Legislator
Legislator > Tony Bucco
State Senator
Tony Bucco
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 25
In Office - Started: 10/24/2019
contact info
Denville Office
75 Bloomfield Ave.
Suite 302, Third Floor
Denville, NJ 07834
Suite 302, Third Floor
Denville, NJ 07834
Phone: 973-627-9700
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Crossed Over |
| S2671 | Creates resume bank for certain persons with disabilities. | Creates resume bank for certain persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Passed |
| S3812 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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. | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transporting students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Crossed Over |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Passed |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| S4402 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| S4654 | Provides for publication of required legal notices on government Internet websites and through certain online news publications. | This bill provides that whenever a public entity, as defined in the bill, is required by law or by order or rule of any court to publish or advertise a legal notice, the public entity is to publish or advertise the legal notice on the public entity's official Internet website. The majority of the bill's requirements are mandatory beginning March 1, 2026, and are optional until that date. Under the bill, the public entity's official Internet website is to be accessible and available to the public free of charge, and a direct hyperlink to legal notices published on the public entity's official Internet website is to be conspicuously placed on the public entity's Internet homepage. The Secretary of State, with support from the Office of Information Technology and any other State agency the secretary deems necessary, is required to establish an Internet webpage which includes the hyperlinks to the legal notices webpage of each public entity. The legal notices hyperlink webpage is to be accessible and available to the public free of charge and be accessible by a direct hyperlink that is conspicuously placed on the Secretary of State's homepage. Each public entity is required to submit the entity's hyperlink to the Secretary of State and provide any updates thereto. The bill provides that a public entity is required to maintain an Internet archive of legal notices that are no longer displayed, which are required to be kept for at least one year. A public entity is required to display a legal notice on its legal notices webpage for at least one week, or other time period as required by law, before transferring it to the archive. Under the bill, a local government unit is not required to maintain an archive until July 1, 2026. Under the bill, a local government unit may in addition to the publication on its official website, publish or advertise a legal notice on an eligible online news publication that meets the criteria as specified in the bill. The bill also provides that whenever a corporation, individual, or any other entity that is not a public entity is required by law or by the order or rule of any court to publish or advertise a legal notice, the corporation, individual, or other entity is to publish or advertise the legal notice on an online news publication that satisfies the eligibility requirements to function as an online news publication, as specified in the bill. For the year from January 1, 2026, a public entity is required to provide an advertisement at least twice per month in an eligible online news publication that: states that the complete text of each legal notice may be obtained or viewed by the public on the official Internet website of the public entity; and provides the hyperlink to the Secretary of State's legal notices hyperlink Internet webpage, with exceptions provided in the bill. Additionally, under current law, a newspaper utilized, or permitted to be utilized, by a person or public body, as defined in section 3 of the "Open Public Meetings Act," P.L.1975, c.231 (C.10:4-8), from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 for the purpose of complying with any requirements for issuing or publishing a public notice or legal advertisement, including, but not limited to, for providing adequate notice of a meeting, the solicitation of bids, qualifications, or proposals, or the publication of any ordinances, synopses, or summaries of official documents, is deemed eligible for the same purposes from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025 if the newspaper's publication is in print or electronic format. This bill amends that law to provide that public bodies may continue using qualifying newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until March 1, 2026 regardless of format. The bill is to take effect immediately. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3446 | Establishes Farmland Assessment Review Commission to annually review and recommend changes to farmland assessment program, as necessary to ensure fair, equitable, and uniform Statewide application and enforcement of program requirements and allocation of program benefits. | Establishes Farmland Assessment Review Commission to annually review and recommend changes to farmland assessment program, as necessary to ensure fair, equitable, and uniform Statewide application and enforcement of program requirements and allocation of program benefits. | In Committee |
| S4623 | Exempts oral healthcare products from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts oral healthcare products from the New Jersey sales and use tax. These products are defined to include powered and manual toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, dental floss picks, dental picks, interdental brushes, tooth powders, and oral irrigators, which items are designed to maintain oral health, regardless of whether the items meet the definition of an over-the-counter drug. This definition follows a recently adopted Streamline Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) amendment that adds a definition for oral healthcare products that member states can use if they wish to exempt those products from their respective sales and use taxes. The SSUTA is a multistate agreement that allows businesses operating in various states to more easily comply with the sales and use taxes imposed by member states. One of the ways in which the SSUTA simplifies the administration of sales and use tax laws is by requiring member states to adopt common definitions for the products that are subject to tax, thereby providing greater uniformity among member states' tax bases. Also, member states are permitted to exempt products from their respective sales and use tax provided that those exemptions are made in accordance with the product definitions contained within the SSUTA. New Jersey has been a member of the SSUTA since 2005. | In Committee |
| S4624 | Eliminates presumption of pretrial release for defendants charged with repeat home invasion offenses. | This bill eliminates the presumption of pretrial release for certain defendants who are charged with the crime of home invasion or burglary. Specifically, the presumption of pretrial release would not apply to a defendant who was previously convicted, on one or more prior and separate occasions, of home invasion or burglary of a residence. 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 the order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Currently, the Criminal Justice Reform Law establishes a presumption for some form of pretrial release, except with respect to an eligible defendant charged with: murder; a crime for which the eligible defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment; the theft of or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle; receiving stolen property where the property involved is a motor vehicle; or a crime under any statute of the United States, this State, or any other state that is substantially equivalent. Under the bill, the presumption of pretrial release also would not apply to an eligible defendant charged with home invasion or burglary of a residence if the defendant was previously convicted of these crimes on one or more prior and separate occasions. | In Committee |
| S4613 | Establishes Department of State Police as principal department in executive branch of State government. | This bill establishes the Department of State Police as a principal department in the executive branch of State government. Under current law, the Division of State Police is situated in the Department of Law and Public Safety, which is headed by the Attorney General. Under the provisions of this bill, the Division of State Police is transferred to and constituted as the Department of State Police, which is established as a principal department in the executive branch of State government. The Superintendent of State Police is established as the head of the Department of State Police. The bill provides that the Superintendent of State Police is to be designated as the State Director of Emergency Management and that any personnel change made within the Department of State Police is subject only to the approval of the Superintendent of State Police. The approval of the Attorney General is not required. Currently, the Office of Emergency Management is allocated within the Division of State Police, with the superintendent serving as the Director of Emergency Management. Finally, the bill clarifies that the oversight and monitoring of the current Division of State Police performed by the Office of Law Enforcement Professional Standards under current law would apply to the Department of State Police established under this bill. | In Committee |
| S854 | Permits dogs to visit at State veterans' residential facilities. | This bill permits dogs to visit residents at State veterans' residential facilities. Under federal law, service animals are permitted on federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property with some restrictions. The federal regulation defines service animals as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal are required to be directly related to the individual's disability. The federal regulation does not include emotional support animals in its definition of service animals; therefore, emotional support animals are not permitted on federal VA property. Under the bill dogs, including, but not limited to, emotional support dogs, may be permitted at any State veterans' residential facility on a temporary basis. If permitted by the State veterans' residential facility, family members of residents at the facility may bring a dog to visit the resident. At the request of the State veterans' residential facility, animal shelters, nonprofit organizations, including, but not limited to, animal organizations and veterans service organizations, or charity groups may also bring dogs to the facility to visit residents at the facility. The bill provides that the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs must take into consideration the health and respiratory needs of the residents when considering the presence of dogs at a State veterans' residential facility, and must adopt rules and regulations consistent with federal law and guidelines to effectuate the provisions of the bill. Under the bill, a dog brought to a State veterans' residential facility by a family member of a resident must have a harness, leash, or other tether. If the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, the dog must be under the handler's control by voice command, signals, or other effective means. The bill also provides that a dog brought by an animal shelter, nonprofit organization, or charity group may go without a harness, leash, or other tether in an outdoor setting at the discretion of the dog's handler and the management at the facility. However, if in an indoor setting, a dog brought by an animal shelter, nonprofit organization, or charity group must have a harness, leash, or other tether, except that if the handler with the animal shelter, nonprofit organization, or charity group is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, the dog must be under the handler's control by voice command, signals, or other effective means. Under the bill, a dog would be denied access to a State veterans' residential facility or removed from that facility if: (1) the dog is not under the control of the handler; (2) the dog is not trained to eliminate its waste in an outdoor area; or (3) the dog otherwise poses a risk to the health or safety of people or other dogs. Nothing in bill would affect the ability of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to adopt rules and regulations consistent with federal law and guidelines to permit or prohibit a dog from being at the facility overnight or permanently. Under the bill, "State veterans' residential facility" means any State veterans' memorial home or Veterans Haven facility. | In Committee |
| S699 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | 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 |
| S4493 | Modifies requirements to obtain licensure in public accountancy. | This bill updates the means by which an individual may obtain a license in public accountancy by the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy. Under the bill, an individual is to have at least a baccalaureate or higher degree or its equivalent. The bill further stipulates that an individual is to not be licensed unless they have earned that degree or have successfully completed 150 hours of education. The degree earned or 150 hours of education completed are to be obtained from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the Commission on Higher Education and are to demonstrate a concentration in accounting or its equivalent and related professional courses, as determined by the board. The bill also removes substantial equivalence as the standard to be met for out-of-State individuals and instead requires comparable standards to be met, among other items, for the individual to receive a New Jersey license. Additionally, the bill removes the need to meet standards established by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy in order to qualify for licensure as an out-of-State individual. An individual is to, instead, hold a current valid and unrevoked license in another U.S. jurisdiction; pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination or any other examination approved by the board; and has one year of experience as required by current law. The bill further stipulates that an individual who holds a current valid license from the other state prior to December 31, 2025 and as of that date, has practice privileges in New Jersey is allowed to continue having all the privileges of licensed certified public accountants of the State without the need to obtain a license pursuant to the other requirements of current law, to notify the board, or to pay any fee. Moreover, on experience, the bill delineates the individuals who need to complete two years of certain experience and one year. Lastly, the bill also updates when examination waivers apply to individuals. | In Committee |
| S3902 | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Crossed Over |
| S3976 | Grants priority course registration to certain student parents attending institutions of higher education. | Grants priority course registration to certain student parents attending institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| SCR128 | Urges school districts to establish concussion management teams. | This resolution urges school districts to establish concussion management teams. In 2022 the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that roughly 2.3 million children and adolescents had received a diagnosis of a concussion or brain injury in their lifetime. Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. Students would benefit from having access to support services to optimally function in the learning environment upon sustaining a concussion. A concussion management team is a group of school-based professionals who work together to manage a student's care after a concussion. The team may include school physicians, school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers, athletic trainers, and school administrators. A concussion management team is in the school building during the day and its members have insight into the needs of students recovering from concussions. Additionally, a concussion management team ensures that a student safely returns to classroom and sports-related activity after a brain injury and typically collaborates with the student's family and school staff to coordinate care and support throughout the recovery process. While school districts are currently required to have a written policy on the prevention and treatment of concussions and other sports-related brain injuries, the benefits of a concussion management team include having a highly trained team of professionals readily available to answer the concerns of both educators and parents and knowing that each student with a concussion has the support they need to succeed in the learning environment. There are a number of organizations that provide information on the establishment of concussion management teams, including the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, which seeks to improve the quality of life for anyone impacted by a brain injury by providing support, advocacy, and information. Organizations like the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey can be a resource to assist school districts in developing concussion management teams. The health and safety of students must remain a priority of the State and its school districts, and the establishment of school concussion management teams would strive to advance the appropriate care of the students with concussions and other brain injuries. | In Committee |
| S4570 | Withdraws New Jersey's participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; repeals "Global Warming Response Act" and related sections of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative implementing law. | This bill would withdraw New Jersey's involvement in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), repeal the "Global Warming Response Act," and amend various sections of statutory law related to its implementation. The bill would direct the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to issue a Notice of Withdrawal to the RGGI Memorandum of Understanding in order to formally revoke New Jersey's agreement to participate in the RGGI program. This bill would also repeal the "Global Warming Response Act," 26 P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et al.), and related sections of 27 P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.), which is commonly referred to as the RGGI implementing law. The bill would amend various sections of the statutory law in order to remove any references to the acts being repealed. The bill would retain section 13 of the RGGI implementing law, as well as subsections g. and h. of 33 P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-87), which were added to that section of law by the Global Warming Response Act, since these provisions do not relate to the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, and instead provide only for the discretionary investment, funding, and adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and standards. The bill would also transfer to the General Fund all of the unencumbered moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," which was established pursuant to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative implementing law. The funds are to be made available for ratepayer relief. Finally, the bill would amend the laws establishing the State's Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund, the State's Plug-in Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund, and the State's three-year "Electric School Bus Program" (which commenced in 2023), in order to remove the provisions of those laws that previously authorized the use of moneys in the Global Warming Solutions Fund. In addition, the bill would clarify that a developer operating under a redevelopment incentive grant agreement will not be eligible to receive payment, from the State Treasurer, for charges that were paid thereby, prior to this bill's effective date, in compliance with the "Global Warming Response Act." | In Committee |
| S4576 | Establishes grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students. | This bill directs the Commission of Education to establish a program to provide grants to school districts to implement a substance abuse prevention program for eighth grade students. The program is to include two components, a faculty and parent education component and a student education component. The program would be modeled on "Project Positive Choice," a successful drug and alcohol education prevention program that has been part of the eighth grade curriculum at the Copeland Middle School in Rockaway Township since the fall of 1998. The faculty and parent education component would be designed to raise the awareness levels of school staff and parents; sensitize them to issues surrounding substance abuse; and promote the success of the program by reinforcing their roles as stakeholders in the program's outcomes. This component will include workshops for the faculty and staff of the school district on various issues related to substance abuse and sessions to provide parents with the knowledge and skills needed to help reduce the risk of children developing substance abuse problems. The student education component would consist of a four-phase approach to the problem of substance abuse. In the first phase, the students would meet with teenage residents of drug rehabilitation programs who would discuss their own personal experiences with drug and alcohol abuse and the dangers of abuse. In the second phase, an individual who has personal family knowledge on the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse on young adults would address the students. This personal address would be accompanied by an appropriate video presentation that educates students on the dangers of substance abuse. The third phase would consist of minimum custody offenders from a State correctional facility having a discussion with students about the crimes committed in which drugs and alcohol played a major role, the amount of time being served in prison, and what life is like while being incarcerated. The goal of the discussion is to reduce the use of drugs and alcohol by youths and promote responsible decision-making. The final phase would consist of a person or persons with celebrity status, as positive role models, addressing the students to present an anti-drug and alcohol message. A student would not be compelled to participate in the program if the student's parent or guardian presents the school principal with a signed statement that the program is in conflict with the student's conscience or moral or religious beliefs. In order to participate in the grant program, a school district would be required to submit an application to the commissioner. The school district, as part of the application, is required to certify that the district's budget includes funds for the purpose of financing a substance abuse prevention program for eighth grade students. The funds may be: district funds; funds raised through individual, corporate, or other private sector donations; or federal funds. The commissioner is to develop criteria for the evaluation of applications for grants, and based upon the criteria, is to provide to each selected school district a grant in an amount determined by the commissioner. | In Committee |
