's Licensing Board. | This bill revises the responsibilities and duties of the Nursing Home Administrator's Licensing Board (board). Under the bill, the following revisions to the board are made: 1) within 90 days following the submission of an application, issue licenses to nursing home administrator licensing applicants; 2) within 15 business days following the submission of a nursing home administrator intern training program plan that is submitted by a nursing home to be used by the nursing home in its facilities, or within 10 business days following the submission of an amended plan, either approve or disapprove the plan; 3) if a nursing home administrator intern training program plan is not approved or disapproved within the timeframe established under the bill, the nursing home is to be permitted to implement the plan; 4) to require nursing home administrators to notify the board within six months of the next licensing renewal date of a change in the administrator's address or name, which is to include a copy of the court order, marriage certificate, or other document that authorized the change in name; 5) to require an applicant for a license to complete 1,750 hours, with no more than 50 hours completed on a weekly basis, in a nursing home administrator intern program within a two year period, and successfully pass a licensing examination within two attempts or complete 50 hours of study in the subject area that resulted in examination failure in order to retake the examination; 6) to immediately approve the application of a licensed nursing home administrator in good standing in another state if the applicant does not have a record of disciplinary actions; and 7) to grant presumptive eligibility for licensure approval to a licensed out-of-State applicant who is transferring work locations from an out-of-State nursing home to an in-State nursing home, which nursing homes are under the same ownership. | In Committee |
| S3178 | Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish academic credit and reverse credit transfer standards; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to establish academic credit transfer standards and reverse credit transfer standards and establishes the position of New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Under current law, each public institution of higher education is required to establish and enter into a collective Statewide transfer agreement that provides for the seamless transfer of academic credits across public institutions of higher education. Similarly, current law also requires institutions of higher education, both public and independent, to establish and enter into a collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement for the awarding of associate degrees by the county colleges. This bill eliminates both the collective Statewide transfer agreement and the collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement and replaces them with standards for credit transfer and reverse transfer. Under the bill, the standards are to be developed by the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Presidents' Council. The bill establishes the position of the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The purpose of the ombudsman is to facilitate the resolution of disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the institution's compliance with the credit transfer standards established pursuant to the bill's provisions. Under the bill, the ombudsman is to be responsible for: (1) final administrative decisions over disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the transfer of academic credits; (2) the periodic review, occurring not less than once every three years, of the policies adopted by public institutions of higher education for the transfer of academic credit to ensure compliance with the credit transfer standards; and (3) preparation of the annual credit transfer report.The bill also requires each public institution of higher education to provide transfer students with data on program outcomes of students who have transferred from other public institutions of higher education in the State, including completion rates. The bill includes technical corrections to: (1) remove references in existing law to the "collective Statewide transfer agreement" and the "collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement;" and (2) update outdated references. | In Committee |
| S3067 | Prohibits State from disclosing New Jersey driver's license holders' personal information to other states seeking to issue speed camera or red light camera citations. | This bill prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and other State entities from disclosing the personal information of New Jersey drivers to another state for the purpose of allowing the other state to impose or collect a fine resulting from an alleged violation committed in that state and captured by a speed control device or a traffic signal monitoring system, commonly referred to as a red light camera. The bill defines "personal information" to mean any information that identifies an individual, which information may include an individual's photograph, social security number, driver identification number, name, address, or telephone number. The bill also provides definitions for the following terms: interstate motor vehicle information network, speed control device, and traffic control signal monitoring system. | In Committee |
| S2919 | Requires employer to provide certain accommodations to employee who is breast feeding. | This bill would clarify protections provided in the "Law Against Discrimination" to working mothers who are breast feeding. Specifically, the bill provides that an employer is required to accommodate a lactating employee for as long as the employee desires. Additionally, the bill clarifies that lactating employees are entitled to reasonable break time paid at the employee's regular rate of compensation, job restructuring, and a modified work schedule for the purpose of milk expression. Further, the bill requires an employer to provide a suitable room or other location with privacy, free from intrusion of other employees or customers of the employer's business, if applicable, other than a restroom, for the purpose of milk expression. | In Committee |
| S2216 | Permits municipal, county, and regional police and fire forces to establish five-year residency requirement for police officers and firefighters; allows exceptions to requirement under certain circumstances. | This bill would permit a municipality to adopt an ordinance prohibiting an applicant from obtaining employment with the municipal police department, paid fire department, or part-paid fire department unless the applicant agrees to remain a resident of the municipality for the first five years of his employment. The bill also permits this residency requirement to be established for county and regional police and fire forces. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Community Affairs would have to approve such a requirement for a municipality or county before it may take effect. In any local jurisdiction with such a requirement, the applicant would have six months from the date the applicant begins his or her official duties, following all requisite training, to relocate to the municipality, county, or region served by the force. The bill would allow an exception to this residency requirement if any member of the fire department or police department suffers injury, or a threat of injury, to his person, family, or property, committed by another who acts with purpose to: (1) intimidate the member because of his status as a member; (2) manipulate an investigation; or (3) otherwise influence the member to violate his official duty. The bill requires municipalities adopting municipal police department, paid fire department, or part-paid fire department residency requirements under the bill to establish incentives for residency within the municipality, as well as a tuition aid reimbursement program for municipal police department, paid fire department, and part-paid fire department members who complete the five-year residence requirement. The bill would prohibit the enforcement of a residency requirement adopted as part of a shared service agreement, a joint contract, the creation of a regional department, or a joint meeting among local units for law enforcement or fire protection with respect to a person who on the effective date of the bill is a member of a police department or force, or a member of a fire department or force that is a party to such an agreement or the creation of such a regional entity after the effective date of the bill, unless the person is already a resident of a local unit served by such an entity on the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1313 | Establishes procedure for certification of LGBTQ+ business. | An Act concerning the certification of businesses owned by LGBTQ+ persons and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SCR102 | Urges United States President to expand access to menstrual products in schools. | This resolution respectfully urges the President of the United States to expand access to menstrual products in schools throughout the nation. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides equal access to education in federally funded schools and programs. Though Title IX does not explicitly reference menstruation, the intent of Title IX is to reduce disparities in educational equity and opportunity on the basis of sex. Title IX can be expanded through interpretation, regulation, and guidance to provide more protections for individuals who menstruate. Period poverty, or the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education, affects many school-aged students. More than half of all high school aged students who menstruate are late to school, have to leave school early, or miss school due to a lack of menstrual products. A low-income student may be forced to resort to alternatives to menstrual products such as toilet paper or forced to extend the length of time the student uses a single menstrual product, which may have negative health consequences including infection and toxic shock syndrome. Expanding Title IX to include free menstrual products in all restrooms may reduce educational disparities on the basis of sex and reduce menstrual-based harassment in schools. . Given that providing access to free menstrual products under Title IX is fundamental to equality, it is altogether fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge the President to expand access to menstrual products in schools throughout the nation as an imperative under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. | In Committee |
| SJR108 | Designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey. Poor menstrual hygiene undermines the opportunities, health, and overall social status of millions of women and girls around the world, often preventing them from reaching their full potential. It is the sponsor's intent that designating an annual "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will help recognize and promote efforts taking place at the local, State, and global levels to promote good menstrual hygiene, ensure equitable access to feminine hygiene products, end period poverty, and eliminate stigmas associated with menstruation. Designating May 17 as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will also help celebrate the achievements of Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, an inventor who pioneered a useful menstrual hygiene product that was overlooked solely because Ms. Kenner was Black. Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner's birthday was May 17, and so designating the day as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" will afford her a measure of long-deferred but richly deserved recognition. This resolution calls on the Governor to annually issue a proclamation and call upon public officials, private organizations, and all citizens of New Jersey to observe "Menstrual Empowerment Day" with appropriate awareness activities and programs. | In Committee |
| S3131 | Requires DOH to expand services provided under plan to improve perinatal mental health services and health insurers to cover costs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening. | This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to expand services provided under the plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening developed and implemented pursuant to P.L.2021, c.380 (C.26:2-178.1 et seq.). Specifically, the bill amends section 1 of P.L.2021, c.380 (C.26:2-178.1) to mandate that the Perinatal Mental Health Coalition of New Jersey and the Maternal Child Health Consortia consult with the DOH to develop and implement the plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening required under the provisions the law. The bill also amends the law to mandate that the plan also include strategies to: (1) expand the referral network of mental health care providers and support services to serve women: planning a pregnancy; during pregnancy, during the time period prior to giving birth; and during the first year after a woman's pregnancy; (2) insure that women planning a pregnancy and women who are about to give birth are screened for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder risk factors; (3) implement a standardized process to collect data concerning all perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services provided in an outpatient setting; (4) implement a perinatal mental health continuing education requirement for all health care professionals and certified peer specialists who provide perinatal treatment and care; and (5) require the DOH prepare a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services resource guide. The bill stipulates that a health care professional or a certified peer specialist who has received training related to perinatal mental health care services and provides perinatal treatment and care to pregnant women, women who have recently given birth, or the parent or parents of a newborn infant is to complete a continuing education course on perinatal mental health. Under the bill's provisions, the State Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey Board of Nursing are to require that the number of credits of continuing medical education required of the health care professionals licensed or certified by the respective boards, who provide perinatal treatment and care, to include one credit of a continuing educational course on perinatal mental health, as a condition of license or certification renewal. The bill also requires health insurers to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening women for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as required by the plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, referral, treatment, and support services developed and implemented by the DOH, during preconception, pregnancy, prior to giving birth, and throughout the first year after pregnancy. Specifically, this provision of the bill affects health, hospital, and medical service corporations; individual and group health insurance policies; health maintenance organizations; individual health benefits plans; small employer health benefits plans; the State Health Benefits Program; the School Employees' Health Benefits Program; and the State Medicaid Program. | In Committee |
| S3130 | Establishes "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" in DOH. | Establishes "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" in DOH. | In Committee |
| S3133 | Requires homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations to be translated into multiple languages. | This bill requires that the homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations be made available in multiple languages. The bill requires that at a minimum the certification examinations will be made available in English and Spanish. | In Committee |
| S3094 | Requires licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to offer and screen, upon request, pregnant patients with history of depression for postpartum depression. | This bill expands an existing law that directs the Commissioner of Health, in conjunction with the State Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, to address the issue of postpartum depression by working with health care facilities and licensed health care professionals in the State to develop certain policies and procedures. This bill adds an additional provision to the law mandating the development of a policy that would require physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to women to offer, and provide upon the request, pregnant patients with a history of depression a prenatal screening for postpartum depression. Current policies under the law include patient and family education regarding postpartum depression and postnatal screenings for postpartum depression for all applicable patients. | In Committee |
| S3095 | Codifies federal regulations requiring bilingual materials and services for SNAP under certain circumstances. | This bill codifies federal regulations, found at 7 CFR s.272.4(b), which require the state agencies that administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide bilingual SNAP materials and services under certain circumstances. SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that serves as a safety net for low-income households. While the program is federally regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), SNAP eligibility determination agencies, such as county welfare agencies, in New Jersey, under the supervision of the Division of Family Development (division) in the Department of Human Services administer the program. The federal government pays the full cost of SNAP benefits and splits the cost of administering the program with the State. Specifically, the bill requires the division, in collaboration with SNAP eligibility determination agencies, to provide bilingual SNAP information and certification materials, as well as bilingual staff or interpreters to assist SNAP applicants or beneficiaries when there is a certain level of households that are of a single-language minority in the county or service area of the SNAP eligibility determination agency. Under the bill, "single-language minority" means households which speak the same non-English language and which do not contain any adult fluent in English as a second language. These provisions extend to areas where there is a seasonal influx of non-English-speaking households. If SNAP materials are required in only one language other than English, the materials may be printed in English on one side and in the other language on the reverse side. For multiple languages, the materials may be printed in English and may contain statements in other languages summarizing the purpose of the notice and the telephone number that the household may call to receive additional information in the appropriate language. Finally, the division is to develop estimates of the number of low-income single-language minority households, both participating and not participating in the SNAP, for each county or service area of a SNAP eligibility determination agency by using census data and knowledge of the area. If these information sources do not provide sufficient information for the division to make such a determination, each SNAP eligibility determination agency is required to record, for a 6-month period, the total number of single-language minority households that visit the office regarding SNAP. Those SNAP eligibility determination agencies that are contacted by over 100 single-language minority households in the 6-month period will be mandated to provide bilingual staff or interpreters. The division is required to combine the data collected in each SNAP eligibility determination agency to determine the need for bilingual SNAP outreach materials. | In Committee |
| S2969 | Provides counties discretion related to retirement of county debt service and amount that can be raised under property tax levy cap. | An Act concerning the effects of the debt service exclusion from the county property tax levy and amending P.L.1976, c.68, P.L.1994, c.100, and P.L.2007, c.62. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3068 | Requires DOE to collect and publish data on use of restraints and seclusion on students with disabilities. | This bill requires the Department of Education to annually collect data from school districts, educational services commissions, and approved private schools for students with disabilities on the number and times a physical restraint or a seclusion technique was utilized on a student with disabilities and the type and duration of the physical restraint or seclusion technique that was utilized, and the number of students with disabilities on which a physical restraint or a seclusion technique was utilized. The department is required to publish the collected data annually on its website in a manner that protects student privacy. The published data will be disaggregated by county and by the race, gender, and age of the student. | 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 |
| A4 | Reforms municipal responsibilities concerning provision of affordable housing; abolishes COAH; appropriates $16 million. | An Act concerning affordable housing, including administration and municipal obligations, amending, supplementing, and repealing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S50 | Reforms municipal responsibilities concerning provision of affordable housing; abolishes COAH; appropriates $16 million. | Reforms municipal responsibilities concerning provision of affordable housing; abolishes COAH; appropriates $16 million. | In Committee |
| SR82 | Urges United States Congress to renew funding for Affordable Connectivity Program. | This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to renew funding for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Millions of Americans are without access to broadband Internet services. As a result, these individuals struggle to improve social outcomes through education, achieve upward economic mobility, gain digital literacy skills, and receive quality healthcare. In 2021, to close the digital divide, the FCC launched the ACP, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. In addition, the program offers a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers, under specific circumstances, for eligible households. Currently, over 20 million households receive broadband benefits through the ACP. In New Jersey, as of January 2024, 335,079 households are enrolled in the program. Specifically, New Jersey has received nearly $152 million in ACP funding, resulting in $8.3 million per month in collective cost savings on broadband Internet services for all New Jersey households enrolled in the program. However, the ACP is slated to expire in April 2024 when the program is scheduled to exhaust its $14.2 billion budget. To improve broadband access for millions of Americans, and thereby advance social, economic, and health outcomes for the underserved, Congress is respectfully urged to renew funding for the ACP. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2975 | Requires DCA, in consultation with Commission on Human Trafficking, to establish Statewide initiative for Red Sand Project. | The bill would establish a Statewide Initiative for the Red Sand Project. Under the bill, the Department of Community Affairs would, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking, establish a Statewide initiative for the Red Sand Project. This initiative would coincide with the month of January, which is designated as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking, may provide for the expenditures of monies from the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" to assist with the Red Sand Project Initiative. Under current law, the Commission on Human Trafficking is required to, among other things, develop mechanisms to promote public awareness of human trafficking, including promotion of the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking. This bill would require the commission to develop mechanisms to promote the Red Sand Project. The Red Sand Project was created by artist Molly Gochman and involves pouring red sand in the cracks of sidewalks to promote awareness of human trafficking and to recognize the human trafficking victims who metaphorically "fall through the cracks" of our social, economic, and political systems. | In Committee |
| S2865 | Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. | Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. | In Committee |
| S2611 | Requires each public institution of higher education to convene menstrual equity task force. | Requires each public institution of higher education to convene menstrual equity task force. | Crossed Over |
| SCR93 | Urges President and Congress to enact "Poverty Line Act of 2023." | This resolution urges the President and Congress to enact the "Poverty Line Act of 2023," which would update the way the federal government calculates the federal poverty guidelines by accounting for real costs and adjusting for regional differences. The federal poverty guidelines, more commonly known as the federal poverty level, are a measure of income issued annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services which are used to determine an individual's or household's eligibility for certain State and federal programs and benefits. Despite the federal poverty level's benefit of providing a nationally recognized income threshold for determining who is poor, its shortcomings are well documented as it is not based on the current cost of basic household necessities, such as housing, utilities, childcare, transportation, and healthcare, and, except for Alaska and Hawaii, it is not adjusted to reflect cost of living differences across the United States. As a result, millions of struggling families across the country make too little to afford their basic needs, yet because the federal poverty line is so low, they are not eligible for safety net benefits. The changes to the federal poverty level calculation proposed in the "Poverty Line Act of 2023," would increase the access to programs, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provide critical support to people during times of economic hardship. Notably, the bill would also ensure that the new methodology is reviewed at least once every four years to determine whether it is still reflective of what households need to meet their basic needs and to identify additional changes needed in the future. Ultimately, the enactment of the "Poverty Line Act of 2023" would provide that the determination of poverty in New Jersey and the United States reflects the current level of financial distress experienced by millions of American families, ensuring greater access to the vital government benefits that provide the necessary short- and long-term support and stability to allow for economic mobility. | Crossed Over |
| S2504 | Requires Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain primary and mental health care services match reimbursement rates under Medicare. | Requires Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain primary and mental health care services match reimbursement rates under Medicare. | In Committee |
| S2168 | Provides tuition fee waiver apprenticeship courses. | This bill requires public institutions of higher education to waive the tuition fees of certain courses which are qualified to serve as the classroom training or education component of a registered apprenticeship for eligible persons whose gross aggregate household income is below the State's median annual income. Under the bill, an eligible person is an individual whose gross aggregate household income at the time of admission to a New Jersey public institution of higher education or county vocational school is below the State household median income as determined by the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey. The person is to be deemed eligible for a tuition fee waiver if: 1. tuition costs are not covered by the employer through employment benefits; 2. the person completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year and has exhausted all financial aid assistance; and 3. the person retains employment as an active registered apprentice under the registered apprenticeship program and maintains satisfactory academic progress to qualify for renewal of the tuition waiver. The bill requires the State to reimburse public institutions of higher education and county vocational schools for the cost of the tuition waivers. | In Committee |
| S2192 | Requires 60 day notice concerning tuition rate changes by licensed child care centers. | This bill requires child care centers licensed 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, 60 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 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. The notice requirements will apply to rate changes occurring on or after the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment. | 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 |
| S2944 | Prohibits use of education, occupation, and credit score as rating factors in automobile insurance underwriting. | This bill prohibits automobile insurers from assigning an insured or prospective insured to a rating tier based upon that person's: (1) educational level; (2) employment, trade, business, occupation or profession; or (3) credit score, or any information derived from an insured's credit report. The bill also prohibits automobile insurers from inquiring of an insured or applicant for insurance, or of a third-party concerning an insured or applicant, as to these factors. | In Committee |
| S2942 | Expands the domestic violence statutes to encompass minors aged 16 and older. | This bill would expand the protections of the domestic violence statutes to include minors aged 16 and older. Under current law, a domestic violence restraining order may be issued only under certain circumstances: if the victim is at least 18 years old; is an emancipated minor; has had a dating relationship with the defendant; has a child in common with the defendant; or anticipates having a child in common if one of the parties is pregnant. A restraining order may be issued against a defendant only if the defendant is at least 18 years old or is an emancipated minor. Under the bill, any victim of domestic violence who is at least 16 years old could apply for a domestic violence restraining order, and any defendant who is at least 16 years old could be subject to a domestic violence restraining order. | In Committee |
| S175 | Establishes "ATV Law Enforcement Task Force" to enhance and coordinate efforts to enforce laws pertaining to ATVs. | Establishes "ATV Law Enforcement Task Force" to enhance and coordinate efforts to enforce laws pertaining to ATVs. | In Committee |
| S2872 | Requires non-invasive prenatal testing for pregnant persons and health insurance coverage for non-invasive prenatal testing. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), every federally qualified health center, and every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant person, to administer to every pregnant person a non-invasive prenatal test.. As defined in the bill, "non-invasive prenatal test" means a blood test performed beginning at ten weeks of pregnancy that is used to screen for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. Under the bill's provisions, the testing is to be based on industry best practices and guidance, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body designated by the commissioner. A hospital, licensed birthing center, or federally qualified health center providing care to, or a physician or other health care practitioner who is the primary caregiver for, a pregnant person or a person, would, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner: (1) provide the person with information on Downs syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities and the risk factors associated with such abnormalities based on an educational program developed by the commissioner; (2) inform the person of the benefits of undergoing non-invasive prenatal testing, and that the person is required to be tested, unless the person provides a written refusal to be tested; (3) and perform a non-invasive prenatal test unless the person provides written refusal to be tested. The person would be required to acknowledge receipt of the information provided by the hospital, birthing center, federally qualified health center, physician, or health care practitioner, as applicable, regarding the benefits of undergoing non-invasive prenatal testing. The bill requires the commissioner to develop a standardized form to be used to acknowledge receipt of the information, which form may also be used to provide written refusal to undergo non-invasive prenatal testing. The commissioner will also be required to develop, in consultation with the New Jersey Perinatal Associates and any other community-based organization as may be designated by the commissioner, a non-invasive prenatal testing educational program for pregnant persons. The educational program would include information on Downs syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities and the risk factors associated with such abnormalities. Upon receipt of the results of a non-invasive prenatal test conducted pursuant to the provisions of the bill, the hospital, licensed birthing center, federally qualified health center, or physician or health care practitioner, as applicable, is to discuss the results with the person and, if the person receives a positive test result, make a referral to a genetic counselor for further consultation. The bill also requires health insurers to cover the costs for conducting non-invasive prenatal tests for a pregnant person. Specifically, certain health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, the State Health Benefits Program, the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the State Medicaid Program) are to provide health benefits coverage for expenses incurred expenses incurred in conducting a non-invasive prenatal test for a pregnant person. | In Committee |
| S2871 | Requires DOH to prepare resource guide on preeclampsia and gestational diabetes for distribution to pregnant persons. | This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to prepare a resource guide which provides information on preeclampsia and gestational diabetes to all pregnant persons in the State. Specifically, the resource guide is to be distributed to each pregnant person receiving perinatal treatment and care, by the personnel at a hospital that provides inpatient maternity services or birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), as part of the hospital or birthing facility's patient intake process. The resource guide is to be in a language the pregnant person understands and is to include, but not be limited to, information on: (1) the symptoms and early warning signs of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes; (2) the effects of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes on a pregnant person and the pregnant person's baby; and (3) effective strategies that will help a pregnant person advocate for, or communicate to a health care provider any concerns the person has about, the person's health and the health of the person's baby. Under the provisions of the bill, the DOH is to: distribute the resource guide, at no charge, to all the hospitals and birthing facilities in the State; update the guide as necessary; make additional copies of the guide available to hospitals and birthing facilities upon request; and make the information contained in the guide available on its Internet website, both in print and in an easily printable format. | In Committee |
| S2868 | Establishes the "New Jersey Feminine Hygiene Product Donations Immunity Act." | This bill, which is designated as the "New Jersey Feminine Hygiene Product Donations Immunity Act," provides immunity from civil and criminal liability arising from an injury or death for good faith donors, including hospitals and other health care facilities, of feminine hygiene products that are donated to bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations. It also provides the same immunity to the charitable and nonprofit organizations that distribute these donated feminine hygiene products. | In Committee |
| S2870 | Requires health insurance coverage of standard fertility preservation services for individuals with certain menstrual disorders resulting in infertility. | This bill requires health insurance coverage of standard fertility preservation services for individuals with certain menstrual disorders resulting in infertility. Under the bill, health insurance carriers (which include hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, group health insurance policies, and any entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program) will be required to cover standard fertility preservation services when an individual is diagnosed with a menstrual disorder that may result in infertility. For the purposes of this bill, a "menstrual disorder" is an abnormal condition related to the menstrual cycle, which shall include, but is not limited to, menorrhagia, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. | In Committee |
| SCR94 | Urges Secretary of Higher Education and Educational Opportunity Fund Board to study and modernize program regulations, particularly regulations related to student funding priority levels. | The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program, established by State law in 1968, supports educationally and economically disadvantaged students for undergraduate and graduate study at public and private institutions of higher education in New Jersey. The EOF program, in part, provides direct financial aid to students through Opportunity Grants, which assist students in meeting college expenses, such as fees, books, room, board, and transportation, that are not covered by the State's Tuition Aid Grant program. Current EOF regulations specify that institutions are to award Opportunity Grant funds to students in the following priority order: 1) renewal students who were given awards during the previous academic year; 2) first-time, full-time freshmen; 3) EOF transfer students who received an EOF student grant at another institution, in the preceding academic year; 4) renewal students readmitted or returning to the program who did not receive awards in the prior academic year; and 5) eligible students who do not fall into any of the other four categories. Under this structure, a high school graduate who has, for example, earned an associate degree through participation in a dual enrollment program is not considered a "first-year student" and is thus placed in the lowest EOF funding priority level as opposed to being considered in the second funding priority level if the student had not attained an associate degree. The structure creates a disincentive for students to participate in dual enrollment and other college readiness programs that the Legislature and several administrations have strived to establish and encourage. This resolution urges the Secretary of Higher Education and the Educational Opportunity Fund Board of Directors, who respectively administer and govern the program, to study and modernize current EOF regulations, specifically regulations that negatively impact students who have earned 24 or more college credits while in high school. Dual enrollment programs allow high schools to partner with an institution of higher education to offer coursework that can be applied toward completion of a postsecondary degree. | 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 |
| S2208 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain database of Educational Opportunity Fund student admissions. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain a dat abase of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student admissions. The database will detail the number of student openings in the EOF programs of each participating institution which are available for an eligible student. The database must be made available to campus EOF directors in order to improve communication about potential placements between campus directors and eligible students. The bill provides that in the event that an eligible student has not secured a placement in an EOF program of a participating institution, the campus EOF director must provide that student with information about student openings in the EOF programs of other participating institutions. Under the bill, each participating institution must notify the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education when a student opening in an EOF program is filled. The office must update the database within one business day of receiving the notification. | In Committee |
| S1252 | Requires local recreation departments and youth serving organizations to have defibrillators for youth athletic events. | This bill requires municipal or county recreation departments and nonprofit youth serving organizations, which organize, sponsor, or are otherwise affiliated with youth athletic events that are played on municipal, county, school, or other publicly-owned fields, to ensure that there is available on site an automated external defibrillator (AED) at each youth athletic event and practice held on the department's or organization's home field. A recreation department or youth serving organization will be deemed to be in compliance with the AED requirement if a State-certified emergency services provider, licensed athletic trainer, or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic event or practice and has an AED available for use on site. A recreation department or youth serving organization and its employees, umpires, coaches, and licensed athletic trainers will be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of an AED. | In Committee |
| S1210 | Requires automatic external defibrillators on-site at certain places of public assembly and youth athletic events. | Requires automatic external defibrillators on-site at certain places of public assembly and youth athletic events. | In Committee |
| S2812 | Requires Medicaid coverage for remote stress tests for pregnant women. | This bill requires Medicaid coverage for remote stress tests for pregnant women. Specifically, the bill provides that coverage under the Medicaid Program include benefits for expenses incurred in conducting, non-stress tests for pregnant women with high risk pregnancies, which have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for at-home use to monitor fetal and maternal heart rate and uterine activity, provided that there is federal financial participation available. It is the sponsor's belief that women with high risk pregnancies are often prescribed contraction stress tests twice per week during the third trimester, but only 40 percent of such women undergo the testing. Failure to undergo prescribed contraction stress tests can worsen existing health issues and contribute to maternal mortality. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the contraction stress test may be the primary means of fetal surveillance for many women with high-risk pregnancies. Undergoing such testing twice per week is impossible for many pregnant women. However, technology exists, which has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, to allow for at-home, contraction stress tests, consisting of 20 to 40 minute sessions to monitor fetal heart rate, fetal movement, and uterine contractions, under the oversight of trained clinicians. | In Committee |
| S2701 | Revises calculation of maximum allowable annual increase to county tax levy. | This bill modifies the process for calculating the county property tax levy. Under current law, counties are required to calculate the annual property tax levy using two different statutory formulas. One formula for calculating the property tax levy is established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:4-45.4 and another formulas is established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:4-45.45. The calculations performed using these two formulas generally result in the two different county property tax levy amounts. In this circumstance, current law provides that the maximum permitted county tax levy may not exceed the lower of those two calculations. This bill revises this provision of law and instead provides that a county's maximum permitted property tax levy may not exceed the greater of these two calculations. | In Committee |
| S2183 | Requires installation of diaper changing station in certain public restrooms. | Requires installation of diaper changing station in certain public restrooms. | In Committee |