| S4561 | "Grid Reliability Protection Act"; prohibits State agencies from decommissioning electric generation facilities in State under certain circumstances. | This bill, to be known as the "Grid Reliability Protection Act," would prohibit State agencies from mandating the retirement of electric generation facilities in the State under certain circumstances. Under the bill, a State agency is prohibited from mandating, incentivizing, or otherwise compelling any electric generation facility in the State connected to the State's electrical grid from deactivating unless: (1) PJM Interconnection certifies, in writing, that the facility's deactivation will not negatively impact regional grid reliability, capacity adequacy, or energy market prices; and (2) the Board of Public Utilities conducts a public rate impact analysis showing the deactivation will not materially increase costs to ratepayers. The bill also provides an exception if the electric generation facility poses a risk to public health and safety. Finally, the bill provides certain public notice requirements for any deactivation of an electric generation facility in the State connected to the electric grid serving New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3249 | Establishes additional manner of employer compliance to provide earned sick leave for certain employees subject to collective bargaining agreements. | Establishes additional manner of employer compliance to provide earned sick leave for certain employees subject to collective bargaining agreements. | In Committee |
| S2013 | Makes local government business administrators eligible for membership in PERS; provides for transfer from Defined Contribution Retirement Program to PERS. | This bill makes business administrators serving in local governments eligible for membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Business administrators currently participate in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). The bill defines "business administrator" as the executive and administrative officer of any political subdivision of the State or any agency, board, commission, authority, or instrumentality of the State or of a subdivision serving in a position with the title of business administrator, municipal or county administrator, municipal or county manager, city manager, town manager, village manager, borough manager, township manager, or any functional equivalent, as the case may be. The bill provides for the transfer to the PERS of a business administrator who is participating in the DCRP within 90 days following the effective date of the bill if the employee meets the eligibility requirements for membership in the PERS at the time of enrollment. The bill requires the PERS notify eligible business administrators of the required enrollment within 15 days after the effective date. The bill specifies that service credit transferred from a participant in the DCRP would be recognized as service credit in the PERS to determine eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits in retirement pursuant to current law. The bill also specifies that the membership tier will be determined by the member's participation date in the DCRP or their original enrollment date in the PERS, if applicable, whichever is earlier. Additionally, the actuary for the PERS is required to determine the unfunded accrued liability resulting from the transfer of the business administrators. This unfunded accrued liability will be amortized over a period of 20 years. The value of the account in the DCRP of the business administrator will be transferred to the PERS in accordance with relevant provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code and Internal Revenue Service guidance. The bill will take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S4536 | Requires juveniles to be tried as adult for certain serious offenses under No Early Release Act. | This bill revises the juvenile waiver law to require a juvenile, regardless of the juvenile's age, to be tried as an adult for crimes committed under the "No Early Release Act" (NERA). Under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older at the time of the alleged delinquent act who are charged with certain offenses, including criminal homicide other than death by auto, are eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. This bill expands the list of crimes to include all NERA crimes. In addition, under this bill a juvenile may be waived into adult court regardless of the juvenile's age. The crimes listed under the NERA include murder; aggravated manslaughter or manslaughter; vehicular homicide; aggravated assault; disarming a law enforcement officer; kidnapping; aggravated sexual assault; sexual assault; robbery; carjacking; aggravated arson; burglary; extortion; booby traps in manufacturing or distribution facilities; strict liability for drug induced deaths; terrorism; producing or possessing chemical weapons; biological agents or nuclear or radiological devices; racketeering offenses; firearms trafficking; certain child pornography offenses; home invasion; burglary; and residential burglary | In Committee |
| S4154 | Establishes crime of selling or purchasing marijuana from unlicensed businesses. | This bill establishes the crime of selling or purchasing marijuana from an unlicensed business. Further, the bill establishes the crime of leader of an illegal marijuana business network. Under current law, the "Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act," P.L.2021, c.16 (CREAMMA) provides for the possession, use, and sale of cannabis products for personal use. CREAMMA provides for the legal manufacture and distribution of cannabis products by licensed entities. Under CREAMMA, an unlicensed entity selling cannabis is considered a seller of marijuana and would be subject to criminal penalties under Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. An unlicensed entity that sells marijuana is subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A.2C:35-5, which establishes various penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing of illegal controlled dangerous substances. This bill establishes additional penalties for the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of marijuana by a business not licensed by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (commission) as a cannabis business. Under the bill, it is a third degree crime for an owner of a business to manufacture, distribute, or dispense any quantity of marijuana. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Further, the bill establishes a second degree crime if a person conspires with others as an organizer, supervisor, financier, or manager to engage for profit in a scheme or course of conduct to unlawfully manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana through more than one unlicensed businesses. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A person found guilty of this crime is subject to the presumption of imprisonment established pursuant to subsection d. of N.J.S.A.2C:44-1. Additionally, this bill establishes a disorderly persons offense for knowingly purchasing marijuana from a business that is not licensed by the commission. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed six months, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both. Finally, the bill permits the State Police, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, to close any business that violates this bill or N.J.S.A.2C:35-5 and requires the seizure of any marijuana maintained by the business. | In Committee |
| S4422 | Requires automatic issuance of credential to provide services in carrier provider network for physicians in good standing in New Jersey. | This bill requires approval of an application submitted for credentialing so a physician can participate in a carrier's provider network if the application demonstrates that the license of the physician issued by the State Board of Medical Examiners in New Jersey is in good standing. This also includes applications for the renewal of a credential. This is intended to streamline the credentialing process for physicians licensed in the State. | In Committee |
| S4393 | Excludes certain retirement savings plan contributions, withdrawals, and rollovers from gross income tax. | This bill excludes contributions, qualified withdrawals, and rollovers from certain retirement savings accounts from a taxpayer's gross income. Specifically, the bill would exclude any amounts that are contributed to, or received as a qualified withdrawal from: (1) a plan established under section 401(a) or section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (2) amounts paid for annuity contracts under section 403(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code which are offered to government and nonprofit employees; (3) a deferred compensation plan established under section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (4) a federal Thrift Savings Plan; or (5) an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) established pursuant to section 408 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill would also exclude from gross income any rollovers from an IRA to another retirement savings account. For purposes of the bill, a "qualified withdrawal" is defined as a withdrawal from a retirement trust, plan, fund, account, or annuity, as applicable under the bill, that is permitted under the federal Internal Revenue Code and for which no penalties or additional taxes for nonqualifying withdrawals are assessed pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, regulations issued thereunder, or other directives or guidance of the federal Internal Revenue Service. By excluding additional categories of retirement savings from gross income, it is the sponsor's intent to remove a deterrent to retirement savings and provide greater financial security for New Jersey taxpayers as they prepare for, and enter, their retirement years. | In Committee |
| S4412 | Permits pharmacists to administer certain long-acting injectable drugs. | This bill permits pharmacists to administer certain long-acting injectable drugs. The bill provides that, pursuant to a prescription issued by an authorized prescriber for a long-acting injectable drug, a pharmacist may administer the long-acting injectable drug to the patient, provided that the pharmacist is appropriately educated and qualified to administer the drug, as determined by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy, and in accordance with requirements set forth in rules jointly promulgated by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners. The bill defines "long-acting injectable drug" to mean a medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration that is injected into a patient to treat or manage symptoms of a psychiatric condition or disorder, for up to 24 weeks with a single dose. | In Committee |
| SCR132 | Recognizes role of natural gas in New Jersey's energy policy goals and declares natural gas clean fuel. | This concurrent resolution recognizes the role of natural gas in New Jersey's energy policy goals and declares natural gas a clean fuel. New Jersey has long been committed to improving the environment and reducing the overall carbon footprint of New Jersey's energy sector. Natural gas is a vital component of New Jersey's energy mix, providing reliable and affordable energy for homes, businesses, and industries across the State. Natural gas is recognized as one of the cleanest available sources of energy compared to other conventional fuels such as coal and oil, with a significantly lower carbon dioxide emission per unit of energy produced according to the Energy Information Administration. Natural gas usage in transportation, electricity generation, and residential and commercial heating results in a reduction in harmful emission compared to other conventional fuels, making natural gas an essential part of New Jersey's strategy for achieving its greenhouse gas reduction targets. Natural gas is a fuel that plays a critical role in the State's broader energy policy to reduce air pollution and invest in energy efficiency. | In Committee |
| S4394 | Prohibits certain substances in sale, distribution, and manufacture of commercial foods within two years; immediately bans certain dyes in school food. | This bill adds several substances to the list of conditions the State set forth to deem commercial food adulterated. It is unlawful for any entity in the State to distribute, sell, manufacture for distribution or sale, or possess with intent to distribute or sell, an adulterated food. Each violation of the State Sanitary Code constitutes a separate offense and is punishable by a penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000. Under the bill, a food that contains butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, red dyes 3 and 40, yellow dyes 5 and 6, blue dyes 1 and 2, and green dye 3 would be rendered adulterated. This general prohibition takes effect two years after the bill is enacted. The bill also immediately adds the prohibited dyes to the list of items that are not to be served, sold, or given away as a free promotion anywhere on school property at any time before the end of the school day, including items served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program. | In Committee |
| S4415 | "Stolen Vehicle Possession Accountability Act"; Increases penalties for adult and juvenile repeat offenses of receiving stolen motor vehicle. | This bill establishes a second degree crime for certain individuals who are convicted or adjudicated delinquent of a third offense for receipt of a stolen motor vehicle, N.J.S.A.2C:20-10.2. Under the bill, a person who commits the crime of receiving a stolen motor vehicle on two or more prior and separate occasions during the 15-year-period preceding the most recent charge is guilty of a crime of the second degree. The bill provides that a conviction for such crime is subject to the "No Early Release Act," which requires that a defendant serve 85% of the sentence, during which time the defendant is not eligible for parole. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Moreover, the bill establishes that a juvenile court is required to waive jurisdiction of a juvenile who commits a delinquent act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute receiving a stolen motor vehicle on two or more prior and separate occasions. The bill clarifies that on the third or subsequent violation committed by a juvenile, the court may sentence the juvenile to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment. However, if the individual is an adult when committing the third or subsequent violation, the individual shall be subject to the enhanced sentencing under the bill. | In Committee |
| S4398 | Suspends sales and use tax and societal benefits charge on electric and gas public utility bills during four-month period. | This bill temporarily suspends the imposition of the sales and use tax, as well as the societal benefits charge, on customer bills for electric and gas utility service. Under the bill, the temporary suspension applies beginning on June 1, 2025 and through September 30, 2025. It is the sponsor's intent that a temporary suspension of the collection of these charges provide necessary relief from anticipated bill increases and excessive charges to ratepayers. The Board of Public Utilities has announced increases in the electricity rates for residential ratepayers ranging from 17.2 to 20.2 percent, depending on the supplier, starting in June 2025. Consequently, sales and use tax collections from energy and utility sales are anticipated to increase by as much as $85.2 million more than the Governor had initially anticipated for Fiscal Year 2026. Furthermore, during Fiscal Years 2021 through 2024, approximately $704.2 million in revenues generated by the societal benefits charge were transferred to other funds for purposes outside the intent of the charge. In light of the amount of excess revenue generated by the societal benefits charge, it is the sponsor's opinion that the amount collected through the societal benefits charge can be reduced in order to provide necessary relief to ratepayers. | In Committee |
| S4410 | Authorizes State Treasurer to sell as surplus property certain land and improvements in Town of Morristown in Morris County. | This bill authorizes the State Treasurer, on behalf of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), to sell and convey to the Town of Morristown in Morris County a 0.69 ± acres parcel of land and all improvements located at 101 Ridgedale Avenue in the Town of Morristown, Morris County. The property has been declared to be surplus to the needs of the State. The proceeds of the sale will be deposited into the fund created by law which requires that the deposits be used for the relief of State debt or to assist in funding capital improvement projects. The State House Commission will set the terms and conditions of sale. The property has been appraised and negotiated to be sold at a price of $850,000 as a direct sale to the Town of Morristown. The MVC previously utilized the property as an inspection center for specialized vehicles. The facilities were closed due to damage sustained from a hurricane. | In Committee |
| S4462 | Provides license renewal fee relief for businesses and individuals impacted by public highway projects. | This bill provides various forms of fee relief to certain businesses and professionals who are adversely impacted by a public highway project, such as the ongoing closure and repair of Interstate 80 in Morris County after the discovery of numerous sinkholes along the roadway. The closures and ongoing construction have created significant traffic congestion along the detour routes. Commercial establishments, especially small businesses, have seen reduced activity as a result of longer commute times, road closures, and unpredictable local travel times. The bill recognizes the impact these conditions will have on a small business and on the licensed professionals who work for these business, and provides relief for any business license or professional license renewal which comes due during the relief period related to construction projects as defined in the bill. The bill provides for the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs within the Office of the Attorney General and the Director of the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services within the Department of the Treasury to establish application and fee waiver processes to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4413 | Establishes abandoned mine reclamation program in DEP. | This bill would establish an "Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program" in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in order to protect the citizens of New Jersey from the adverse effects of abandoned mines in the State, including mine subsidence and water quality degradation. The bill would first direct the DEP to develop a Statewide plan for the reclamation of abandoned mines. The bill would require certain minimum contents in the plan, including a ranked order of reclamation projects to reclaim, backfill, stabilize, or otherwise render safe all dangerous mineshafts and mine voids present in the State. After the DEP completes the Statewide plan, the bill would direct the DEP to begin implementing the plan, either by carrying out mine reclamation projects itself, or by granting moneys to municipalities or private landowners to carry out the projects. Finally, the bill would establish the "Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund" in the DEP. The fund would serve as the repository for federal or State funds, which are to be used for mine reclamation projects. | In Committee |
| S4414 | Requires BPU to establish best practices and to assess electric public utilities' compliance with BPU best practices during BPU's review of rate increase. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to establish best practices for electric public utilities and to consider a utility's compliance with such standards when reviewing an application for a rate increase. Under the bill, the board is required to identify and establish best practices for electric public utilities based on national, State, and industry standards concerning: (1) electric generation; (2) electric transmission; (3) operations and maintenance, including emergency preparedness and response and vegetation maintenance; (4) consumer education; (5) business management; and (6) affordability and cost containment. The board is required to establish objective benchmarks by which to assess an electric public utility's compliance with the board's best practices. The board is to determine what constitutes an electric public utility's adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks. While reviewing an electric public utility's request to increase its rates, the board is required to assess the utility's efforts to comply, and actual compliance, with the board's best practices. While conducting its assessment, the board is to consider, at a minimum: (1) the utility's progress towards, or actual satisfaction of, the benchmarks established pursuant to the bill; and (2) how the utility's compliance with the board's best practices compares to that of other utilities in New Jersey. Under the bill, the board is prohibited from approving a request to increase any component of an electric rate for an electric public utility that fails to demonstrate at least adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks, as assessed by the board at the time of the electric public utility's base rate case filing. In the event the board denies an electric public utility's petition for a rate increase for failing to demonstrate adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks, the board is required to provide the electric public utility a copy of its best practices benchmark compliance assessment, including remedial action steps for the electric public utility to take to demonstrate adequate progress. The board is required to make periodic revisions to the best practices as necessary to reflect the current national, State, and industry standards and to publish the best practices on its Internet website. | In Committee |
| S4416 | Requires State agencies to submit certain documentation for procurement of certain information technology projects. | This bill requires State agencies to submit certain documentation when a proposed information technology project meets certain criteria. The bill requires State agencies to submit a written business case, which must include certain information at a minimum, to the Office of Information Technology when a proposed information technology project exceeds $2.5 million in value. The bill provides that State agencies will submit business cases to the New Jersey Office of Information Technology no later than 30 days prior to a request for State funding or the issuance of any procurement documents. The bill requires the New Jersey Office of Information Technology to, in consultation with the Division of Purchase and Property and the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, report findings and recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget. The bill also requires State agencies to submit a change management plan, which must include certain information at minimum, to the Office of Information Technology when a proposed information technology project exceeds $2.5 million in value, involves two or more State agencies, or significantly changes existing business processes for service delivery within existing programs. The bill provides that State agencies will also consult external private or public sector experts on change management when appropriate. The bill requires State agencies to submit their change management plans to the New Jersey Office of Information Technology, the Division of Purchase and Property, the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, and the Office of Management and Budget. | In Committee |
| S4411 | Requires NJTA and SJTA to exempt certain disabled veterans from E-ZPass tolls. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to establish and maintain an electronic toll collection exemption program (toll exemption program) for certain disabled veterans who have an account with the New Jersey electronic toll collection system (E-ZPass). The toll exemption program is to be available for a vehicle that is owned or leased by a disabled veteran; is registered in the State of New Jersey and displays a license plate bearing the term "Disabled Vet" that was issued for the motor vehicle; and has an active New Jersey E-ZPass account. To qualify for the toll exemption program, a disabled veteran is required to have applied and been approved for a license plate bearing the term "Disabled Vet" before applying for the toll exemption program. The NJTA and the SJTA are then required to approve an application by a disabled veteran who is in possession of and approved for a license plate bearing the term "Disabled Vet" for the toll exemption program. | In Committee |