| S2695 | Requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. | This bill requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. Under the bill, commencing 180 days following the bill's effective date, a licensed health care professional who performs an annual physical examination on a female patient who is 40 years of age or older is to provide the female patient an informational pamphlet on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause, as prepared and published by the Department of Health pursuant to the bill, during the visit. The bill provides that, within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the Department of Health is to prepare and publish on its Internet website an informational pamphlet on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. | In Committee |
| S1602 | Prohibits discrimination on basis of height or weight under "Law Against Discrimination." | This bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of height or weight under the "Law Against Discrimination" (LAD). Studies have documented that individuals are discriminated against for their height or weight. Under current State law, this discrimination is permissible. This bill is modeled after the civil rights law in Michigan, which prohibits discrimination in employment, education, housing, public accommodations, and public service on the basis of height or weight, among other reasons for discrimination. The bill provides exceptions for employment and public accommodation for bone fide occupational qualifications and safety reasons, respectively. | Crossed Over |
| S1237 | Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service. | Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service. | Crossed Over |
| S2529 | Requires DOE to develop credential to introduce teachers to culturally responsive teaching practices, characteristics, and methods. | This bill directs the Department of Education, in partnership with the Diverse and Learner-Ready Teachers Initiative or equivalent entity, to develop a credential for culturally responsive teaching. The Diverse and Learner-Ready Teachers Initiative is an effort of the Council of Chief State School Officers, which strives to revise, enact or remove state policies that will address specific challenges for both diversifying the educator workforce and ensuring all educators are culturally responsive in practice. Under the bill, the purpose of the credential would be to introduce teachers to culturally responsive teaching practices, characteristics, and methods that acknowledge, respond to, and embrace the cultural backgrounds of all students to help ensure full, equitable access to education. The credential for culturally responsive teaching will be made available to teachers beginning in the first full school year following the date of enactment of the bill. As defined in the bill, culturally responsive teaching is a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students' cultural references in all aspects of learning, and which uses research-based teaching strategies that make meaningful connections between what students learn in school and their cultures, languages, and experiences. | In Committee |
| S2530 | Establishes rebuttable presumption that person who commits domestic violence by strangling victim be detained prior to trial. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person who is charged with aggravated assault by strangling a victim of domestic violence 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. Current law also upgrades the crime of simple assault to aggravated assault if the defendant knowingly or, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, recklessly obstructs the breathing or blood circulation of a person who, with respect to the actor, meets the definition of a victim of domestic violence, by applying pressure on the throat or neck or blocking the nose or mouth of the person, thereby causing or attempting to cause bodily injury. It is a crime of the third degree to commit aggravated assault against a victim of domestic violence. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine up to $15,000, or both. The presumption of non-imprisonment generally applicable to third degree and fourth degree crimes committed by first-time offenders does not apply to persons who commit aggravated assault against a victim of domestic violence. Under this bill, if a court finds probable cause that a defendant committed aggravated assault by strangling a domestic violence victim 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 defendant's appearance in court, the safety of any other person or the community, and that the defendant will not obstruct the criminal justice process. This presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of the preponderance of the evidence in support of the defendant. If the defendant is unable to rebut the presumption, the court may order pretrial detention, but if rebutted, the prosecutor would still have the opportunity to establish grounds for pretrial detention. A rebuttable presumption currently applies under P.L.2014, c.31 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. This bill extends that presumption to aggravated assault in situations where the defendant is charged with aggravated assault by strangling a victim of domestic violence. | 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 |
| S2643 | Requires private health insurers, SHBP, SEHBP, Medicaid, and NJ FamilyCare to cover wigs under certain circumstances. | This bill requires private health insurance plans, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), the School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), the State Medicaid program, and the NJ FamilyCare program to provide coverage for wigs for subscribers or enrollees on the same basis as other items of durable medical equipment. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to require all health insurers that operate in the State to provide reimbursement for expenses incurred for the purchase of a wig for individuals experiencing medical hair loss due to health conditions, chronic illnesses, or injury. Pursuant to the bill, all individual, group, or small employer health insurers, the SHBP, the SEHBP, Medicaid and the NJ FamilyCare programs are required to provide coverage for a wig, provided the subscriber or enrollee has been prescribed the wig by a State-licensed dermatologist, oncologist, or attending physician, and the prescribing physician certifies, in writing, the medical necessity of a wig as part of the enrollee's proposed course of treatment for a diagnosed illness, chronic medical condition, or injury. Pursuant to the bill, all health insurers operating in the State are required to cover the purchase of a new wig for a subscriber once every 36 months. The Commissioner of Human Services is required to determine the frequency with which Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare enrollees are eligible for a new wig. The commissioner is additionally directed to determine the reimbursement amount for wigs provided for eligible Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare enrollees. The bill, moreover, stipulates that private health insurers, the SHBP, the SEHBP, the State Medicaid program, and the NJ FamilyCare program be prohibited from restricting coverage for wigs to individuals undergoing chemotherapy as treatment for a cancer diagnosis. Currently, the SHBP and SEHBP cover wigs for subscribers undergoing chemotherapy for a cancer diagnosis to the same extent as other items of durable medical equipment. Both the SHBP and the SEHBP cover wigs for subscribers diagnosed with alopecia, albeit to a lesser extent than for patients with a cancer diagnosis. It is unclear the number of private health insurers that include wigs as a covered benefit for subscribers, or the scope of the benefit offered by these insurers. Under current law, neither the State Medicaid program nor the NJ FamilyCare program cover wigs for enrolled individuals. The benefits established pursuant to the bill are similar to those provided in H.R.5430 and S.4708 currently pending before Congress, which require the federal Medicare program to cover wigs as durable medical equipment. | In Committee |
| SR72 | Calls upon federal government to permit use of SNAP and WIC benefits to pay for diaper purchases. | Diapers are critical to the health of infants and toddlers and the economic and emotional health of families. One in three mothers report that at times they do not have enough diapers to keep their child clean, dry, and healthy. Without enough diapers each day, infants and toddlers are at risk of skin infections, open sores, urinary tract infections, and other conditions that may require medical attention. Purchasing diapers also creates an additional economic barrier for working families as most child care providers require parents to provide diapers. Diapers alone can consume six percent of the salary of a full-time working parent earning a minimum wage. Even if the family receives a child care subsidy, parents may not be able to afford enough diapers to enroll their child, forcing them out of the job market. Many families struggle to meet their diaper needs. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) benefits cannot be used for diapers. This resolution calls upon the federal government to permit the use of SNAP and WIC benefits to pay for diaper purchases in order to reduce diaper need and help to promote better health outcomes for children and economic outcomes for their families. | In Committee |
| SJR73 | Designates November of each year as "Transgender Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates November of each year as "Transgender Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey, and respectfully calls on the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling on public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Transgender Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs. Transgender individuals, who are people whose gender identity, expression, or behavior is different from those typically associated with the individual's assigned sex at birth, face considerable challenges in society, including discrimination, harassment, physical abuse, and social isolation. In the face of a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation being introduced nationwide, with numerous bills seeking to limit access to health care, housing, education, and free expression for transgender individuals and transgender youth in particular, the Legislature finds it fitting and appropriate to increase awareness and understanding of the prejudice, discrimination, and violence that transgender persons face, as well as to recognize the beauty, strength, and resilience of the transgender community and the myriad contributions transgender individuals make to the life, culture, and social fabric of the United States. | In Committee |
| S2532 | Requires DOH to collect and coordinate data on language proficiency of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. | This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to collect and coordinate data on the language proficiency of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The bill provides that, in a manner that is consistent with federal and State privacy laws, the DOH, in coordination with the Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Education (DOE), is to collect and compile searchable data regarding the general educational progress and language proficiency of each child in this State who is diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing from birth to the age of 10, as determined by the DOH. Under the bill, data is to be collected and compiled using a centralized data platform and shared by the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (division), as appropriate, within the DHS and with the DOE and DOH to assist the departments in the development and administration of programs that are intended to benefit children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The division is to share the collected data only with the informed, written consent of a child's guardian or parent. | In Committee |
| SR71 | Urges federal government to establish WIC waiver program allowing states to authorize use of WIC benefits to purchase alternative infant formulas during public emergencies. | This Senate resolution urges the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) waiver program that permits WIC state agencies to authorize the purchase of alternative brands, formulations, and quantities of infant formula in response to public emergencies. Under federal law, each WIC state agency is required to contract with the lowest bidder for the provision of infant formula available for purchase using WIC benefits. In response to the nationwide shortages of infant formula, attributable to supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and voluntary recalls of powdered infant formula, the USDA established multiple waiver programs that provided WIC state agencies with flexibilities to ensure adequate supplies of infant formula were available for purchase by WIC participants. Among the flexibilities available to WIC state agencies was the ability to authorize the purchase of alternative quantities, formulations, and brands of infant formula using WIC benefits. As the infant formula supply shortages abated, however, the USDA notified WIC state agencies that all WIC infant formula waivers would expire by July 1, 2023. State officials and child nutrition advocates, however, believe that the State should continue to have flexibilities to quickly authorize WIC participants to purchase whatever infant formula their child needs in the event of future public emergencies. As such, State officials urge the USDA to create a permanent WIC infant formula waiver program that could be activated whenever a public emergency affects the infant formula supply in a given state or region in order to ensure that at-risk infants receive the nutrition required for healthy development. The WIC is a federal nutrition assistance program that provides nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health care referrals for nutritionally at-risk infants, children up to five years of age, and pregnant and postpartum individuals from low-income households. New Jersey residents may be eligible for WIC benefits with a gross annual income at, or below, 185 percent of the federal poverty line, which equals $55,500 for a family of four during FY 2024. | In Committee |
| SJR77 | Designates November each year as "Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of November of each year as "Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about hospice and palliative care and to encourage the citizens of the State to increase their understanding of supportive, high-quality, end-of-life care before they or members of their families are confronted with a health care crisis or terminal diagnosis. Every year throughout the United States, 1.6 million people living with a terminal diagnosis receive hospice and palliative care, but more can be done to educate members of the public about the benefits of such care. At the center of hospice and palliative care is the belief every person has the right to die pain-free and with dignity. The role of hospice and palliative care workers and volunteers is to provide improved quality of life to patients and caregivers coping with life-limiting illness, and to allow an individual to focus on living as fully as possible even as life draws to a close. The joint resolution requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials and the residents of this State to observe "Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| S2525 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for certain imaging related to breast cancer detection. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and the State Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for mammograms for women age 18 or older, rather than age 40 and older as is required under current law. In addition, the bill also requires health insurers to provide coverage for physician-directed imaging under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S2502 | Requires DOH to establish maternity care evaluation protocols. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) to develop comprehensive policies and procedures to be followed by every hospital providing inpatient maternity services, and every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), in the State, for the collection and dissemination of data on maternity care. The bill would require the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a maternity care evaluation protocol that every hospital and every birthing center would be required to follow in order to collect hospital discharge data relevant to maternity care, including, but not limited to de-identified information outlined under the bill. The Department of Health is to evaluate the data collected under the maternity care evaluation protocol for the purposes of: facilitating a data-based review of the provision of maternity care services in the State in order to identify potential improvements in the provisions of such services; generating Statewide perinatal and provider-level quality metrics; establishing Statewide and regional objective benchmarks that promote improvements in maternal health outcomes and the quality of maternity care, and comparing the performance every hospital and birthing center in the State to such benchmarks; identifying data quality issues that may directly impact the performance of hospitals and birthing centers in providing maternity care services; encouraging hospitals and birthing centers that provide inpatient maternity services to participate in quality improvement collaboratives; and researching the association between clinical practices, the quality of maternal care, and maternal health care outcomes. No later than one year after the enactment of the bill, and every year after, the commissioner would report to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the findings of the evaluation required pursuant to the bill. The report would include any recommendations for legislative action that the commissioner deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| S2503 | Requires health insurers to cover self-measured blood pressure monitoring for subscribers with preeclampsia; requires health care professionals to provide home blood pressure monitor to pregnant patients diagnosed with preeclampsia. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State, every federally qualified health center in the State, and every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant person, to provide, without cost to the patient: (1) a validated home blood pressure monitor to a pregnant patient who is diagnosed with preeclampsia; (2) a validated home blood pressure monitor to a pregnant patient who expresses fear or anxiety regarding the patient's blood pressure and who requests a blood pressure monitor; and (3) printed educational material regarding preeclampsia to each pregnant patient at the patient's first pregnancy visit. The educational material shall be developed and distributed to providers by the Department of Health and shall include, at a minimum, the following information: a definition of preeclampsia; the symptoms and warning signs of preeclampsia and at what point a patient experiencing those symptoms or warning signs should contact a medical professional; and a description of how a patient can advocate for themselves in regard to addressing preeclampsia. The sponsor's goal is to provide pregnant patients in New Jersey, particularly those diagnosed with preeclampsia, with home blood pressure monitors and the training to use such a monitor to improve maternal outcomes in the State. Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure disorder that can occur during or after pregnancy. The condition can keep the baby from getting proper amounts of blood and oxygen from the mother. Preeclampsia can also cause the mother to have serious problems with her brain, liver, and kidneys. Monitoring blood pressure is therefore an essential part of prenatal and postpartum care. Self-measured blood pressure monitoring in a patient's home can be particularly critical in the case of masked hypertension, where blood pressure levels are elevated at home despite normal blood pressure in a clinical setting. In addition, sudden rises in blood pressure can threaten pregnant women between prenatal appointments or if they have limited access to healthcare. This bill seeks to eliminate barriers to home-based monitoring, such as access to blood pressure measurement devices or limited knowledge on how to utilize a device. In doing so, this bill provides for the early detection of life-threatening high blood pressure in pregnancy, thereby preventing the maternal and neonatal morbidities associated with preeclampsia. In addition, the bill directs that a hospital, a birthing center, a federally qualified health center, or a physician or health care practitioner that provides a patient a validated home blood pressure monitor pursuant to the bill is required, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner, to educate and train the patient on the proper use of the blood pressure monitor; to transmit blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor; to interpret blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor; and to report to the Department of Health, one year after the effective date of this act and annually thereafter, de-identifiable data on the number of patients who received blood pressure monitors under this section and the health outcomes of those patients. The bill also directs the Department of Health to establish a process by which a hospital, a birthing center, a federally qualified health center, or a physician or health care practitioner that provides a patient with a validated home blood pressure monitor under the bill is able to submit a claim to the department for the reimbursement of the cost of the validated home blood pressure monitor and any provider time used to educate and train the patient on the proper use of the blood pressure monitor, to transmit blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor, and to interpret blood pressure data from the patient's blood pressure monitor, provided that the patient does not have coverage of such benefits from a third party, such as an insurance carrier or medical assistance program. The bill appropriations $1 million to the department to issue these reimbursements and requires that any unspent balance at the end of the current fiscal year be appropriated for the same purpose in the next fiscal year. Finally, under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is mandated to report to the Governor and to the Legislature, 18 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, on the health care outcomes of patients provided blood pressure monitors under the bill, which report is to include: the number of patients who received blood pressure monitors, disaggregated by those patients who were diagnosed with preeclampsia and those patients who requested blood pressure monitors; and the number of patients who received blood pressure monitors who: had documented improvement with blood pressure following the receipt of the monitor, required hospitalization due to blood pressure issues following the receipt of the monitor, and experienced maternal mortality related to preeclampsia. The bill also requires health insurers to provide coverage for self-measured blood pressure monitoring for any subscriber who is diagnosed with preeclampsia, which coverage is to include the provision of a validated home blood pressure monitor and the reimbursement of provider time used to educate and train the subscriber on the proper use of the blood pressure monitor, to transmit blood pressure data from the subscriber's blood pressure monitor, and to interpret blood pressure data from the subscriber's blood pressure monitor. Specifically, this provision of the bill affects health, hospital, and medical service corporations; individual and group health insurance policies; health maintenance organizations; individual health benefits plans; small employer health benefits plans; the State Health Benefits Program; the School Employees' Health Benefits Program; and the State Medicaid Program. | In Committee |
| S2510 | Requires reflective material on children's Halloween costumes. | This bill requires children's Halloween costumes sold at retail to have reflective material that is 1) attached to the costume, or 2) packaged with the costume to be subsequently attached by the buyer. Reflective material increases visibility in unsafe situations and helps to reduce the risk of consequential accidents due to low visibility or darkness. A person who sells a child's Halloween costume without reflective material would pay a penalty of not more than $500 for the first offense and not more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to purchase or make costumes that are brightly colored and clearly visible to motorists. Consumers should decorate or trim costumes and treat bags with reflective tape that glows in the beam of a car's headlights. The commission also recommends that bags or sacks be brightly colored or decorated with reflective tape. According to the CPSC, hundreds of Halloween-related injuries are reported each year. Incidents involve burns, lacerations from pumpkin-carving, falls related to ill-fitting costumes, and injuries from collisions due to impaired vision. Requiring reflective material on costumes marketed to and used by children improves the safety of trick-or-treaters and drivers on Halloween night. | In Committee |
| S2499 | Establishes five-year conception to cradle pilot program in DOE. | This bill establishes a five-year Conception to Cradle Pilot Program in the Department of Education (DOE). The objective of the pilot program is to facilitate partnerships between public schools, community-based nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, health and social services providers, public and private universities, and State and local governmental agencies to: (1) provide an integrated focus on early childhood development, health and social services, educational counseling, and community development; (2) offer prenatal and pediatric health and nutritional care to infants and toddlers from birth to age three; and (3) actively engage families and foster collaborative practices based on an individual community's identified need. Under the pilot program, 50 public schools with the worst student performance are to be selected to receive training in providing community school services to infants and toddlers from birth to age three, and would be assigned a site coordinator to assist in the provision of services. The bill stipulates that no later than six months following the bill's effective date, the Commissioner of Education (commissioner) is to survey every school district in the State to assess the extent to which public schools in the district can provide community school services to infants and toddlers from birth to age three. The survey is to: (1) identify public schools with the worst student performance in the district that have an interest in providing community school services; (2) list the entities with which a school can enter into a partnership for the provision of services; and (3) detail services that are to be provided through the community school services program. Under the bill, the commissioner would issue a request for proposals to identify a nonprofit organization located in the State to manage the pilot program. The selected organization would be responsible for providing technical assistance to the public schools participating in the pilot program, and may enter into an agreement with another nonprofit entity to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities as outlined in the bill. The organization, in coordination with the DOE, would develop an application procedure and specific criteria for selecting the 50 public schools to participate in the program and receive direct support from a site coordinator. The selection criteria would be posted on the DOE's website at least 20 days prior to the beginning of the application period. In selecting the 50 public schools to participate in the pilot program, priority is to be given to a school that: has the worst student performance in its school district as determined by standard assessment measures; and serves low-income and under-resourced communities. The organization would employ and train individuals who would be assigned to serve as a site coordinator in a public school selected to participate in the pilot program. Those selected to be site coordinators would be required to be employees of the organization, and not the school they are assigned. The commissioner would annually enter into a contract with an independent entity to perform an audit of the organization's accounts and financial transactions. The audits, which must be completed no later than five months following the organization's fiscal year, would be posted on the DOE's website. The bill also requires that the commissioner 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 prior to the conclusion of the pilot program. The bill also establishes in the DOE a nonlapsing fund known as the Conception to Cradle Pilot Program Fund. The fund is to consist of any funds that are appropriated by the Legislature for inclusion in the fund, investment earnings of the fund, and moneys contributed to the fund by private sources. | In Committee |
| S2496 | Establishes Office of New Americans in Department of Human Services. | This bill establishes the Office of New Americans in the New Jersey Department of Human Services. This bill codifies the existing Office of New Americans established in 2019 pursuant to Executive Order 74 of 2019. The commissioner will appoint the director, and the director will be the administrator and head of the office. The bill requires the office to be a centralized location for expertise and data on New Americans and to engage in programs, initiatives, and policies focused on successful integration for immigrants, refugees, and their children. The office will also provide technical assistance and training to other offices and departments in the Executive Branch on issues pertaining to effective and equitable engagement with New Americans. The bill also requires the Department of Human Services, through the Office of New Americans, to: administer services for New Americans; engage directly with immigrant and refugee communities and service providers to understand and address their concerns and the obstacles they face in accessing services and resources; and support and advise State departments and agencies, as well as other organizations, on community engagement and outreach to promote best practices and improve the accessibility of State programs and information by New Americans. Additionally, the bill requires the office to use data for informing the State's efforts only as authorized under State and federal law to advance integration for immigrants. The office will not use or share data for the use of civil immigration enforcement. | In Committee |
| S2509 | Directs State Board of Education to authorize issuance of new endorsements in certain fields. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of new endorsements in the areas of special education, elementary and middle school education, and bilingual and bicultural education. The bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement authorizes the holder to teach students with disabilities, with the exception of students who are blind or visually impaired or deaf or hard of hearing, in all public schools and in all grade levels. Under the bill, the holder of a Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement may provide consultative services and supportive resource programs to students with disabilities in general education programs. The bill further provides that the holder of a current students with disabilities endorsement issued administratively prior to the bill's effective date may be granted the new endorsement upon application to the board. Under current law, special education teachers may teach students classified with disabilities in only the grade levels specified on their other endorsements. The bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a Kindergarten through Grade 8 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement will permit the holder to teach: · students in all public schools in grades kindergarten through six; and · the specialty subjects on the face of the certificate to students in grades seven and eight in all public schools. Under current law, numerous endorsements limit the holder to teaching either only to students in elementary level grades or only to students in middle school grades. Finally, the bill authorizes the State Board of Education to issue a Bilingual and Bicultural Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement will authorize the holder to teach bilingual and bicultural education in all public schools and in all grade levels. Under the bill, a candidate for the endorsement is required to demonstrate oral and writing competence in English and the target language; complete an approved bilingual and bicultural education program; and meet any other requirements established by the board. Under current law, candidates for the Bilingual and Bicultural endorsement are required to have an additional endorsement for subject or grade level to be taught. | 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 |
| S2497 | Prohibits sale of crayon and chalk products containing lead. | This bill prohibits the sale, distribution, and manufacture of chalk and crayon products made with or containing lead. A manufacturer or distributor of a chalk or crayon product who discovers that the product is made with or contains lead will be required to issue an immediate recall for the product. The Director of Consumer Affairs will also be authorized to issue a recall for chalk and crayon products found to contain lead. Retailers will be required to remove a recalled product from display and make it unavailable for purchase within 48 hours of receiving a recall notice, and to return all inventory of the product to the manufacturer or distributor from which the product was obtained within 60 business days. The return of recalled inventory will be at the manufacturer or distributor's expense. The manufacturer or distributor will have 60 business days to destroy the recalled product in such a way that renders it useless and removes it from public access. Under the bill, the following penalties will apply: 1) knowingly selling, offering for sale, distributing, or manufacturing a chalk product or crayon product made with or containing lead will constitute an unlawful practice under the State's consumer fraud act; 2) a retailer's failure to remove a recalled product from retail display or return the product to the manufacturer or distributor as required under the bill will constitute an unlawful practice under the State's consumer fraud act; and 3) a manufacturer or distributor's failure to issue a recall or to destroy and dispose of a recalled product as required under the bill will constitute a crime of the fourth degree in the case of a first offense, a crime of the third degree in the case of a second offense, and a crime of the second degree in the case of a third or subsequent offense. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, the Attorney General may issue cease and desist orders, and a violation may be subject to an assessment of punitive damages, treble damages, or costs to the injured. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of $10,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, a fine of $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for five to 10 years, a fine of $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S2494 | Establishes emergency teacher endorsements in certain circumstances. | This bill establishes an emergency instructional certificate for teacher candidates in high-need fields. Under the bill, a chief school administrator or the board of directors of a private school for students with disabilities may apply to the executive county superintendent or the Commissioner of Education, as applicable, for an emergency endorsement to an instructional certificate to enable teachers to full high-need fields prior to qualifying for the endorsement through regular course. In order to be eligible to receive an emergency endorsement, the amendments require a teacher candidate: to have already obtained a certificate of eligibility, certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, or a standard instructional certificate in another endorsement area; and be enrolled in a coherent sequence of courses in the emergency subject field at an educator preparation program at a regionally accredited four-year institution of higher education. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the high-need fields eligible to receive an emergency endorsement on its internet website and requires the State Board of Education to annually reevaluate the high-need fields that are eligible for an emergency instructional certificate. The bill also stipulates that a teacher candidate who has been issued an emergency endorsement may be employed in a full-time or part-time teaching position. Finally, bill stipulates that no more than 20 percent of a board of education's or a private school for students with disabilities' teaching staff may be employed with an emergency instructional certificate. | In Committee |
| S2501 | Revises eligibility for Educational Opportunity Fund grants and campus-based Educational Opportunity Fund programs. | This bill amends current law to clarify that any student enrolling at an institution of higher education who has previously earned an associate degree or college credits or who has participated in or completed a dual degree program while enrolled in high school is eligible for an Educational Opportunity Fund grant if the student meets all other eligibility requirements for the grant. The bill also provides that a student who has previously earned an associate degree or college credits or who has participated in or completed a dual degree program while enrolled in high school, and who is otherwise eligible to participate, shall not be excluded from participating in a campus-based Educational Opportunity Fund program at any institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| S2500 | Establishes Office of Ombudsman for Children. | This bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in, but not of, the Office of the Attorney General in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill provides that the office is to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, respond to the concerns and addressing the needs of children in the resource family care, and that children under State supervision due to child abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill requires the ombudsman to: (1) investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response to, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State, or the out-of-placement of children under the care, custody, and supervision of the State; (2) inspect and review the operations, policies, procedures, and contracts of all juvenile detention centers or facilities, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for care of abused or neglected children, homeless youth, or juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis centers, or independent living arrangements operated, licensed, or approved for payment, by the Departments of Children and Families, Community Affairs, or Health, or any other public or private setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; (3) review, evaluate, report on, and make recommendations concerning the procedures established by any State agency providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services; (4) review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children due to abuse or neglect or children, as deemed necessary by the ombudsman to assess the performance of the entities; (5) intervene in or institute administrative proceedings before any department, commission, agency, or State board, to assert the broad public interest of the State in the welfare of children and to protect and promote the rights of children; (6) hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the ombudsman, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the ombudsman deems appropriate; and (7) establish and maintain a 24-hour toll-free telephone hotline to receive and respond to calls from members of the public referring problems to the ombudsman, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies or contract services, protects children. The bill also provides that the ombudsman report annually to the Governor, Commissioner of Children and Families, and Legislature on: (1) the activities of the office; (2) priorities for children's services that have been identified by the ombudsman; and (3) recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities. The report is to be posted on the Office of the Attorney General's and the Department of Children and Families' websites. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S2234 | Permits students at public institutions of higher education to donate unused meal plan funds to emergency meal fund for distribution to New Jersey food banks. | This bill creates a new fund in the Department of State entitled the "New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund." The bill requires public institutions of higher education that offer meal plans to allow a student to voluntarily donate any unused funds that remain in the student's meal plan at the end of a semester to the New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund. All funds donated to the New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund will be provided to the New Jersey Federation of Food Banks for the purpose of providing and distributing food to the federation's network of food banks in the State of New Jersey. The bill directs public institutions of higher education to develop policies and procedures for verifying the amount of any unused funds remaining in a student's meal plan at the end of a semester and for facilitating the transfer of unused funds that have been donated by students from their meal plans to the New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund. Under the bill, unused funds from a meal plan include direct money that remains in a student's meal plan at the end of a semester and the amount of money that equates to the value of any unused meals or unused meal points that remain in a student's meal plan at the end of a semester. | In Committee |
| S1633 | Prohibits public libraries and public schools from banning or restricting access to certain books; permits withholding of State Aid for non-compliance. | This bill prohibits public libraries and public school libraries from banning or restricting access to certain books and permits the withholding of State Aid for non-compliance. This bill prohibits a governing body of any free public library, joint free public library, free county library, and free regional library from banning or restricting access to books or other resource materials because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Additionally, this bill requires the governing body of these public libraries to either adopt: 1) the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which provides that books and materials "should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation;" or 2) a policy prohibiting the banning or restricting access to a book or resource because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Under the "state library aid law," the Department of the Treasury can withhold State Library aid from any municipality, county, or area library if the public library fails to comply with certain laws and regulations. This bill amends current law to permit the withholding of State Library aid if a public library fails to follow the provisions of this act. Similarly, this bill prohibits a board of education of a school district from banning or restricting access to books or other resource materials in a school library. Under the bill, a board of education is similarly required to adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights or a policy prohibiting the banning or restricting access to books or resources. The bill permits the Commissioner of Education to withhold State aid to any board of education that does not follow the provisions of this act. The bill's provisions should not be construed to require a free public library or board of education to purchase, or otherwise acquire, a book or resource for inclusion in its collection. | Dead |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | In Committee |
| S2440 | Expands membership of State Health Benefits Commission and School Employees' Health Benefits Commission. | This bill concerns the appointment of members to the State Health Benefits Commission and to the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission. This bill adds four new members to the State Health Benefits Commission. One new member is to be a mayor or township business administrator and is to be appointed to the commission by the Governor. The second new member is to be a county commissioner, a county executive, or a county finance officer and is to be appointed by the Governor. The third and fourth new members are to be local employees' representatives chosen by the Public Employee Committee of the AFL-CIO. This bill adds four new members to the School Employees' Benefits Commission. One of the new members is to be appointed by the Governor from among those nominated by the New Jersey Education Association. The second new member is to be appointed by the Governor from among those nominated by the education section of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. The third new member is to be appointed by the Governor from among those nominated by the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials. The fourth new member is to be appointed by the Governor from among those nominated by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. | 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 |
| S2439 | Allows persons who qualify under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to become law enforcement and corrections officers. | This bill allows persons who have been granted relief under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to become law enforcement officers, State and county correctional police officers, and juvenile corrections officers. Under current law, a person is required to be a United States citizen as a prerequisite to being appointed as a law enforcement or corrections officer. The DACA program was established by the federal government to protect from deportation certain noncitizens who were brought to the United States as children and allow them to receive work permits. Under this bill, persons who qualify under the DACA program would be eligible to become law enforcement or corrections officers. The bill also clarifies that a person who qualifies under the DACA program and is appointed as a law enforcement or corrections officer would be entitled carry a firearm in the course of the officer's employment and when required by the officer's supervising authority. | In Committee |
| S2313 | Prohibits sale of tetrahydrocannabinol products in certain circumstances. | This bill limits the sale of tetrahydrocannabinol products in the State. Under the bill, the sale of products containing certain amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, as prescribed by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (commission), would be limited to entities licensed by the commission. Tetrahydrocannabinol is defined as: (1) any tetrahydrocannabinol, including delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol, and delta-10- tetrahydrocannabinol, regardless how derived; and (2) any other chemically similar compound, substance, derivative, or isomer of tetrahydrocannabinol, as identified by the commission. It is not a violation of the bill for a person to sell or distribute a product containing tetrahydrocannabinol while that person has a pending application with the commission to be licensed by such authority. However, it is a violation of this bill to sell tetrahydrocannabinol in any amount to a person under the age of 21. Any entity or person that sells a tetrahydrocannabinol product containing an amount in excess to relevant rules or regulations and is not licensed by the commission and does not have a pending license application is subject to any existing fines or penalties established for violators of relevant commission regulations. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S1603 | Establishes fringe benefit rate for State colleges and universities. | This bill directs the Division of Budget and Accounting, also known as the Office of Management and Budget, in the Department of the Treasury to establish a fringe benefit rate for public institutions of higher education that reflects the actual cost of employee fringe benefits. The separate fringe rate is to first apply in FY 2025. Currently, the fringe benefit rate used is not specific to employees at the State's public institutions of higher education, but to State employees in general. Many State employees are enrolled in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), while many of the employees employed by State public colleges and universities are enrolled in the less costly Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP) or are not enrolled in a retirement plan. This results in a difference between the actual cost of benefits and the amount paid to the State. | In Committee |
| S284 | Provides exception for Legal Services of New Jersey and other public interest organizations from confidentiality of certain eviction actions. | This bill provides an exception for Legal Services of New Jersey and other non-profit public interest organizations, law school clinical and pro bono programs from the confidentiality imposed by N.J.S.A.2A:42-146. Prior to enactment of N.J.S.A.2A:42-146, Legal Services of New Jersey and other public interest advocates had the ability to view a court case to determine the status, facts alleged, and other relevant information needed to provide informed advice to unrepresented tenants. Without this exception, Legal Services of New Jersey and other public interest organizations will be unable to provide immediate legal assistance to unrepresented tenants, or to make informed decisions on the merits or need for referral of a particular case. This bill provides that confidentiality of records imparted by N.J.S.A.2A:42-146 does not prohibit access to court records for Legal Services of New Jersey attorneys or for attorneys of other non-profit public interest organizations certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court under the New Jersey Rules of Court, Rule 1:21-11(b), irrespective of whether the attorney has entered a notice of appearance in a particular case. Public interest organizations, law school clinical pro bono programs, and federal, state, and local governmental entities can apply for yearly certification under Rule 1:21-11(b) if the organization provides qualifying pro bono services as defined under Rule 1:21-11(a) of the court rules. | In Committee |
| S1596 | Authorizes creation of Juneteenth commemorative license plates. | This bill authorizes the creation of Juneteenth commemorative license plates by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The license plates are to cost $50 for the initial application and $10 annually thereafter for renewal, in addition to other registration fees. Monies collected from the license plate program are to be deposited in a special fund called the "Juneteenth License Plate Fund." The monies deposited in the fund are to be appropriated annually to the New Jersey Historical Commission and are to be used by the New Jersey Historical Commission to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth. The bill provides that public funds are not to be used for the initial costs of establishing the Juneteenth license plate program. Prior to deposit in the Juneteenth License Plate Fund, monies from the license plate program are to be provided to the MVC to offset the costs of implementing the license plate program. In addition, prior to designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Juneteenth license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, the following requirements are required to be met: (1) an individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission must provide the MVC with the non-public monies necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the Juneteenth license plate program; and (2) a liaison appointed by the New Jersey Historical Commission pursuant to the bill is required to provide the MVC with not less than 500 completed applications for Juneteenth license plates. Juneteenth is a State and federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans and is often observed as a celebration of African-American culture. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865. | In Committee |
| S1992 | Expands duties of Commission on Human Trafficking to include studying connection between human trafficking and illicit massage parlor businesses. | This bill would expand the duty of the Commission on Human Trafficking, created by P.L.2013, c.51, to include studying the connection between human trafficking and illicit massage parlor businesses. A published report by the Polaris Project, a group advocating on behalf of trafficking victims, indicates that massage parlors, including legitimate ones, may be contributing significantly to human trafficking trade in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S2249 | Prohibits juror disqualification based on gender identity or sexual orientation; codifies procedures when discriminatory use of peremptory challenges is alleged. | This bill would make it unlawful to disqualify a person from jury service based on the person's gender identity or affectional or sexual orientation. Under R.S.10:1-8, it is unlawful to disqualify a citizen for service as a grand or petit juror based on race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or sex if the citizen possesses all other qualifications prescribed by law. Any officer or other person responsible for the selection or summoning of jurors who excludes or fails to summon any citizen on such basis is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $5,000. This bill would add gender identity or affectional or sexual orientation to the enumerated grounds set out in the statute. P.L.1978, c.95, the "New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice," abolished the term "misdemeanor." This bill would update the statute to be consistent with the Code's classification scheme. Under this scheme, a "misdemeanor" under these circumstances would be treated as a crime of the fourth degree. (See N.J.S.2C:1-4, 2C:1-5, and 2C:43-1). This bill amends R.S.10:1-8 accordingly, making a violation of the statute a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine up to $10,000, or both. The bill deletes the reference in R.S.10:1-8 to a maximum fine of $5,000 for a violation of this offense. This would make the statute consistent with the maximum fine of $10,000 that is generally imposed under the Code for a crime of the fourth degree. R.S.10:1-8 provides that no citizen possessing all other qualifications prescribed by law shall be disqualified for jury service on account of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or sex. This bill would add gender identity and affectional or sexual orientation to this list of grounds enumerated in the statute. This bill would add a new section 2 to the bill amending N.J.S.2B:23-10, concerning prospective jurors, to provide that a party shall not use a peremptory challenge to remove a prospective juror on the basis of an assumption that the prospective juror is biased merely because of a characteristic set forth in R.S.10:1-8 or any other constitutionally impermissible grounds. Peremptory challenges, which are authorized by N.J.S.2B:23-10 and N.J.S.2B:23-13 and by R.1:8-3 of the court rules, allow a party to dismiss a prospective juror before trial without stating a reason for the dismissal. The bill also adds a new section 3 concerning peremptory challenges. This new section is modeled on standards set out in "Principles for Juries & Jury Trials," promulgated by the American Bar Association in 2005. Section 3 provides that it shall be presumed that each party is utilizing peremptory challenges validly, without basing those challenges on constitutionally impermissible reasons. Under section 3 of the bill, a party objecting to the challenge of a prospective juror on the grounds that the challenge has been exercised on a constitutionally impermissible basis, establishes a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination: (1) by showing that the challenge was exercised against a member of a constitutionally cognizable group, and (2) by demonstrating that this fact, and any other relevant circumstances, raise an inference that the party challenged the prospective juror because of the juror's membership in that group. When a prima facie case of discrimination is established, the burden shifts to the party making the challenge to show a nondiscriminatory basis for the challenge. The bill provides that the court shall evaluate the credibility of the proffered reasons. If the court finds that the reasons stated are constitutionally permissible and are supported by the record, the court shall permit the challenge. If the court finds that the reasons for the challenge are constitutionally impermissible, the court shall deny the challenge and, after consultation with counsel, determine whether further remedy is appropriate. The court shall state the reasons, including whatever factual findings are appropriate, for sustaining or overruling the objection on the record. The bill sets out specific procedures that would go into effect if there is an allegation that a party is using peremptory challenges in a discriminatory manner. Under the bill, a party objecting to the peremptory challenge of a prospective juror may establish a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination: (1) by showing that the challenge was exercised in violation of subsection c. of N.J.S.2B:23-10, and (2) by producing evidence sufficient to permit the trial judge to draw an inference of discriminatory purpose. The bill provides that when a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination is established, the burden shifts to the party who used the peremptory challenge to show that the exclusion was, in the discretion of the court, the product of an acceptable situation-specific basis and a reasoned, neutral purpose. The court would weigh the basis for the objection to the use of the peremptory challenge against the credibility of the proffered reasons for the prospective juror's exclusion. The court would determine whether the explanations provided for the use of the peremptory challenge are a pretext or have a reasoned, neutral purpose. If the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the reasons stated for the use of the peremptory challenge are the product of an acceptable situation-specific basis and have a reasoned, neutral purpose supported by the record, the court would permit the use of the peremptory challenge. Otherwise, the court would deny the peremptory challenge and proceed as provided in the amendments. The court would state the basis for its ruling on the record. The bill further provides that, in addition to any other sanctions as may be provided by the Rules of Court, if the court denies the exclusion of a prospective juror by the use of peremptory challenge on the basis of purposeful discrimination, the court may employ one or more of the following remedies to assure a fair and impartial trial to all parties, redress the constitutionally impermissible behavior, and expedite proceedings: (1) after consultation with counsel for each party, reseat the wrongfully excused juror; (2) order the forfeiture of the peremptory challenge that was improperly used; (3) dismiss the jury panel and start jury selection anew; or (4) order the forfeiture of one peremptory challenge of the party who sought to use a peremptory challenge for purposeful discrimination or order the addition of one peremptory challenge for the other party. The bill also eliminates the criminalization in current law in R.S.10:1-8 for disqualifying a juror on discriminatory grounds. In the view of the sponsor, criminal prosecutions for this violation are unlikely. Under the bill, a person who violates the statute would not be guilty of a crime but would be subject to a civil penalty of $5,000, to be collected under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The bill also adds a requirement that a violation of the statute would occur only if the person acts purposely or knowingly. | In Committee |
| S2222 | Requires AG to establish public awareness campaign concerning Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and VCCO. | This bill requires the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign concerning the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights" and the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). Under the bill, the public awareness campaign is to foster community-wide discussions and promote awareness of the rights established under the "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights" and the availability of compensation for crime victims provided by the VCCO. The public awareness campaign is to include, but not be limited to: community outreach; training for appropriate agencies, entities, and organizations; and providing information to the public regarding the services and benefits provided by the VCCO, including information regarding the crimes for which the office may order compensation, the documents required to file a claim with the office, the time requirements for filing a claim, and the specific benefits provided by the office. | 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 |
| S2178 | Requires female inmates be provided with family planning services prior to release from correctional facility. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to provide family planning services to a female inmate at least ten days prior to her release from a State correctional facility. The "Fair Release and Reentry Act of 2009," (P.L.2009, c.329; C.30:1B-6.1 et seq.) requires the Commissioner of Corrections to provide inmates, at least ten days before their release, with various documents, information, and other items. Examples of these items include a copy of the inmate's criminal history record and written information on expungement of criminal records, information on voting rights, a two week supply of prescription medication, and a medical discharge summary. This bill requires the commissionSer to also provide female inmates with family planning services to aid in their successful reentry into the community. | In Committee |
| S2174 | Eliminates US citizenship requirement for student representatives on boards of trustees of certain public institutions of higher education. | This bill eliminates the citizenship requirement for student representatives on boards of trustees of certain public institution of higher education. Under current law, the boards of trustees of the State colleges and two of the State's public research university, Rowan University and Montclair State University, are required to include two student representatives elected by the student body or student government association, as applicable. Currently, the statutes governing these public institutions of higher education require each student representative to be a citizen of the United States. Under this bill, a student representative would no longer be required to be a United States citizen. | In Committee |
| S1436 | "New Jersey Fostering Success Voucher Act"; provides rental assistance and case management services for certain young adults leaving foster care or kinship care; appropriates $10 million. | This bill would establish the "New Jersey Fostering Success Voucher Act" to provide rental assistance and case management services for certain young adults leaving foster care or kinship care. The bill directs the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish the New Jersey Fostering Success Voucher Program (voucher program) to provide rental assistance vouchers and case management services to eligible young adults. In order to be eligible to obtain rental assistance vouchers and services through the voucher program, the bill requires a young adult to:· be between 18 and 26 years of age;· have been in foster care or kinship care;· be experiencing homelessness, or at imminent risk of homelessness, and have voluntarily agreed to participate in services offered and provided by a case management agency;· reside in the State; and· have an income that does not exceed standards established in the bill. Rental assistance vouchers would be provided in amounts comparable to those amounts and standards established for the State rental assistance program pursuant to P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1 et al.). A young adult who receives a rental assistance voucher would be required to participate in case management services provided by a case management agency that meets standards established in the bill. The bill requires a case management agency to make reasonable efforts to engage a program participant, and support the participant in coming into compliance with the program requirements prior to terminating services. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the bill on or before the first day of the seventh month following enactment. The bill would appropriate $10 million from the General Fund to DCA for the implementation of the program. | In Committee |
| S2184 | Requires State to reimburse counties for portion of holiday pay to county employees performing State services on certain holidays. | This bill would require the State to reimburse counties for holiday pay provided to county employees performing a service in aid of State government on certain holidays. Under this bill, a county would compensate a county employee required to work on a county holiday with holiday pay at a rate representing no more than one and one-half times the employee's hourly rate of base salary. The county would provide the holiday pay to its employee in the current fiscal year. In the next fiscal year, the State would reimburse the county for the portion of the holiday pay that exceeds the base salary of the county employee. The county would be eligible for reimbursement if the county employee performed a service in furtherance of a State government service on a day that the county recognizes as a paid holiday, but the State does not recognize as a paid holiday. Counties may list reimbursements provided for in this bill as anticipated revenue in the next year's budget, available for expenditure by the county as and when received in cash during the fiscal year. | In Committee |
| S1321 | Protects equity accrued by property owner in tax sale foreclosure. | This bill would revise the process governing an action filed in Superior Court by the holder of a tax lien on a parcel of real property when that person institutes an action to foreclose the right of redemption of the tax lien. This bill is necessary because the United States Supreme Court's holding in Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, et al., 143 S. Ct. 1369 (2023), has undermined the provision of New Jersey's tax sale law which awards the holder of a tax sale certificate the ability to foreclose the property owner's right to redeem the tax lien and awards the holder of the tax sale certificate the property itself, as well as all of the property owner's equity in the property. The right of redemption of a tax lien is the right of the owner of the property on which the tax lien exists to repay the holder of the tax lien for the amount of taxes paid by the lienholder, plus interest, and remove the lien from the property. The provisions of this bill are intended to address the unfairness of the loss of that equity to property owners who lose property in a tax lien foreclosure. Ms. Geraldine Tyler owned a condominium in Hennepin County, Minnesota on which accumulated approximately $15,000 in unpaid real estate taxes, interest, and penalties. The county seized the condominium and sold it for $40,000. Instead of returning the excess $25,000 from the sale to Ms. Tyler, the county kept the money for itself. Ms. Tyler filed suit, alleging that the county unconstitutionally retained the excess value of her condominium beyond the $15,000 tax debt in violation of the Takings Clause of The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as well as the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment. In an opinion written by Chief Justice Roberts for a unanimous Court, the Court found that Ms. Tyler had plausibly alleged a taking under the Fifth Amendment. Since Ms. Tyler agreed that relief under the Takings Clause would fully remedy her harm, the Court did not decide whether she also alleged an excessive fine under the Fifth Amendment. However, the acknowledgement that Ms. Tyler had plausibly alleged a taking under the Fifth Amendment has the effect of limiting what a lienholder can collect when the Court forecloses the right of redemption of a lien on the lienholder's behalf to only the property taxes paid by the lienholder, plus interest. In the words of Chief Justice Roberts, "(t)he taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but no more." In this case, the party that kept the excess funds was a public entity, not a private lienholder. Currently, under R.S.54:5-86, with respect to a lienholder that is not a municipality, an action to foreclose the right of redemption may be instituted at any time after the expiration of the term of two years from the date of sale of the tax sale certificate. In the case of a municipality that holds a tax certificate, an action may be filed at any time after 6 months from the date of the tax lien sale. Once an action to foreclose the right to redeem has been filed by a tax lien holder, the right to redeem continues to exist until barred by the judgment of the Superior Court. However, upon the action by the judge to bar the right of redemption and foreclose all liens other than municipal liens, the judge grants the holder of the tax sale certificate the title to the property, and that person becomes the owner of the property. At this point, the previous owner's rights to the property are permanently extinguished and the previous owner also loses any value, commonly referred to as equity, built up in the property through appreciation, or the payoff of a mortgage Under the bill, in the case of a parcel of real property that is the subject of a tax lien foreclosure action filed in Superior Court, upon the approval of the action to foreclose the right of redemption by the Court, the Court would not grant the tax lien holder ownership of the property. Instead, the Court would order that all of the property taxes paid by the tax lien holder, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption that were paid by the tax lien holder, would be the first priority lien on the property, paramount to any other lien, including any outstanding municipal lien, and would order the sheriff of the county in which the parcel of real property is located to hold an Internet auction of the property. Once the Internet auction is completed and the property has been sold, not later than 14 days following receipt by the sheriff of the moneys paid by the winning bidder at the auction, the sheriff would be required to forward to the tax lien holder the sum of all property taxes paid by the tax lien holder, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption. The sheriff would be required to also pay to the municipality the amount of any other municipal liens on the property plus any interest due and owing thereon, and retain for the sheriff's office sufficient funds to cover the costs of the auction. Once those payments are made, the sheriff would then forward any remaining moneys collected from the winning bidder of the auction to the defendant. This allows the defendant to retain funds to either purchase, or rent, another property. Under current law, with respect to a property taxpayer who has paid down a mortgage, who has equity in a property, or whose property has considerably appreciated over time, the loss of the property in a tax lien foreclosure, as well as the loss of all of the equity in the property, could lead to homelessness or other hardship, as there are no funds returned to the property owner with which to rent, or to purchase, another property. Property equity is a valuable asset to property owners that should be protected, and retained by the property owners. It provides a property owner with opportunities to turn the equity to cash to purchase or rent another property, or to pay for items like living expenses in retirement, a child's college savings, or the health care of a loved one. "Equity theft," as this practice is known colloquially, occurs when government uses the property to settle an unpaid property tax debt and allow someone other than the property owner to collect the excess revenue beyond the unpaid property tax debt. Like other assets, home equity should be protected from unjust government seizure. New Jersey is one of a handful of states, plus the District of Columbia, that does not currently, following a tax lien foreclosure, return to a property owner the remaining equity in the property subject to the tax lien foreclosure. | In Committee |
| S2244 | Establishes a Women's Menstrual Health Screening Program and requirements to screen appropriate patients for endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. | This bill establishes a Women's Menstrual Health Program to identify and assist patients, who have displayed symptoms related to menstrual disorders, for endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Endometriosis may affect more than 11 percent of American women between the ages of 15 and 44, which is approximately 6.5 million women in the United States alone. Symptoms include severe pelvic and menstrual pain, infertility, painful bowel movements, pain with intercourse, excessive bleeding, and nausea. PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility, affecting six to 12 percent of women of reproductive age in the United States (as many as five million women). This life-long health condition continues far beyond the child-bearing years and involves other serious health complications, including insulin resistance, gestational diabetes, and heart disease. Given the increased health risks associated with endometriosis and PCOS and the number of women impacted by these disorders, the bill establishes a Women's Menstrual Health Program in the Department of Health (department), to identify and assist patients, who have displayed symptoms related to menstrual disorders, for endometriosis and PCOS. The bill requires the department, in accordance with evidence-based industry best practices, guidelines, and screening tools, as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body as may be designated by the Commissioner of Health, to: (1) contract with appropriate health care providers to identify, assist, provide screenings for endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, and provide any necessary treatment, follow-up care, and referrals, as appropriate, to patients, who have displayed symptoms related to menstrual disorders; (2) provide education and training to health care providers, hospital staff who encounter patients in emergent situations, and the public concerning menstrual health, menstrual health screening, and menstrual health care; and (3) provide on the department's Internet website information and resources for health care providers and patients, which will include, but not be limited to: evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for health care providers for the screening, referral, treatment, and follow-up care of patients, who have displayed symptoms related to menstrual disorders; and educational materials for health care providers and the public concerning menstrual disorders, menstruation-related disorders, and menstruation-related conditions. The bill requires the commissioner to collect information on patients, who were screened pursuant to the bill, in a standardized manner and develop a system for quality assurance which includes the periodic assessment of indicators that are measurable, functional, and appropriate to the conditions for which patients, who have displayed symptoms related to menstrual disorders, will be screened pursuant to the bill. The commissioner will have the authority to use the information collected to provide follow-up care to, and appropriate referrals for, patients with positive diagnoses through the health care providers contracted pursuant to the bill. Information on patients compiled will be used by the department and agencies designated by the commissioner for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of the bill, but otherwise the information will be confidential and not divulged or made public so as to disclose the identity of any person to which it relates, except as provided by law. | 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 |
| S2235 | Requires inmate to participate in Medicaid enrollment session 60 days prior to release. | This bill implements certain recommendations included in the 2019 New Jersey Reentry Services Commission Report entitled "Barriers, Best Practices, and Action Items for Improving Reentry Services." Specifically, this bill requires an inmate of a State prison or county correctional facility, at least 60 days prior to the release from the State prison or county correctional facility, to participate in a Medicaid enrollment session. During the session, county welfare agency staff or designated State prison or county correctional facility personnel, who have received training from the Department of Human Services regarding the screening and enrollment process for Medicaid, are to provide the inmate with assistance, either in person or via telephone, in completing a Medicaid application and to ensure that the inmate's application is submitted to the Department of Human Services or another Medicaid eligibility determination agency for processing. Under the bill, an inmate who opts out of a Medicaid enrollment session is required to indicate such a decision in writing, in a manner and format determined by the Commissioner of Corrections. Furthermore, a State prison or county correctional facility staff member is required to provide guidance to an inmate who opts out of a Medicaid enrollment session, both verbally and in a written format, of the health care benefits provided under Medicaid, as well as the process to apply for Medicaid, should the inmate decide to enroll following release from the State prison or county correctional facility. | In Committee |
| S2182 | Requires entities to remove abandoned lines and mark information on certain lines. | This bill establishes several requirements concerning the maintenance and removal of certain telecommunications and cable lines, including the removal or correction of abandoned lines, the removal of copper telephone lines, and the marking of new and existing lines. The bill requires certain entities, including utilities, corporations, municipalities, and persons that own above-ground telecommunications, cable lines, and copper telephone lines that are found to be abandoned, to either correct the condition that causes the line to be abandoned or remove the abandoned line from all points of attachment after receiving a request for removal submitted in accordance with this bill. The bill also provides that when an entity ceases to do business in this State, the entity would be required to remove its lines from all points of attachment, except for any lines for which ownership was transferred to another entity and which is not otherwise deemed to be abandoned. Under the bill, the owner of a pole, building, or other structure to which a suspected abandoned line is attached may submit a request for removal to the entity owning the line. The bill also permits any person, municipality, utility, or corporation to submit a request for removal of a suspected abandoned line to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which request would be transmitted to the entity that owns the line within five business days. Any forms would be required to provide the pole numbers, address, or latitude and longitude of the associated pole, and photograph of the abandoned line. In either case, the bill requires the BPU to prescribe the form and manner for the submission of these requests, except that the bill requires the BPU to allow these requests to be submitted through the official Internet websites of the entities and BPU, respectively. Within 30 calendar days after receiving a request to remove a suspected abandoned line, the bill requires each entity to investigate and determine whether the line is abandoned. If the line is deemed to be abandoned, the bill requires the entity to either correct the condition causing the line to be abandoned or remove the line from all points of attachment within 30 calendar days. Under the bill, an abandoned line would include any above-ground telecommunications or cable line that: (1) is not terminated at both ends to equipment or to a customer's premises; (2) is not maintained in a safe condition; (3) is not intended for future use; or (4) has not been in operation for a period of at least 24 consecutive months, and the owner of a structure to which the line is attached has submitted a request for removal of the line. However, the bill provides that any line that is overlashed would not be deemed to be abandoned. Additionally, the bill requires each entity to submit a written report to the BPU every 90 calendar days beginning after the effective date of the bill, which report is required to describe all notifications, complaints, and requests received by the entity concerning a suspected abandoned line. The report would be required to include a description of all reports and notifications received from an employee of the entity or an employee of the subcontractor of the entity. The bill also requires each entity to provide annual written notice to its customers concerning the provisions of the bill and including an explanation of the processes through which the customer may submit a request for removal of a suspected abandoned line. The bill requires the BPU to prescribe a form and manner for the provision of this notice, except that the notice would be provided to each customer using the same method as the entity provides a bill to the customer, and the notice would be made available in both English and Spanish. This bill also provides that during the course of the employee's employment, each employee of an entity who is responsible for installing lines or responding to service calls would have an affirmative duty to report any line that the employee reasonable believes to be under the ownership of the employer or, in the case of an employee of a subcontractor, those lines are under the ownership of the entity for whom the subcontractor is engaged to work abandoned. If the employee of an entity discovers an abandoned line during the course of the employee's employment, the employee would be required to either remove the abandoned line, if authorized by the entity, or report the abandoned line to the entity for further action. Within 90 calendar days of receiving the report, the entity would be required to transmit a copy of the report to the BPU. The bill provides that when an entity installs certain new lines, which lines are attached to a building or structure and owned by the entity, the entity would be required to mark certain information on the end of the line that is attached to the building or structure. This information would include the initials of the entity's name, abbreviation of the entity's name, corporate symbol, or other distinguishing mark or code by which ownership may be readily and definitely ascertained. The bill also provides that when an entity owns or maintains an existing line that is attached to a building or structure, which line was installed before the effective date of the bill and does not contain the marking required under the bill, the entity would be required to mark this information on the end of the line that is attached to the building or structure after the entity discovers that the line does not contain the markings. Under the bill, an entity that fails to comply with the requirements of the bill concerning the removal of abandoned lines or the marking of lines may be subject to a fine after the BPU has submitted a written notice of an alleged violation to the entity. Specifically, the bill provides that if the entity fails to cure the alleged violation within 30 calendar days after receiving the notice, the BPU may impose a fine of $500 for each day in which the violation exists, beginning on the 31st calendar day after the submission of the notice. The bill also sets forth various factors that the BPU may consider when determining whether to impose a fine, and if appropriate, the amount of the fine. | Dead |
| S2211 | Requires campus diversity actions at public institutions of higher education and directs Secretary of Higher Education and Division on Civil Rights to develop guidance regarding diversity in faculty search and selection process. | This bill requires each public institution of higher education to develop a faculty and student diversity plan. The diversity plan will establish clear and specific goals for increasing the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students for each academic program at the institution. The institution is directed to update the diversity strategic plan every three years, and as needed. The bill also requires a public institution of higher education to annually develop and submit to the Secretary of Higher Education a student diversity report. The student diversity report must include demographic analyses of students and recent graduates, for each academic degree program at the institution, as well as a description of any targeted programs, services, or supports offered by the institution to support the successful education of students who represent diverse backgrounds. The bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to prepare, and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, an annual report containing a compilation of the collected data. The bill also directs the governing board of a public institution of higher education to assign a new or existing employee to serve as a staff diversity ambassador for each school of the institution. The staff diversity ambassador is directed to ensure the implementation of the diversity strategic plan. Under the bill, a public institution of higher education must provide annual diversity training to all faculty, staff, and students who may serve on a faculty search committee. The training must set forth a list of specific interventions for addressing unconscious bias in the context of faculty recruitment. Under the bill, institutions are required to increase the number of candidates considered for faculty positions who are members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups by such measures as are established by that institution's governing board. The institution must report annually to the Governor and to the Legislature on its efforts. The bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Director of the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to develop guidance for public institutions of higher education concerning the faculty search and selection process. The purpose of the guidance will be to assist institutions in identifying, recruiting, and retaining diverse faculty. | In Committee |
| S2228 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to Department of Law and Public Safety for public awareness campaign of victims' rights and VCCO assistance. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $750,000 from the General Fund to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) in the Department of Law and Public Safety for a public awareness campaign to inform victims of the provisions of the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and of the availability of compensation and other assistance from VCCO. | In Committee |