| S4436 | Requires legislative approval for energy master plan to become State policy. | This bill would require that the State's energy master plan (EMP), and each 3-year revision of the EMP, would only be considered State policy if the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution approving the EMP within six months after its adoption. | 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 |
| S1021 | Requires MVC to operate call center to assist with online transactions. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to maintain a telephone call center located within New Jersey where commission employees, or persons under contract with the commission, are available in real-time, at a minimum, during weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., to assist individuals in navigating the commission's Internet website and processing online transactions. The commission is required to offer all call center services in both English and Spanish. In order to reduce total call center staffing needs, the commission may provide additional web-based tutorial support and recorded help messages. The commission is also required to collect and make available on its Internet website quarterly performance metric reports which are required to include, but are not limited to, information pertaining to the number of calls, the length of individual wait times, the call purpose, and the length of calls at the telephone call center. | In Committee |
| S2818 | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | In Committee |
| S4311 | Makes various changes to regulation of health care service firms. | This bill makes various changes to the regulation of health care service firms. The bill: 1) raises the compensation threshold that would trigger an audit for health care service firms from $250,000 to $5,000,000; 2) requires the health care service firms to submit the audit no later than September 30th of the calendar year in which it is due; 3) revises the compensation threshold for reporting requirements for health care service firms from between $1 million and $10 million, to less than $10 million; 4) revises the information that is to be contained in the health care service firm's report; and 5) provides for corrective action in certain cases. | In Committee |
| S4302 | "New Jersey Laken Riley Act;" establishes law enforcement procedures for arrests of aliens unlawfully present in the U.S. charged with certain crimes. | This bill, to be known as the "New Jersey Laken Riley Act," establishes law enforcement procedures for cases where an alien unlawfully present in the United States is arrested and charged with certain crimes. Under the bill, an alien who is confirmed by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and who is arrested for certain crimes, is presumed to require pretrial detention, notwithstanding the State's Criminal Justice Reform Law (also known as "bail reform"). The applicable crimes are any indictable crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree; any motor vehicle violation involving bodily injury to another person; or any crime defined under federal law as an aggravated felony, serious criminal offense, or crime of violence. Additionally, the bill reforms certain law enforcement practices concerning illegal immigration. First, the bill expressly authorizes and requires law enforcement officers to comply with immigration detainers requested by DHS. Second, the bill expressly authorizes law enforcement agencies to enter into voluntary agreements with federal authorities to provide immigration enforcement services. Third, the bill repeals the law banning prisons and jails in this State from serving as immigration detention facilities. Finally, the bill directs the Attorney General to rescind A.G. Directive 2018-6 v.2.0, commonly known as the "Immigrant Trust Directive," which was issued on Sept. 27, 2019. Through this bill, it is the intent of the sponsor to align State law with federal immigration law, particularly the federal Laken Riley Act, Pub.L.119-1, signed into law by the President on January 29, 2025. | In Committee |
| SJR161 | Commemorates 50th anniversary of State Government Affairs Council. | This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the State Government Affairs Council. The State Government Affairs Council (SGAC) was established fifty years ago with the mission to advance and support the state government affairs profession by fostering community and relationship building with peers and elected officials, building knowledge, and promoting diverse perspectives in a nonpartisan environment. SGAC's members have consistently worked to enhance understanding and communication between the public and private sectors, ensuring the fair representation of diverse interests and advocating for the advancement of policies that promote offering unparalleled educational opportunities. Through its collaboration with legislative bodies, administrative agencies, and community stakeholders, SGAC has helped build a more responsive, transparent, and accountable government at the state level. The 50th anniversary of SGAC represents a milestone of achievement and service in its ongoing commitment to excellence in government affairs. | In Committee |
| S4331 | Prohibits local government from naming its property after foreign terrorist organization. | This bill prohibits a local government from naming property under its ownership or control, including, but not limited to, a road, bridge, school, building, neighborhood, community, or park, after a group, that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the federal government, or after land controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill requires the Division of Local Government Services (division) in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (office), to develop and publish a list of designated foreign terrorist organizations and lands controlled by foreign terrorist organizations, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill defines a "local government" as a municipality, county, school district, or other political subdivision of the State, or any public board, commission, committee, authority, or agency which is not a State board, commission, committee, authority, or agency. The bill requires a local government to remove or dismantle signs, street pole banners, plaques, or other forms of displays of support for, or the naming of property after, a foreign terrorist organization, under the control or ownership of the local government within 30 days following the bill's enactment. Within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the bill requires a local government that has named property under its control or ownership after a foreign terrorist organization to rename the property so that it does not identify the name of as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill requires the State to reimburse local governments for both of these costs, upon application. If a local government violates the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer, for each day in which the local government is in violation of the bill, is directed to deduct a portion of the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government. The daily deduction is to be in an amount equal to the result of dividing the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government by the total number of days in the fiscal year in which the State aid is allocated. The bill provides that the division, in consultation with the office, is to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4370 | "Road to Tax Relief Act"; provides credit for sales tax remittances for businesses impacted by public highway projects, including Interstate 80 project; provides tax credits for certain businesses and persons impacted by same projects; makes appropriation. | This bill, designated as the "Road to Tax Relief Act," provides various forms of tax relief to certain businesses and employees who are adversely impacted by a public highway project, such as the ongoing repair of Interstate 80 in Morris County after the discovery of numerous sinkholes and voids along the roadway. Specifically, a retail business establishment that operates within an impacted construction zone would be entitled to claim a refundable credit against the remittance required under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) in the amount of taxes collected at the establishment during each month in which the public highway project remains ongoing, less the portion of the tax that is constitutionally dedicated to the Property Tax Relief Fund. To claim the credit, the retail business establishment would be required to submit an application to the Director of the Division of Taxation (director) to verify that the retail business establishment operates within an impacted construction zone. Upon approval of the application, the retail business establishment would be permitted to claim a refundable credit against the requirement to remit any tax collections for which the credit is claimed, subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose. The bill also appropriates such amounts as are necessary to defray the costs of the credits against sales tax remittances. Under the bill, an "impacted construction zone" is defined as any area immediately surrounding a public highway project within which area the occurrence of the public highway project impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic or otherwise restricts access to business establishments located within the area. The bill also defines a "retail business establishment" to include any small business, with no more than 50 full-time employees, that maintains a fixed permanent location where goods are exhibited or services are offered on an appointment or walk-in basis. Additionally, the bill provides gross income tax and corporate income tax credits to retail business establishments operating within an impacted construction zone in the amount of the revenue losses experienced by the establishment as a result of the public highway project. To claim the credit, the retail business establishment would be required to apply to the director for a certification of the establishment's revenue loss for the applicable tax period. Under the bill, the retail business establishment's revenue loss would be calculated based on the difference between: (1) the "baseline receipts," which include the average sum of the actual receipts, in dollars, received in compensation for goods and services sold at the establishment during the dates comprising the applicable relief period in the four prior years; and (2) the "actual receipts," which include the sum of the actual receipts, in dollars, received in compensation for goods and services sold at a retail business establishment located within an impacted construction zone during the relief period. After approval of the certificate of revenue loss, the retail business establishment would be permitted to claim the tax credit. However, the bill also permits the retail business establishment to apply for a tax credit transfer certificate so that part or all of the credit awarded may be sold or assigned in the tax period during which the tax credit transfer certificate is received. Lastly, the bill also provides gross income tax credits to the employees of retail business establishments operating within an impacted construction zone based on the amount of lost wages experienced by the employee as a result of a modification or reduction to their work schedule due to the impacts of a public highway project. To claim the credit, the employee would be required to apply to the director for a certification of lost wages for the applicable tax period. Under the bill, the employee's lost wages would be calculated based on the difference between: (1) the "baseline wages," which include the compensation that an employee would have otherwise received during the relief period for services rendered at a business establishment had the employee's work schedule not been modified or reduced as a result of the impacts of a public highway project; and (2) the "actual wages," which include the actual compensation received by an employee during the relief period for services rendered at a business establishment. | In Committee |
| S4369 | "Road to Relief Act"; establishes EDA grant program to support increased transportation expenses incurred by certain commuters, employees, and businesses impacted by certain public highway projects, including ongoing Interstate 80 project; appropriates $1 million. | This bill, which is designated as the "Road to Relief Act," requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to reimburse certain commuters, full-time employees, and retail business establishments for the cost of any increased transportation expenses incurred due to a public highway project. Under the bill, the grant program is to reimburse the following persons for an increase in transportation expenses incurred during a relief period: (1) a commuter whose commute is located, in whole or in part, within an impacted construction zone, and whose commute is affected by the public highway project; (2) a full-time employee of a retail business establishment operating within a construction zone, and whose commute is affected by the public highway project; and (3) a retail business establishment operating within an impacted construction zone. The bill defines "relief period" to mean the period of time between the date on which a public highway project commences and the date on which the project concludes. "Public highway project" means any infrastructure project that involves the construction, improvement, or maintenance of a State, county, or municipal highway, road, or street, including, but not limited to, the repair or reconstruction of any highway, road, or street that has suffered serious damage as a result of a natural disaster or catastrophic failure from any external cause. "Impacted construction zone" means any area immediately surrounding a public highway project, within which area the occurrence of the public highway project impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic or otherwise restricts access to business establishments located within the area. In addition to any other information or documentation that the EDA deems necessary, the bill requires an application for a grant to include: (1) evidence that an applicant is a commuter, full-time employee, or retail business establishment that is qualified under the grant program; (2) documentation of the transportation expenses regularly incurred by the applicant prior to the relief period; and (3) documentation of the increased transportation expenses incurred by the applicant during the relief period as a direct result of the public highway project. An applicant's documentation of transportation expenses prior to and during the relief period, respectively, is required to demonstrate the transportation expenses incurred by the applicant for an equal number of calendar days. The bill directs the EDA to review and approve applications for the grant program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds for the program. Upon the approval of an application, the grant issued to an approved applicant is required to be in an amount equal to the difference between: (1) the increased transportation expenses incurred by the applicant during the relief period as a direct result of the public highway project; and (2) the transportation expenses regularly incurred by the applicant prior to the relief period. These amounts are to represent the transportation expenses for an equal number of days during which an applicant incurred transportation expenses. To assist the authority in the review of applications under the program, the bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to notify the EDA of the commencement or completion of public highway projects. The Commissioner of Transportation is also required to notify the EDA of each ongoing public highway project within the State within 30 days after the bill's effective date. The bill appropriates $1 million to the EDA to support the costs of administering the grant program. | In Committee |
| A4751 | Permits purchase of service credit in SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy and in New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of service credit in the State Police Retirement System for certain military and police service and amending P.L.1965, c.89 and P.L.2013, c.87. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2594 | Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | An Act appropriating $22,431,294 from the "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003," P.L.2003, c.162, and $6,239,630 from the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, to provide loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3799 | Revises credentialing process for physicians attempting to enter a health insurance carrier's provider network. | This bill makes changes to the existing health insurance carrier credentialing process to facilitate transparency and enforcement. First, the bill requires a carrier committee reviewing a credentialing application to notify the applicant within 30 days following submission of the application whether the application is incomplete. If the committee does not notify the applicant of an incomplete application within 30 days, the application is to be deemed complete. In addition, the bill requires carriers to include on their Internet websites the universal participation and renewal forms and an explanation of the credentialing process, including a list of all the documents required for participation and renewal and any expected timelines. The bill also provides that if a physician, while waiting to receive a credential to participate in the provider network of a carrier, is delivering health care services to covered persons within the network, the carrier is required to reimburse the physician for services delivered as of the date the credentialing application was filed, if the application is approved by the carrier. Under the bill, carriers are prohibited from requiring a physician who is already credentialed with the carrier and who changes employers or health care facilities within this State to submit a new application or renewal form to participate in the carrier's network solely on the basis that the physician changed employers or health care facilities. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Department of Banking and Insurance to receive, investigate, and enforce alleged violations of law relating to the credentialing process. | In Committee |
| S3606 | Permits purchase of service credit in SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy and in New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as class two special law enforcement officer. | This bill allows a member of the New Jersey State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase credit in the retirement system for military service in the Armed Forces of the United States, the period of enrollment in the New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as a class two special law enforcement officer prior to becoming a member. Under current law, a period of service in the United States Armed Forces qualifies as military service that a member of the SPRS may purchase for retirement purposes. This bill permits the purchase of the period of enrollment in a United States military service academy. The military service academies are the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy. These four service academies educate young people to serve as commissioned officers in the various branches of the United States Armed Forces. They are the only academies whose students are on active duty in the United State Armed Forces from the day they enter the academy, with the rank of cadet and midshipman, and subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This bill also allows a member of the SPRS to purchase credit in the retirement system for graduation from the New Jersey State Police Academy or for employment as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both, prior to becoming a member. The bill provides that a member may purchase credit for all or a portion of such service rendered while enrolled in the New Jersey State Police Academy or employed by a public employer as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both. Under the bill, the SPRS credit purchased for enrollment in the New Jersey State Police Academy or employment as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both, is equivalent to service in the State Police as a member of the SPRS in qualifying for retirement benefits. | In Committee |
| S3098 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S2911 | Authorizes special plate for holders of "Combat Action Ribbon." | This bill amends the law authorizing a "Combat Infantryman Badge" plate so individuals who have been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon are eligible to receive the plate. Under current law, this plate is only available to the holder of a Combat Infantryman Badge. This requirement prevents Marines from obtaining the special plate, as they are awarded a Combat Action Ribbon and not a Combat Infantryman Badge. This bill amends the law so Marines are eligible to possess the plates. | In Committee |
| S3466 | Extends expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation program; provides aid for watershed lands. | An Act concerning the preservation and protection of land in the Highlands Region, amending P.L.1999, c.152, and amending and supplementing P.L.2004, c.120. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4257 | Establishes Forest Fire Preparedness Commission in DEP. | This bill would establish a "Forest Fire Preparedness Commission" in the Department of Environmental Protection. The commission would be composed of 20 members, including the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the State Firewarden, and the Superintendent of the State Police, or their designees, and representatives of local emergency response organizations. The commission would be charged with various duties related to ensuring that the State is prepared to respond in a timely and effective manner to wildfires, including: (1) performing a comprehensive audit of the State's current protocols related to wildfire response; (2) developing a comprehensive roadmap that may be utilized by State, regional, county, and local emergency responders, including firefighters, police, and medical responders, in order to coordinate their responses to wildfires; and (3) developing standardized lines of communication among the State Forest Fire Service and State, regional, county, and municipal emergency response organizations for the purposes of wildfire response. The bill would require the commission to produce a report that produces its findings, plans, recommendations, and activities no later than two years after the bill's enactment, after which the Forest Fire Preparedness Commission would dissolve. | In Committee |
| A5116 | Revises design of primary election ballots and certain primary election procedures; provides for ballots to be arranged by office block; removes State committee members from primary process; requires reporting on primary elections by Division of Elections. | An Act concerning the design and use of primary election ballots and primary election procedures, supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, amending various parts of the statutory law, and repealing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4249 | Requires school districts to include information on events of September 11, 2001 as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies; requires public schools to hold annual events commemorating September 11, 2001. | This bill requires school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the events of September 11, 2001 in the curriculum of elementary, middle, and high school students as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. Under the bill, the instruction will provide students with information on:· the historical context of the attack;· a timeline of the day as the events unfolded; · the heroic actions of the police, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders in the rescue and recovery of the victims, and the heroic sacrifice of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93; and· the outpouring of humanitarian, charitable, and volunteer assistance and support that occurred immediately following the events of that day, and strategies for successfully instilling those traits in daily life. The bill also requires each public school to annually organize a commemorative event that will enhance student awareness of the events of September 11, 2001. In addition to providing students with information concerning the events of September 11, 2001, the event will provide students with age-appropriate opportunities for discussion on conflict resolution, diversity, and tolerance for people of different religions and cultures. | In Committee |