| S437 | Increases criminal penalties if leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor results in injury or death. | This bill increases the penalties for allowing a minor to gain access to a loaded firearm when such a violation results in bodily injury or death. Under current law, a person who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to a loaded firearm at a premises under the person's control is required to store the firearm in a securely locked box or container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure, or to secure the firearm with a trigger lock. A person who fails to follow these precautions is guilty of a disorderly person's offense if a minor gains access to the loaded firearm. This bill upgrades this offense to a crime of the fourth degree if a violation of the current law results in bodily injury, and a crime of the third degree if a violation results in serious bodily injury or death. A disorderly person's offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both; a crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Current law defines "bodily injury" as physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition. "Serious bodily injury" is defined as bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. In addition, under current law, a person is not guilty of the offense of allowing a minor to obtain a loaded firearm under circumstances where: 1) a minor uses a firearm for activities authorized by current law; or 2) a minor obtained a firearm as a result of an unlawful entry by any person. This bill clarifies that a person also is not guilty of the offense of allowing a minor to obtain a loaded firearm under circumstances where a minor obtained the firearm for the purpose of self-protection, as permitted under current law. | In Committee |
| S1467 | Requires public schools that offer student psychological services to offer remote sessions. | This bill requires school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects that employ a school psychologist and offer in-person school psychology services to students in grades kindergarten through 12 to allow students to attend counseling sessions or meetings of any kind through virtual or remote means. Under the bill, a student will not be eligible to participate in remote psychology sessions if the school psychologist determines that in-person counseling is in the best interest of the student. Also under the bill, a student will not be required to attend a school counseling session or meeting with a school psychologist remotely, and will be permitted to continue to attend sessions in-person. As used in the bill, a "school psychologist" means a person who holds a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a school psychologist endorsement. School psychologists assist educators in implementing safe, healthy classroom and school environments by providing students with a wide range of emotional and academic services. This bill ensures that students who are unable to attend in-person sessions, for whatever reason, will continue to have access to their school psychologist by offering virtual or remote counseling sessions. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S2227 | Requires public schools to offer or expand summer school programs to students. | This bill provides that every school district, charter school, and renaissance school is required to develop and implement, or in the event that a school district, charter school, or renaissance school currently offers a summer school program expand access to, a summer school program, the purpose of which will be to mitigate the effects of learning loss experienced by students throughout the State as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, that will be offered during the summer following the 2020-2021 school year and 2021-2022 school year. The summer school program must be made available to students who will attend grades kindergarten through 12 in the school year immediately following the summer school program. The summer school program must provide high-quality learning experiences and instruction to mitigate the effects of learning loss with a focus on language, literacy, mathematics, and social and emotional readiness and will provide additional family support and resources, as applicable, to assist the students participating in the program. Under the bill, a summer school program may include a weekend program option in which students would attend courses of instruction on Saturdays and Sundays. In order to be eligible to participate in a summer school program, the parent or guardian seeking to enroll a student in a summer school program is required to submit a written request for enrollment in the summer school program to the principal or chief administrator of the school in which the student is enrolled or, for a student who will attend kindergarten in the fall, to the principal or chief administrator of the school in which the student is registered to attend kindergarten in the September that immediately follows the summer school program. The written request must be submitted 45 days prior to the start of the summer school program. In the event that a parent or legal guardian registers a student to attend kindergarten less than 45 days prior to the start of the summer school program, the written request for summer school enrollment shall be submitted at the time of registration for admittance into a kindergarten program. Under the bill, a request for enrollment in a summer school program made on behalf of a student with disabilities who receives special education and related services would not be granted unless the request is approved in conjunction with the individualized education program team or 504 coordinator, as applicable, in accordance with all applicable federal and State law. Under the bill, every school district, charter school, and renaissance school is required to submit a report to the Commissioner of Education by January 1 of each school year following the conclusion of the summer school program. Under the bill, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school may enter into an agreement with another school district or an outside organization to provide a summer school program, provided that the school district, charter school, or renaissance school is unable to offer a summer school program in the district or at the charter school or renaissance school. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school may request a waiver from the Department of Education (DOE) exempting the school district, charter school, or renaissance from the requirement to offer summer school programing under the provisions of the bill. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school must post any waiver granted by the DOE in a prominent location on the district's, charter school's, or renaissance school's Internet website. The DOE will develop and disseminate guidelines governing the summer school programming required under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2207 | Establishes "Summer Earn and Learn Pilot Program." | This bill establishes the "Summer Earn and Learn Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. The purpose of the pilot program is to ensure that school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools have the ability to provide students access to supplemental learning assistance and paid career-building employment opportunities. Under the bill, the Department of Education (DOE), in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) will develop, and distribute to each school district, charter school, and renaissance school in the State, program guidelines that include, but are not limited to: (1) a student application procedure; (2) the subject matter to be included as part of the supplemental learning assistance; (3) the type of work that may be performed as part of a career-building employment opportunity; (4) the agencies and entities with which a student may engage in career-building employment opportunities; (5) career-building employment opportunity related performance standards; and (6) total stipend amounts. The bill requires the DOE, in consultation with the DOLWD, to establish partnerships with private and governmental agencies and entities in order to assist students in obtaining career-building employment opportunities. The DOE will establish and maintain a list of these partnerships, which list will be posted on the DOE's and DOLWD's Internet websites. A student can obtain a career-building employment opportunity with an agency or entity not contained on the list, but is required to obtain the approval of the principal or other chief administrative officer of the school in which the student is enrolled prior to beginning any work with such an agency or entity. Under the bill, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that wishes to participate in the pilot program must submit documentation to the DOE alerting the department of the school district's, charter school's, or renaissance school's intent to participate in the pilot program. To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a student must: (1) be a resident of New Jersey, (2) have reached the minimum age for employment under the laws of the State, and (3) be enrolled in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school in the State. The bill requires, to the extent permitted by federal law, that the stipends provided pursuant to the provisions of the bill be paid from monies received by the State or a school district, under the federal "Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," the federal "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, 2021," the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," or any other federal funding provided to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as it becomes available. Under the bill, two years following the implementation of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education must submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature on the implementation of the pilot program and include information on the commissioner's recommendation as to the advisability of continuing or expanding the program. The bill provides that a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that offers supplemental learning assistance to students during summer vacation pursuant to the provisions of the bill is not considered in-session for purposes of certain areas of current law governing child labor. The bill also provides that, for a student required to obtain an employment certificate, age certificate, or special permit in order to obtain employment in the State, the issuing officer of a school district may, for purposes of participation in the pilot program established under the bill, issue the employment certificate, age certificate, or special permit to a student or parent, as applicable, when the documentation needed for such a certificate or permit is submitted through the mail or electronically. | 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 |
| S1632 | Adjusts bid threshold amounts for certain public research universities; permits certain contracts for school districts, municipalities, and counties to be awarded by qualified purchasing agent. | This bill adjusts the public bidding threshold amounts for certain public research universities, school districts, municipalities, and counties. The bill increases the public bidding threshold for contracts through which workers employed in the performance of the contract are not subject to the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" to $100,000 for Rowan University, Montclair State University, Kean University, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The bill reflects the changes made to the "State College Contracts Law" by P.L.2021, c.417 and makes the same changes for the public research universities in the State. Under current law, these public research universities are prohibited from entering into contracts that exceed the threshold unless the university publicly advertises for bids and awards the contract to the entity whose bid would be most advantageous for the university. The public bidding threshold was originally $17,700 for NJIT, $30,700 for Rowan University, and $33,000 for Montclair State University and Kean University. Pursuant to the statutes governing each university, the threshold is adjusted every two years by the Governor, in consultation with the Department of Treasury, in direct proportion to the rise or fall of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers in the New York City and Philadelphia areas, as reported by the United States Department of Labor. This bill increases the public bidding thresholds for all four public research universities for any contract through which workers employed in the performance of the contract are not subject to the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" to $100,000. The bidding threshold for contracts through which workers employed in the performance of the contract are subject to the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" are unaffected by the bill for Rowan University, Montclair State University and Kean University, and is amended to $29,100 for NJIT to match the most recent threshold determined by the Governor in July 2021. Under the bill, the thresholds will continue to be adjusted by the Governor every two years, in accordance with the Consumer Price Index. The bill also increases the public bidding threshold for contracts executed under the Public School Contracts Law. Current law permits a board of education to authorize a purchasing agent to award a contract that does not exceed a statutorily authorized amount, currently set at $32,000, through solicitation of competitive quotations rather than public bidding. The bill stipulates that a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500, but below the applicable bidding threshold, is not required to be awarded by a board of education and may be awarded by a purchasing agent that holds a qualified purchasing agent certificate. Additionally, current law stipulates that if the purchasing agent possesses a qualified purchasing agent certificate, the board may establish that the bid threshold be up to a statutorily authorized amount, currently set at $44,000. The bill increases this bid threshold when a purchasing agent holds a qualified purchasing agent certificate to $25,000 or the amount determined by the governor pursuant to the bill. Under current law, the Governor is required to adjust the thresholds every five years in direct proportion to the rise or fall of the index rate. The bill also increases the public bidding threshold for contracts executed under the Local Public Contracts Law. Current law permits a contracting unit, as defined under the Local Public Contracts Law, to authorize a purchasing agent to award a contract that does not exceed $17,500 through solicitation of competitive quotations rather than public bidding. The bill stipulates that a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500, but below the applicable bidding threshold, is not required to be awarded by the governing body of the contracting unit and may be awarded by the purchasing agent. Under current law, a purchasing agent under the Local Public Contracts Law is required to hold a qualified purchasing agent certificate. Additionally, current law stipulates that if a governing body of a contracting unit has designated a purchasing agent, the contracting unit may establish that the bid threshold be up to a statutorily authorized amount, currently set at $44,000. The bill increases this bid threshold to $60,000 or an amount determined by the Governor pursuant to the bill. Under current law, the Governor is required to adjust the threshold every five years in direct proportion to the rise or fall of the index rate. | Dead |
| S2012 | Requires certain public schools that receive State aid to begin regular instruction for high school students no earlier than 8:30 AM. | This bill provides that, in order to receive any State aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" or any other law, a school district, charter school, renaissance school project, county vocational school district, or county special services school district that includes grades 9 through 12 will be required to begin regular instruction for high school students no earlier than 8:30 AM. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S2165 | Requires landlords to disclose existence of lead service lines and lead water supply plumbing to tenants. | This bill would require landlords to disclose the existence of lead service lines and lead water supply plumbing to tenants. The bill would also require, within 90 days after the bill is enacted into law, a landlord inspect a rental property to determine if the property is served by a lead service line or lead water supply plumbing. A landlord who violates the provisions of this bill would be subject to a penalty of not more than $500 for each offense. | In Committee |
| S2143 | "New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act"; establishes certain requirements and penalties regarding firearm storage; repeals law governing minor's access to firearm; requires AG to establish public awareness campaign regarding firearm storage; appropriates $500,000. | This bill, titled the "New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act," establishes penalties for improper storage of a firearm that results in access of the firearm; requires a warning to be issued to firearms purchasers; and requires the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign regarding the risk associated with improper storage of a firearm. The bill also repeals the provisions of current law that establish penalties only for a minor's access of an improperly stored firearm, and makes an appropriation.Under current law, there are storage requirements and penalties imposed if a minor accesses a loaded firearm that is not in use. However, there currently are no general requirements for storing firearms when they are not in use. This bill requires a legal owner of a firearm to: (1) store or secure a firearm that is not in use at a premises under the owner's control unloaded, in a gun safe or securely locked box or container; and (2) store ammunition, separately, in a securely locked box or container. Under the bill, if the owner of a firearm fails to store the firearm properly as required under the bill, the owner will, for a first offense, be sentenced to period of community service of not less than 10 hours and not more than 40 hours. For a second or subsequent offense, the owner is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. If an improperly stored firearm is accessed by another person, and the access results in serious bodily injury to or the death of the person who accesses the firearm or another person, the owner is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months' imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The Attorney General is required under the bill to establish a list of approved entities with knowledge and experience in the prevention of gun violence for which a person may perform a sentence of court-ordered community service. An approved entity is required to offer community service that incorporates gun violence prevention education and effectuates behavioral change to meet the goals of gun violence prevention. An approved entity also may provide online instruction related to gun violence prevention, gun violence prevention films; and gun violence prevention interventional activities to be conducted as part of a New Jersey hospital-based gun violence intervention program. The bill requires the court to notify a person who is convicted of a second or subsequent crime or offense involving the access of an improperly stored firearm or access that results in serious bodily injury or death that he or she is prohibited from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm, and from receiving or retaining a permit to purchase a handgun (PPH) or a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC). The court also is to order a defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender to a law enforcement officer of any firearm that has not already been seized or surrendered, as well as any PPH or FPIC. Within five days of the entry of an order, the defendant may arrange to sell the surrendered firearm to a licensed retail dealer. The dealer then has 10 days to take possession of the firearm. A law enforcement officer accepting a surrendered firearm is to provide the defendant with a receipt, which the defendant is to present to the prosecutor as proof that the firearm was surrendered. If a firearm is surrendered to a law enforcement officer, but not sold to a licensed retail dealer, the law enforcement officer is authorized to dispose of the firearm in accordance with the State's civil asset forfeiture laws. In addition, the bill requires a retail dealer or employee to notify a firearms purchaser, and post signage, explaining the New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act and warning of the dangers associated with having a firearm in the home and the penalties imposed for unlawful access of an improperly stored firearm. The provisions of the bill also require the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign to inform and educate the public concerning the provisions of the bill, including the requirements and penalties imposed under the bill, and the dangers associated with the presence of a loaded, unsecured firearm in the home. The public awareness campaign is to be implemented in media outlets which include, but are not limited to: Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, television ads, and other media outlets deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. The bill appropriates $500,000 to fund the development and implementation of the public awareness campaign. The bill also requires the Attorney General to collect and analyze data related to implementation of the bill, including the number of violations that have occurred and the disposition of each violation. The Attorney General also is required to study the overall impact of bill, considering the effectiveness of the bill on public safety and the effectiveness of the community service requirements established under bill. The Attorney General is required to submit annually a report to the Legislature summarizing the analysis and study conducted pursuant to the bill, and make the report available to the public on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The report is to be submitted and published by November 1st of each year. Finally, the bill repeals current law governing a minor's access to a firearm, to be replaced with the requirements and penalties established under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2197 | Directs Department of Agriculture in consultation with DOE to establish online applications for National School Lunch Program and school breakfast programs. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to develop and make available to each school district and nonpublic school participating in the National School Lunch Program or in a school breakfast program, an Internet-based online school meal application for eligible students to participate in these programs. Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or in a school breakfast program would be encouraged to make the online school meal application available. A participating school district or nonpublic school that implements the online school meal application would also be required to continue to make available paper applications. | In Committee |
| S2185 | Requires owners of multiple dwellings with at least nine units to provide certain maintenance services; permits municipalities to require owners of multiple dwellings with six to eight units to provide these services. | This bill would codify current regulations requiring owners of multiple dwellings with at least nine dwelling units to provide certain maintenance services. The bill also would allow municipalities to impose these maintenance requirements on multiple dwellings with at least six dwelling units. The maintenance services required under the bill include: (1) setting out and returning waste disposal receptacles; (2) daily care of all common areas; (3) maintaining sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, parking areas, and driveways, including snow and ice removal; (4) operating the heating equipment; and (5) any other routine operational and maintenance service required under the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.). Under the bill, the required maintenance services may be performed by either: (1) a resident owner; (2) resident maintenance personnel; or (3) an off-site maintenance service provider located within one block or 200 feet of the multiple dwelling, whichever distance is greater. If someone other than the owner is designated to provide these maintenance services, that person would be, concurrently with and to the same extent as the owner, responsible for complying with any requirement under the bill and liable for any penalty for a violation thereof. The bill also requires the owner to post, alongside the multiple dwelling certificate of registration, a sign that contains the contact information of the person designated to provide the required maintenance services. This sign would have to be updated within five days of any change in this information. | In Committee |
| S171 | Establishes school district grant program in DOE to reimburse public school teachers for classroom material expenditures. | This bill establishes a grant program in the Department of Education to provide annual reimbursement to public school teachers employed on a full-time basis for expenditures incurred by a teacher for classroom supplies purchased for use during the school year. The amount of the annual reimbursement per teacher would not exceed $250 per school year, unless sufficient funds remain available to reimburse those teachers who spent more than $250 for classroom supplies. Under the bill, a teacher who wants to apply for reimbursement will submit receipts for the purchase of classroom supplies in the manner prescribed by the district. In the event that all eligible teachers have received reimbursement for their expenditures in an amount equal to $250, or the actual amount of their expenditures if less than $250, any remaining grant funds will be used to reimburse teachers whose expenditures for classroom supplies for the school year exceeded $250. If any grant funds remain at the end of the school budget year, the district will hold the funds in reserve to be applied for the same purpose in the subsequent school budget year. The school district is required to report the amount of the reserve funds to the department. The bill requires that the costs borne by the State to provide the grant funds would be paid from federal funds allocated to the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," or any other federal funding made available to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. | In Committee |
| S1581 | Establishes license to allow wineries that produce more than 250,000 gallons per year to directly ship wine to consumers. | This bill allows New Jersey wineries and out-of-State wineries that annually produce more than 250,000 gallons to directly ship wine to consumers. Under current law, small plenary wineries that produce 250,000 gallons or less per year and farm wineries are permitted to directly ship wine to New Jersey residents and consumers residing in other states. In addition, out-of-State wineries that annually produce 250,000 gallons or less may obtain a license to directly ship wine to New Jersey residents. Wineries that produce more than the 250,000 gallon capacity cap are currently prohibited from directly shipping wine. This bill establishes a license to allow the holder of a New Jersey winery license or an out-of-State winery that exceeds the 250,000 gallon capacity cap to directly ship up to 12 cases of wine annually to any person over the age of 21. | In Committee |
| S2201 | Revises requirements for cash assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program. | This bill revises various requirements for cash assistance benefits under the Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program. The bill provides that an individual who is otherwise eligible for general assistance benefits under WFNJ will not be deemed ineligible for public assistance solely on the grounds that the individual is enrolled in an institution of higher education. The bill allows recipients engaging in alternative work experience to engage in unpaid work and training with either a for-profit or nonprofit employer; current law only allows placement with nonprofit or charitable employer. An assignment to a for-profit employer may not exceed six months, and will be conditioned on the assignment likely leading to full-time employment with the employer. The bill limits the amount of time a recipient may be assigned to alternative work experience with any employer to no more than six months in a 12-month period. The bill similarly limits the amount of time a recipient may be assigned to community work experience to no more than six months in a 12-month period. The bill removes outdated language in the definition of "dependent child" that required a child in school or vocational training to reasonably be expected to complete the school or training. The bill provides that the full amount of child support provided to the assistance unit for which federal reimbursement is waived is to pass through to the unit. Child support that passes through to the unit will not count as income. The bill also excludes federal income tax refunds, State income tax refunds, homestead rebates, and other sources of income that the Commissioner of Human Services excludes from the definition of income by regulation. In addition to revising the definition of income, the bill also provides that the definition of resources is not to include: 1) funds in an individual retirement account established under State or federal law, or interest or dividend earnings from such an account, for any recipient who has not reached full retirement age; and 2) any retirement accounts excluded from consideration as a resource in the Supplemental Nutrition Program in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. Furthermore, if an applicant or recipient meets the resource eligibility standards to qualify for benefits under the State Medicaid program or the NJ FamilyCare program, the applicant or recipient will be deemed to meet the resource eligibility standards to qualify for benefits under the Work First New Jersey program. The bill expands the earned income disregard for the purposes of the program. Current law provides that, for recipients employed 20 or more hours a week, and certain recipients with a disability who are unable to work more than 20 hours per week, 100 percent of earned income is disregarded for the first month in which it would be counted as earned income; the disregard drops to 75 percent for the next six consecutive months after that, and to 50 percent for each consecutive month of employment after that. In the case of recipients working less than 20 hours per month, the disregard is 100 percent for the first full month of employment and 50 percent for each continuous month of employment after that. The bill revises the earned income disregard to allow a 100 percent disregard for the first two full months of employment in which the earned income would be counted. This income disregard applies to all employment, regardless of the number of hours worked. The disregard would then drop to 75 percent for six cumulative months of employment, and to 50 percent for each month of employment thereafter. If a recipient loses employment then becomes reemployed, the two months of 100 percent income disregard and the six months of 75 percent income may be reapplied no more than once every 12-months; otherwise, the 50 percent income disregard will apply. The bill revises the requirements to provide additional supportive services to program recipients. Current law provides that assistance may be provided as a last resort when no other source of support is available. The bill would revise this standard to allow for the provision of additional services in appropriate circumstances, as determined by the commissioner. Currently, additional assistance is limited to child care services, transportation assistance, an allowance for work-related expenses, and extended Medicaid eligibility. The bill provides that recipients receiving parenting support services are to be provided with educational materials, referrals, and other support to identify, access, and enroll in quality child care services for their dependent children. The bill requires that, when a recipient has reached 24 months of benefits, welfare agencies are to offer additional case management and supportive services to the recipient, based on an assessment of the barriers to the recipient securing employment. The bill establishes a new joint reporting requirement for the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development concerning various aspects of the program. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to make changes to the program based on the data gathered in order to improve the performance of the program. The bill revises the eligibility criteria for aliens, which currently makes various distinctions on who is eligible based on the individual's date of entry into the United States, country of origin, length of time in the United States, whether the individual is a veteran, whether the individual is a victim of domestic violence, and whether the individual has satisfied certain work requirements, among other factors. The bill replaces the term "aliens" with "eligible immigrants," and provides that the term applies to all immigrants who otherwise meet program requirements and are lawfully present in the United States. The term will include individuals who are "qualified aliens" or "lawfully present" for the purposes of federal law, individuals granted relief from federal immigration laws under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and any other non-citizen or non-national of the United States who is otherwise authorized to live in the United States. The bill provides that, in determining standards of income and resources under WFNJ, the Commissioner of Human Services will be prohibited from reducing benefit levels. The bill adds language clarifying that, when determining whether good cause exists to excuse noncompliance with program requirements, good cause is to be considered broadly in consideration of the recipient's health, safety, family needs, financial considerations, and other factors as determined by the commissioner. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that an applicant will not be deemed ineligible for benefits on the grounds that the applicant's eligibility is the result of a cessation of employment, unless the applicant intentionally and voluntarily leaves employment, without good cause, within 30 days prior to the date of application for benefits, for the sole purpose of qualifying for WFNJ benefits. Under current law, an applicant is ineligible for benefits when the applicant's eligibility is the result of a voluntary cessation of employment without good cause within 90 days prior to the date of application for benefits. The bill also clarifies that the period of time an applicant is to be deemed ineligible for benefits due to a voluntary assignment or transfer of income or resources within one year prior to the time of application for benefits is not to exceed the value of the income or resource divided by the monthly standard of need, or 12 months, whichever value is less. Income and resources received by a recipient may not be used to prospectively disqualify a recipient from assistance and are to be considered only in the month received and at the time of any new application, except in the case of a voluntary assignment or transfer of income or resources. The bill also clarifies that the agreement a recipient must sign stating that repayment of benefits will be made, in the event of receipt of income or resources, includes the receipt of General Assistance repayment subject to a Supplemental Security Income Interim Assistance Reimbursement Agreement, but excludes repayment from unemployment benefits and other government benefits. The bill revises language setting forth the general purposes and goals of the WFNJ program to provide that the purpose of the program is to provide recipients with the opportunities, training, and work skills needed to help elevate them out of poverty. The bill removes certain language concerning how the program interacts with young parents and how the system can be disruptive to the family structure, as well as language stating that the program is consistent with federal law by including a time limit on benefits, work requirements, enhanced measures to determine paternity, enhanced child support collection, sanctions for noncompliance with program requirements, incentives for teenage parents to complete school, and restrictions on eligibility for aliens. The bill additionally removes language providing that WFNJ benefits will only be available when other forms of support and maintenance are unavailable. The bill expands the work requirements under the program to promote the use of educational, training, work-study, internship, and other opportunities that will lead to the recipient's removal from, and sustainable avoidance of, poverty. Recipients will be permitted to forgo work opportunities for good cause or for other opportunities that will better enable the recipient to emerge from, and sustainably avoid, poverty. The bill requires that good cause be considered broadly in consideration of the recipient's health, safety, family needs, financial considerations, and other factors determined by the commissioner. The bill removes a requirement that recipients continuously and actively seek employment. The bill reduces the hourly requirement for work activity from 40 hours per week to 30 hours per week, and provides that the maximum aggregate requirement is 20 hours per week for assistance units with a child under six years of age. Current law provides for a deferral from the work activity requirement for parents and relatives caring for a child under 12 weeks of age; the bill extends this deferral to apply to parents and relatives caring for a child under one year of age. The bill adds a provision to existing law, concerning the sanctions that may be imposed for noncompliance with program requirements, to specify that any sanctions imposed are to be applied only to the pro-rata share of an adult recipient who is noncompliant, and will not apply to any other adult or child members of the assistance unit who are compliant with program requirements, which members will continue to be eligible for their full pro-rata share of cash assistance benefits. If the cases of all the adult members of the assistance unit are closed for noncompliance, the dependent child members will still receive their pro-rata share of assistance benefits as a dependent child-only unit. The bill removes provisions in existing law that outline a schedule of sanctions, beyond the reduction of the pro-rata share of the noncompliant adult for one month. Under the bill, if the adult fails to come into compliance by the end of the sanction month, the adult's pro-rata share will continue to be suspended until the adult demonstrates an intent to comply. The bill also increases the age at which a dependent child's failure to comply with school attendance requirements or requirements for other work activity participation, without good cause, would result in a sanction. Under current law, this provision applies until age 16; as revised by the bill, this provision applies until age 19. Further, the bill provides for a specific reduction of 50 percent in the dependent child's pro-rata share of cash assistance benefits for one month for such noncompliance. Under current law, a household receiving emergency assistance benefits is to continue to receive benefits for one month immediately following the case closure. The bill expands this to also include cash assistance cases that are suspended. The bill removes provisions of existing law that allow funding for a WFNJ-funded appropriate living arrangement to continue for one month immediately following a case closure, if the recipient is less than 18 years of age and is in the living arrangement because the recipient is unable to live with a parent, guardian, or other adult relative. The bill removes provisions of existing law that render an entire assistance unit ineligible for cash assistance benefits for a period of two months if an adult recipient in the unit voluntarily quits a job without good cause. Under the bill, a sanctioned assistance unit or recipient that returns to compliance within 60 days is to be provided the balance of any benefit amounts withheld or reduced during the period in which the assistance unit or recipient was out of compliance, in addition to any amounts to which the assistance unit or recipient is otherwise eligible. Further, a sanctioned assistance unit or recipient that returns to compliance more than 60 days after the sanction date is to be provided the balance of any benefit amounts withheld or reduced during the period after which the assistance unit or recipient demonstrated an intent to comply, in addition to any amounts to which the assistance unit or recipient is otherwise eligible. Ordinarily, recipients are allowed a lifetime total of 60 months of benefits. The bill provides that, in the event any adult in an assistance unit loses eligibility on the grounds that the individual reached the 60-month cap, that loss of eligibility will not affect the eligibility of any other recipient in the assistance unit, including, but not limited to, a minor child who is receiving assistance. Current law provides for certain exceptions to this 60-month limit. The bill revises the exceptions involving employment to provide that they will apply to any form of employment, not just full-time employment. The bill expands the existing exceptions to include any parent of a minor child who was in compliance with program requirements for the six months of enrollment immediately preceding the date the recipient reached the 60-month limit. Current law provides for an extension to the 60-month benefit limit, including up to 12 additional months of benefits, in certain cases. The bill expands this to allow an extension for a recipient who is the parent of a dependent child who is a member of the recipient's household, which recipient has remained in compliance with the requirements of the program for, at a minimum, the six months of enrollment immediately preceding the date the recipient reaches the 60-month time limit. The bill also provides that, following this 12-month extension, a recipient may receive an additional 12 months of assistance under the same circumstances or if the recipient meets certain other criteria, as determined by the commissioner, demonstrating that the extension is necessary for the recipient to protect the health, safety, or well-being of the recipient's family, including, but not limited to, preserving family unity. Under the bill, any benefit received for months during which a State of Emergency or Public Health Emergency exists are not to be considered for purposes of any time limit provisions. The bill provides for a schedule of increases in WFNJ benefit levels. For the period commencing July 1, 2022 and continuing through July 1, 2026, the benefit level in effect as of the effective date of the bill is to be annually increased by any increase in the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) as calculated by the federal government for the 12 months prior to the March 31 preceding that July 1, plus an additional amount equal to 20 percent of the difference between the benefit level in effect as of the effective date of the bill and 50 percent of the federal poverty level in effect as of the effective date of the bill. Commencing July 1, 2027, the benefit level is to be annually increased by any amount as is necessary to make the benefit level equivalent to at least 50 percent of the federal poverty level in effect on that July 1. Commencing July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Human Services is to assess the real cost of living and actual deprivation as reflected in the standard of need established pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1997, c.13 (C.44:10-42), and other cost of self-sufficiency measures. The assessment is to be transmitted to the Legislature by the commissioner for consideration when deciding on appropriations to fund cash assistance benefits to recipients. The bill provides that organizations that receive State or local economic incentives will be required to partner with local community organizations to provide work activity opportunities and other appropriate services to WFNJ recipients, including training, work-study opportunities, internships, and job retention and advancement services. The bill repeals section 3 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-46), which concerned benefits for recipients in the State less than 12 months, and which was invalidated by court ruling and currently has no force or effect. The bill will take effect 120 days after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S2195 | Requires disclosure of cellular telephone transmitters upon sale or lease of certain residential property. | This bill requires the disclosure of cellular telephone transmitters upon the lease or sale of certain residential property. Under the bill, the municipal clerk of each municipality would be required to maintain and make available a list identifying the location of each cellular telephone transmitter within the municipality. Any person who owns, leases, or maintains a cellular telephone transmitter would be required to annually disclose the location of each transmitter to the municipality in which it is located. The bill provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs would be responsible for specifying how municipalities maintain and make available these lists. Most notably, upon entering into a contract for the sale of any residential real property that is located within 100 feet of a cellular telephone transmitter, the seller would be required to provide a written statement to the buyer that discloses the location of a cellular telephone transmitter. Thereafter, the purchaser may cancel the contract by sending a written notice of cancellation, by certified mail, to the seller within five business days from the date the contract is executed. Similarly, when a person offers for rent a residential dwelling unit that is located within 100 feet of a cellular telephone transmitter, the person would be required to include a prominently displayed provision in the lease or renewal agreement that discloses the location of the cellular telephone transmitter. Any person who fails to disclose the presence of a cellular telephone transmitter would be subject to a fine of up to $500 for each violation. However, a person would not be subject to a penalty if the location of a cellular telephone transmitter was not included in the list made available by the municipal clerk. The bill defines a "cellular telephone transmitter" as any device, including the building or structure on which the device is located, that transmits and receives radiofrequency signals to create a cell in a cellular telephone network. | In Committee |
| S2171 | Authorizes local tax on storage of empty shipping containers. | This bill would authorize municipalities to impose taxes on empty ISO shipping containers which are stored within their boundaries. A municipality would retain 75% of the amounts collected and remit 25% of the amounts collected to the county. Amounts retained by a municipality would be held in trust and used to fund infrastructure projects within the municipality. Amounts remitted to the county would be held in trust and used to fund infrastructure projects or for the acquisition or maintenance of open space within the municipality which collected the tax. Under the bill, the Directors of the Division of Local Government Services and the Division of Taxation would adopt a model ordinance to aid municipal governing bodies considering imposing a tax on empty ISO shipping containers. | In Committee |
| S2206 | Requires NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to prepare report regarding suicide prevention instruction in public schools. | This bill requires the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to prepare a report regarding suicide prevention instruction in public schools. In preparing the report, the council may consult with the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the Department of Children and Families. The council may also request administrative and technical support from the Department of Children and Families. In preparing the report, the council is to develop a survey to collect data from local education agencies, approved private schools for students with disabilities, and charter and renaissance school projects in the 2023-24 school year to be delivered by the Department of Education. The department is to aggregate the data and ensure any student-identifying or confidential information has been removed prior to transmitting to the council for use in the report. The report is required to include the following: (1) identifying the suicide prevention instruction already provided to public school teaching staff members and students; (2) reviewing the effectiveness and sufficiency of instruction in suicide prevention currently provided to public school teaching staff members and students; (3) identifying any methods public schools may use to identify students who may be at risk for suicide or self-injury; (4) identifying evidence-based and best practice programs in public schools for the prevention of youth suicide and self-injury, including a survey of programs being implemented in surrounding states; (5) identifying opportunities to enhance access to mental health treatment in public schools; and (6) findings and recommendations, including legislative and regulatory proposals, to improve suicide prevention instruction. The council is required to submit the report to the Governor and Legislature no later than 12 months after the effective date of the act. | Dead |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S2196 | Requires distribution of family leave informational materials to certain patients. | This bill requires the Department of Health to develop, in consultation with the Department of Labor, a pamphlet and informational materials for patients concerning the availability of programs developed pursuant to the "Family Leave Act," P.L.1989, c.261 (C.34:11B-1 et seq.). The department is to make the pamphlet and informational materials available to all health care professionals and licensed health care facilities, as well as through its Internet website, and will be required to distribute the pamphlet and informational materials to health care professionals and health care facilities that provide maternity care services. Health care professionals and facilities providing maternity care services will be required to make the pamphlet and informational materials available in their patient waiting areas, and to distribute the pamphlet and informational materials to maternity care patients upon discharge. The bill additionally requires hospitals providing a discharge plan to a patient caregiver pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2014, c.68 (C.26:2H-5.28) to include a copy of the pamphlet and informational materials in with the discharge plan. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S188 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish guidelines regarding best practices for student financial aid offers. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to issue guidelines incorporating the best practices within the United States Government Accountability Office's report, "Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid" (GAO Report) for use by institutions of higher education and proprietary institutions licensed to offer academic degrees. The purpose of this bill is to address the transparency issues identified in the GAO Report. The GAO Report found: 1) 91 percent of institutions of higher education do not include the net price of attendance in their aid offers; 2) 55 percent of institutions do not itemize key direct and indirect costs in their student financial aid offers; and 3) 24 percent of institutions do not provide a student with the total cost of attendance. The GAO Report further identified 10 best practices for transparency in student financial aid offers, but stated that nearly two-thirds of institutions of higher education studied in the report followed half or fewer and none followed all 10. Under the bill, the guidelines to be established by the secretary are required to ensure students receive information in student financial aid offers from institutions that: 1) identifies the direct and indirect costs of attendance; 2) provides the total and net costs of attendance; 3) establishes standardized terms for student financial aid offers; 4) explains a student's right to accept or decline an offer; 5) requires the contact information for the representative of the institution who the student can contact for additional assistance related to the offer; and 6) prohibits using the term "award" in student financial aid offers. The guidelines developed under the bill are also required to comply with the provisions of existing State law concerning financial aid transparency and the United States Department of Education's "College Financing Plan." The secretary is required to ensure the guidelines are not duplicative of federal requirements. It is the intent of this bill that by directing the secretary to create guidelines that incorporate the 10 best practices identified in the GAO Report, New Jersey's institutions of higher education will provide its students with the key information necessary to make informed decisions. | In Committee |
| S2213 | Establishes office in EDA to assist in provision and expansion of broadband Internet service in State to address inequities in accessing broadband service. | This bill establishes in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) a "Broadband Assistance Office" (broadband office). The broadband office is to be responsible for formulating and executing a comprehensive Statewide policy that fosters the provision of wired broadband service by government or private entities developing a broadband project, or both, if these entities develop a broadband project under a public-private partnership (P3) agreement, and for the development, promotion, coordination, oversight, and approval of a broadband project developed pursuant to the bill. The broadband office, in cooperation with EDA, is to establish guidelines for the broadband office's approval, designation, operation, and reporting of a proposed broadband project, including any proposed broadband project developed under a P3 agreement, in a manner determined by the broadband office. The broadband office, in cooperation with EDA, is to oversee, coordinate, and provide assistance to a broadband project approved by the broadband office. The broadband office is to consult and coordinate with representatives of other State departments, agencies, boards, and authorities, including EDA and the Office of Information Technology (OIT), as these entities deem necessary and appropriate to accomplish the goals of the bill. To accomplish the broadband office's duties and responsibilities, it is to be responsible for certain obligations enumerated in the bill concerning the facilitation of the establishment of broadband projects. In evaluating a proposed broadband project, the broadband office is to consider certain criteria provided in the bill. The bill establishes in EDA a separate non-lapsing fund to be known as the "State Broadband Fund" (broadband fund) for use by the broadband office to adequately and properly perform the duties and responsibilities in carrying out the requirements of the bill. EDA, in consultation with BPU, is to determine the level of funding and the appropriate administration of the broadband fund. With financial assistance from BPU and any available funding from federal, State and private entity sources, EDA is to provide sufficient funding to the broadband office to enable the broadband office to provide funding for underserved communities to pay for broadband service and for the installation or expanded use of broadband infrastructure for communities that lack broadband access, specifically the portion of a communications infrastructure network that physically reaches the residents' or small business's premises within those communities. The bill allows EDA, in consultation with BPU, to seek and accept gifts, donations, grants, or loans from public or private sources, including, but not limited to, any funding provided by the Federal Communications Commission or any funding from a non-profit foundation, specifically for the provision of broadband infrastructure or broadband service, except that EDA and BPU are not to accept a gift, donation, grant, or loan that is subject to conditions that are inconsistent with any other law of this State. The bill requires EDA, in consultation with BPU, to annually prepare a report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the number, nature, structure, and scope of each broadband project developed, and whether the broadband project is developed under a P3 agreement. The report is to include certain information provided in the bill and address any issues related to the implementation the bill, including staffing and resource requirements of the broadband office. The report is to set forth recommendations regarding how the processes and methods adopted to foster the development of broadband projects and any related P3 agreements under the bill may be improved, expanded, or made more efficient. | In Committee |
| S2163 | Revises certain requirements concerning graduation proficiency test and eliminates requirement that graduation proficiency test be administered to eleventh grade students. | This bill amends the provisions of current law concerning the graduation proficiency test to provide for the development or designation of a Statewide assessment or assessments in reading, writing, and computational skills. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the assessment be administered specifically in the 11th grade. Under current law, P.L.1979, c.241 (C.18A:7C-1 et seq.), the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education are required to establish a program of standards for graduation from high school, including the development of a Statewide assessment test in reading, writing, and computational skills. The State graduation proficiency test is required to be administered to all 11th grade students, and to any 11th or 12th grade student who has not yet demonstrated proficiency on the test. Under the bill, the State will be required to administer an assessment or assessments designed to test high school proficiency, and any student who initially does not demonstrate proficiency on the assessment or assessments is required to be given an opportunity to retest. The bill contains a grandfather provision for students in the graduating classes of 2024 and 2025, providing that these students will be deemed to have met graduation assessment requirements if they satisfy the State Board of Education regulations, pursuant to N.J.A.C.6A:8-5.1, that were in place as of October 4, 2021 concerning graduation assessment requirements for the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Concerning the class of 2023, the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment administered as the State graduation proficiency test in March 2022 to 11th grade students, expected to graduate as part of the class of 2023, would be considered a field test. Under no circumstances would the results of the field test, a substitute competency test, or any other demonstration of proficiency through techniques and instruments other than a standardized test pursuant to current law be used as a prerequisite for graduation for students in the graduating class of 2023. The bill provides that, for the classes of 2026 and thereafter, the graduation proficiency assessment or assessments would be developed or designated by the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education. The process for the development or designation by the commissioner of the graduation proficiency assessment or assessments would begin no later than 60 days following the date of enactment of the bill. The intent of this provision is to ensure that the development or designation of a graduation proficiency assessment for these graduating classes is started expeditiously. The 60-day timeline for the beginning of this process is also intended to provide for sufficient time for any field testing as appropriate and for the receipt of input and feedback from the education community prior to the administration of an assessment or assessments to all students. Under the bill, in the event that the Commissioner of Education develops or designates a new Statewide assessment or assessments, the commissioner is required to engage in a collaborative process with interested stakeholders in the education community to solicit feedback. The bill also amends current law to provide that a student who a district determines to be at risk of not meeting State and district assessment standards for graduation but who has met all credit, curriculum, and attendance requirements, is required to take the graduation proficiency assessment or assessments in order to be eligible for a comprehensive assessment of proficiencies utilizing techniques other than standardized tests as provided in current law. | In Committee |
| S2187 | Authorizes common law public nuisance suits regarding lead paint under State law; exempts Attorney General from certain aspects of public nuisance claims when pursuing lead paint actions. | This bill would allow common law public nuisance suits under P.L.1971, c.366 (C.24:14A-1 et seq., and known as the "lead paint act"), and exempt the Attorney General from certain elements of a public nuisance claim when pursuing a public nuisance lead paint claim. Specifically, the Attorney General would be permitted to bring an action for damages, abatement, and other appropriate legal or equitable relief, not limited to injunctive relief, against a former or present lead paint manufacturer or an entity that produced, promoted, or distributed lead pigments for use in residential paints or coatings pursuant to a common law theory of public nuisance. Under the bill, the Attorney General would not be required to demonstrate that a defendant physically controls lead paint, or real property that contains lead paint, to prevail on a public nuisance claim based upon the distribution of lead paint, nor demonstrate a special injury in order to prevail in those actions. Additionally, the bill would provide that the exemption that already applies to environmental tort actions in the law regulating product liability actions, P.L.1987, c.197 (C.2A:58C-1 et seq.) would also apply to actions concerning lead paint or lead pigments used in residential paints or coatings, when brought by the Attorney General. | 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 |
| S1988 | Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecution of human trafficking crimes. | This bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecution for the crime of human trafficking. Currently, under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-6 there is no statute of limitations for prosecutions for the following crimes: murder; manslaughter; sexual assault; and criminal offenses arising from violations of certain environmental statutes concerning widespread injury or damage. Prosecution for other crimes, such as human trafficking, must be commenced within five years, except for certain crimes enumerated in the statute such as: (1) bribery and official misconduct offenses which must be commenced within seven years; (2) criminal sexual contact or endangering the welfare of a minor which must be commenced within five years after the victim attains the age of 18 or two years after discovery, whichever is later. Prosecutions for disorderly persons offenses must be commenced within one year after they are committed. By eliminating the statute of limitations for human trafficking crimes, the prosecution for these crimes may be commenced at any time rather than within five years after it is committed. | In Committee |
| S1699 | Requires registration and regulation of certain hemp-derived cannabinoids manufactured and sold in this State. | Pursuant to P.L.2019, c.238, known as the "New Jersey Hemp Farming Act," the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is designated as the primary regulatory authority over the production of hemp in the State. The department is responsible for promulgating regulation plans under which the State monitors and regulates hemp production, an agricultural crop which the State actively promotes, and which permits farmers and businesses to cultivate, handle and process hemp, and to sell hemp products for commercial purposes (and which is excluded from the definition of a controlled substance due to the presence of hemp or hemp-derived cannabinoids). Hemp-derived products manufactured outside the regulatory structure, while not illegal in New Jersey, remain unregulated, although chemical conversion processes can make hemp derived cannabinoid products, such as Delta 8, have psychoactive properties similar to the THC in legalized cannabis, and contain unknown but harmful byproducts of the conversion process. This bill establishes the Cannabis Regulatory Commission as the regulatory body for hemp-derived cannabinoids for purposes of registration and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. The bill further provides for existing laboratories to test hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Section 1. This section contains legislative findings and declarations including the following: hemp-derived cannabinoid products can contain more psychoactive cannabis than is lawfully permitted to be sold in unregulated form, and yet, such products are being sold in New Jersey outside the regulatory structure for cannabis and hemp. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission is uniquely positioned to implement a regulatory structure, including, tracking through establishing a registration requirement for hemp-derived cannabinoid products manufactured outside the New Jersey regulatory structure, and other health, safety and testing requirements. Section 2. This section defines key terms which aid in distinguishing cannabinoid products with psychoactive properties from those with non-psychoactive properties. A key term, "cannabinoid" means the naturally occurring chemical compound found in cannabis. The main cannabinoids found in cannabis plants are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which, in simplified terms, is psychoactive, and cannabidiol (CBD) which is non-psychoactive. Through a conversion process, known as isomerization, legal CBD products, such as Delta-8, have been found to contain psychoactive properties, and potentially harmful byproduct from the conversion process. Since many products are sold in convenience stores and gas stations, the bill targets retail merchants, defined in the bill as "hemp-derived cannabinoid retailers," to register products sold through their locations. Section 3. This section amends N.J.S.A. 24:6I-34, concerned with commission activities associated with the personal use of cannabis, to grant powers which enable the commission to perform duties prescribed in the bill. Jurisdiction, supervision, duties, functions, and powers are extended to hemp-derived cannabinoid products manufactured outside the New Jersey regulatory structure. The commission is empowered to regulate the purchase, sale, transportation, and delivery of hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with the provision of this bill, and to adopt, amend, or repeal regulations as necessary. Subsection d. of this section adds the Commissioner of Agriculture as a consultant agency for the adoption of regulations by the commission. Section 4. This section establishes specific areas for regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including registration requirements, permit requirements for hemp-derived cannabinoid retailers, security requirements, age requirements to prevent the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products with detectable THC to persons under 21 years of age, labeling and packaging requirements, unannounced visits, and civil penalties for failure to comply with regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions of the bill. Section 5. This section amends N.J.S.A. 24:6I-17, concerned with the testing of cannabis, to require that samples of cannabinoid product manufactured outside the New Jersey regulatory structure be tested by a laboratory licensed pursuant to N.J.S.A.24:6I-18 (testing laboratories) or pursuant to N.J.S.A.24:6I-35 (cannabis testing laboratories). Section 6. This section authorizes the testing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products at testing laboratories currently licensed to test medical cannabis and medical cannabis products, usable cannabis, cannabis products, cannabis extracts, and other cannabis resins. Section 7. This section provides that a retail establishment that offers for sale hemp-derived cannabinoid products prior to the passage of this bill shall have a period of one year from passage to comply with the provisions of the bill. It is not the intention of the sponsor to ban hemp-derived cannabinoids, such as Delta-8, but to require registration of such products, and to impose health and safety requirements through a regulatory structure. | In Committee |
| S2203 | Requires teachers to biennially complete two hours of professional development related to cultural competence. | State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:9-15.4 require all active teachers in a school district to complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved professional development each year. This bill requires the board, as part of the professional development requirement, to require each public school teacher to complete two hours of instruction in cultural competency in each two-year period. The instruction must include, but need not be limited to, a discussion of: personal and interpersonal awareness and sensitivities; acts of microaggression in the classroom; and implicit bias. | In Committee |
| S2224 | Requires DCF and DOE to establish policies and procedures relating to child abuse and neglect and child abuse prevention during certain public health emergencies. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to establish policies and procedures to detect and investigate incidents of child abuse and neglect and to promote child abuse prevention techniques that are to be employed for the duration of any public health emergency declared pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that necessitates restrictions on person-to-person contact. The policies and procedures are to include, but not be limited to: (1) publicizing the DCF's State Central Registry, as well as other information on reporting child abuse and neglect; (2) allowing certain child protective investigators and permanency workers to perform duties, if appropriate, remotely; (4) allowing the family of a child under the department's care, custody, and supervision to access services remotely, if appropriate; (5) providing for the preparation and dissemination of resource materials prepared by the department regarding child abuse and neglect; and (6) providing for the regular review and analysis of the State's child abuse reporting requirements. The bill authorizes the department to employ these policies and procedures according to the specific circumstances of an existing public health emergency, provided that the department addresses the deficiencies presented by the existing public health emergency regarding child abuse detection, investigation, and prevention. Under the bill, the DCF, in consultation with the Department of Education (DOE), is required to establish a public awareness campaign regarding the protection of children from abuse and neglect during public health emergencies that require restrictions on person-to-person contact; and the policies and procedures established under the bill. The bill also requires the DCF to prepare a fact sheet on the information provided through the public awareness campaign, and to make the fact sheet available in various electronic locations. The DCF is to collect and analyze data on all records of child abuse reports made during the public health emergency declared in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and issue a report, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill, to the Governor and the Legislature. The bill requires the DOE and the DCF to develop an online training program for school employees on the detection and prevention of child abuse, inclusive of how to do so during a public health emergency that requires restrictions on person-to-person contact. The online training program is to be made available to all school districts in the State, free of charge, to assist school employees on the identification, detection, reporting, and response to issues of child abuse. The DOE, in consultation with the DCF, is also to require every school district in the State, during a public health emergency that requires restrictions on person-to-person contact, to: (1) allow students and their families to remotely access information about the DCF's Family Helpline and other similar telephone hotlines; and (2) remotely provide a behavioral health assessment to every student who is deemed at-risk of child abuse or neglect as determined by a school psychologist, school counselor, or school social worker. | In Committee |
| S2233 | Requires institution of higher education to provide victim-centered training to employees who assist student victims of sexual assault. | This bill requires each institution of higher education to annually provide victim-centered training to an employee of the institution who is involved in the receipt of a report made by a student who is the victim of an alleged incident of sexual assault, the referral or provision of services to the victim, or any campus disciplinary proceedings that result from the alleged incident. The training must also be provided to a student enrolled in the institution who is appointed to serve as a residence-life advisor, peer advisor, or in a similar position, and an employee or contracted service provider that provides campus security. The training must include information that ensures that the student receives an appropriate victim-centered response upon reporting an incident of sexual assault. Specifically, the training must seek to improve the ability of the trainee to: · understand the sexual assault policies of the institution;· understand the relevant provisions of certain State and federal laws; · understand the role of the institution, medical providers, law enforcement, and community agencies in ensuring a coordinated response to a reported incident of sexual assault;· provide services to, or assist in locating services for, the victim, as appropriate; and · communicate sensitively and compassionately with the victim of a sexual assault. | In Committee |
| S2169 | Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that employ apprentices in DOL registered apprenticeships. | This bill provides businesses with a credit against the corporation business tax or the gross income tax for each employee of the business employed pursuant to an apprenticeship registered with the United States Department of Labor (USDOL). The bill gives businesses a credit of $1,000 for each apprentice employed for seven months or more during the taxable year. The credit may be increased by $2,000 if the apprentice is a veteran, was eligible to receive benefits under the Work First New Jersey program or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program within twelve months preceding the beginning of the apprenticeship, is a displaced worker, or was previously incarcerated. Similarly, the credit may be increased by $2,000 if the apprentice belongs to a group that is underrepresented in that career field based on their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or age. These two bonus credits are additive, so that a qualifying apprentice may lead to a $5,000 tax credit. The tax credit amounts will be annually adjusted according to any adjustments in the Statewide average weekly wage. An employer may take the credit for a particular apprentice for a maximum of four taxable years of the apprentice's employment. The purpose of the tax credit is to encourage employers to add highly skilled workers to New Jersey's workforce. The USDOL-registered apprenticeships combine technical instruction with structured on-the-job experience to match individuals with employers in need of qualified, skilled workers. The range of occupations represented by registered apprenticeships is vast, including traditional industries such as construction and manufacturing and emerging fields such as healthcare and energy. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S758 | Re-establishes Arthritis Quality of Life Initiative and Advisory Council on Arthritis in DHS. | This bill would re-establish the Arthritis Quality of Life Initiative and the Advisory Council on Arthritis in the Department of Human Services (DHS). The initiative and the advisory council were initially established in the Department of Health, through the enactment of the "Arthritis Quality of Life Initiative Act," at P.L.1999, c.72 (C.26:2V-1 et seq.). In 2012, the Legislature transferred the initiative and the advisory council to the DHS; but only a year later, in 2013, the Legislature repealed the "Arthritis Quality of Life Initiative Act," on the basis that the advisory council was inactive. This bill would permanently reinstitute the initiative and the council in the DHS, in order to ensure that arthritis continues to be sufficiently addressed in the State. Specifically, the bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services to re-establish the Arthritis Quality of Life Initiative within 180 days after the bill's effective date. The purpose of the initiative is to: 1) increase public awareness about arthritis, its symptoms, and available treatment options; 2) publicize options for arthritis prevention; 3) highlight the value of early diagnosis and treatment; and 4) encourage and facilitate the delivery of programs and services that are aimed at preventing arthritis-related complications and improving the quality of life of people with arthritis. In establishing the initiative, the bill would require the commissioner, at a minimum, to: 1) develop, and publicize on the department's Internet website, a list of health care providers who offer specialized services for persons with arthritis; 2) establish, or, if appropriate, authorize and facilitate the re-establishment and ongoing maintenance, of two regionally-based arthritis centers, one in the northern and one in the southern part of the State; 3) implement a public information and outreach campaign that includes, but need not be limited to, appropriate educational materials that promote the early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases; 4) implement a professional education program for health care practitioners, which is to promote and endeavor to increase professional levels of expertise in association with the diagnosis of arthritis, and the treatment and care of persons with the disease; 5) identify, and publicize on the department's Internet website, programs and services that are designed to prevent arthritis, reduce complications associated with arthritis, and improve the quality of life of those living with the disease; 6) establish a phone-based referral and support network to help arthritic persons identify appropriate health care providers, legal advocates, and available programs and services; and 7) engage in, or promote and facilitate, the use of outcome-based research designed to improve arthritis care and treatment, and appropriately publicize the findings of such research. The bill would also re-establish the Advisory Council on Arthritis in the DHS. The purpose of the council would be to advise the commissioner on the development and ongoing implementation and operations of the Arthritis Qualify of Life Initiative. The council would include 19 members, as follows: the Director of the Division of Aging Services in the Department of Human Services, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of Public Health in the Department of Health, the Director of Population Health in the Department of Health, the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, and the Chair of the New Jersey Interagency Council on Osteoporosis in the Department of Human Services, or their designees, who would each serve ex officio; and 14 public members who have expertise or experience in arthritis or related subject matters, to be appointed by the commissioner. Each public member of the council would serve for a term of three years, except that, of the members first appointed, four would serve for terms of three years, five would serve for terms of two years, and five would serve for terms of one year. Each member is to hold office for the term of appointment, and until their successor is appointed and qualified. Members are eligible for reappointment to the council. The council would be required to organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members. The members would serve without compensation, but could be reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the council for its purposes. Not later than 18 months after the bill's effective date, and annually thereafter, the commissioner will be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature describing the activities and accomplishments of the initiative. | In Committee |
| S2173 | Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to qualify. | This bill allows taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) to qualify for the New Jersey earned income tax credit (NJEITC) program. Under the federal earned income tax credit program, a taxpayer, including a spouse if filing a joint return, is required to have a Social Security number issued by the federal Social Security Administration in order to qualify. Eligibility for the NJEITC is generally linked to the federal earned income tax credit program; thus, an individual taxpayer who has an ITIN does not qualify for either the federal or State programs. The bill modifies the eligibility criteria under the NJEITC program to allow taxpayers with ITINs to qualify for the tax credit. The sponsor's intent is for all records submitted by a taxpayer as part of their application for the NJEITC to remain confidential and privileged as set forth in the confidentiality statute that affects any State tax law. | In Committee |
| S1073 | Establishes programs to address needs of toddlers and certain children who are deaf or hard of hearing. | This bill establishes requirements to provide certain services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as their parents or guardians, to help the child achieve certain benchmarks in the development of the child's sign or spoken language. Specifically, the bill provides for children and their parents or guardians participating in the program to participate in certain including, but not be limited to: (1) holding two meetings per year between the child, the child's parent or guardian, and a language team until the child's sign or spoken language development meets the objective criteria and developmental benchmarks set forth by the early intervention program; and (2) pairing the child's parent or guardian with a mentor. The mentor will be required to: provide guidance to, and share personal insights with, the parent or guardian about living day to day as a person who is deaf or hard of hearing; be a member of the child's language team and play an active role in the child's language development; and be trained as a SKI-HI deaf mentor in accordance with the SKI-HI Deaf Mentor Manual training program. In the case of a toddler who is under the age of three, these activities will be provided by through the Department of Health's (DOH) early intervention program. In the case of a child between the ages of three and five, the activities will be provided through the Department of Education (DOE). The DOE program will be limited to children who previously received services through the early intervention program. A child receiving services under the DOE may continue in the program until the child enters kindergarten or elementary school. A toddler aging out of the DOH program may be eligible for the DOE program. A child who is deaf or hard of hearing and is eligible to receive the services outlined in the bill is to be automatically enrolled to receive the services provided by a language team unless the child's parent or guardian declines the services. As defined in the bill: "language team" means a team consisting of a pediatric audiologist, a teacher of the deaf or hard of hearing, a deaf mentor, and a speech and language pathologist; "pediatric audiologist" means a licensed professional trained to test, diagnose, evaluate, and manage the presence, extent, and reason for hearing loss and other hearing-related issues in infants and children, and to provide recommendations for interventions or rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, prescribing hearing aids or other assistive devices; and "speech and language pathologist" means a licensed professional trained to identify, assess, and rehabilitate persons with speech, voice, or language disorders. | 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 |
| S293 | Expands definition of child abuse or neglect. | This bill expands the definition of child abuse or neglect. Specifically, the bill amends section 2 of P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.9) and section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9-8.21) to stipulate that a child is considered abused or neglected if the abuse or neglect is committed or is allowed to be committed by a person who is not the child's parent or legal guardian, including another child under the age of 18. Currently, both statutes consider a child to be abused or neglected if the abuse or neglect is committed or is allowed to be committed by a parent or legal guardian, but does not consider such acts to be abuse or neglect if they are committed by a person who is not the child's parent or a legal guardian, including another person under the age of 18. | In Committee |
| S2221 | Requires VCCO to provide certain emergency assistance and establish hotline. | This bill requires the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) in the Department of Public Safety to offer emergency assistance to victims of crime and their family members. Specifically, upon the request of a victim or family member, the bill requires a properly trained employee of the VCCO to be dispatched to the hospital or other emergency care facility to assist the victim or family member in obtaining resources from the VCCO and completing the application process. To facilitate this emergency assistance, the bill requires the VCCO to maintain a 24-hour toll-free hotline and electronic mail to receive requests for assistance from victims of crime or their family members. The information to be disseminated through the hotline or electronic mail is to include: a summary of resources offered by the VCCO; the availability of emergency awards; and the availability of a trained VCCO employee to be dispatched to the location of the victim or family member to provide emergency assistance. Information concerning the availability of the hotline and the electronic mail is to be made available at all State, county, and municipal police departments; courtrooms in county courthouses and municipal courts; and hospitals or other places of emergency care. | 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 |
| 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 |
| SCR48 | Urges Congress and President to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from Jones Act. | This concurrent resolution urges the Congress and President of the United States to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from certain provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act. Certain provisions of the Jones Act require that all goods shipped by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S. flagships that are constructed primarily in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and permanent residents. These shipping restrictions have a disparate impact on U.S. island states and territories because these island economies import goods primarily by sea. U.S. shipping companies are often more expensive than foreign shipping companies, which drives up the cost of goods shipped by these companies to U.S. island states and territories, and results in higher prices for residents. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the U.S. and is subject to the provisions of the Jones Act. On September 20, 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria, a category four hurricane and the strongest storm to hit the island in nearly a century. Prior to Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico had been suffering from an acute financial crisis and had accumulated $74 billion in debt. Hurricane Maria, compounded by the effects of the financial crisis, destroyed most buildings and infrastructure on the island, leaving nearly all 3.4 million residents without power and in need of food, clothing, medicine, and shelter in its immediate aftermath. Additionally, almost half of the electricity on the island is provided by petroleum and approximately a third of electricity is provided by natural gas, both of which must be imported to the island by ship. A permanent exemption from the Jones Act, codified at 46 U.S.C. s.55102, will provide residents of Puerto Rico with the certainty that goods needed for the ongoing recovery of the island will be accessible without restriction from Puerto Rican ports and will help to expedite the recovery process from this unprecedented disaster and from the ongoing financial crisis. | In Committee |