| S4250 | Allows counties and municipalities to use open space trust funds for remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by county or municipality. | This bill would allow a county or municipality to use monies in their "open space trust fund" for the remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by the county or municipality. Under current law, counties are authorized to establish "County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds" and municipalities are authorized to establish "Municipal Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds." These funds are often referred to as "open space trust funds." This bill would expand this authorization to allow counties and municipalities to use the monies in such funds for the additional purpose of remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by the county or municipality. Under this bill, a county or municipality would not be required to obtain voter approval to use funds in their open space trust fund for the remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes; however, the county or municipality would be required to adopt a resolution or ordinance, as appropriate, prior to doing so, and comply with public notice requirements contained in the bill. | In Committee |
| S4248 | "Daniel Kearney's Law"; establishes criminal penalties for driving in violation of probationary driver's license restrictions in certain circumstances. | This bill establishes criminal penalties for driving in violation of the State's probationary driver's license restrictions in certain circumstances involving death, serious bodily injury, and bodily injury. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of vehicular homicide if the person is determined to be at fault for a motor vehicle accident that occurs while the person is driving a vehicle in violation of the probationary driver's license restrictions and the motor vehicle accident causes the death of another. Vehicular homicide committed in violation of the bill is a crime of the second degree. Additionally, the bill provides that a person is guilty of assault by auto if the person is determined to be at fault for a motor vehicle accident that occurs while the person is driving a vehicle in violation of the State probationary driver's license restrictions and the motor vehicle accident causes bodily injury or serious bodily injury to another. Under the bill, assault by auto is a crime of the fourth degree if serious bodily injury results and a disorderly persons offense if bodily injury results. Under current law, a driver with a probationary driver's license who is under the age of 21 is restricted from driving with more than one passenger, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, and driving between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 am, with certain exceptions. The bill is designated as "Daniel Kearney's Law" in honor of Daniel Kearney, a 19 year-old resident of West Milford, New Jersey who tragically died as a passenger in a single vehicle motor vehicle accident on September 3, 2021. The operator of the vehicle was under 21, driving with a probationary driver's license, and had two passengers in the vehicle at the time of accident. | In Committee |
| S4236 | Establishes "Students with Communication Disabilities' Bill of Rights." | This bill creates the "Students with Communication Disabilities' Bill of Rights," which requires school districts to recognize the rights of students with communication disabilities. Title II of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" requires schools to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication for students who have a communication disability, which may include hearing, vision, or speech impairments. These aids and services are required to be tailored to the specific nature, length, complexity, and context of the communication, taking into account the student's preferred communication methods. For many students with communication disabilities, an assistant trained in a student's primary and preferred method of communication is vital for assistance in using alternative means of communication such as gestures; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, communication boards, speech-generating devices, symbol cards, bands, or devices; letter boards; American Sign Language; and typing or pointing to letters to communicate. Denial of a student's primary and preferred method of communication inhibits a student's access to a free and appropriate education a student's opportunity to fully participate in the State's public schools. Specifically, this bill requires school districts to provide students with communication disabilities or the students' parent or guardians with:· access to appropriate screening and assessment of communication and language needs at the earliest possible age and the continuation of screening and evaluation services throughout the educational experience; · individualized and appropriate early intervention to support effective communication at the earliest possible age;· direct instruction;· a trained assistant in the student's primary and preferred method of communication;· individual considerations for free, appropriate education across a continuum of options required by State and federal law;· a communication plan focusing on the student's primary and preferred method of communication in the student's Individualized Education Program and 504 plan;· full support services provided by trained assistants in their educational settings using the student's primary and preferred method of communication. The Department of Education through the coordinator for educational programs is to work with school districts to ensure technical assistance is available to support boards of education in meeting the needs of students with communication disabilities;· full access to all programs in their educational settings, including extracurricular activities, recess, lunch, media showings, driver education, and public announcements; and · information from trained assistants on the linguistic issues of individuals with communication disabilities. The bill should not be construed to give any greater rights or protections than found under State or federal law. | In Committee |
| S2675 | Establishes program in New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing for support of residency programs at State veterans' memorial homes in New Jersey; appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes a program through which veterans' memorial homes in New Jersey may apply to receive financial, material and technical support from the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing ("NJCCN") to implement a residency program for licensed practical nurses and registered professional nurses, or one of these professions. To manage the operations of the program, the bill appropriates $500,000 to NJCCN. Data on the residency programs is to be collected for review by the Governor and Legislature. | In Committee |
| SJR101 | Designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month. The men and women in the Armed Forces courageously defend our Nation and State, and keep its citizens safe. As they make heroic sacrifices for their county, their husbands and wives are often left to deal with the strains of relocation and deployment. Though most military spouses do not wear a uniform themselves, they serve and strengthen our Nation and State every day be providing our brave troops with support, comfort, and love. They are the rock on which their families, our military community, and our security depend. They deserve recognition for the contributions and sacrifices they make. This State recognizes the selfless and extraordinary service and sacrifices of military spouses, and designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S843 | Requires Adjutant General of DMVA create program for veterans to receive evaluation and treatment for PTSD, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury. | This bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop, in coordination with appropriate departments and agencies, a program to assist veterans in accessing evaluation and treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis related to military service. The program may include offering support and guidance, transportation, assistance filing disability compensation claims, assistance updating discharge status, health care and other services or programs available at the local, State and federal level for obtaining and addressing a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis. Under the bill, "veteran" means a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| S1949 | Establishes certain requirements and initiatives related to nurses; appropriates funds. | Establishes certain requirements and initiatives related to nurses; appropriates funds. | In Committee |
| S4136 | Authorizes public bodies to continue using newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until certain specified date regardless of format; requires submission of certain subscription and other data. | An Act allowing the publication of required public notices and legal advertisements in certain newspapers for extended period regardless of format, requiring the submission of certain data, and amending P.L.2024, c.106. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4142 | Revises design of primary election ballots and certain primary election procedures; provides for ballots to be arranged by office block; removes State committee members from primary process; requires reporting on primary elections by Division of Elections. | Revises design of primary election ballots and certain primary election procedures; provides for ballots to be arranged by office block; removes State committee members from primary process; requires reporting on primary elections by Division of Elections. | In Committee |
| S2386 | Provides gross income tax credit to active members of volunteer emergency service organizations for use of personal motor vehicle in performance of active duty. | This bill establishes a refundable gross income tax credit to provide reimbursement to active members of volunteer fire departments and first aid squads for the use of their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The amount of the credit is determined by multiplying the business standard mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue Service for transportation or travel expenses by the number of miles the taxpayer actually and necessarily traveled by the taxpayer in the tax year using their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The maximum amount of the credit would be $500. If married individuals filing a joint return both qualify, they would be allowed a joint credit of up to $1,000. To be eligible for the credit, a taxpayer would, in the taxable year for which the credit was claimed, have to: (1) have been an unpaid member in good standing of the organization; and (2) have completed "qualifying service" with the organization. The bill defines "qualifying service" as: (a) for a volunteer who does not have duty hours, (i) active participation in at least 60 percent of the regular alarms or other calls to active duty to which the organization responds during the taxable year, (ii) recorded attendance at not less than 60 percent of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, (iii) participation in all of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, and (iv) performance during the year of not less than 60 percent of any other miscellaneous duty required by the organization; or (b) for a volunteer who does have duty hours, performance of at least 400 duty hours during the year, of which no more than 50 percent could be for drills or other training classes or exercises. The bill requires each volunteer emergency services organization to certify to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, on or before January 15 of each year, a list of the active members of the organization during the prior tax year. The certification will assist the Division of Taxation in verifying a taxpayer's eligibility for a gross income tax credit under the bill. | Crossed Over |
| S4140 | "Honoring and Listening to Our First Responders Act"; establishes offense of interfering with official duties of first responder under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes the "Honoring and Listening to Our First Responders Act" or the "HALO Act." This bill provides that it is a disorderly persons offense for a person to disregard a request from a first responder to maintain distance and to knowingly approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder with the purpose to: · obstruct, impair, or interfere with the first responder's performance of official duties; or· interfere with the first responder's performance of official duties by threatening, intimidating, or harassing the first responder. Under the bill, "first responder" would include any law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, or paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association. 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. The bill provides that prosecution and conviction for an offense under the bill would not preclude the prosecution and conviction of a person under any other applicable provision of law. | In Committee |
| S4132 | Creates offense of impersonating first responder; grades offense one degree higher than underlying offense. | This bill creates the new offense of impersonating a first responder for the purpose of aiding the commission of a crime or offense. This bill is similar to N.J.S.A.2C:28-8 which makes it a crime to impersonate a public servant or law enforcement officer with purpose to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, or to otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense. A person who commits the new offense is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, the offense is classified one degree higher than the underlying offense, except that where the underlying crime is a crime of the first degree, the offense is a first-degree. Under the bill, the offense is committed if a person impersonates or dresses as a first responder, assumes a false identity as a first responder, or makes a false or misleading statement regarding their own identity as a first responder for the purpose of committing a crime or offense and commits a crime or offense in such assumed character or false identity. Under the bill, the offense is graded as a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, a crime under this bill is classified one degree higher than the underlying offense. This bill is based upon reported instances in California of individuals impersonating first responders, specifically fire fighters battling wildfires, for the purpose of committing various crimes amid the chaos and turmoil. The November 2024 drought warning status declared by Governor Murphy and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections Commissioner LaTourette remains in effect for New Jersey. With that status, the risk for wildfires and other public health risks requiring the assistance and presence of fire and first responder personnel persists. It is the sponsors' view that taking advantage of a crisis situation to commit criminal acts warrants enhanced penalties. | In Committee |
| S3438 | Requires Medicaid coverage for motorized wheelchairs for nursing facility residents under certain circumstances. | Requires Medicaid coverage for motorized wheelchairs for nursing facility residents under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| A3894 | Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee. | An Act concerning fire safety by making changes to certain licensure requirements, equipment requirements, advisory committee memberships, penalties, and fees and amending P.L.1991, c.92, P.L.2001, c.289, and P.L.1983, c.383. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| S3366 | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | In Committee |
| S1253 | Establishes pilot program in DOE to use therapy dogs in public elementary school wellness programs. | This bill establishes a three-year pilot program to assess the academic and health benefits associated with the use of therapy dogs in public elementary school wellness programs. A therapy dog is a dog that has been trained, evaluated, and registered with a handler to provide animal assisted therapy and other animal assisted activities within a school or other facility. Some research suggests that the use of therapy dogs in schools is associated with improvements in school attendance, confidence, motivation, and reading and writing skills. Under the bill, a school district that wants to participate in the pilot program is required to submit an application to the commissioner. The application is required to include, but need not be limited to: the number of elementary schools in the school district; the number of students enrolled in each elementary school; information on student participation in wellness programs at each elementary school; and information on how the school district plans to use therapy dogs to promote student wellness. The commissioner will select two districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State to participate in the program and will seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. The commission will provide pilot districts with guidance regarding the use of therapy dogs in schools including: examples of activities that students may engage in with a therapy dog; recommended training requirements for therapy dog handlers; recommended measures to evaluate the health and appropriate behavior of therapy dogs; and insurance issues relevant to having therapy dogs on school district property. No later than June 30 of the third school year following the establishment of the pilot program, the commissioner will submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report that evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot program in improving the academic performance and health outcomes of students in elementary schools. | Crossed Over |
| S4054 | Upgrades degree of crime of auto theft when committed in connection with home invasion or residential burglary. | This bill upgrades the degree of crime of auto theft when it is committed in connection with a home invasion or residential burglary. Under current law, auto theft is a crime of the third degree, but is upgraded to a crime of the second degree if multiple vehicles are involved or if the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more. Under the bill, auto theft would also be a crime of the second degree if it is committed in connection with a residential burglary. Auto theft would become a crime of the first degree if it is committed in connection with a home invasion burglary, which is typically a residential burglary involving bodily injury or the use of a weapon. Additionally, for sentencing purposes, a conviction for auto theft would not merge with a conviction for home invasion or residential burglary. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S4065 | Adjusts method of determining regional need for affordable housing; permits timeline extension for municipalities to determine and plan for adjusted fair share obligations based on revisions to regional need. | This bill adjusts the method, as established in P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.), for determining the regional need for affordable housing, and permits timeline extensions for municipalities to determine and plan for adjusted fair share obligations based on the revisions to the regional need. The "prospective need" methodology that has been established for the fourth round and all future rounds of affordable housing obligations, through the enactment of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.), does not appear to result in realistic regional and municipal affordable housing obligations, but in excessive and unrealistic obligations. This bill changes the methodology for determining regional need to base the calculation on objective housing market data that can be clearly understood and easily quantified. The bill directs the Department of Community Affairs (department) to determine the prospective need for a region's 10-year round of low- and moderate-income housing obligations by ascertaining the number of certified residential housing units, as determined by the data assembled by the department, for new residential units in the region, excluding new residential units that replace demolished residential units, between the most recent federal decennial census and the second-most recent federal decennial census. The bill directs the department to divide that number by five, the quotient of which is to constitute the number of low- and moderate-income homes that can realistically be provided through inclusionary zoning in the region for the 10-year round. This figure is to represent the regional need for each of the six regions of the State. In addition to recalculating regional need, the bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to revise the estimates of a municipality's prospective fair share obligation of the regional prospective need for the upcoming 10-year round, based on the changes to the regional need determinations. The bill directs that all municipalities that have already committed to a fair share obligation at the time of the enactment of the bill are to have their obligations adjusted to the fair share obligation established by the department, in accordance with the standards set forth in the bill, for determining the prospective regional need. A municipality is to be provided with 90 days from the receipt of revised fair share obligation estimates from the department, to file amended housing element and fair share plans addressing the adjusted obligation number. The bill authorizes the department to comply with the requirements of the bill as soon as possible, notwithstanding the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The bill permits the department to revise the deadlines for municipal compliance with the fourth round requirements, as necessary, considering the bill's adjustments to the date of the publication of regional need. The bill also repeals and replaces the findings section of the "Fair Housing Act," (FHA) P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.). The bill takes effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S4053 | Expands offenses for which juvenile may be waived to adult criminal court to include certain thefts or unlawful takings of motor vehicles; makes use of juvenile in theft of motor vehicle strict liability crime. | This bill expands the offenses for which a juvenile may be waived to adult criminal court to include certain thefts or unlawful takings of motor vehicles and makes the use of a juvenile in the theft of a motor vehicle a strict liability crime. Under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older at the time of the alleged delinquent act who are charged with certain offenses, such as criminal homicide, carjacking, and sexual assault, are eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. This bill provides that in addition to the offenses set forth under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older at the time of the alleged delinquent act who are charged with theft or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and have previously been adjudicated delinquent for one of these offenses are eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. In addition, the bill makes the use of a juvenile in the theft of a motor vehicle a strict liability crime. Under current law, a person who is at least 18 years of age who knowingly uses, solicits, directs, hires, or employs a person who is 17 years of age or younger to commit theft of an automobile is guilty of a second degree crime. Current law further provides that it is not a defense to prosecution that the actor mistakenly believed that the person which the actor used, solicited, directed, hired, or employed was older than 17 years of age, even if the mistaken belief was reasonable. Under the provisions of this bill, a person who is at least 18 years of age who uses, solicits, directs, hires, or employs a person who is 17 years of age or younger to commit theft of an automobile is guilty of strict liability use of a juvenile in theft of an automobile. Strict liability use of a juvenile in theft of an automobile is a second degree crime. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S4052 | Amends felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault statutes to include death or bodily injury occurring during commission of auto theft. | This bill amends the felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault statutes to include death or bodily injury occurring during the commission of an auto theft. Under current law, paragraph (3) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:11-3 generally defines what is commonly known as the "felony murder rule" as a homicide occurring when the defendant is engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, carjacking, criminal escape, or terrorism, and in the course of such crime or of immediate flight therefrom, the defendant causes the death of another. Under the bill, auto theft is added to the list of crimes to which the felony murder rule would apply. Felony murder is a crime of the first degree, and is subject to sentencing enhancements specific to murder. Under current law, paragraph (2) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:11-4 defines aggravated manslaughter as a homicide occurring when the defendant causes the death of another while fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. Aggravated manslaughter is a strict liability crime which does not require the prosecutor to prove that the defendant was reckless or intoxicated, and the defendant is liable even if the death was actually caused by a pursuing police officer. Under the bill, aggravated manslaughter is expanded to include death while driving a stolen motor vehicle at any time, whether or not the defendant was attempting to flee the police. Aggravated manslaughter is a crime of the first degree. Under current law, pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1, aggravated assault includes causing bodily injury to another while fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, or while operating a motor vehicle in violation of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:20-10 (commonly known as the "joyriding" statute). Aggravated assault is a strict liability crime which does not require the prosecutor to prove that the defendant was reckless or intoxicated, and the defendant is liable even if the injury was actually caused by a pursuing police officer. This section of law was not updated to reflect the recent enactment of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.101 (C.2C:20-10.1), the standalone auto theft statute. Under the bill, aggravated assault is expanded to include injury caused at any time during an auto theft as well as "joyriding." Aggravated assault pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1 is a crime of the second degree. 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. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. However, murder is specifically subject to a term of imprisonment of 30 years without parole, or 30 years to life with a mandatory minimum of 30 years. Clarification of the strict liability nature of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated assault, even when the injury or death was actually caused by a police officer in pursuit of the defendant, conforms the statutes with State v. Lora, 465 N.J. Super. 477, 496 (App. Div. 2020), certif. denied, 246 N.J. 224 (2021), which held that, "A police-related injury in the pursuit of a criminal is a risk created by that criminal, and we should not allow him to escape liability for his behavior." | In Committee |
| SCR120 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence of police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician who suffers line of duty injury. | If approved by the voters, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to enact a law to provide a 100 percent property tax exemption for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who have been injured in the line of duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension. The exemption would be for the primary residence of the police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician. | In Committee |
| S4006 | Supplemental appropriation of $50 million to Law Enforcement Unmanned Aircraft Systems Radar Technology Grant Program. | The bill supplements the FY 2025 appropriations act by appropriating $50 million to the Department of Law and Public Safety. This funding establishes the Law Enforcement Unmanned Aircraft Systems Radar Technology Grant Program for State and local officials to purchase radar equipment to detect and track unidentifiable sightings of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones. Due to the recent surge in unexplained mass UAS sightings and usage of UAS in national airspace, law enforcement should be equipped appropriately to reduce the potential threat to critical infrastructure. This supplemental appropriation provides necessary support to State and local law enforcement in safeguarding vital assets and ensuring strict adherence to all regulations and requirements associated with UAS ownership and operation in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S4005 | Establishes criminal liability for property destruction occurring during auto theft and police pursuit for auto theft; requires restitution for damages incurred. | This bill establishes criminal liability for property destruction occurring during an auto theft or a police pursuit for auto theft. Under the bill, a person commits a crime of the third degree if the person causes $500 or more in damage to property while committing, attempting to commit, or in immediate flight therefrom, an auto theft. If the amount of damage is less than $500, it is a crime of the fourth degree. The value of the damaged property is to be determined by the jury. A person is liable regardless of whether the damage is caused by the person directly, caused by police during a pursuit of the person, or caused by any other person. A person involved in the underlying auto theft, but who is not necessarily the driver causing damage, is also liable. A person convicted under the bill may be ordered to pay restitution to the owner of the damaged property up to the value determined by the jury. Under the bill, it is not a defense that the damage was actually caused by a law enforcement officer or that the defendant was not actually the driver or operator of a motor vehicle. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. For sentencing purposes, a conviction under the bill does not merge with a conviction for eluding arrest, auto theft, or any other theft crime, and a conviction for eluding arrest, auto theft, or any other theft crime does not merge with a conviction under the bill. | In Committee |
| SR119 | Urges federal government to investigate unidentified drones operating in NJ airspace. | This resolution urges the federal government to ensure that a rigorous and ongoing investigation is conducted into the presence of unidentified drones that have been operating in this State. These mysterious drones have been sighted and reported in a large portion of the State, across more than a dozen counties, flying near critical infrastructure, sensitive military installations, and even President-elect Trump's residence at Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County. The volume of drone sightings, nature of the areas in which they seem to fly most commonly, and manner in which the flights appear to be spreading across the State is alarming residents and causing fear and unrest. The federal government should investigate the appearance of these drones and provide relevant and necessary information to State officials in a timely way to protect the security and well-being of New Jersey residents. | In Committee |
| SR120 | Urges President and Congress to enact certain legislation regarding drones. | This resolution urges the President of the United States and Congress to enact S. 157 and S. 896. New Jersey has recently been inundated with activity by unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. This activity occurs primarily between dusk and dawn, and per thousands of reports, is conducted by craft larger than any hobbyist is permitted to own. The timing of these sightings coincide with sightings occurring at United States military bases in England. The sightings in New Jersey have been troubling to residents as many have occurred over sensitive locations such as military installations, the Round Valley Reservoir, and a residence of the President-elect. Due to the supremacy of the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) over State and local law, and the inability of the F.A.A. to delegate formal enforcement functions to State and local governments, New Jersey's law enforcement are extremely limited in their ability to investigate and respond to this increasingly disturbing phenomenon; nor are they able to provide an informed response to alarmed residents. The resolution respectfully urges the President and Congress to enact "The Drone Act of 2023," or S. 157, which creates a federal statutory framework to criminalize various conduct involving the misuse of drones and "The SHIELD U Act," or S. 896, which authorizes and expands counter-drone activities by state, local and airport law enforcement and federal agencies. | In Committee |
| S4007 | Prohibits operation of drone in manner that interferes with airports or military. | This bill prohibits the operation of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones, in a manner that interferes with airports or military activity. Under current law, it is a fourth degree crime for a person to knowingly or intentionally operate an unmanned aircraft system in a manner that interferes with a first responder who is actively engaged in response or actively engaged in air, water, vehicular, ground, or specialized transport. Under the provisions of this bill, it is also a fourth degree crime for a person to knowingly or intentionally operate a drone in a manner that interferes with the operation of any airport in this State. The bill further provides that it is a fourth degree crime for a person to knowingly or intentionally operate a drone in a manner that interferes with any military operation or activity. The bill defines "military" as the armed forces of the United States, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the National Guard and any other reserve component of the armed forces, and the merchant marine when organized under the federal law as a public military force. A fourth degree crime is punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A5152 | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | An Act concerning the date of the June 2025 primary election and adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3965 | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | In Committee |
| S3957 | Allows public bodies to continue using newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until certain specified date regardless of format. | Allows public bodies to continue using newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until certain specified date regardless of format. | Crossed Over |
| S2580 | Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee. | Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee. | In Committee |
| S3595 | "Welcome Home Veterans Act"; requires MVC to provide veteran benefit information packets. | This bill establishes the "Welcome Home Veterans Act" which requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide information concerning federal and State benefits that are available to veterans upon the issuance of an initial license, renewal license, probationary license, or an identification card to a veteran, provided the document issued includes a veteran designation. The information required to be provided to veterans under the bill is to be available in both a hardcopy version at each commission agency as well as in a digital format on the commission's Internet website. The information provided to veterans is to include, at a minimum: (1) a copy of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs Veterans' Benefits Guide; (2) a copy of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' "Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers" booklet; (3) information on where veterans can find more information about available benefits; and (4) any other information the commission, in conjunction with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, believes is necessary for veterans in this State. | In Committee |
| S3962 | Requires State to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to obligations for development of low- and moderate-income housing units. | This bill requires the State Treasurer to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to low- and moderate-income housing units that the municipalities commit to providing. The needs of local roads, schools, water utility services, and other infrastructure, are increasingly challenging for many municipalities as a result of the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), as revised by the recent enactment of additional legislation, P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.). These infrastructure costs, along with the costs of planning services, and other costs necessary for compliance with these statutes, may be more extensive than can fully be addressed through the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund," or municipal affordable housing trust funds. This bill is intended to respond to the extensive unfunded financial burdens that are being shouldered by municipalities. The bill directs the State Treasurer to provide $75,000 to the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund of a municipality for each unit of low- or moderate-income housing that the municipality commits to, as reflected in the municipality's housing element and fair share plan. The payment is to be provided to municipalities that have obtained certification for the current round of affordable housing obligations. The total sum of all $75,000 payments owed to a municipality for a 10-year round of affordable housing obligations, is to be divided by 10, and provided in equal amounts, each year, to each municipality's Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund beginning in the first full calendar year of a round of affordable housing obligations, meaning 2026 for the upcoming fourth round. If a municipality initially obtains compliance certification later than the first year of the 10-year round of affordable housing obligations, the bill requires that the total sum of all $75,000 payments owed to a municipality pursuant to the bill are to be concentrated and provided to a municipality in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the State Treasurer. The bill provides that a municipality that obtains compliance certification for its housing element and fair share plan, is to establish a Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund, to be kept separate from other municipal funds, for the purpose of depositing and maintaining monies received for the purposes of this bill. The bill permits a municipality to expend monies in the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund on planning services, attorney's fees, and court costs related to compliance with "Fair Housing Act." The bill also permits a municipality to expend monies in the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund on operational and capital costs for local infrastructure that may be affected by the construction of affordable housing, including school, transportation, and water infrastructure. The bill directs the State Treasurer to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. | In Committee |
| S3967 | Provides cancer and cardiovascular screenings to law enforcement officers; establishes fund; appropriates $20 million. | This bill provides cancer and cardiovascular disease screenings to law enforcement officers. The screenings will be conducted by a physician not less than three years after the start of the law enforcement officer's employment as a law enforcement officer and every three years thereafter during the course of the law enforcement officer's employment. The screenings will be for colon, lung, bladder, oral, thyroid, skin, blood, breast, cervical, testicular, and prostate cancers. The bill also provides reimbursement to public employers of up to $2,500 for law enforcement officers who are enrolled in a healthcare plan other than SHBP through their public employer. The bill establishes a dedicated, non-lapsing fund called the "SHBP Law Enforcement Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Screenings Fund" to offset the costs of the cancer and cardiovascular screenings for law enforcement officers provided for in the bill. The bill establishes a $10 motor vehicle summons surcharge to be applied to each motor vehicle fine and penalty imposed and collected through a court under authority of any motor vehicle or traffic violation in the State. The $10 surcharge will be deposited in the law enforcement fund. The bill also appropriates $20 million to be deposited into the law enforcement fund. | In Committee |
| S871 | Establishes eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions. | An Act establishing eligibility for enrollment in PERS and subsequent retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions, and supplementing P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3923 | Requires public utility to provide daily updates to municipalities concerning public utility service work. | This bill requires that from the start date until the end date of public utility service work within the boundaries of a municipality, including public utility service work in response to an emergency, a public utility is to provide to the mayor and municipal clerk, or an authorized designee, of the affected municipality daily updates, in a form and manner determined by the Board of Public Utilities, concerning the status of the public utility service work. The board is to adopt rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this bill, including rules and regulations concerning daily update requirements for public utility service work in response to an emergency that affects the electric public utility service to any municipal building. "Emergency" and "public utility" are defined in the bill. | In Committee |
| S3685 | Requires municipalities to accept complaints and provide certain municipal announcements by electronic means. | Requires municipalities to accept complaints and provide certain municipal announcements by electronic means. | In Committee |
| S794 | Concerns workers' compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships. | Concerns workers' compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships. | In Committee |
| S2978 | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3806 | Exempts volunteer fire companies, emergency service providers, and veteran organizations from charitable registration fees. | This bill would exempt volunteer fire companies, emergency service providers, and veteran organizations from paying registration filing fees under the State's "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." Under current law, charitable organizations, other than religious organizations and schools, which raise over $10,000 in a fiscal year, are required to register as charitable organizations with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. These organizations are charged a fee for this registration. Under the provisions of this bill, fire companies, nonprofit emergency service providers, and veteran organizations that perform their duties on a volunteer basis would be exempt from paying these filing fees. | In Committee |
| S3006 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | An Act concerning burglary of residential dwellings, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3778 | Exempts simple assault on health care worker at psychiatric screening center from being automatically upgraded to aggravated assault under certain circumstances. | This bill exempts simple assault committed against a health care worker at a psychiatric screening center from being automatically upgraded to aggravated assault, where the actor is a person at a psychiatric screening center for the purpose of undergoing psychiatric screening. Currently, under paragraph (5) of N.J.S.2C:12-1 a simple assault on a health care worker employed by a licensed health care facility to provide direct patient care, or any licensed health care professional, is automatically elevated to an aggravated assault, except where the health care worker is a direct care worker at a State or county psychiatric hospital or other specifically enumerated facilities. In the latter instance, the assault remains a simple assault. Not all psychiatric screenings occur at a State or county psychiatric hospital or other facility specifically enumerated in the statute. Many occur at local screening facilities not specifically enumerated in the statute. The net effect is that an assault that occurs at a screening facility that is not a "State or county hospital" or other type of specific facility could be automatically upgraded to an aggravated assault. It is the sponsors' view that this elevation of assault for psychiatric patients in a psychiatric screening center is counterproductive for patients. Many psychiatrically involved persons in local screening centers have waited hours and are likely to be agitated and combative. This bill adds health care workers at any psychiatric screening center to the category of persons for whom an assault is not automatically elevated to aggravated assault. The bill maintains the category of direct care workers for whom an assault is elevated to aggravated assault provided that the actor is not a person at a psychiatric screening center for the purpose of undergoing psychiatric screening. | In Committee |
| S3415 | Establishes "Energy Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships Program"; amends law concerning NJ infrastructure Bank; and authorizes certain energy contracts under "Public School Contracts Law" and "Local Public Contracts Law" up to 25 years. | Establishes "Energy Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships Program"; amends law concerning NJ Infrastructure Bank; and authorizes certain energy contracts under "Public School Contracts Law" and "Local Public Contracts Law" up to 25 years. | In Committee |
| S3738 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 for Main Library Alliance. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to provide grants-in-aid funding to the Main Library Alliance. The Main Library Alliance is a non-profit organization that provides services, programs, learning platforms, cost-sharing, and a technology framework to over 50 library buildings in the northwestern part of the State. The Main Library Alliance and its member libraries serve over 700,000 patrons in over 100 municipalities in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties. | In Committee |