| S183 | Exempts from "Sales and Use Tax Act" certain retail sales of computers and school supplies; allows $500 gross income tax deduction to teachers purchasing school supplies for classroom use. | This bill establishes two new tax benefits for consumers and educators who purchase school supplies. Sales and Use Tax Exemption. The bill exempts the retail sale of the following products from the sales and use tax if they are sold to an individual purchaser for non-business use: (1) school supplies, such as pens and pencils, notebooks, and binders; (2) school art supplies, such as paints and paintbrushes, clay, and glazers; (3) school instructional materials, such as maps, globes, reference books, and workbooks; (4) computers with a sales price of less than $3,000 per item; and (5) school computer supplies, such as computer storage equipment, printers, and personal digital assistants, with a sales price of less than $1,000. Under current law, retail sales of these products are exempt from sales tax only during the annual "back-to-school" sales tax holiday that begins in late August and ends on Labor Day. Certain retail sales of sport or recreational equipment is also exempt from sales and use tax during the "back-to-school" sales tax holiday. Purchases of these items are not include in the list of goods that would be exempt from sales tax under the bill. All retail sales of items would be subject to sales and use tax. Retail sales of computers with a sales price greater than or equal to $1,000 remain subject to tax. The bill provides that the sales tax exemption takes effect immediately but applies to receipts received from all sales made on or after the first day of the fourth month next following enactment. Deduction from Gross Income. The also allows a gross income tax deduction, not to exceed $500 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for the purchase of classroom supplies. Under the bill, an "eligible educator" is a teacher who is employed in a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school in the State. The bill defines "classroom supplies" as books, pencils, and other drawing supplies, computers and related equipment, laboratory equipment, and any other equipment and supplementary materials needed for day-to-day classroom activities. This portion of the bill takes effect immediately, but applies to taxable years commencing on or after the January 1 next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S2189 | Establishes Emerging Technology Urban Grant Program in EDA. | This bill establishes, subject to appropriation, the Emerging Technology Urban Grant Program (program) in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) for the purpose of awarding grants to qualifying emerging technology businesses in order to encourage the businesses to locate in one of four urban technology zones to acquire cloud computing services that will facilitate the business's growth and creation of full-time employment. The bill establishes an urban technology zone in Newark, Trenton, Camden, and New Brunswick. The Chief Executive Officer of the EDA is to approve for grant eligibility an emerging technology business that meets certain requirements provided in the bill. The Chief Executive Officer is to issue payment of the grant upon the submission of proof by an approved emerging technology business that the business has fulfilled the eligibility requirements established pursuant to the bill, has maintained required increases in full-time employment or revenue growth, and any other requirements determined by the EDA. The submission of proof is to be subject to review and audit by the EDA and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This bill provides that the value of the grant is to be up to $125,000 per quarter for two years, provided that no grantee receives more than $1,000,000 in grants over the duration of the program. The sum of grants awarded under the program is not to exceed $80,000,000, with no more than $20,000,000 granted to businesses in each urban technology zone. The bill provides that, in addition to any monies appropriated to the EDA to effectuate the purposes of bill, the program is to also be credited with any additional monies made available by the EDA for the purposes of the program and monies received by the EDA from any public or private source for the purposes of the program. | In Committee |
| S2166 | Requires school districts to employ at least one certified nutrition specialist, registered dietitian, or registered dietitian nutritionist. | This bill requires school districts to employ on a full-time or part-time basis at least one certified nutrition specialist, registered dietitian, or registered dietitian nutritionist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students' dietary behaviors are associated with their academic performance. For example, inadequate consumption of specific foods, such as fruits, vegetables, or dairy products, is associated with lower grades among students. In addition, deficits of specific nutrients, such as vitamins A, B6, B12, C, folate, iron, zinc, and calcium, are associated with lower grades and higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness among students. The availability of a dietitian or nutritionist at a school district can help facilitate students' access to the foods and nutrients they need to succeed academically. | 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 |
| S1987 | Permits victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify in criminal proceedings via closed circuit television; permits judge to make motion to seek closed circuit testimony. | This bill would permit all victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify in criminal proceedings via closed circuit television. Under current law, victims and witnesses of human trafficking involving sexual activity, among others, are permitted to testify via closed circuit television. Also under current law, the victim or witness, the prosecutor, or the defendant or their counsel may make a motion seeking closed circuit testimony. The bill would also permit a trial judge to make a motion. | In Committee |
| S2198 | Provides that certain fraudulent arbitration agreements are invalid. | This bill provides that certain fraudulent arbitration agreements are invalid. Specifically, the bill provides that an agreement to arbitrate is not valid if a business entity seeking to apply an agreement contained in a contract consented to by a consumer is for a purported contractual relationship created by the entity fraudulently without the consumer's consent and by unlawfully using the consumer's personal identifying information. This bill is in response to the misuse of consumer information by Wells Fargo Bank employees to create new accounts without consumer consent. The employees received commissions for selling consumers more products and services, and fraudulently created new accounts in consumers' names to inflate their sales numbers. Because the commission program was not properly managed, employees were able, and in some cases encouraged, to take advantage of it. The fraudulent practices led to many consumers being subject to various fees and charges. When consumers brought suit against Wells Fargo in court, the bank successfully compelled many consumers to arbitrate their claims, as the consumers had signed arbitration agreements when opening their original accounts. The arbitrations were carried out behind closed doors, without the due process protections available to claimants who pursue litigation before the civil courts. This bill prevents banks and other business entities with access to consumers' personal identifying information from compelling arbitration in these situations. | In Committee |
| S2229 | Increases benefit amounts and expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program. | This bill increases the benefit amounts under the New Jersey earned income tax credit (NJEITC) program and expands eligibility for taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) and those taxpayers who have been victims of domestic abuse Currently, the program provides a tax credit equal to 40 percent of the federal earned income tax credit. The bill increases this amount from 40 percent to 45 percent over a five-year period. This bill allows taxpayers with ITINs to qualify for the NJEITC program. Under the federal earned income tax credit program, a taxpayer, including a spouse if filing a joint return, is required to have a Social Security number issued by the federal Social Security Administration in order to qualify. Eligibility for the NJEITC program is generally linked to the federal earned income tax credit program; thus, an individual taxpayer who has an ITIN does not qualify for either the federal or State programs. The bill modifies the eligibility criteria under the NJEITC program to allow taxpayers with ITINs to qualify for the tax credit. The bill also expands eligibility under the NJEITC program for taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse. Under the federal program, if a taxpayer is married, the taxpayer is required to file a joint return with their spouse to be eligible for the federal earned income credit. However, victims of domestic abuse typically file as married filing separately, losing their federal earned income credit and NJEITC program eligibility in the process. The bill exempts a married taxpayer from the joint filing requirement if the taxpayer files as married filing separately and the taxpayer: (i) was living apart from the taxpayer's spouse on the last day of the taxable year for which the credit is claimed; (ii) was a victim of domestic abuse, as defined by the bill, within the past three years; and (iii) indicates on the taxpayer's gross income tax return that the taxpayer meets the criteria set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| S2212 | Requires DHS to establish a pilot program covering menstrual hygiene products under Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare. | This bill establishes a pilot program under which the State Medicaid and New Jersey FamilyCare programs would provide menstrual hygiene products free-of-charge for Medicaid and New Jersey FamilyCare-eligible menstruators through contracted Medicaid pharmacies. The bill defines "menstrual hygiene products" as tampons, menstrual cups, and sanitary napkins used to collect menstrual fluids. This pilot program is contingent upon federal approval of the State's Section 1115 waiver application to provide this new benefit and the receipt of federal matching funds for State expenditures for menstrual hygiene products under the Medicaid and New Jersey FamilyCare programs. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with appropriate experts in the fields of gynecology, women's health, and adolescent health, would determine both the quantity and frequency with which menstrual hygiene products are to be provided to eligible menstruators. Menstruators enrolled in the Medicaid or the New Jersey FamilyCare programs would receive a supply of menstrual hygiene products, at no cost, by providing a current Medicaid identification card at an approved Medicaid pharmacy. Pharmacies that participate in the pilot would then submit claims to the department, on a quarterly basis, for reimbursement for the menstrual hygiene products furnished to eligible menstruators. Currently, federal statute and regulations prohibit enrollees in federal safety-net programs, such as the Medicaid program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), from using their benefits to purchase menstrual hygiene products. The impact of these policies is clearly illustrated in the results of a recent survey of low-income women in St. Louis, MO. Of the women surveyed, 66 percent reported being unable to afford menstrual hygiene products at some point in the previous 12 months, while 20 percent of these respondents confronted this problem on a monthly basis. During the school year, low-income students may have access to menstrual hygiene products through the school health office or designated teachers. However, research by menstrual pad manufacturer Always shows that 20 percent of school-aged menstruators have either left school early, or missed school days altogether, because they lacked access to menstrual hygiene products. The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has only heightened "period poverty," a term that refers to inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and education, clean toilets, and handwashing facilities, as numerous New Jersey residents face economic hardship due to pandemic-related job losses and reduced hours of employment, and as schools switch students to remote learning as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19. Without access to menstrual hygiene products, many low-income menstruators are forced to extend the length of time they use a single tampon or sanitary napkin, or reuse a soiled sanitary napkin, thereby risking infection and, potentially, toxic shock syndrome. Other menstruators resort to using alternatives to menstrual hygiene products, such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, socks, or rags. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to provide all low-income menstruators with equitable access to a reliable supply of menstrual hygiene products through the Medicaid and New Jersey FamilyCare programs. | In Committee |
| S1606 | Requires State blanks, forms, documents, and applications to incorporate new standards for collection of information about sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. | This bill requires all blanks, forms, documents, and applications furnished to the public for official business by a State department, commission, committee, council, or agency to be modernized to incorporate new standards for the collection of information about an individual's sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Specifically, the bill requires that information about an individual's sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation be collected in all situations where other demographic data is collected, such as data concerning race and ethnicity. As with the collection of other demographic information, it will be optional for an individual to provide information about the individual's sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Any blank, form, document, or application requesting information about an individual's sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation is to be clearly marked in a manner that informs the individual that providing the information is optional, and that services will not be withheld in the case that the individual chooses not to provide the information. The authority to grant or refuse the disclosure of information about an individual's sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation remains with the individual, or with the individual's parent or guardian, if the individual is a minor under the age of 18, and no third party actor, including, but not limited to, a health care provider or a State employee or partner, will have the ability to grant or refuse the disclosure of such information. The bill requires that any questions relating to sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation be posed in a manner that: 1) is sensitive to the individual, and that does not infringe upon or threaten the individual's mental and physical well-being; 2) allows for non-binary designations; and 3) is consistent with relevant best practices, as recognized by Garden State Equality and other relevant organizations that engage in advocacy on behalf of the State's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ+) communities. The bill further provides that, in cases where the State is required by a federal agency or other federal initiative to collect and report information related to a person's sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, the State department, commission, committee, council, or agency responsible for collecting and reporting that information will be required to include, within its program rules, documentation verifying the applicable federal requirements before it will be authorized to include any questions related to sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation on the forms, blanks, documents, or applications that it uses to comply with those federal requirements. Most, if not all, State blanks, forms, documents, and applications currently use outmoded means of collecting information about sex and gender. Specifically, they often conflate the meanings of sex and gender, do not collect information concerning sexual orientation and gender identity, and do not allow individuals who exist outside of the historical male/female binary system to accurately document their gender identity. This is inconsistent with recent changes made to New Jersey birth certificates, which now allow for documentation of gender identity outside of a historical male/female binary system. It is the sponsor's belief that, by requiring all State forms and other documents to reflect a more modernized methodology for the collection of information on sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, the State will better serve New Jersey's sexual and gender minorities by gathering information critical to targeting government programs and public policy to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. | In Committee |
| S2205 | Requires school district to establish "School Meal Fund" to assist students with school meal bill in arrears. | This bill requires a board of education to accept monetary donations from any person or entity for the purposes of assisting students with the purchase of school breakfast or school lunch, and for the purposes of satisfying any arrears of school breakfast or school lunch bills of students enrolled in the district. The bill requires a board of education to establish a "School Meal Fund" and to place in the fund any donations received by a school district that are intended to assist students enrolled in the school district with purchasing school meals or satisfying arrears of school meal bills. The fund will be established through the adoption of a resolution by the board of education. School Meal Fund moneys will be maintained in a separate bank account. The fund will be credited with any donations made to the fund, any moneys allocated to the fund by the school district, and any interest income that may be earned on the investment of moneys in the fund. The fund will be reduced by all costs related to the operation of the fund, including bank service fees and direct administrative costs for the oversight and management of the fund. Any funds remaining at the end of a fiscal year will be carried forward into subsequent fiscal years and utilized solely for the purposes of assisting students enrolled in the district with purchasing school meals and satisfying arrears of school meal bills. The board will also adopt a policy that will ensure the fiscal accountability of the fund and will outline the standards that will be applied in making a determination to disburse moneys from the fund. The bill provides that the policy adopted by the board will ensure equitable distribution of the moneys that are disbursed from the fund. The fund will be subject to audit as part of the school district's annual audit required under current law. The bill directs a board of education to provide, through written and electronic means, information to the parents and guardians of students enrolled in the school district and to other residents of the school district and community organizations regarding the board of education's obligation to accept donated funds and the procedures to be followed to make a donation to the fund. The information will also be posted in a prominent location on the school district's Internet website. Finally, the bill provides that the requirement to provide information to parents and guardians will not apply to school districts in which all schools within the district have adopted the Community Eligibility Provision and provide free schools meals to all students enrolled in the district. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S1940 | Concerns family leave and gestational carriers. | This bill amends P.L.1948, c.110 and P.L.1989, c.261 to have the paid and unpaid leave provided under those laws include leave time in which an employee who is intended to become the parent of a child under a written agreement with a gestational carrier or otherwise provides care for the person whose pregnancy will result in the child during the person's pregnancy and recovery from childbirth. | In Committee |
| S2202 | Establishes tuition reimbursement program for students enrolled in certain private postsecondary educational schools. | This bill establishes a restricted, nonlapsing, revolving the Proprietary Institutions Student Tuition Protection Fund in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The purpose of the fund is to provide for a system of equitable refunds in the event of the closure of a private career school. Under the provisions of the bill, a private career school which conducts business and maintains facilities within the State would be required to register with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and to receive a certificate of approval. The school would also be required to obtain a performance bond in an amount determined by the commissioner and made payable to the department. Each school is to pay to the State Treasurer for deposit annually in the fund an amount set by the commissioner for each student enrolled in the school. Once the balance of the fund reaches $2,500,000, and upon notification from the commissioner, contributions to the fund will cease but will resume if the fund is reduced to an amount less than $2,000,000. The bill establishes procedures to be followed for payments from the fund in the event that a private career school ceases operation but also stipulates that approved claims for refunds shall be paid from an institution's performance bond whenever possible. When the bond is insufficient to pay approved claims, a refund check shall be issued from the fund and the recipient of the refund shall assign all rights to the State of any action against the institution or its owner for tuition amounts reimbursed. The bill sets the parameters for which a student enrolled in a private career school which ceases to operate, becomes insolvent, or otherwise ceases all instructional activity, to be eligible for a refund of any tuition which the school has not previously refunded to the student. Furthermore, the bill requires the department, in consultation with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, to identify all students who are pursuing a course or instruction who have paid all or part of the tuition with State grant or scholarship funds. Under the bill, any refund to which the student is entitled shall be made directly to the authority, except that any refund amount exceeding the amount of State grant or scholarship funds must be distributed directly to the student. The bill also requires that a student who receives a refund or on whose behalf a refund is paid, the student must assign all rights to the State of any action against the institution or its owner for tuition amounts reimbursed. Upon the assignment, under the bill, the State may take appropriate action against the school or its owner in order to reimburse the fund for any expenses or claims that are paid from the fund and to reimburse any expenses the State incurs in undertaking the action. | In Committee |
| S1278 | Requires certain information to be included in SHBP and SEHBP claims experience data provided to certain public employers. | This bill requires certain information to be included in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) claims experience data to be provided to certain public employers. Under current law, the SHBP provides upon request and not more than once in a 24-month period complete claims experience data to a public employer other than the State that participates in the SHBP. This bill changes the 24-month period to not more than once per calendar year, and adds language to allow the majority representative of the employees of that public employer to request and receive the claims experience data if the public employer requested the data. Under the bill, the same requirements would apply to the SEHBP. This bill requires certain information to be included in the claims experience data for SHBP and SEHBP. The information specified in the bill includes, but is not limited to, medical claims summary report by classification; top 50 drugs or medicines that require a doctor's prescription by total number dispensed; top 50 drugs or medicines that require a doctor's prescription by total dollars paid; number and type of ongoing maintenance prescriptions by mail order and retail; prescription utilization summary; prescription executive summary report; prescription trend performance summary for each plan design; and a prescription key performance indicator report. Current law requires the SHBP to issue claims experience data only in a manner that complies with the privacy requirements of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and related regulations. The bill further specifies that no information will be released in such form as to result in the identification of an individual or in such form as to adversely affect personal privacy rights. Under the bill, the same requirements would apply to the SEHBP. | In Committee |
| S2220 | Establishes "Purple Ribbon Schools Program" in DOE to recognize public and nonpublic schools with positive school climate. | This bill establishes a Purple Ribbon Schools Program in the Department of Education. Under the program, the Commissioner of Education will annually recognize as a Purple Ribbon School those public and nonpublic schools that provide or have made significant progress to:· provide a safe and inclusive environment for students and staff;· raise awareness of the issue of student suicide and suicide prevention; and· address the issue of student mental health and teacher mental health first aid training. Under the bill, the commissioner will establish a Purple Ribbon Schools Working Group which will develop criteria for public and nonpublic schools to qualify for a Purple Ribbon School designation. The working group will consist of members appointed by the commissioner and will be composed of, but need not be limited to: a school principal; a school administrator; a middle school teacher; a high school teacher; a school counselor; a school social worker; a school psychologist; a person with personal or family experience with suicide; a person with knowledge and expertise in the prevention of youth suicide in high-risk populations; a person who has a background in, or special knowledge of, the legal, policy, educational, social, or psychological aspects of bullying; and a student who has been the victim of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The criteria established by the working group for a Purple Ribbon Schools designation will include, but need not be limited to, the school's efforts to:· highlight and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; · create safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all students, faculty, and staff regardless of race or sexual and gender identities, including the establishment of wellness rooms for mindfulness and social-emotional learning;· implement policies and programs to assist students struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues; and· provide teachers, faculty, and staff with opportunities for instruction in mental health issues and trauma-informed care provided by a licensed health care professional with training and expertise in mental health issues. The working group, in consultation with the commissioner, will establish a scoring system based on the criteria developed to be used by the commissioner in the selection of Purple Ribbon Schools. | In Committee |
| S1650 | Establishes New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council in DHS. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the council will be to: (1) periodically survey and evaluate existing activities, programs, initiatives, and services related to suicide prevention efforts operating throughout the State; (2) develop standards and guidelines for suicide prevention entities operating in the State to report certain data to the council as required under the bill; (3) assist suicide prevention entities by providing standardized guidance, based on prevailing best practices, concerning the content of informational materials made available to persons who report an attempted or completed suicide; (4) provide guidance and assistance to suicide prevention entities concerning compliance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Human Services to implement the provisions of the bill; (5) serve as a centralized hub for reporting, analyzing, and retaining certain non-identifying and de-identified data collected from suicide prevention entities operating within the State, including: the individual's age, gender, race, and ethnicity; whether the suicide was completed; the method of attempted or completed suicide; the person's status as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, undesignated/nonbinary, questioning, queer, or intersex; the person's status a current or former law enforcement officer; the person's status as active or retired military; the municipality in which the attempted or completed suicide occurred; whether the person had previous involvement with a mental health professional or a professional specializing in the treatment of substance use disorders; and any other metric the council requires to be reported, provided that the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families, and the Attorney General have each approved collection of the additional metric by the council; (6) collect information from suicide prevention entities operating within the State concerning the entity's programs, activities, and initiatives related to suicide prevention and intervention, including any requests for proposals issued by the entity, any grants for which the entity applies and whether those grants involve State, federal, or private monies, and any other sources of State, federal, or private funding sought out by the entity; and (7) compile and make available to appropriate entities, including the Department of Health and other State and federal authorities authorized to acquire such data and related information, certain data collected by the council, as well as the council's findings and recommendations related to completed suicides and suicide attempts, provided that any data or other information furnished by the council to another entity does not contain any private or personal identifying information, and the data and other information is furnished in a manner that is not violative of State or federal privacy laws. With regard to the entities that are subject to the reporting requirements under the bill, the term "suicide prevention entity" is defined to mean any entity operating under imprimatur of State authority that engages in activities related to suicide prevention or collecting data specific to attempted and completed suicides, regardless of whether the entity was established by statute, regulation, or executive or administrative action. The council will consist of 25 members, including: the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, Children and Families, Corrections, and Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, the executive director of the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, the Executive Director of the Board of Directors of NJ Transit, the Chief State Medical Examiner, the assistant commissioner of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, the chair of the Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma, and the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; (2) four public members appointed by the Governor, three of whom are to be faculty members at institutions of higher education who have expertise in the area of mental health, and one of whom is to be either a law enforcement officer in the Office of the Attorney General with expertise related to suicide or a mental health professional; (3) four public members appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom is to have experience as a mental health professional in the private sector with experience in youth suicide prevention and counseling, one of whom is to have experience as a psychiatrist in the private sector in the provision of services to elderly persons, one of whom is to be a person who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, undesignated/nonbinary, questioning, queer, or intersex, and one of whom is to be a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor who is also a licensed clinical social worker with experience working with individuals in crisis; and (4) four public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, two of whom are to be current or former mental health professionals with experience providing services in a secondary school, one of whom is to be a survivor of suicide or have a family member who has been affected by suicide, and one of whom is to have experience as a primary health care practitioner. The public members will serve for a term of five years. The council will be required to issue an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature containing a summary of the data compiled by the council that includes aggregate demographic information about persons who attempt or complete suicide and any findings made by the council concerning attempted and completed suicides. The report will include recommendations for legislation or administrative or other actions as may be necessary to facilitate the accurate and efficient collection of data and promote more effective suicide prevention and intervention activities, programs, and initiatives. | 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 |
| S2193 | Requires various State departments to provide linkages to information on "baby boxes" and safe sleep education on their websites. | This bill mandates that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) prepare and make available on its Internet website, in an easily printable format, information on the program providing "baby boxes" and safe sleep education to expecting and new parents. DCF would update the information whenever new information on the program becomes available. DCF would also be required to post a website link to the program providing the "baby boxes" and safe sleep education on its website, and ensure that the link is easily accessible to the public, prominently displayed on the website, and updated as necessary. As used in bill, "baby box" means a box made of durable cardboard, filled with essential items for newborns and expecting and new parents, such as diapers, baby wipes, and information on safe sleep techniques, that can serve as a safe sleep environment for the first few months of an infant's life, and meets all applicable tenets of the bassinet standard established by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The bill stipulates that DCF would ensure, in consultation with all other State departments, that the information posted on its website is made available, and the website link to the program providing the "baby boxes" and safe sleep education is posted on the website of every State department, and is updated as necessary. "Baby boxes" are made of durable cardboard, filled with essential items for newborns, such as diapers and baby wipes, and are large enough to serve as a crib for the first few months of an infant's life. New Jersey's program, a partnership between the State's Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board and The Baby Box Company, provides all expecting and new parents with a free "baby box" after the parents complete an online parenting education course. The program is anticipated to distribute approximately 105,000 "baby boxes" throughout the State in 2017. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S312 | Requires certain employers with State contracts to pay their employees their usual compensation for each day of jury service. | This bill would enhance the current law which provides employment protection for jury service. Currently, N.J.S.2B:20-17 prohibits an employer from penalizing an employee who is called for jury service. This bill would require an employer, who contracts with the State to continue to pay his employee his usual compensation for each day of jury service, less the amount of per diem fee for each day of jury service. The bill defines "State contract" as any purchase, contract or agreement the cost or contract price of which is to be paid, in whole or in part, with or out of State funds. The bill would apply to employers who have a State contract and have at least 50 employees for 20 or more weeks. Under the bill, an employee means a person who is employed for at least 12 months by an employer for not less than 1,000 base hours during the immediately preceding 12-month period prior to jury service. | In Committee |
| S2242 | Establishes Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey at Thomas Edison State University. | This bill establishes at Thomas Edison State University the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey (CreateNJ). The purpose of CreateNJ would be to maximize collaborations between employers, partner organizations, and institutions of higher education that develop and implement career pathways for nontraditional students and workers and workforce development programs. The center would be the State's central resource for the evaluation and translation of learning experiences into a validated record of academic credit, career credentials, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship credits, and pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities. The validated record developed by the center, under the provisions of the bill, is to be known as the CreateNJ Workforce Transcript. Under the bill, CreateNJ would establish a steering committee of 12 members, the purpose of which is to foster partnerships between government and industry for the mapping of credentials and to contribute to the direction and sustainability of the center. The steering committee would be co-chaired by the President of Thomas Edison State University and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or their designees. Other members of the steering committee would include one representative from each of the following: (1) the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety; (2) the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education; (3) the Department of Education; (4) the Economic Development Authority; (5) the New Jersey Business and Industry Association; and (6) the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. Under the bill, the steering committee will also include three representatives of the New Jersey Presidents' Council, preferably each from different sectors. Under the bill, CreateNJ would establish a database that houses all of the skills or credits credentialed or accepted by Thomas Edison State University or other participating institutions of higher education pursuant to the bill. | Dead |
| 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 |
| S2177 | Establishes Office of Women's Services in DOC. | This bill establishes the Office of Women's Services in the Department of Corrections. Under the provisions of this bill, the office is required to ensure that policies, programs, and services are in place and available to address: 1) the specific needs of female inmates in the following areas: medical treatment, including prenatal care; mental health treatment, including treatment for physical or sexual abuse or other trauma; substance abuse treatment; parenting; and child reunification; 2) the specific needs of female inmates who are pregnant, have given birth while incarcerated, have recently given birth prior to incarceration, or are breastfeeding; and 3) any other areas deemed appropriate by the commissioner. The bill provides that the office is to be under the immediate supervision of a director who is to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The director may appoint employees as necessary, subject to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes (Civil Service). | In Committee |
| S1276 | Requires health insurance coverage of prenatal genetic test during first trimester of pregnancy. | This bill requires health insurance coverage of a prenatal genetic test during the first trimester of pregnancy. Under the bill, health insurance carriers (including insurance companies, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, and any entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program) will be required to cover a prenatal genetic test during the first trimester of a pregnancy. The methods of testing for which benefits will be provided will include, but not be limited to, a carrier screening, a nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus sampling. For the purpose of this bill, "carrier screening" means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a gene for certain inherited disorders. | In Committee |
| S2194 | Requires members, officers, and employees of Legislature to undergo implicit bias and cultural competency training. | This bill requires implicit bias and cultural competency training for members, officers, and employees of the Legislature. Implicit bias is a bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. Cultural competency is the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from different cultures or belief systems. An online tutorial must be completed by April 1 of every even-numbered year and training must be done annually. Successful completion of both the online tutorial and the annual training must be communicated to the Legislative Counsel and such communications will be considered public information. Every day, the Legislature creates laws that impact people of all backgrounds and cultures. In doing this important work, it is critical for all members, officers, and employees of the Legislature to understand their own biases as well as cultures and belief systems different from their own. | In Committee |
| S278 | Requires limited liability company disclose certain information when recording deed concerning residential rental property. | This bill would require a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company disclose information pertaining to the company's registered agent when that company is the grantee of a deed for residential real property and such property is intended to be used for residential rental purposes. The disclosure of this information would be made at the time when the company files the deed for recording. In addition, if the registered agent is not a member of the company, an affidavit identifying at least one member of the company shall be appended to the deed. The disclosures called for in this bill would be required regardless of the number of rental dwelling units contained on the property. | In Committee |