| A2607 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | An Act concerning paratransit services. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3688 | Establishes Office of the State Chief Efficiency Officer and Efficiency Officer positions in each State Executive Branch department. | This bill creates in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury, the Office of the State Chief Efficiency Officer. The State Chief Efficiency Officer will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office. Any vacancy occurring in the position will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Under the bill, the State Chief Efficiency Officer duties include: ensuring that taxpayer funds are spent efficiently and responsibly across the State government, including, but not limited to, office supplies, electricity and other utility usage, tracking performance, and assessing budgets and operation systems; identifying cost savings in State government; working with the Efficiency Officer of each State department, county, and municipality, as needed and deemed appropriate; issuing an annual report to the Legislature detailing the cost savings secured for the State the previous year, and the cost savings secured by each State department, county, and municipal Efficiency Officer; and establishing and maintaining a webpage on the department website, which will include the annual report, and the annual reports of each Executive Branch, county, and municipal Efficiency Officer. The bill also creates in each Executive Branch department an Efficiency Officer, and permits counties and municipalities to establish the position of Efficiency Officer. The officer will have similar duties as the State Chief Efficiency Officer. | In Committee |
| S3686 | Requires State agencies to periodically review administrative rules and regulations to ensure continued efficacy. | This bill would establish a mandatory review process for State agencies of any administrative rule or regulation set to expire at the end of each seven-year period. The review would require State agencies to determine whether the benefits of the rule continue to outweigh the costs and burdens of the rule, and whether the rule remains effective or has become outdated. The State agency would be required to report its findings to the Governor and the Legislature, and to the public in the New Jersey Register. Additionally, this bill would require State agencies to conduct a regulatory impact analysis of all proposed administrative rules. This analysis would be comparable to the review analysis for existing rules, and the State agency proposing the rule would be required to report its analysis to the Governor and the Legislature, and to the public. Although present law mandates that all administrative rules and regulations expire after a period of seven years, there is no mandatory review process in place to determine the continued efficacy of existing rules. With respect to proposed administrative rules, present law requires certain reviews to be conducted by State agencies prior to adoption of rules, and this bill would expand the requirements placed upon a State agency prior to adoption of any administrative rule. | In Committee |
| S3684 | Establishes program to foster improvements in customer service in State government agencies. | The residents of the State of New Jersey expect the best possible customer service from their State government. The Statewide customer service initiative established by this bill will ensure continued improvements across all State agencies by giving our State employees the leadership, guidance, training, and the tools they need to provide excellent customer service. This bill is based on a program established in the state of Maryland. This bill requires each State agency to develop a written customer service improvement plan as well as customer service standards. The plan is required to be developed by the first day of the sixth month following the effective date of this act. The plan is required to be reviewed annually, and modified if necessary. The bill requires that the initial plan, and any subsequently modified plans, be submitted to the Office of Innovation, the Governor, and the Legislature within 30 days of completion. Additionally, this bill requires each agency to create appropriate customer service training, review, and adjust when necessary, business hours, and include customer service goals when conducting employee performance evaluations. This bill also requires that each State agency plan be reviewed annually by a panel comprised of State government officials appointed by the Governor. The bill requires the panel to report to the Governor any recommendations and customer service improvement data. The metrics used to track improvement are required to be publicly available on the website of the Department of State. In addition, this bill requires each State agency to display the Customer Service Promise prominently in State agency offices and on agency websites. Following the Customer Service Promise, the bill requires the website of each agency to provide a comment section, a customer experience survey, and the annual reports on the customer service initiative. This bill also requires each State agency to implement appropriate employee recognition and award programs. The bill requires the Governor, or the Governor's designee, to meet with employees who are agency award recipients at the State House to offer congratulations and appreciation to the employees. Finally, this bill requires the Department of State to prepare an annual report on the Customer Service Initiative, which will include a summary of customer comments, customer survey responses, and measured improvements in service delivery. | In Committee |
| S3594 | Establishes timelines for application review process for certain credentials issued by New Jersey Board of Nursing. | This bill establishes certain timelines to be followed by the New Jersey Board of Nursing for applications it receives for initial licensure. Specifically, upon receipt of an application for initial licensure as a practical nurse or a registered professional nurse or for initial certification as an advanced practice nurse, the board is to (1) issue a confirmation to the applicant that the application was received; (2) at 10 days after receipt, send an update to the applicant on the status of the review of the application; and (3) at 30 days after receipt, issue a final determination to the applicant of the application. These notifications are to be sent in the same form and manner in which an application was received. | In Committee |
| S3592 | Requires local recreation departments, youth serving organizations, and youth camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events. | This bill requires local recreation departments, youth serving organizations, and youth camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events. Under the bill, a youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, and a nonprofit youth serving organization including, but not limited to, Little Leagues, Babe Ruth Leagues, Pop Warner Leagues, Police Athletic Leagues, and youth soccer leagues, which organizes, sponsors, or is otherwise affiliated with youth athletic events that are played on municipal, county, school, or other publicly-owned fields, is to ensure that there is available on site an automated external defibrillator at each youth athletic event and practice held on the home field of the youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization. The bill provides that a youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization is to be deemed to be in compliance with the bill's requirements if a State-certified emergency services provider or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic event or practice and has a defibrillator available for use on site. Under the bill, a youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization, and employees, volunteers, coaches, and licensed athletic trainers of the youth camp operator, municipal or county recreation department, or nonprofit youth serving organization, are to be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of a defibrillator. | In Committee |
| S3596 | Increases penalties for denying access to public facilities, NJT, and transportation network companies to service dogs and their handlers. | This bill increases the penalties, from civil to criminal, for any person who denies or interferes with the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, or any transportation network company. Currently, any person who interferes or denies the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility is liable for civil penalties as follows:· $250 for the first violation; · $500 for the second violation; and· $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. This bill would subject any person denying access to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by NJT, or any transportation network company towards a service dog or their handler to criminal penalties. A person in violation of section 1 of P.L.1971, c.130 (C.10:5-29), or section 1 of P.L.2016, c.25 (C.27:25-5b), or section 15 of P.L.2017, c.26 (C.39:5H-15) would be charged with a petty disorderly persons offense for the first violation, and a disorderly persons offense for the second and each subsequent violation. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both; however, for a second and each subsequent violation, the standard term of up to six months' imprisonment has been increased to up to one year. | In Committee |
| S3593 | Allows distributions from NJBEST account to Roth IRA as qualified withdrawals and excludes such distributions from gross income tax. | This bill allows distributions from a New Jersey Better Education Savings and Trust (NJBEST) account to a Roth IRA to be considered a "qualified withdrawal" for purposes of the NJBEST program and exempt from State income tax, consistent with a recent change in federal income tax law. Under section 529 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, states are authorized to establish "qualified tuition programs." More commonly referred to as "529 plans," these programs provide tax-advantaged savings accounts to help assist individuals in saving for certain higher education expenses of a designated beneficiary. Typically, the designated beneficiary is a child of the individual who opens a 529 savings account, but another family member may be designated as well. The State's 529 plans are offered as part of the NJBEST program, which is administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The program offers a number of investment options to help contributions made to a program account grow over time. Provided that contributions to a NJBEST account are withdrawn to pay for a qualified higher education expense, any investment earnings that have accrued to the account will be exempt from State and federal taxes. Qualified higher education expenses include amounts spent for enrollment or attendance of the designated beneficiary at an institution of higher education such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, room and board, among other similar expenses. Recently, federal legislation was enacted to amend section 529 of the federal Internal Revenue Code to allow a "special rollover" of funds from a 529 savings account into a Roth IRA beginning after December 31, 2023, without imposing tax liability related to the withdrawal of monies from the 529 savings account. These special rollovers may occur, subject to the following conditions: (1) the 529 savings account is required to have been open for the designated beneficiary for a period of at least 15 years; (2) the Roth IRA to receive the rollover funds is required to be established in the name of the designated beneficiary of the 529 savings account; (3) the amounts to be rolled over originate from amounts deposited into the 529 savings account at least five years prior to the date of the rollover; and (4) no more than $35,000 in total funds may be rolled over, subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits. The NJBEST statute defines a "qualified withdrawal" as "a withdrawal from an account to pay the qualified higher education expenses of the designated beneficiary of the account." The statute further defines a "qualified higher education expense" in accordance with the definition of such expenses contained in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Since a rollover from a 529 savings account into a Roth IRA would not be considered a "qualified higher education expense," any withdrawal which effectuates such a rollover would not be considered a "qualified withdrawal" under the NJBEST statutes and subject the account earnings to State income tax. The bill amends the definition of a "qualified withdrawal" under State law to include the special rollover of funds now allowed pursuant to federal law. The bill would further amend State law to exclude a special rollover funds from calculation of a taxpayer's gross income for purposes of determining income tax liability. | In Committee |
| S3549 | Exempts honorably discharged veterans from payment of municipal parking meter fees when vehicle bears honorably discharged veteran's placard issued by MVC. | This bill allows the use of a placard issued to an honorably discharged veteran to permit a veteran to be exempt from paying a parking meter fee when driving or traveling as a passenger in a motor vehicle regardless of the vehicle's ownership. The exemption does not apply to instances when the motor vehicle is parked for more than 24 hours at one location where the motor vehicle is subject to a fee. Current law permits disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to be exempt from paying parking meter fees when the disabled veteran's or Purple Heart recipient's vehicle is parked in a single location for a period of no more than 24 hours and the vehicle displays a disabled veteran or Purple Heart recipient license plate or placard issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. | In Committee |
| S3567 | Provides access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters through SHBP physicians and other providers. | This bill requires access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters serving in fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit, or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, without cost-sharing. Under the bill, physicians who participate in the State Health Benefits Program network will be required to offer these periodic examinations to volunteer firefighters and then a physician or other provider may request payment from the State for the provision of services not to exceed $1,250 in the aggregate per three-year period for each firefighter. According to the bill, fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, which relies on services from volunteer firefighters must maintain adequate records to facilitate the payment. Current law entitles paid firefighters enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program and paid firefighters eligible for enrollment in the State Health Benefits Program to periodic cancer screening examinations every three years without cost-sharing. By law, the State will reimburse public employers in an amount not to exceed $1,250 per three-year period for each firefighter. This bill extends the reimbursement provisions available to paid firefighters under current law to unpaid firefighters serving in any fire district with a volunteer fire department or wherein there exists one or more incorporated volunteer fire companies affording fire protection to the fire district, or any fire department, unit, or company of or in the State or a political subdivision of this State. | In Committee |
| A4035 | Requires State to sell as surplus property certain land and improvements in Morris County known as Central Park School. | An Act requiring the State to sell to the Morris County Educational Services Commission certain surplus land and improvements in Morris County known as the Central Park School. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S721 | Exempts sales of investment metal bullion and certain investment coins from sales and use tax. | An Act exempting the sale of certain investment metal bullion and coins from the sales and use tax and amending P.L.1980, c.105. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S360 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | In Committee |
| S2809 | Requires State to sell as surplus property certain land and improvements in Morris County known as Central Park School. | Requires State to sell as surplus property certain land and improvements in Morris County known as Central Park School. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3517 | Expands Division of State Police rank and grade titles. | This bill expands on certain Division of State Police titles that may change in rank and grade upon the approval of the Attorney General. Currently, the Superintendent of the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety may change or increase the rank and grade of any member or increase the number of personnel for the efficient operation of the division. These changes are to be approved by the Attorney General and budgeted within the limitations of the divisions' appropriations. This bill specifies the titles in which the superintendent may change or increase ranks and grades and which changes require the approval of the Attorney General. Specifically, the bill permits that the superintendent may change the ranks and grades of any trooper, detective, first-line supervisor, mid-level manager, or executive-level personnel for the efficient operation of the division without the approval of the Attorney General. Further, the bill provides that the superintendent may only make changes to command staff positions holding the rank of major and lieutenant colonel upon the approval of the Attorney General. The bill requires that any personnel changes should be achieved within the limitations of the division's appropriations, consistent with current law. | In Committee |
| S3503 | Provides corporation business and gross income tax credit for certain Pre-Broadway and Post-Broadway theater productions. | This bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to production companies for costs incurred for certain accredited theater productions. Specifically, the bill provides that a production company may receive tax credits for costs related to eligible pre- and post-Broadway theater productions that are performed at qualified facilities in New Jersey. The credits would equal 35 percent of the production's eligible production and performance expenditures. Under the bill, production and performance expenditures include: (1) expenditures for design, construction, and operation, including sets, special and visual effects, costumes, wardrobe, make-up, and accessories; (2) costs associated with sound, lighting, staging, facility expenses, rentals, per diems, and accommodations; (3) payroll costs up to $250,000 per week; and (4) certain advertising and public relations expenditures and transportation expenditures. The bill requires production companies to apply to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the initial approval of tax credits. However, the bill provides that the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury would be responsible for the final approval of tax credits. Under the bill, the total value of tax credits awarded in each fiscal year may not exceed $10 million. | In Committee |
| S3485 | "Safer Students Act"; requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, contracted service providers, and institutions of higher education to review employment history of prospective employee for allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. | This bill, entitled the "Safer Students Act," makes numerous changes to the current law that requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and certain contracted service providers to review the employment history of a prospective employee for allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. Additionally, the bill establishes similar requirements for institutions of higher education. Current law requires all employers in the State to report certain employee information of all hires to the Department of Human Services. This bill requires that the information be shared with any school district, charter school, nonpublic school, contracted service provider, or institution of higher education conducting an employment verification pursuant to the bill's provisions. Under the bill, these hiring entities are required to verify the employment history listed by an applicant using the records available through the Department of Human Services. The bill requires a school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider that contracts with a district or school to utilize the standardized employment history forms developed by the Department of Education. The bill also requires these entities to utilize any other standardized forms developed by the department required to carry out the provisions of the "Safer Students Act." Similarly, the bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to develop forms for applicants and employers that are to be used to comply with the requirements of this bill, as well as any other forms necessary to carry out the provisions of this bill. The bill also requires these hiring entities to maintain their hiring records. This bill provides that if an applicant applying for employment with a public or nonpublic school willfully provides false information or willfully fails to disclose information on an application the applicant is to be subject to discipline up to, and including, termination or denial of employment, as deemed appropriate by the department. The bill prohibits the governing body of an institution of higher education from employing a person serving in a position which involves regular contact with students unless the institution conducts a review of the applicant's employment history by obtaining from former and current employers information regarding child abuse and sexual misconduct allegations. The applicant is required to list employers from the prior 20 years that were institutions of higher education, schools, or places where the employment involved direct contact with children. The institution is required to ask those employers for certain information related to any potential allegations made or disciplinary or licensure actions taken against the applicant. The applicant is required to also provide a written statement disclosing any of the same matters. The bill provides that the governing body of an institution of higher education may not enter into a collectively bargained or negotiated agreement, an employment contract, an agreement for resignation or termination, a severance agreement, or any other contract or agreement or take any action that impacts the ability to report or investigate suspected child abuse or sexual misconduct. The bill provides that an applicant to an institution of higher education who gives false information or willfully fails to disclose required information will be subject to discipline, including termination or denial of employment. The applicant may also be subject to certain civil penalties. Under the bill, the State Auditor may audit the hiring records of a school district, charter school, nonpublic school, contracted service provider holding a contract with a district or school, or institution of higher education to ensure compliance with the provisions of the "Safer Students Act." The State Auditor is directed to annually conduct a total of 30 randomly selected audits of school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers and three randomly selected audits of institutions of higher education. Additionally, the State Auditor may immediately conduct an audit of the hiring practices of an entity that is reported to be not in compliance with the provisions of the "Safer Students Act." This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to establish a public awareness campaign to publicize the provisions of the bill and to ensure applicants and employers are aware of their respective rights and responsibilities under the bill. This bill requires the department and the secretary to establish a procedure for the prompt investigation of allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct by a school employee and employees of an institution of higher education. The bill includes numerous requirements for this procedure and requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and institutions of higher education to utilize the procedure established by the bill for any investigation regarding an allegation of child abuse or sexual misconduct by an employee. The bill further prohibits school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools from entering into contracts with contracted services providers unless the provider attests that it utilizes comparable investigation procedures. Additionally, the bill requires the department and secretary to provide training, free of charge, to all designated employees. A designated employee is required to complete the training prior to conducting an investigation of an allegation of child abuse or sexual misconduct by an employee, and annually thereafter. The department and secretary are also required to establish guidelines to assist school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and institutions of higher education in implementing the investigation procedure and for determining when to refer an allegation of child abuse or sexual misconduct to law enforcement. The bill clarifies that this investigation procedure is not to be construed to supersede requirements under current law for the reporting of child abuse by school employees. The bill directs the superintendent or chief school administrator of each school district, charter school, and nonpublic school to designate a compliance specialist, who shall ensure compliance of the district or school with the bill's provisions. A contracted service provider is to identify in its contract with a district or school the employee responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the "Safer Students Act." The bill also requires designation of a compliance specialist by an institution of higher education for the same purpose. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a range of penalties to be imposed on a school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider, for noncompliance with the "Safer Students Act" including fines and, as applicable, the withholding of all or part of the district's State aid.In addition, the commissioner is to establish a range of penalties to be imposed on the compliance specialist of a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school, or any other employee of a school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider, for noncompliance with the "Safer Students Act" including fines, modification or termination of employment, and suspension or revocation of the employee's license or certification. Finally, the bill directs the commissioner to publish on its Internet website a list of all school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers with one or more incidents of noncompliance with the "Safer Students Act". Similarly, the bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to establish a range of penalties to be imposed on an institution of higher education or persons employed at the institution, for noncompliance with the "Safer Students Act" including fines and withholding or reduction of State appropriation for operations. The secretary is to also establish a range of penalties to be imposed on a designee or employee of the institution, for noncompliance with the "Safer Students Act" including, but not limited to, fines, modification or termination of employment, or other disciplinary action. The secretary is to publish on its Internet website a list of all institutions of higher education with one or more incidents of noncompliance with the "Safer Students Act." This bill implements certain recommendations of the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation's March 2024 report, "Safeguarding New Jersey Students from Sexual Predators and Child Abuse at School - Examining the State's 'Pass the Trash' Law." The sponsor of this bill intends to strengthen the laws currently in place that require school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers to review the employment history of prospective employees for allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. Additionally, the sponsor intends to extend the same protections from sexual predators offered to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 by current law to college and graduate students, whose positions of vulnerability in the academic setting also can be exploited by predatory members of faculties, athletic departments, and administrations. | In Committee |
| S3248 | Exempts cribs, child restraint systems, nursing bottles, and strollers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts select baby products from the "Sales and Use Tax Act." Currently, the purchases of certain baby items such as cribs; child restraint systems; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers are subject to the sales and use tax. The bill would exempt these items from the tax to help reduce the costs of caring for an infant child. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant 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 containment designed to accommodate an infant and a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. | In Committee |
| S1292 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; and appropriates $100,000. | 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 |
| S2577 | Authorizes fire districts to issue certain bond anticipation notes for up to 10 years following initial note issuance. | This bill authorizes fire districts to issue a series of one-year bond anticipation notes for up to 10 years to finance capital projects. Currently, fire districts are authorized to issue a series of one-year notes for up to three years to finance capital projects. When a fire district's capital project exceeds a period of three years, the fire district is often forced to issue long term bonds or enter into a lease purchase agreement with a bank for the remainder of the capital project. This bill would allow a fire district to finance capital projects with bond anticipation notes for the entirety of most projects. | In Committee |
| S3453 | Provides for preservation bonus credit against affordable housing obligations to certain municipalities. | This bill provides preservation bonus credits against affordable housing obligations to certain municipalities. Under the bill, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is required to designate: (1) the location of critical headwaters drinking water resources, (2) other water resources, (3) land conservation resources, (4) wildlife and habitat resources, (5) climate resilience resources, (6) historical and cultural resources, (7) community engagement and education resources, and (8) sustainable building practice resources. Under the bill, a municipality with boundaries that contain, or a municipality that sustains, such resources and that enacts regulations and commits to enforcement mechanisms to safeguard the resources would receive preservation bonus credits towards its affordable housing requirement based on formulas developed by DCA, in consultation with DEP. The formulas developed would each include different factors, as specified in the bill. The bill requires that formula factors incorporate, as applicable, evaluations of the ecological importance, the habitat diversity and biodiversity, the rarity or uniqueness, and the broader societal, cultural, recreational, educational, and aesthetic value of individual resources. The preservation bonus credits received by a municipality, as established by the bill, are to count against the 25 percent cap, under current law, on the use of bonus credits that can be applicable to the municipality's prospective need obligation in the fourth round or any subsequent round. | In Committee |
| S3188 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DMVA for New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DMVA for New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. | In Committee |
| S2050 | "Stephanie's Law"; Requires AOC to establish publicly-accessible domestic violence registry; requires law enforcement officer to search State's domestic violence registries when conducting arrest. | This bill establishes "Stephanie's Law," to require the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in conjunction with the Attorney General, to develop and maintain a publicly-accessible domestic violence Internet registry, and require law enforcement officers to search the State's domestic violence registries upon arresting a person. This registry established under the bill is to be separate from the domestic violence central registry maintained by the AOC pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, which is not accessible to the public. Under the bill, the public is to be able to access the registry to obtain all available information concerning any person who has been convicted of a crime or offense involving domestic violence; has had a final domestic violence restraining order issued against them; or has committed contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order. The Internet registry is to contain the following information for any person to be included in the registry: (1) the person's name and any aliases the person has used or under which the person may be or may have been known; (2) a brief description of any crime or offense involving domestic violence for which the person was convicted; the date and location of each disposition; and a general description of the person's modus operandi, if applicable; (3) the person's age, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, hair, eye color, and any distinguishing scars or tattoos; (4) a photograph of the person and the date on which the photograph was entered into the registry; (5) the make, model, color, year, and license plate number of any vehicle operated by the person; (6) and the person's last known address. A person whose name is erroneously included in the registry established under the bill may petition the AOC for removal of the person's name. The AOC is required to remove the person's name from the registry if the person has not had a final domestic violence restraining order entered against them, has not been found guilty of contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order, or has not been found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence. Within five days of a change of address, a person whose name is included in the registry is required provide the AOC with the new address. On the website through which a person may search the registry established under the bill, the AOC is required to include information regarding: the manner in which a person may petition the AOC to remove their name; the circumstances under which the AOC would grant a petition to remove their name; and the manner in which a person may provide an updated address to the AOC. In addition, the provisions of the bill require a law enforcement officer to determine, upon an arrest, if there is a domestic violence restraining order entered against the person. This determination is to include a search of the central domestic violence registry maintained by the AOC established pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, as well as the publicly-accessible central registry established under the bill. This bill, designated "Stephanie's Law," is named after a domestic violence victim, Stephanie Nicole Parze, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation was created in her memory to provide support to victims of domestic violence. This bill, which is intended to provide additional protections for victims of domestic violence, is named in her honor. | In Committee |
| S3035 | "New Jersey Student Support Act"; establishes program to Department of Treasury to provide tax credits to taxpayers contributing to organization which awards scholarships to certain nonpublic school students. | This bill directs the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, to establish a program to provide tax credits to taxpayers that make contributions to a selected student support organization that awards scholarships for eligible students to attend participating nonpublic schools. The program established by the director would allow a taxpayer to claim a tax credit against the corporate business tax or personal gross income tax equal to 75 percent of any contribution made to a student support organization; in the case of the gross income tax credit, a taxpayer is required to contribute a minimum of $100 to a student support organization in order to claim a tax credit. The value of a credit for an individual taxpayer in a given year or privilege period is not permitted to exceed the lesser of 50 percent of the taxpayer's total tax liability or $1,000,000 for a tax credit against the corporate business tax or $100,000 for a credit against the personal gross income tax. The maximum amount of tax credits allowable in each State fiscal year may not exceed $37.5 million. The Director of the Division of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is responsible for the administration of the program. The Director of the Division of Taxation is to select one student support organization, draft regulations to implement the program, and submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation and results of the program. The regulations are to include a requirement that tax credits issued under the provision of the bill will be issued equitably among the counties. The Director of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is also required to establish a five-person oversight committee to oversee the operation of the student support organization. The student support organization would receive contributions made to the program, spending no more than five percent of contributions on administrative costs, and distributing the remaining 95 percent as scholarships for eligible families. The student support organization is required to verify student eligibility prior to awarding a scholarship, not limit scholarships to students in a certain school or region, award scholarships equally to all eligible students who apply in a given school year, and provide a student with a scholarship that is not less than the amount the student received in the prior school year. The student support organization is to publicize the program, carry forward no more than 20 percent of funds each year, and submit an annual report to the State Treasurer and the Commissioner of Education. The student support organization is required to contract annually for an independent financial audit of the program and transmit a copy of the financial audit to the Division of Taxation, the State Treasurer, and the Commissioner of Education no later than December 1 of each year. To be eligible for a scholarship from the student support organization, a student is to reside in New Jersey and intend to enroll in grades kindergarten through 12 in the next school year. A student is required to have a household income that does not exceed the federal income guidelines for reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program multiplied by 2.6. To participate in the program, a school is to: be located in New Jersey; be a nonpublic school that is eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program; comply with all federal and State anti-discrimination statutes; and comply with the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act," P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18:A37-13 et seq.). The bill also includes language requiring that the provisions of the bill not supersede, impact, or interfere with the full funding in each State fiscal year necessary to satisfy the requirement of the New Jersey Constitution that the Legislature provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between 5 and 18 years of age; the full funding of the veterans' $250 property tax deduction, required to be provided to eligible veterans pursuant to the State Constitution; the senior citizens' and disabled persons' $250 property tax deduction authorized by the State Constitution; the full payment of contributions required by law to be made to the State-administered retirement systems; and the full funding of the Stay NJ property tax credit program established in P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75a et seq.). No later than six months after the conclusion of the fourth school year in which scholarships are awarded under the program, the Department of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Department of Education, any relevant governmental organization, and stakeholders from the nonpublic school community, is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature that will include: information on the number of scholarships and the amount of tax credits awarded under the program; recommendations on improvements to the program; and the number of nonpublic school closures five years prior to awarding any scholarships under the program compared to closures after the implementation of the program. The Department of Education is required to establish a Student Support Grant Program to provide grants to school districts in which at least 50 percent of the student population is eligible for free or reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program. The grant funding is for student support services, including tutoring programs or opportunities, teacher retention bonuses, or the provision of mental health or counseling services. The department will establish an application process for the grants. As part of that process, the eligible school districts are required to demonstrate how the funding will assist the district in providing needed support to its students. The bill provides that the Legislature will annually appropriate from the General Fund to the Department of Education $37.5 million to fund the grant program. | Dead |
| 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 |
| S1032 | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | In Committee |
| S2930 | Makes various changes to process for access to government records; appropriates $10 million. | An Act concerning access to government records, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3316 | Requires Firefighter 1 certification of candidate who completes military firefighter training and at least 12 months active duty military service in lieu of training course requirements. | This bill provides that a person who completed at least 12 months of active duty military service and has satisfactorily completed military firefighter training is eligible to receive Firefighter 1 certification. Under current law, a candidate for Firefighter 1 certification is required to meet the eligibility, training, and examination requirements established by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs. Under the bill, a person who has not completed the training program requirements established by the division, but meets the other eligibility and examination requirements required for certification, is to receive a Firefighter 1 certificate if the person has completed at least 12 months of active duty military service and has satisfactorily completed military firefighter training during the period of active duty military service. | In Committee |
| S3315 | Allows gross income tax credit for volunteer firefighters. | This bill allows a gross income tax credit for volunteer firefighters who have actively been volunteering for three years. The amount of the credit is $500. To be eligible for the credit, a taxpayer must be an active member of a volunteer fire company or an active volunteer member of a part-paid fire department for three years. | In Committee |
| S3374 | Permits certain students not enrolled in public schools to participate in interscholastic athletics. | This bill requires school districts to allow students in grades six through 12 who receive equivalent instruction other than at school, and students who attend charter schools, county vocational schools, or nonpublic schools to participate in interscholastic sports programs in the student's resident district in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. The bill also provides that interscholastic sports programs offered by charter schools, county vocational school districts, and nonpublic schools must be available to students attending other public schools. Under the bill, a student in grades six through 12 who receives equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school who wishes to try out for, and participate in, school-sponsored interscholastic athletics in the student's resident district is required to: 1) provide proof that the student resides in the district; 2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. The student is to comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as other members of the team; and 3) demonstrate to the board of education that the student is receiving an academically equivalent education compared to students enrolled in the school district and is academically qualified to participate. Under the current rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), the participation of such a student is at the discretion of the board of education of the resident school district. In the case of a student enrolled in a charter school, county vocational school, or nonpublic school, the student may try out for, and participate in, interscholastic athletics in the student's resident district if the student's charter school, county vocational school, or nonpublic school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. In order to participate, the student is to comply with the requirements listed above, other than the requirement to demonstrate academically equivalent instruction. Under current NJSIAA rules, a student enrolled in a nonpublic school, a charter school, or full-time in a county vocational school may only participate in interscholastic athletics in the resident district if the principal of the charter school or county vocational school, as applicable, and the principal of the resident district school agree to such participation. There are reciprocal provisions in the bill for students enrolled in public schools who may want to participate in interscholastic athletics sponsored by charter schools, county vocational school districts. Under the bill, any controversy in regard to whether a home-schooled student, a charter school student, a county vocational school student, nonpublic school student, or other public school student meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the NJSIAA will be adjudicated by the association in compliance with its constitution and by-laws. | In Committee |
| S3375 | Requires school districts to maintain supply of nasal rescue medication and oxygen for seizure emergencies; provides for training of designees to administer nasal rescue medication and oxygen when school nurse is not physical present. | This bill requires a school district, as part of the implementation of a seizure action plan, to maintain a supply of diazepam nasal spray, midazolam nasal spray, and any other similar nasal rescue medication approved for seizures and identified in a seizure action plan submitted to the school district, as prescribed under a standing protocol from a licensed physician or an advanced practice nurse and portable oxygen delivery devices in secure but unlocked locations easily accessible by the school nurse and trained designees throughout each school building to ensure prompt availability in the event of a seizure emergency during school hours and at any other time when a school-sponsored event is taking place on the premises of a school building. The school nurse of each school building would be responsible for designating locations where such nasal rescue medication and oxygen delivery devices would be placed. Nothing in this bill would be construed to prohibit the use of portable oxygen delivery devices to respond to other medical emergencies that may occur during school hours or when a school-sponsored function is taking place on the premises of a school building. The school nurse would have the primary responsibility for administering nasal rescue medication and oxygen but would be able to designate, in consultation with the board of education, additional employees to administer nasal rescue medication to a student when the nurse is not physically present at the scene of a seizure emergency. The school nurse would also be responsible for determining that:· the designees have been properly trained in the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen using standardized training protocols established by the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health;· the parents or guardians of the student consent in writing to the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen by the designees;· the board of education informs the parents or guardians of the student in writing that the district and its employees or agents will have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student;· the parents or guardians of the student sign a statement acknowledging their understanding that the district will have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student and that the parents or guardians will indemnify and hold harmless the district and its employees or agents against any claims arising out of the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student; and· the permission is effective for the school year for which it is granted and is renewed for each subsequent school year upon fulfillment of the above requirements. In developing the training protocols under the bill, the Department of Education and the Department of Health would be required to: consult with the New Jersey School Nurses Association; distribute the protocols to school districts at the beginning of each school year; and update the protocols as needed. The Department of Education would be responsible for reimbursing the costs incurred by school districts implementing certain provisions of the bill. | 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 |