| S2175 | Revises certain requirements related to cash assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program. | This bill revises certain requirements related to cash assistance benefits under the Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program. The bill provides that, when determining whether good cause exists to excuse noncompliance with program requirements, good cause is to be considered broadly in consideration of the recipient's health, safety, family needs, financial considerations, and other factors as determined by the commissioner. The bill updates references in the current law that use the term "alien" to instead read "immigrant," and harmonizes a language discrepancy between the definition of "eligible immigrant" in section 3 of P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-57) and the definition of "eligible immigrant" in section 1 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-44). The bill revises the requirements concerning provision of child support to an assistance unit to provide that the amount of child support will be based on the number of children in the assistance unit. The bill removes a requirement that the amount of pass-through child support be based on regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Human Services. The bill revises language setting forth the general purposes and goals of the WFNJ program to provide that the purpose of the program is to provide recipients with the opportunities, training, and work skills needed to help elevate them out of poverty. The bill removes certain language concerning how the program interacts with young parents and how the system can be disruptive to the family structure, as well as language stating that the program is consistent with federal law by including a time limit on benefits, work requirements, enhanced measures to determine paternity, enhanced child support collection, sanctions for noncompliance with program requirements, incentives for teenage parents to complete school, and restrictions on eligibility for aliens. The bill reduces the hourly requirement for work activity from 40 hours per week to 30 hours per week, and provides that the maximum aggregate requirement is 20 hours per week for assistance units with a child under six years of age. Current law provides for a deferral from the work activity requirement for parents and relatives caring for a child under 12 weeks of age; the bill extends this deferral to apply to parents and relatives caring for a child under one year of age. The bill revises the sanctions that may be imposed for non-compliance with program requirements to provide that an adult beneficiary who is not in compliance will have up to six months to actively cooperate or participate, or demonstrate good cause for non-compliance, before the adult beneficiary's pro-rata share of the benefits amount for the assistance unit will be suspended. Under current law, the adult's pro rata share may be suspended for non-compliance after one month. The bill removes outdated language in the definition of "dependent child" that required a child in school or vocational training to reasonably be expected to complete the school or training. The bill requires that, commencing July 1, 2023, the Commissioner of Human Services will be required to conduct an annual assessment of the real cost of living and actual deprivation as reflected in the current standard of need established pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1997, c.13 (C.44:10-42); the commissioner will be required to transmit this assessment to the Legislature for consideration when deciding on appropriations to fund cash assistance benefits. In no case may benefit amounts be reduced. The bill grants the Commissioner of Human Services emergency rulemaking authority to adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the bill, which emergency rules will be in effect for no more than one year, after which the commissioner will be required to amend, adopt, or readopt the emergency rules in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act." | In Committee |
| S164 | Requires health benefits coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for insureds aged 21 or younger. | This bill, which amends P.L.2008, c.126, "Grace's Law," removes the specification that health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCare Program) provide coverage for expenses incurred in the purchase of a hearing aid only for covered persons who are 15 years old or younger, and providing instead that they provide coverage for those expenses for covered persons who are 21 year old or younger. The bill allows a health insurer to limit the coverage of a hearing aid to one hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 24 months. The bill also requires that benefits provide coverage of the cost of treatment related to cochlear implants, including procedures for the implantation of cochlear devices and costs for any parts, attachments, or accessories of the device. In addition, the bill supplements P.L.2007, c.103 (C.52:14-17.46.1 et seq.) to require the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission to ensure that every contract purchased by the commission meets the same requirements for hearing aid and cochlear implant coverage as "Grace's Law." | Dead |
| S2225 | Establishes summer transition pilot program for rising kindergarten students who meet certain criteria. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a four-year summer transition pilot program for certain rising kindergarten students in participating school districts. The purpose of the program is to provide high-quality academic instruction over the summer for students in targeted high-needs populations who will attend kindergarten in the fall in order to reduce the achievement gap and provide supportive resources. A school district that is selected to participate in the pilot program is required to develop and implement a six-week summer transition program for eligible rising kindergarten students. The summer transition program will provide high-quality instruction with a focus on language, literacy, and mathematics and will provide additional family support and resources, as applicable, to assist the students participating in the program. In order to be eligible to attend the summer transition program in a participating school district, a student must be age-eligible, and registered to attend kindergarten in the September that immediately follows the summer transition program. The student's family income must be at or below 85 percent of the State median income as adjusted for household size. In addition, the student must meet one of the following criteria: (1) the student did not attend a preschool program funded pursuant to section 12 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-54) or through any other State appropriation, during the preceding school year; the child did attend such a program during the preceding school year but did not attend for the entire school year; or the child did attend such a program during the entire preceding school year but has been identified as needing additional academic support before entering kindergarten; or (2) the student is a member of at least one of the following priority groups: (a) the student is an English language learner; (b) the student has an individualized education program (IEP); (c) the student is in a resource family home; or (d) the student is a homeless child. To participate in the pilot program a school district must submit an application to the commissioner, which includes a description of the district's proposal for creating and implementing a summer transition program and the estimated number of students who will be eligible to participate in the summer transition program. The commissioner will select up to 15 school districts for participation in the pilot program, subject to the expression of interest and the availability of funds. The commissioner will determine the amount of each grant awarded under the program to participating school districts to develop and implement the summer transition program. At the conclusion of the pilot program, each participating school district will submit a report to the commissioner. After receiving these reports, the commissioner will submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program and will include in the report his recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts in the State. Finally, there will be established in the Department of Education the "Summer Transition Program Fund" which will be used to provide grants to participating school districts. The fund will be annually credited with the moneys appropriated by the Legislature, and any federal or private funds that may be available for purposes of the summer transition pilot program. | In Committee |
| S2199 | Requires certain ultrasounds on pregnant women to be performed by licensed health care professionals. | This bill provides that the performance of any ultrasound on a pregnant woman in a limited service pregnancy center shall be performed by a health care professional whose scope of practice includes performing ultrasounds. The bill defines "health care professional" as a person licensed or otherwise authorized pursuant to Title 45 or Title 52 of the Revised Statutes to practice a health care profession that is regulated by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs or by one of the professional licensing boards located thereunder. "Limited service pregnancy center" is defined as an organization, including a pregnancy counseling organization or crisis pregnancy center, that for a fee or free of charge provides pregnancy counseling or information but does not perform abortions or make referrals to an abortion provider and is not licensed or certified by this State or the federal government to provide medical or health care services. "Limited service pregnancy center" shall not include a health care provider, a hospital, an abortion clinic, or a family planning clinic that performs abortions, provides contraception, or provides abortion or contraception referrals. | In Committee |
| S1968 | Provides categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services to certain child care workers. | The bill provides eligibility for child care services through the State's subsidized child care assistance program for "qualifying child care workers," regardless of the individual's annual family income. The bill defines a qualifying child care worker as an educator or staff member who is employed by a licensed child care center or a registered family child care provider for a minimum of 20 hours per week. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is directed to establish a process by which the Department of Human Services will confirm that a qualifying child care worker is employed by a child care provider for the number of hours required to access the child care subsidy benefit. The commissioner, moreover, is to apply for any State plan amendments or waivers necessary to ensure continuation of federal funding for subsidized child care services for eligible families under the "Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990." | In Committee |
| S999 | "Manufacturing in Higher Education Act"; requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to manufacturing industry. | This bill requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to the manufacturing industry. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, Commissioner of Education, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, and representatives of the business community, will promote and support the implementation of the manufacturing career pathway offered through the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative operated by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce Development to provide students interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing with the instruction and skills necessary to gain employment in the manufacturing or advanced manufacturing sectors. The manufacturing career pathway will include traditional and advanced manufacturing processes and methods of production including, but not limited to, the machinery, technology, tools, and equipment used in a wide range of manufacturing industries. The bill establishes a "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program," to be administered by a three-person commission which will include the Secretary of Higher Education, a representative of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, and a representative of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. The commission will annually award $10 million to New Jersey institutions of higher education, proprietary institutions, and county vocational school districts for the purpose of establishing or expanding programs in the manufacturing fields, and marketing and promoting current programs in the manufacturing fields. Under the bill, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, will designate an existing or newly hired employee of the Business Action Center in the Department of State to act as a liaison between the State and manufacturing businesses located in this State. The duties of the liaison will be to assist manufacturing businesses by:· advertising manufacturing businesses' products or services nationally and internationally through the Business Action Center; · establishing a business referral service where manufacturing businesses may be referred to other State, federal, or private business resource organizations; and· identifying and promoting opportunities throughout the State for postsecondary pathway programs to actively reskill and upskill the current workforce to better meet the needs of manufacturing fields. The Secretary of State is to work with State departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and authorities to direct resources, create incentives, and provide technological, financial, and workforce development opportunities for manufacturing businesses. The bill also establishes in the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission, the New Jersey Advanced Manufacturing Council. The council will consist of 11 members who are individuals with experience in the fields of labor, education, or workforce development or training. The bill directs the council to:· convene and enable industry-led, private-public partnerships focused on engaging New Jersey institutions of higher education in manufacturing innovation;· design and implement an advanced manufacturing initiative to facilitate collaboration and information sharing across State departments and agencies;· assist private companies to enhance technological transfer in New Jersey manufacturing industries to help companies overcome technical obstacles to scaling up production of new technologies; and· submit an annual report to the Governor, to the Legislature, and to the State Employment and Training Commission, of its assessments and recommendations to enhance State policy related to the advanced manufacturing industry in New Jersey. | Dead |
| 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 |
| SR11 | Urges Congress and President to enact "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act." | This resolution respectfully urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act," introduced in the United States House of Representatives as H.R. 9429 on December 5, 2022. The "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act" seeks to make financial aid offers more transparent by: 1) establishing standardized terms related cost, grant aid, and financing options; 2) listing clearly a student's direct costs first followed by the indirect costs of attendance; and 3) publishing a College Scorecard on each institution that informs a potential student the average cost of attendance. The "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act" was introduced in response to the findings within the United States Government Accountability Office's report, "Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid" (GAO Report). The GAO Report found that: 1) 91 percent of institutions of higher education do not include or understate the net price of attendance in their aid offers; 2) 55 percent of institutions do not itemize key direct and indirect costs in their financial aid offers; and 3) 24 percent of institutions do not provide a student with the total cost of attendance. The GAO Report recommended that Congress enact legislation to address these issues. Transparency in financial aid offers is crucial for students and their families to understand their financial obligations when selecting an institution of higher education. Without clear and comparable information, students may choose an unaffordable institution and be more likely to rely on excessive student loans to finance their education. New Jersey has expressed its commitment to making higher education affordable and ensuring greater transparency in financial aid offers. The "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act" is a next step in ensuring transparency and consumer friendly practices by institutions of higher education that aligns with New Jersey's prior legislative enactments. The State recognizes the importance of creating a federal requirement for financial aid offers. Thus, the Senate respectfully urges Congress and the President to enact the "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act." | In Committee |
| S2226 | Requires young children entering public schools or Head Start Programs for first time to have comprehensive eye examination completed. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to require each child age 6 and under who is entering a public preschool, public school, or a Head Start Program for the first time to have a comprehensive eye examination completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by January 1 of the child's initial year of enrollment in the school or program. The Department of Health will maintain a list of resources from which a parent or guardian may obtain a free or reduced price comprehensive eye examination. The list will be posted on the Department of Health's website and will be provided to each public preschool, public school, and Head Start Program. A principal, director, or other person in charge of a public preschool, public school, or Head Start Program must collect from the child's parent or guardian evidence of the child's comprehensive eye examination, as provided by regulation of the State board. A comprehensive eye examination that was performed no more than one year prior to a child's initial enrollment in a public preschool, public school, or Head Start Program will satisfy the requirements under the bill. Under the bill, a special fund will be created in the Department of Education, to be entitled the "Comprehensive Eye Examination Fund." The fund must be maintained in a separate account and administered by the commissioner to carry out the provisions of the bill. The fund will consist of (1) any monies appropriated by the State for the purposes of the fund; (2) any monies donated for the purposes of the fund; and (3) all interest and investment earnings received on monies in the fund. The fund is to be used to cover the costs of comprehensive eye examinations conducted pursuant to the bill, for any uninsured children and children without applicable healthcare coverage. | In Committee |
| S2219 | Requires institutions of higher education to adopt affirmative consent standard and other policies regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. | This bill requires institutions of higher education to adopt an affirmative consent standard and numerous other policies regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Under the bill, in order to receive State funds for student assistance programs, the governing board of each institution of higher education must adopt a policy concerning sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking involving a student, both on and off campus. The policy must include all of the following: - an affirmative consent standard in the determination of whether consent was given by both parties to sexual activity. "Affirmative consent" means affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity; - a policy that, in the evaluation of a complaint in a disciplinary process, it shall not be a valid excuse to alleged lack of affirmative consent that the accused believed that the complainant consented to the sexual activity under certain circumstances; - a policy that the standard used in determining whether the elements of the complaint against the accused have been demonstrated is the preponderance of the evidence; and - a policy that, in the evaluation of a complaint in a disciplinary process, it shall not be a valid excuse that the accused believed that the complainant affirmatively consented to the sexual activity if the accused knew or reasonably should have known that the complainant was unable to consent to the sexual activity under certain circumstances. In order to receive State aid for student assistance programs, the governing board of each institution of higher education must also: - adopt detailed and victim-centered policies and protocols outlined in the bill regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking involving a student that comport with best practices and current professional standards; - enter into memoranda of understanding, agreements, or collaborative partnerships with existing on-campus and community-based organizations to refer students for assistance or make services available to students, including counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, and legal assistance, and including resources for the accused; and - implement comprehensive prevention and outreach programs addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. | In Committee |
| S1322 | Provides for expansion of certain support team addiction recovery programs; appropriates $1,995,000 from opioid recovery and remediation fund. | This bill amends section 1 of P.L.2023, c.25 (C.26:2G-39) to allow moneys received by the State as a result of the national opioid litigation resolution and deposited into the "Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund" to be used to support case management and recovery support services provided through the Support Team Addiction Recovery (STAR) and the Support Team Addiction Recovery (STAR) Jail Expansion programs. A STAR program, administered by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (DHS), provides case management and recovery support services to individuals with a substance use disorder. A STAR Jail Expansion program specifically provides case management and recovery support services to individuals with substance use disorders who were recently released from a State, county, or local correctional facility. The bill allocates $1,995,000 from the "Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund" to the DHS to supplement the federal funds appropriated to counties for STAR and STAR Jail expansion programs as follows: (1) $1,715,000 to supplement existing federal grant monies appropriated to counties for STAR programs; (2) $192,500 to establish a STAR Jail Expansion program in Passaic county; and (3) $87,500 to provide for salaries and assumed salary increases for case managers and recovery support specialists hired by STAR and STAR Jail expansion programs. The bill also stipulates the funds allocated from the "Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund" are not to replace or decrease the amount of existing federal grant monies appropriated to counties for the STAR and STAR Jail Expansion programs. | In Committee |
| S1996 | "Penny's Law"; requires DEP to develop beach accessibility guidelines for persons with disabilities. | This bill, designated as "Penny's Law," would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop guidelines for specific facilities and accommodations necessary to provide accessibility to beaches for persons with disabilities. The guidelines would be required to include recommendations for ramps, restrooms, showers, boardwalks, surf chairs, parking, and any other facilities deemed appropriate. The bill requires the DEP, when developing the guidelines, to consult with any persons or organizations with knowledge and experience in assisting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to establish a process by which such persons and organizations will be informed of their ability to provide input and recommendations in association with the development of beach accessibility guidelines. The DEP is also required to consider, as appropriate, the guidelines for beach access routes and facilities on federal lands that have been adopted by the United States Access Board. The bill requires the DEP to publish the guidelines on its Internet website and to distribute the guidelines to every county and municipality with publicly-owned beach or waterfront property. This bill also requires the DEP to design a uniform label or sign that may be displayed by a State or local government at any beach that complies with the accessibility guidelines developed under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2246 | Allows law enforcement agencies to provide juvenile-family crisis information to principal of juvenile's school for planning programs relevant to juvenile's educational and social development. | This bill would allow a law enforcement agency, on a confidential basis, to provide information regarding a juvenile involved in a juvenile-family crisis to the principal of the school where the juvenile is enrolled for use by the principal and such members of the staff as the principal deems appropriate for the purpose of planning programs relevant to the juvenile's educational and social development. A record of the information provided by the law enforcement agency is not permitted to be maintained except as authorized by regulation of the State Board of Education. Any information provided by the law enforcement agency under the provisions of this bill is not permitted to be used to impose school discipline. | In Committee |
| S2214 | "Farm Worker Epidemic Health and Safety Act"; concerns public health and certain protections for farm workers. | This bill, designated as the "Farm Worker Epidemic Health and Safety Act," directs the Commissioner of Health (commissioner), as part of commissioner's responsibility to protect the health of the public by regulating the detection, prevention, and control of communicable, infectious and preventable diseases, to utilize the commissioner's powers during a public health emergency or state of emergency related to epidemic or pandemic disease to do the following with respect to "farm workers" and "farm employers", as those terms are defined in the bill: 1) Designate farm workers as being among the groups with the highest priority for testing for communicable disease during the emergency, and conduct or require the testing of all of those workers in their workplace, or in farm employer-sponsored or farm employer-authorized housing facilities, upon the commencement of their employment, and repeat as frequently as the commissioner deems appropriate, and, in a timely manner, make the testing results of the testing public and provide them to local boards of health and to the farm employers as permitted under the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996" (HIPAA) and farm employers who will be required to notify any employee who might have come in contact with or been exposed to a person who tests positive for a pandemic disease consistent with the confidentiality requirements of the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" (ADA) and any other applicable laws; 2) Conduct, or have other entities conduct, inspections of each worksite and facility, and of employer records, to determine whether each farm employer is meeting all standards, guidelines and guidances required by law or issued by the commissioner or other authority declaring the emergency, which include that the farm employer: cooperates fully in permitting access to the worksites, facilities, and records for the inspections and educational activities; implements, and provides necessary supplies for, good hygiene and infection control practices; does not direct farm workers to work when sick, and has exposed, infected or symptomatic farm workers quarantined or separated as directed by public health officials; implements policies to promote social distancing at worksites and in farm employer-sponsored or farm employer-authorized housing, transportation, and dining facilities; and provides farm workers with recommended personal protective equipment; and 3) Collaborate with the Commissioners of Labor and Workforce Development, Community Affairs, and Environmental Protection, and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a comprehensive program of publicity and education, including on-site training, to ensure that all farm employers and farm workers are informed about their rights and responsibilities under the bill and other public health, environmental, or labor laws applicable to farm employment. The bill directs the commissioner to collaborate during the emergency with the Commissioners of Labor and Workforce Development, Community Affairs, and Environmental Protection, and the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a system to ensure that those departments, on a timely basis, share with each other information regarding violations of public health, environmental, or labor laws applicable to worksites at farms, migrant labor camps, and other housing, transportation or dining facilities of farm employers, including the information from local boards of health and other entities authorized to assist department inspection or enforcement efforts. The commissioners are directed to maximize coordination of enforcement efforts when conducting inspections, making determinations regarding violations, and imposing penalties. As an alternative to or in addition to any other sanctions provided by law, the bill provides that, when the commissioner finds that a farm employer has taken any retaliatory action against farm worker for exercising rights provided by the provisions of the bill, or has willfully violated any other provisions of the bill, or any procedures contained therein, the commissioner is authorized to take an action to assess and collect an administrative fine of up to a maximum of $250 for a first violation and up to a maximum of $500 for each subsequent violation, specified in a schedule of penalties to be promulgated as a rule or regulation by the commissioner. The bill clarifies that the requirement to report test results to farm employers is subject to the limitations of the HIPAA and that farm employers are required to use test results to notify potentially exposed employees consistent with the confidentiality requirements of the ADA and any other applicable laws. | In Committee |
| S2020 | Requires health insurance carriers to categorize mental health treatment and therapy received by victim of domestic violence as medically necessary treatment and provide full benefits coverage therefor. | This bill would require all health insurance carriers in the State, including hospital service corporations, group or individual medical service corporations, group or individual health service corporations, group or individual health insurance policies, health maintenance organizations, individual health benefits plans, small employer health benefits plans, the State Health Benefits Commission, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission, to categorize mental health treatment and therapy received by an insured victim of domestic violence as medically necessary treatment and to provide full benefits coverage therefor. Although current law requires several types of health insurance carriers to provide coverage for medically necessary health care services that are provided in association with the treatment of a physical injury resulting from domestic violence, no insurance carrier is similarly required to provide coverage for mental health care that is received by victims of domestic violence. This bill would fill this gap in the law by recognizing the medical necessity of all mental health treatment and therapy received by a victim of domestic violence and requiring all carriers to provide full benefits coverage therefor. | In Committee |
| S2172 | Prohibits employers from inquiring about gender of job applicants under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits employers from inquiring about job applicant's genders. The bill prohibits employers from requiring applicants for employment to complete any employment application that makes any inquiries regarding the applicant's gender during the initial employment application process. Additionally, the bill prohibits employers from making any oral or written inquiry regarding an applicant's gender during the initial employment application process. The bill provides that employers are not permitted to consider when making an employment decision, or to require any applicant to disclose or reveal, or to take any adverse employment action against any applicant on the basis of the applicant's gender. Under the bill, employers may require applicants for employment to complete an employment application that makes any inquiries regarding an applicant's gender after the initial employment application process has concluded or make written inquiries regarding an applicant's gender after the initial employment application process has concluded as may be required to satisfy any other provision of State or federal law. The provisions of the bill do not apply if the employment sought or being considered is for a position on the basis of gender in those certain circumstances where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification, reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business or enterprise. | In Committee |
| S233 | Establishes NJ Wind Institute for Innovation and Training. | This bill would establish the New Jersey Wind Institute for Innovation and Training (institute). The institute would be governed by a board consisting of nine members, as follows: the Governor, the President of the Board of Public Utilities, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Secretary of Higher Education, and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or their designees; and three public members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The public members would have relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: workforce development; organized labor; education, research and innovation; clean energy or offshore wind development; environmental protection; or diversity and inclusion. The institute would be charged with: (1) designing, establishing, and implementing workforce development, education, research, and innovation programs and initiatives that advance the State's offshore wind industry and associated clean energy goals; (2) collaborating with State agencies and other instrumentalities that include, but are not limited to, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Board of Public Utilities, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology; (3) engaging with, collaborating, and coordinating efforts among offshore wind stakeholders, including but not limited to industry, State and federal agencies, regional partners, public and private institutions of primary, secondary, and higher education, labor groups, environmental groups, and environmental justice organizations in order to advance offshore wind workforce development, education, research, and innovation; and (4) promoting, supporting, and funding offshore wind workforce development, education, research, and innovation efforts, including issuing requests for proposals or requests for qualifications, awarding grants or loans to private companies, private or public organizations, or individuals, entering into agreements and contracts, and entering into public-private partnerships. The institute would be headed by an executive director, who would receive compensation without regard for Title 11A of the Revised Statutes. The executive director would be responsible, among other things, for hiring staff for the institute who would also receive compensation without regard for Title 11A of the Revised Statutes. Under the bill, no action taken at meetings held by the board would have force or effect until approved by the Governor or until 10 days after a copy of the minutes have been delivered. If, in this 10-day period, the Governor returns the copy of the minutes with a veto of any action taken by the board or any member thereof at the meeting, the action would have no effect. The bill authorizes the Governor to approve all or part of an action taken prior to the expiration of the 10-day period. The bill would delegate to the institute certain enumerated powers, as described in section 8 of the bill. The bill would also authorize the board to form nonprofit entities, as described in section 9 of the bill. Under the bill, the institute and any nonprofit entity formed or for which control is assumed by the institute could enter into any agreements necessary to provide for the establishment, operation, and financial support of the institute and the nonprofit entity. The Governor's Budget-in-Brief for Fiscal Year 2023 includes $5 million to help establish the Wind Institute for Innovation and Training to support the State's offshore wind workforce. According to the budget-in-brief, this funding would complement funding from other sources, including Clean Energy Fund allocations and funding related to offshore wind development. This bill would establish the institute in statute. | 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 |
| S2176 | Permits female inmate in correctional facility to request certain medication to prevent pregnancy. | This bill permits a female inmate in a State correctional facility to request a single dosage of Levonorgestrel, more commonly known as Plan B. Plan B is a medication that prevents pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse or birth control failure. A prescription is not required to obtain Plan B. The bill permits an inmate who has requested Plan B to consult with a physician or other appropriate medical professional. The bill also requires, to the extent possible, that a female inmate be provided with a generic substitution of Levonorgestrel. | In Committee |
| S2218 | Establishes requirements to screen certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for endometriosis. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), every federally qualified health center, and every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant person or a person who has given birth, to screen the person for endometriosis, if the person has been diagnosed with preeclampsia and later shows symptoms of endometriosis. The screening tools are to be based on industry best practices, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body designated by the commissioner. A hospital, licensed birthing center, or federally qualified health center providing care to, or a physician or other health care practitioner who is the primary caregiver for, a pregnant person or a person who seeks treatment within six weeks of giving birth would, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner: provide the person with information on endometriosis based on an educational program developed by the commissioner; inform the person of the benefits of being screened for endometriosis if the person has been diagnosed with preeclampsia and subsequently shows symptoms of endometriosis, and that the person is required to be screened for endometriosis unless the person provides a written refusal to be screened; and screen the person for endometriosis unless the person provides a written refusal to be screened. The person would be required to acknowledge receipt of the information provided by the hospital, birthing center, federally qualified health center, physician, or health care practitioner, as applicable. The commissioner will be required to develop a standardized form to be used to acknowledge receipt of the information, which form may also be used to provide written refusal to be screened for endometriosis. The commissioner will also be required to develop, in consultation with the Endometriosis Foundation of America and any other community-based organization as may be designated by the commissioner, a endometriosis educational program for pregnant individuals and individuals who have recently given birth, have been diagnosed with preeclampsia, and subsequently show symptoms of endometriosis. The educational program will include information on endometriosis and the potential warning signs and symptoms of endometriosis. Upon receipt of the results of a screening conducted pursuant to the bill, a hospital, licensed birthing center, federally qualified health center, or physician or health care practitioner, as applicable, would discuss the results with the person and, if the person screens positive for endometriosis, develop a treatment plan to minimize the person's risk from endometriosis. | In Committee |
| S420 | Establishes program covering menstrual hygiene products under WIC and SNAP. | This bill establishes a program under which the federal WIC program and the SNAP program would provide menstrual hygiene products, free-of-charge, for NJ eligible menstruators through contracted pharmacies and vendors. The bill defines "menstrual hygiene products" as tampons, menstrual cups, and sanitary napkins used to collect menstrual fluids. Under the bill, menstruators enrolled in the federal WIC program and the SNAP program would receive a supply of menstrual hygiene products, at no cost, by providing a valid federal WIC program or SNAP program card to any participating WIC or SNAP vendor. Vendors that participate in these programs would then submit claims to the department for reimbursement for the menstrual hygiene products furnished to eligible menstruators. | In Committee |
| S2215 | Establishes New Jersey Literacy Training Pilot Program in DOE. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Literacy Training Pilot Program." The goal of the two-year pilot program is to address learning loss and improve students' literacy by providing literacy training to teachers of all disciplines. To participate in the pilot program, school districts will submit a proposal addressing, among other things, how participation in the pilot program will serve to advance the academic achievement of students enrolled in the districts. School districts would specify who would provide the training and include information on the number and percentage of students who did not meet expectations on the most recent administration of the State assessment in English Language Arts/Literacy. The Commissioner of Education will select up to 15 schools to participate in the pilot program. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner will select an equal number of school districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and will select a cross section of districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas. Chosen school districts may determine the number of teachers chosen to participate in the literacy training program. The number of teachers chosen to participate in the literacy training program will be based on the available funding and the needs of the district. Each participating school district under the bill would be eligible to receive a grant award from the State to implement the pilot program. A grant award would be paid to a participating school district from monies received by the State under the "American Rescue Plan Act" or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on elementary and secondary schools. | In Committee |
| S2055 | Concerns New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. | This bill revises provisions of State law concerning the operations of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. When the consortium was the first established in 2018, it was the first of its kind. The lessons learned in the years since its inauguration have led to amendments in 2021, and further changes proposed in this bill. Primarily, the bill staggers the terms of service for the consortium's board of directors. The bill also removes the provisions of law concerning hiring program officers and administrative staff. This bill broadens the categories of university representatives that can serve as grantee partners and permits unspent funds to be used in subsequent years, allowing the flexibility to provide multi-year grants. | Dead |
| S1995 | Provides that persons between 18 and 21 years of age with disabilities are eligible to receive direct support professional services from DHS. | This bill would provide that any person with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability who is between 18 and 21 years of age or older is eligible to receive direct support professional services from the Department of Human Services. A direct support professional provides direct, non-medical supportive assistance, on a daily basis, to a person who has a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability, with the aim of helping the person to: become better integrated into the community or the least restrictive environment; more effectively understand, communicate, and advocate for, the person's individual needs and desires; identify and participate in positive employment, job coaching, and training opportunities; make informed choices, and better understand the options and possible consequences of choices relating to physical health, safety, and emotional well-being; address challenging behaviors through a person-centered approach; successfully engage in the basic activities of daily living; identify and participate in activities that promote a healthy lifestyle; and otherwise lead a self-directed and autonomous life. Currently, individuals are not eligible for benefits from the Department of Human Services, including services from direct support professionals, until they reach the age of 21. Before the age of 21, it is assumed that individuals will receive necessary services at school, through the Department of Education. This bill would ensure that individuals who graduate high school earlier than age 21 are eligible for direct support professional services. The bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families and the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S2190 | Establishes ReadyReturn Program; requires Taxation to prepare initial tax filing for certain taxpayers; requires several State agencies to use tax data to facilitate identification and enrollment for certain social services programs; makes an appropriation. | This bill establishes the ReadyReturn Program in the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, which will manage the program in partnership with the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture. The ReadyReturn Program, which is modeled after a pilot program that the State of California initiated in 2005, is an optional tax return filing method that provides eligible taxpayers tax returns using data already collected by the division from reports from employers and other sources. The division will then share income and other data, derived from W-2 and income tax forms, with the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in order to routinely identify and enroll individuals, including dependent minors, who may be eligible for certain social services programs administered by the State. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to harness the State's existing tax filing process to facilitate low income residents in accessing essential safety net benefits, such as cash, nutrition, subsidized child care, and heating assistance. The ReadyReturn Program is designed to increase the income tax data gathered by the State through the removal of any obstacles in the preparation of a tax return. Subsequently, various State departments can use the data collected to streamline and expedite the application process for social services programs. As a result, the State should realize increased revenues from the higher number of residents filing tax returns, and should realize General Fund savings from increased efficiencies in enrolling individuals in social services programs Under the bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury is to prepare, as part of the ReadyReturn Program, an electronic tax return for any taxpayer whose wages were reported by the taxpayer's employer to the division, using the data from that report to calculate the return. An eligible taxpayer may participate in the program by filing the tax return prepared for the taxpayer pursuant to the bill. A tax return prepared pursuant to the bill is to include: a record of the taxpayer's wages for the taxable year; and the tax liability of the taxpayer based on the income of the taxpayer for the taxable year. The division is to develop an alternative method for an eligible taxpayer to request the taxpayer's completed tax return in paper form. The division is to notify each taxpayer that is eligible for a tax return prepared pursuant to the bill that the ReadyReturn Program is a filing option available to eligible taxpayers. The notification is to include the following information: a description of the program; the taxpayer's eligibility for participation in the program and the taxpayer's ability to view or file a tax return prepared for the taxpayer pursuant to the program; and that the taxpayer's participation in the program is optional. In addition, the bill requires the division to electronically provide data from W-2 forms and income tax returns to the DHS, DOH, DCA and DOA, and amends current statute to newly authorize the division to share earnings and tax data with these departments. The departments will utilize the income and other data from the division to identify and screen New Jersey residents for eligibility for the social services programs under their purview, such as: the Work First New Jersey Program; subsidized child care programs; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children program; the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and free and reduced-price school meals during the school year and in the summer. Where feasible, and permitted under State and federal statute and regulation, the DHS, DOH, DCA and DOA will confer presumptive eligibility for all social services programs for which an individual is eligible. Subsequent to a presumptive eligibility determination, the departments will notify the individual in question of the individual's enrollment in a social services program, and secure authorization for services and benefits. In the case of an individual for whom an eligibility determination cannot be made based on the available information, the departments will initiate contact to: 1) notify the individual of their potential eligibility for assistance or services under one or more programs, 2) obtain any information needed to determine the individual's eligibility for these programs, 3) secure the individual's authorization to be provided social services through one or more programs; and, 4) expeditiously enroll the individual in any social services programs for which the individual is eligible. Under this bill, the DHS, DOH, DCA and DOA are also authorized to automatically issue a redetermination of benefits, using the same income and tax data provided by the division. Beneficiaries of social services programs will be notified of the outcome of any redetermination of benefits. For any beneficiary for whom continued eligibility for a social services program cannot be determined from the available income and tax data, the department overseeing the program shall contact the beneficiary to secure the requisite information. In addition, the bill authorizes the commissioners of the DHS, DOH, DCA and DOA to submit any state plan amendments or federal waivers needed to implement the requirements of the bill, and to ensure continued federal financial participation for the relevant social services programs. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund such sums as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the ReadyReturn Program. The State Treasurer is authorized to determine the amount of funding, from the total amount appropriated, to be allocated to the DHS, DOH, DCA and DOA to fulfill each department's responsibilities under the ReadyReturn Program. | In Committee |
| S2230 | Requires State government entities provide vital documents and translation services in 15 most common non-English languages. | This bill requires State government entities to provide vital documents and translation services in the 15 most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited-English proficiency in this State, based on United States Census Bureau American Community Survey data, and relevant to the services offered by the State government entity. Under the bill, any State department or agency in the Executive Branch and any commission, board, bureau, division, office, or instrumentality thereof providing direct services to the public would be required to provide these language access services and interpretation services between the State government entity and an individual in that person's primary language with respect to the provision of services or benefits. Each State government entity would be required to produce an informational poster describing the available interpretation and translation services in multiple languages for display in a visible location. The bill requires each State government entity to publish a language access plan within 180 days of its effective date, and to update the plan every two years thereafter. At a minimum, each plan would describe (1) when and how the State government entity will provide or is already providing language assistance services; (2) how the government entity intends to keep track of the limited English proficient population and how the need for translations is determined; (3) a report on the frequency of requests, how the requests were met, whether language assistance services were requested in languages other than the required 15, and how the entity will notify the eligible population; (4) how the entity documents the actual service provision; (5) a training plan for government entity employees who will be involved in the implementation of the bill which includes, at minimum, annual training on the language access policies of the government entity, how to provide language assistance services, and follow any applicable State and federal confidentially protocols; (6) a plan for how the entity will ensure the provision of language assistance services of the highest quality and in a culturally competent manner; (7) the name and contact information of an employee at the government entity who would be the point of contact; (8) the titles of all available translated documents and the languages into which they have been translated; (9) a website and document content describing the required translation services, processes, and documents; and (10) a plan for annually monitoring internal compliance. Under the bill, if a State government entity already has a language access plan, the State government entity may continue to use that language access plan and may adjust that plan in accordance with the bill. A State government entity would be permitted to retain any additional languages already included in an existing language access plan. The bill directs the Secretary of State to oversee, coordinate, and provide guidance to State government entities in their implementation. The Secretary of State would be required to develop a language access plan template for distribution to all State government entities for their use in developing, implementing, and reporting on their language access plans, and must ensure that each State government entity submits a language access plan when due that contains the required content. The Secretary of State would also be responsible for the development of the list of 15 languages that all State government entities must use in their implementation of the bill, based on American Community Survey data. Various provisions of current law may already require certain State government entities to provide certain documents and translation services to the public, most commonly in the Spanish language. However, under this bill, its provisions would not be interpreted to remove any requirements by any State entity to provide for direct in-person translation services to a member of the public, or for the translation of any materials in the Spanish language or any additional languages, as may be required by law. The bill would also not be interpreted to prevent a State government entity from providing interpretation and translation services to any limited-English proficient individuals who speak any language, even if that language is not among the 15 most common non-English languages covered by the bill. Under the bill, a State government entity may require that an applicant for its benefits or services or any person assisting such applicant in seeking benefits or services provide only the information strictly necessary to determine eligibility for or to administer such benefits or services. Under the bill, there is appropriated from the funds received by the State from the federal government under the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub. L. 117-2, to each State government entity the sums necessary to implement its provisions, and such additional sums from the General Fund as the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury deem necessary. The bill takes effect immediately, but the required translations would be implemented on a rolling basis and would be completed no later than one year after the effective date of the bill for the five most common languages, not later than two years for the next five most common languages, and not later than three years for the remaining five most common languages, except that applications, notices of rights, or privacy protections would be translated immediately. If an application or form has not been translated, the State government entity or contractor would provide oral translation of the application or form and a certification by the limited-English proficient individual indicating that the application or form was translated and completed by an interpreter. | Dead |
| S1249 | Establishes central registry for background checks of youth serving organization employees and volunteers. | This bill creates the "Youth Serving Organization Central Registry," or "central registry," which would serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information obtained as a result of conducting criminal history record background checks of prospective or current employees or volunteers of youth serving organizations. Currently, the Department of Law and Public Safety acts as a clearinghouse for initiating the collection and dissemination of information obtained as a result of conducting criminal history record background checks pursuant to P.L.1999, c.432 (C.15A:3A-1 et seq.). Under this law, a nonprofit youth serving organization may request, through the department, that the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) in the Division of State Police conduct a criminal history record background check on a prospective or current employee or volunteer of an organization. A person may be disqualified from employment or volunteer positions for certain crimes or offenses: involving danger to a person (such as injuries, assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, or robbery); against the family, children or certain persons (e.g., bigamy); involving theft; or, in certain circumstances, involving controlled dangerous substances. The bill maintains these disqualifiers and requires the Attorney General to adopt regulations concerning uniform disqualification criteria. The central registry is to be established within the department. In order to participate in the central registry, a youth serving organization is required to register with the department and pay the required registration fee. The bill amends current law to provide that the central registry is to request, through the department, that the SBI conduct a criminal history record background check on each prospective and current employee or volunteer of a participating organization. For the purpose of conducting the background check, the division would examine its own files and arrange for a similar examination by federal authorities. The division is to conduct a criminal history record background check only after receiving written consent of a prospective or current employee or volunteer. The prospective or current employee or volunteer would bear the costs associated with conducting criminal history background checks. As is the case under current law, the fee for a criminal history record background check would not exceed the actual cost of conducting that check. Additionally, each current employee or volunteer of a participating organization would have a criminal history record background check conducted at least once every two years. The central registry would retain records indicating the qualification status of each employee or volunteer. Any participating organization could check the status of an employee or a volunteer and inquire about their status by telephone or through a secure website maintained by the department. The division would be required to inform a participating organization whether the person's initial or subsequent criminal history record background check reveals a conviction of a disqualifying crime or offense. The central registry status records would then be updated to reflect the disqualifying crime or offense on the record of any prospective or current employee or volunteer. Finally, the bill revises the definition of a "youth serving organization" to mean a sports team, league, athletic association, or any other corporation, association or other organization, excluding public and nonpublic schools, which provides recreational, educational, cultural, charitable, social or other activities or services for persons under 18 years of age. An organization would not need to be nonprofit to be eligible to participate. | In Committee |
| S2186 | Establishes NJEDA urban farming grant and loan program. | This bill directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education, to develop and administer an urban farming grant and loan program to: facilitate the acquisition of sites in urban areas available to be used for urban farming; maintain urban farming sites; and support providing agricultural products to public school cafeterias. The bill requires demonstration of a contractual relationship with school districts in the State to provide fresh produce or other agricultural products grown or raised through urban farming to public schools. The bill authorizes the EDA to establish additional eligibility requirements and terms for receiving a grant or loan pursuant to the program. The bill also excludes the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal or any other purpose from any urban farming supported by the EDA grants and loans pursuant to the program. | In Committee |
| S2209 | Requires correctional police officers to wear body worn cameras and security camera systems to be installed in State correctional facilities. | This bill requires correctional police officers to wear a body worn camera (BWC). The bill also requires the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan to install a state-of-the-art camera system in State correctional facilities. The bill specifically requires all correctional police officers employed in State correctional facilities to wear a BWC that records audio and video at all times while performing their duties. Specific instances when video and audio functions of the BWC are to remain activated at all times include during a riot, an incident resulting in bodily injury or death, an incident in which the officer exercises the use of force, and an incident that involves suspected criminal activity while meeting with a confidential informant, as well as when directed by the Commissioner of Corrections or a superior officer. The bill sets forth certain exceptions to the BWC requirement. The BWC is to be deactivated when an officer is using the restroom; during a State parole board hearing or court proceeding; during an officer's medical assessment or appointment; during a Department of Corrections (DOC) meeting or when the officer is engaged in representing a union member; and during an interview of a victim alleging a violation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), unless the victim requests that the BWC remain activated during the interview. Exceptions providing for the video capabilities of a BWC to be deactivated, but requiring the audio to remain activated, include during a strip or body cavity search and when an officer is patrolling a restroom or shower facility. The bill generally requires BWC recordings to be retained for a minimum of 180 days from the date of the recording, but longer periods of retention are required under certain circumstances set forth in the bill. The bill requires disciplinary action to be taken against any correctional police officer who fails to adhere to the recording or retention requirements or intentionally interferes with a BWC camera capturing video or audio. The bill requires the DOC to issue a written summary of the provisions of the bill relating to the use of BWCs by correctional police officers and ensure that a copy of the written policy is provided to each inmate, published in the inmate handbook, posted on the DOC website, and prominently posted throughout each State correctional facility. Finally, the bill requires the DOC to install a state-of-the art camera system in each State correctional facility. A study of each facility is required, in consultation with an expert on surveillance cameras in correctional facilities, to develop and implement a plan for installing the camera system. The plan for the camera system is to require an evaluation of the current number and location of cameras in the facility and to the extent possible, incorporate these cameras into the comprehensive plan. Security cameras are to be placed throughout the facility, including identified blind-spots, housing unit hallways and entryways, common spaces, and exterior locations. The plan also is to require systematic oversight and review of the camera footage. At least one corrections officer per shift is required to continuously monitor the camera system. The corrections officer is to immediately report any observed misconduct to the appropriate supervisor, as well as to the corrections ombudsperson. A corrections officer who does not comply with these reporting requirements is subject to administrative sanctions. The plan also is to require security camera footage to be maintained for not less than 90 days and, when necessary, to be retained indefinitely. Upon request, the commissioner is to make this footage available to the Legislature for investigatory purposes. The Legislature is to keep confidential any information garnered from the footage. The bill requires the DOC to submit to the Legislature an annual report evaluating the effectiveness of the camera system. If the report indicates that a change to a camera location is necessary, the DOC is to make that change within 30 days or document why the change can't be made within that time frame. | In Committee |
| S285 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| S2247 | Permits use of preferred names on student diplomas. | This bill permits graduating students to use preferred names on diplomas conferred by both public and nonpublic schools, institutions of higher education, and proprietary institutions licensed to offer academic degrees. Graduating students would not be required to provide legal documentation sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change in order to use a preferred name. Schools or institutions would have the right to deny a preferred name request if the preferred name is intended to misrepresent the person's identity or misappropriate the identity of another person, avoid a legal obligation, harm the reputation or interests of the school or institution, or be derogatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate. Schools and institutions would also be required to update a former student's records provided that the former student provides sufficient documentation demonstrating a legal name or gender change. Acceptable documents would include a state-issued driver's license, birth certificate, passport, social security card, or court order indicating a legal name or gender change, or both. Upon receipt of proper documentation sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change, a school or institution would also be required to reissue any documents conferred upon the former student with the former student's updated legal name or gender upon request. Documents that could be reissued include, but not necessarily limited to, a transcript or diploma conferred by the school or institution. Schools and institutions would be permitted to charge a nominal fee for the reissuance of any document requested by a former student pursuant to this bill. | In Committee |
| S2248 | Establishes pilot program to create student mental health assistance programs in selected school districts. | This bill establishes a four-year pilot program in which the participating school districts will establish a mental health assistance program for students in grades kindergarten through 12. The purposes of the pilot program are to identify issues affecting student mental health and the possible impact of those issues on academic performance, and to provide intervention, support, and referral services in a confidential setting to help students who may be experiencing mental health difficulties. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program will submit an application and proposal to the Commissioner of Education, and the commissioner will select up to 15 school districts for participation. Each participating school district will create a mental health assistance program which, among other things: identifies students who may be experiencing personal, school, or family difficulties impacting the student's mental health, regardless of whether the difficulties are associated with alcohol or other drug-related concerns; establishes procedures for the referral of students to the program; provides mental health education, support, and intervention services for students served by the program in order to foster risk reduction and positive asset development; and provides referrals, where appropriate, to community agencies and resources that may help address the particular needs of the student. In order to facilitate the mental health assistance program, each participating school district is required to appoint one or more student assistance counselors, who will act as a resource for the entire school community and will work with students or groups in a confidential setting to carry out the work of the program. Student assistance counselors must receive specialized prevention and intervention training, and participate in ongoing professional development, in order to best serve the needs of the school district's students and schools. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the bill requires each participating school district to submit a report to the Commissioner of Education containing certain information on the district's mental health assistance program as well as voluntary feedback collected from students, staff, and parents regarding the program. The bill directs the commissioner, after receiving the reports from the participating districts, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program and the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts in the State. | In Committee |
| S1037 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish New Jersey STEM Entrepreneur Fellowship Program to support entrepreneurs in STEM fields. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to establish the New Jersey STEM Entrepreneur Fellowship Program in county colleges and four-year institutions of higher education to support entrepreneurs in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Under the bill, the secretary will fund and administer no less than 20 fellowships. The fellowships may be provided to individuals who have proven to the secretary that they have an idea to create, advance or develop a product in the STEM field which will have a beneficial impact on society and will result in a self-sustaining business in the future. The fellowships will be issued for three years each and will be used primarily to support the entrepreneurs in commercializing the idea and developing a well-structured business. | In Committee |
| S2217 | Requires certain officers of education organizations to sign acknowledgement and undergo training concerning duties to report child abuse. | This bill requires that, prior to taking office as a president or vice-president of the New Jersey Education Association or the American Federation of Teachers-New Jersey, including a president or vice-president of a local bargaining unit of the organization which represents teachers of grades kindergarten through 12, the individual must sign an acknowledgement of the requirements to report potential incidents of child abuse pursuant to current law and State Board of Education regulations. In addition, the bill requires the individual to undergo training on the requirements for school district employees to notify the appropriate authorities of potential incidents of abused, missing, or neglected children. | In Committee |
| S1469 | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | This bill authorizes the use of a school bus monitoring system to enforce section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), the State law governing passing a school bus. A school bus monitoring system is defined as a system meeting certain requirements set forth in the bill and having at least one camera and computer that captures and records a digital video or image of any motor vehicle operating near a school bus. Under current law, school buses are required to exhibit flashing red lights when the bus has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any person with a developmental disability or a child. Drivers of vehicles approaching or overtaking the school bus are required to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus that has activated its flashing lights. The penalty for violating this law, for a first offense, is: 1) a fine of no less than $100; 2) imprisonment for no more than 15 days or community service; or 3) both. For subsequent offenses, the penalty is: 1) a fine of no less than $250; 2) imprisonment for no less than 15 days; or 3) both. This bill provides that the penalty for violating the law, when the violation is not evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system, would be: 1) a fine of $250; 2) 15 days of community service; or 3) both, in the case of a first offense. For each subsequent offense, the penalty would be a fine of $500 and no less than 15 days of community service. Under the bill, a civil penalty of $250 would be imposed on a person who passes a school bus in violation of current law if the violation is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system. Under these circumstances, any civil penalty imposed and collected for this violation is to be forwarded to the financial officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred and used for general municipal and school district purposes, including efforts to improve the monitoring and enforcement of this law through the utilization of a school bus monitoring system and other public education safety programs. A violation that is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system would not result in penalty points or automobile insurance eligibility points being assessed on the violator. The bill authorizes a municipality or school district operating or providing Type I or Type II school buses that transport students to contract with a private vendor to provide for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a school bus monitoring system for enforcement purposes. The bill provides that a school bus monitoring system must be capable of capturing and producing a record of any occurrence that may be considered illegal passing of a school bus, and include in that recorded image: -- if the school bus is exhibiting its flashing light; -- if a motor vehicle passes a school bus; -- the license plate, make, and model of the violating vehicle; and -- the date, time, and location of the violation. The bill requires any suspected violation captured in a recorded image produced by a school bus monitoring system to be made available to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred. A law enforcement officer is to issue a summons within 90 days of determining that a suspected violation occurred. A summons may not be issued for a violation occurring more than 90 days from date of the violation. The bill provides that any recorded image or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system is not a public record under New Jersey's "Open Public Records Act," is not discoverable as a public record except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter, and is not to be offered into evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding unless directly related to illegally passing a school bus. The bill provides that recorded images or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system pertaining to a specific violation are not to be retained for more than 60 days after the collection of any civil penalty imposed, and are then to be purged. All recorded images and information collected but not resulting in the issuance of a summons are to be purged within 95 days of the recording. The bill provides that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable for a summons for illegally passing a school bus as evidenced by a recorded image captured by a school bus monitoring system. However, a lessor or owner of a motor vehicle is not liable for a summons if: -- the lessor demonstrates that the vehicle was used without the lessor's express or implied consent, and provides the name and address of the vehicle operator or registrant; -- the lessee was operating or in possession of the vehicle at the time of the violation and the lessor provides the name and address of the lessee; or -- the owner, lessor, or lessee demonstrates that the vehicle was stolen at the time the violation occurred and provides a copy of the police report regarding the vehicle theft. The bill permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including specifications and certification procedures for the school bus monitoring systems and devices that may be installed. The bill also permits the Supreme Court of New Jersey to adopt Rules of Court as appropriate or necessary to effectuate the purposes of the substitute. The bill will take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment, but permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to take anticipatory administrative actions in advance of the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S1954 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on bleed control as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires boards of education of school districts that include grades nine through 12, or any combination thereof, to incorporate instruction on bleed control into the health curriculum for students as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Under the bill, a board of education may select a no-cost, non-certification instructional program to meet this requirement. | In Committee |
| S242 | Requires BPU to allow low- and moderate-income residential customers to self-attest to income for participation in community solar programs. | This bill would require the Board of Public Utilities to promulgate rules and regulations to allow low- and moderate-income residential customers to self-attest to the residential customer's income for participation in a community solar program established pursuant to P.L.2018, c.17 (C.48:3-87.8 et al.). | 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 |
| S1350 | Repeals $100,000 cap on sales and use tax exemption for certain capital improvements made by businesses participating in Urban Enterprise Zone program. | This bill retroactively repeals the $100,000 cap on the sales tax exemption for retail sales of materials, supplies, and services for the exclusive use of erecting structures or buildings on, or improving, altering or repairing the real property of a qualified business, or a contractor hired by the qualified business to make such improvements, alterations, or repairs. This sales tax exemption is currently available to qualified businesses participating in the State Urban Enterprise Zone program. The sales tax exemption was enacted in August of 2021 with a cap of $100,000, and applies to sales and uses on or after January 1, 2022. This bill keeps the exemption in place but eliminates the cap retroactively to January 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S1005 | Prohibits gender-based price discrimination. | This bill prohibits businesses in New Jersey from engaging in gender-based priced discrimination. Commonly referred to as the "pink tax" or "gender tax," gender-based discrimination occurs when products and services marketed and intended for use by girls and women are priced higher than comparable products and services for boys and men. The bill provides that a business in the State is prohibited from: (1) discriminating based on gender with regard to the price charged for a service offered by the business; and (2) charging prices for any two consumer products from the same manufacturer that are substantially similar, if those products are priced differently solely based on the gender of the individuals for whom the products are intended or marketed. For the purposes of the bill, two products would be considered "substantially similar" if there are no significant differences in the materials used in the products, the function of the products, and the functional design or features of the products. A difference in color or packaging among consumer products would not, by itself, be construed as a substantial difference. The bill specifies that its provisions would not be construed to prohibit price differences based upon labor, materials, tariffs, or any other gender-neutral reason, including when a retail establishment passes through a price to the consumer that is set by a manufacturer, distributor, or other entity that is beyond the retailer's control. Under the bill, the following businesses would be required to clearly and conspicuously disclose to the customer in writing the pricing for each standard service provided: (1) tailors or other businesses providing aftermarket clothing alterations; (2) barbers or hair salons; and (3) dry cleaners and laundries providing services to individuals. The bill requires the pricing to be posted in an area conspicuous to customers. Posted price lists are required to be in no less than 14-point boldface type and clearly and completely display pricing for every standard service offered by the business. Additionally, business are required to provide a customer with a complete written price list upon request. The bill further requires businesses to display in a conspicuous place at least one clearly visible sign, printed in no less than 24-point boldface type, notifying customers that gender-based price discrimination is prohibited under New Jersey law. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. | In Committee |
| S1990 | Requires transportation network company drivers to complete anti-human trafficking training course. | This bill requires transportation network company (TNC) drivers and applicants to complete an anti-human trafficking training course, which is to be approved by the Attorney General. A TNC is required to provide the anti-human trafficking course prior to the approval of an applicant and to current TNC drivers within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The anti-human trafficking training course may be provided via web based video or digital format and is required to include: (1) an overview of human trafficking, including how human trafficking is defined; (2) guidance on the role TNC drivers play in reporting and responding to human trafficking; and (3) information on how to report suspected human trafficking. Upon completion of the anti-human trafficking training course, a TNC driver is required to certify to any TNC whose digital network the driver uses that the driver completed an anti-human trafficking training course. If a driver fails to provide a TNC with the required certification, the TNC is required to prohibit the driver from utilizing the TNC's digital network to provide rides until the driver submits the required certification. The bill also requires each TNC to create a list of drivers who did not provide the required certification. Completion or failure to complete the anti-human trafficking training course will be noted in the individual record of each TNC driver and maintained by the TNC. | In Committee |
| S2179 | Requires DOC to provide prenatal and post-partum education and services for certain inmates. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to provide appropriate prenatal and post-partum services to expectant mothers. Nationwide women represent a small minority of the correction population; however, at any given time, approximately six to 10 percent of incarcerated women are pregnant (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2011). Many women first learn of their pregnancy upon entry to a correctional facility. At the time of their arrest and incarceration, many of these expectant mothers lack prenatal care and need considerable support to improve the clinical outcomes of their pregnancy. Incarcerated women tend to have complicated and high-risk pregnancies due to increased rates of substance use disorders and psychological distress. This bill provides that incarcerated expectant mothers are required to receive prenatal education; prenatal medical evaluation and care; nutritional counseling and supplements; counseling regarding family planning, birth control, test results, termination of pregnancy, child placement services, and religious counseling, if desired; and post-partum education and care. | 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 |
| S2231 | "Listening to Mothers Survey Act"; requires DOH to establish survey to evaluate and improve maternity care access and services. | The "Listening to Mothers Survey Act," requires the Commissioner of Health to develop a maternity care experience survey to evaluate women's experiences with maternity care services provided throughout the pre-conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods. The survey is to include, at a minimum, questions concerning the woman's experiences with maternity care service providers and her perceptions of how she was received by practitioners, how well her questions and concerns were addressed, the responsiveness and availability of service providers, and whether she was offered information and services with regard to key health metrics related to maternity care. The survey is also required to include the option for respondents to report cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic background data, along with any other information requested by the commissioner. The survey is to be made available to women receiving maternity care services at a hospital, ambulatory care facility, or birthing center, and women are to be offered the opportunity to voluntarily complete the survey following the termination of a pregnancy, regardless of whether the pregnancy ends in live birth, or at such time as a woman concludes a course of treatment related to maternity or reproductive care, such as assisted reproduction services that do not result in pregnancy or the administration of long-term or permanent contraception, including sterilization. The survey is to be distributed or otherwise made available no earlier than 14 days following the termination of the pregnancy or the end of a course of treatment related to maternity or reproductive care, but no later than 90 days following termination of the pregnancy or the end of the course of treatment. The collected survey data is to be reviewed to identify local and Statewide trends in the provision of maternity care and disparities in the care received by discrete racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups, and to develop programs, resources, and strategies to improve access to, and the quality of, maternity care services throughout the State. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4028 | Limits amount of payment that State agency as property owner may withhold from certain contractors on State construction contracts to two percent of amount due. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4451 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4400 | Extends hours that minor employed by national sports association, league, or team may work under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| Committee | Position | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | New Jersey Joint Budget Oversight Committee | 2 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Joint Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Committee | 2 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Legislature Legislative Services Commission | 5 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee | 10 | |
| Detail | New Jersey Senate Legislative Oversight Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | New Jersey Senate Select Committee | 6 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | District 29 | Senate | Democrat | In Office | 01/08/2008 |