| S3298 | Requires collection of data by health insurers regarding health insurance claims and decisions made using automated utilization management systems. | This bill modifies current law requiring the collection of certain data from health insurers. Specifically, the bill requires, on an annual basis, that a payer, or a carrier or an organized delivery system who is doing business in New Jersey and is under a contractual obligation to pay insured claims, maintain, and the Department of Banking and Insurance to make publicly available, data on health benefit plan claims regarding various matters, including the number of claims originally denied that were appealed and the number of appeals sustained and overturned and the procedures of each medical specialty for which a claim is most frequently denied. Additional data may be collected as authorized by the department. A payer who is determined to have denied, without proper justification, at least 20 percent of claims received in a year is, as a penalty, to return to a covered person a dollar amount equal to the cost paid by the covered person for the services denied for coverage by the payer. Additionally, the bill modifies current law governing utilization management by establishing certain reporting requirements for data. Specifically, the bill requires that: (1) every claim submitted for utilization management be reviewed by at least one medical director employed by or contracted with a payer; and (2) payers submit annually to the Department of Human Services and the Department of Banking and Insurance and to publicly disclose, in a clear and conspicuous location on the payer's Internet website, certain information concerning the payer's claim rejection rates each year. Pursuant to the bill, a physician or medical director reviewing claims for a payer is required to include on all denial notices the physician or medical director's claim denial rate and the average amount of time it takes for the physician or medical director to review a claim. Furthermore, a physician or medical director reviewing claims for a payer is to include instructions, on all denial notices and explanation of benefits notices, explaining how to access consumer assistance through the Department of Banking and Insurance. Health insurance carriers are also required under the bill to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous location on the carrier's Internet website: (1) whether or not the carrier uses an automated utilization management system; and (2) how many claims were reviewed using the automated utilization management system in the previous year. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Department of Banking and Insurance to audit at any time a payer's automated utilization management system and the data the payer collects in using that system. Under the bill, an "automated utilization management system" means an automated system for reviewing the appropriate and efficient allocation of health care services under a health benefits plan according to specified guidelines, in order to recommend or determine whether, or to what extent, a health care service given or proposed to be given to a covered person should or will be reimbursed, covered, paid for, or otherwise provided under the health benefits plan and which may use artificial intelligence or other type of software to automate the process of making recommendations or determinations. | In Committee |
| S3250 | Exempts sales of pet food and medication purchased for pets from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts pet food and pet medication from the State's sales and use tax. Specifically, "qualified pet medication" is exempted from the State's sales and use tax under the provisions of the bill. The term "qualified pet medication" is defined as: · medicine that has been recognized as a drug in any official compendium, or supplement to a compendium, by the State Board of Pharmacy or the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in a qualified pet;· medicine intended to affect the structure or function of the body of a qualified pet--except that a food, dietary ingredient, or dietary supplement (as those terms are defined in federal statute) does not necessarily qualify solely because its labeling claims it is medication; or· medicine prescribed by a person licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, or dentistry in the State. Furthermore, the bill defines the term "qualified pet" to mean a legally owned, domesticated live animal normally maintained in or near the household of its owner. The provisions of the bill will become operative on the first day of the first full calendar quarter next following the date of enactment. Pet food and pet medication can be an expensive recurring cost, yet one that is necessary to keep pets healthy and active. The cost of pet food has increased due to inflation. By exempting this pet medication and pet food expense from the State's sales and use tax, the bill benefits both pet owners and their pets. Specifically, the bill eases the tax burden placed on pet owners for the cost of food and medication necessary to ensure the well-being of companion and service animals. By lowering pet food and medication costs, this bill also promotes pet ownership and preventative care. By encouraging pet ownership and well-being, the bill aims to reduce the substantial number of animals maintained in shelters and euthanized each year. The provisions of this bill will help reduce that cost, and thereby encourage more people to keep pets and enjoy the companionship and benefits they provide. | In Committee |
| S1458 | Requires DMVA to develop mobile application to provide guidance on available resources to veterans and their families. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to develop a mobile application for veterans and their families. The mobile application will be a resource guide and will provide veterans and their families with information related to veterans' legal rights, medical and insurance issues, education, housing, the transition from active to civilian life. The guide should have substantially the same information as available on the DMVA website, A Resource Guide for New Jersey's Military, Veterans and Families, and New Jersey Veterans Benefits Guide. Making these resources available through a mobile application will provide veterans with an additional avenue to access DMVA resources. The content on mobile applications generally loads faster than websites, and mobile applications are easier to use than websites and will provide veterans with a better user experience. | In Committee |
| S1075 | Establishes "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to support "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program; appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes the "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" and appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to this fund to support the "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program in the current fiscal year and ongoing. The "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program is a 24-hour confidential peer support hotline and service for law enforcement personnel and their families. This program is currently operated at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care's National Call Center. The Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program currently receives up to $400,000 annually from Body Armor Replacement Funds pursuant to R.S.39:5-41. This bill would dedicate an additional $500,000 to the "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to support the Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program. | In Committee |
| S876 | Makes FY2024 supplemental appropriation of $17 million for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2024 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the General Fund. The bill directs the DEP to establish a program to use these funds for grants to assist qualified entities to pay certain costs associated with the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects submitted by qualified entities responsible for a lake with public access; and projects to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill defines "qualified entity" to mean: the Greenwood Lake Commission; the Lake Hopatcong Commission; a local government unit; an entity established pursuant to law or an entity established pursuant to ordinance by the municipalities surrounding a publicly-accessible lake for the management of the lake, including, but not limited to, the Deal Lake Commission or the Lake Topanemus Park Commission; or a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3) and whose mission is the management or maintenance of a publicly-accessible lake. In the 2020-2021 legislative session $10 million was appropriated to the DEP for the same purpose. | 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 |
| S3137 | Disqualifies person with certain number of motor vehicle points from operating school bus for certain period of time. | This bill disqualifies a person from obtaining or maintaining a school bus endorsement to drive a school bus in the State for one year, following the date of the last conviction, if the person has accumulated four or more current motor vehicle points as a result of a conviction of one or more violations of the motor vehicle laws of this State or any other jurisdiction for which motor vehicle points are assessed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator). Currently, under the New Jersey Administrative Code, the chief administrator may not issue a passenger endorsement or may suspend or revoke a passenger endorsement, which is required to obtain a school bus endorsement, if the person has 12 or more current motor vehicle points under the point system. The chief administrator is required to immediately notify the Commissioner of Education that a school bus driver's school bus endorsement has been suspended. The Commissioner of Education is then required to immediately notify the employing board of education or contractor of the suspension. The bill requires a person who has had a school bus endorsement suspended pursuant to the provisions of the bill to pass a school bus endorsement knowledge test and school bus endorsement skills test prior to being reissued a school bus endorsement following the person's period of suspension. | In Committee |
| S3144 | Requires school bus drivers to submit to biannual testing for drugs and alcohol. | This bill requires school bus drivers to submit to biannual testing for drugs and alcohol. Under the bill, all drivers of buses or other vehicles used by a board of education or by a private or parochial school for the transportation of pupils to and from school will, in addition to any other medical exam or testing required by law, be required to submit to unannounced medical testing twice each school year for the presence of alcohol, narcotics, or habit-producing drugs within the scope of the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act," P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-1 et seq.). The employing board of education or contractor will determine the timing of the medical testing and will receive the results of the medical testing. The bill requires that a school bus driver be immediately ineligible to operate a school bus or other vehicle used for the transportation of pupils to and from school if:· the results of the driver's medical testing disqualifies the driver from continued service; or · the driver refuses to submit to the medical testing. The bill provides that a school bus driver cannot be terminated from employment on the basis of the results of the driver's medical testing without an opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the disqualifying testing report. The Commissioner of Education is directed to establish criteria for disqualifying a school bus driver from the continued operation of a school bus or other vehicle used for the transportation of pupils based on the results of medical testing. The commissioner is also directed to develop an appeal process to resolve any dispute raised by a school bus driver concerning a disqualification made pursuant to the bill's provisions. Finally, the bill requires the employing board of education or contractor, prior to the beginning of transportation of school pupils, to annually file evidence of the medical testing required pursuant to the bill's provisions with the executive county superintendent. | In Committee |
| S3138 | Permits EMTs to administer epinephrine using needle and syringe that is not prefilled. | This bill permits emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to administer epinephrine using a needle and syringe that is not prefilled. Under the bill, in addition to an EMT's authorization to administer epinephrine using a pre-filled epinephrine auto-injector mechanism pursuant to P.L.2003, c.1 (C.26:2K-47.1 et al.), an EMT is to be permitted to administer epinephrine using a needle and syringe that is not prefilled. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) is to establish written standards and application procedures which an EMT is to meet in order to obtain certification to administer epinephrine using a needle and syringe that is not prefilled. The commissioner is to certify a candidate who (1) provides evidence of satisfactory completion of an educational program which is approved by the commissioner and includes training in the administration of epinephrine using a needle and syringe that is not prefilled; and (2) passes an examination in the administration of epinephrine using a needle and syringe that is not prefilled, as approved by the commissioner. | In Committee |
| S3103 | Clarifies crime of highway and public passage obstruction and increases penalties. | This bill creates separate crimes for recklessly and purposefully obstructing a highway or public passage in this State and increases the penalties for doing so. Under current law, it is a petty disorderly offense for a person, who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage whether alone or with others. Further, it is a petty disorderly persons offense for a person in a gathering to refuse to obey a reasonable official request or order to move off the highway or public passage. A petty disorderly offense is punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both. Under the bill, it is a disorderly persons offense for a person who, having no legal privilege to do so, recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage. Further, it is a crime of the fourth degree for a person who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by obstructing any highway or other public passage. Finally, the bill makes it a disorderly persons offense for a person in a gathering to refuse to obey a reasonable official request or order to move off the highway or public passage. 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. | In Committee |
| S3127 | Designates "New Jersey's For You and Me" by Kathleen Golden Murphy and Shannon Murphy Flannery as New Jersey State song. | This bill designates "New Jersey's For You and Me" by Kathleen Golden Murphy and Shannon Murphy Flannery as the New Jersey State song. The State of New Jersey does not have an official State song commemorating our founding, history, traditions, and natural beauty. In the 1990s, New Jersey residents Kathleen Murphy and her daughter, Shannon, composed a song named "New Jersey's For You and Me" as a show of pride for our great State. The lyrics of "New Jersey's For You and Me" pay homage to State symbols, such as the Eastern goldfinch, red oak, and violet. There are two published performances of the song by former New Jersey Senator Dick LaRossa and the St. Thomas the Apostle Choir of Oak Ridge. Unity and State pride are important themes expressed throughout the song, which emphasizes the State's love for freedom and justice. Each performance has been viewed several thousand times on YouTube. In recognition of the artistry of residents Kathleen Golden Murphy and Shannon Murphy Flannery expressed through their song "New Jersey's For You and Me," the bill designates the aforementioned song to be the official State Song of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3079 | Requires petition circulators and candidates to take bona fide candidacy oath; makes violation third degree crime; reinstitutes prompt pre-election reporting for independent expenditure committees; affirms court jurisdiction of campaign finance laws. | This bill requires persons who gather voter signatures on a petition to nominate a candidate for election, and the candidates named on the petitions themselves, to take an oath that they are conducting a real "bona fide" candidacy. This means that they are conducting the candidacy in good faith and do not seek to engage in a vote syphoning scheme to foil the candidacy or campaign of another candidate. The intent of this bill is to prevent the candidacy of "phantom candidates," whereby a candidate enters a race to syphon votes away from another candidate to foil that candidate's chances at winning the election. This bill makes it a third degree crime to violate the "bona fide" candidacy oath. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, a fine up to $15,000, or both. This penalty would be in addition to the penalties for false swearing already established under current law. The bill also provides that filing a petition in violation of the bona fide candidacy oath would be grounds for contesting the nomination or election of that candidate. This bill also re-instates the requirement for independent expenditure committees, the so-called "dark money" groups, to promptly report campaign contributions and expenditures in the 15 days before an election. Oath for Petition Circulators and Candidates Under current law, general election petition circulators, or a candidate who signs or circulates, or both signs and circulates, such a petition, must take an oath by affidavit before a duly qualified officer that the petition is made in good faith, that the affiant personally circulated the petition and saw all the signatures made and believes that the signers are duly qualified voters. Similarly, under current law, primary election petition circulators, or a candidate who signs or circulates, or both signs and circulates, such a petition, must take an oath by affidavit that the affiant personally circulated the petition; that the petition is signed by each of the signers in their proper handwriting; that the signers are to the best knowledge and belief of the affiant legal voters of the State or political subdivision, as the case may be, as stated in the petition, and belong to the political party named in the petition; and that the petition is prepared and filed in absolute good faith for the sole purpose of indorsing the person or persons therein named, in order to secure his or their nomination or selection as stated in such petition. This bill adds to the petition circulator oath a requirement for an additional affirmation that the petition is made for a bona fide candidacy in good faith and that such candidacy does not seek to engage in a vote syphoning scheme to foil the candidacy or campaign of another candidate. Under current law, candidates nominated to the general election through direct nomination by petition, and candidates nominated through the primary election process and via write-in votes at the primary election, are required to take the oath of allegiance and submit it with their acceptance of the nomination. This bill would, in addition, require such acceptance to include the following oath of bona fide candidacy, duly taken and subscribed by the candidate before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State: "I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am conducting a bona fide candidacy in good faith and that I do not seek to engage in a vote syphoning scheme to foil the candidacy or campaign of another candidate." Oaths to be on Paper and Attached to Petitions For both the petition circulators and the candidates, the bill requires all of the required oaths by affidavit to be on paper, signed by the affiant, and attached upon the petition or acceptance being filed. The bill requires the officer or officers to whom the petitions and acceptances are addressed to examine each petition and acceptance to ascertain that all oaths and affirmation affidavits required to be made by petition circulators and candidates are submitted on paper and signed by the affiant or affiants along with the petitions and acceptances being filed. Under current law, the Secretary of State is the officer who receives such petitions and acceptances for Statewide, congressional, and State legislative candidacies, while the county and municipal clerks are the officer or officers who receive such petitions and acceptances for county and local candidacies. Under the bill, the failure to submit the required signed affidavits on paper will render as defective the corresponding petition and acceptance. Penalties for Violation of "Bona Fide" Candidacy Oath The bill creates a new provision in the election crimes statutes to specifically prohibit any candidate or any person who circulates a petition from falsely making oath to any certificate of nomination or petition, or any part of it, in violation of the requirement to conduct a bona fide candidacy in good faith as indicated in the oath or affirmation. Under the bill, a person violating any of these provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Current prohibitions against perjury or false swearing or affirming would also apply, including those provided under R.S.41:3-1 and R.S.19:34-26. Grounds for Contesting Nomination or Election The bill also provides that the filing of a petition in violation of the bona fide candidacy oath would be grounds for contesting the nomination or election of a candidate. This provision is added to the list of grounds for contesting the nomination or election of candidates. Prompt Reporting by Independent Expenditure Committees This bill re-instates the requirement for independent expenditure committees, the so-called "dark money" groups, to promptly report campaign contributions and expenditures in the days before an election. Under current law, independent expenditure committees are required to file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) a cumulative report on the 11th day preceding the primary election, and on the 20th day following the primary election, of all contributions received in excess of $7,500 in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it for the purpose of furthering the independent expenditure. They are also required to report all independent expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it. In addition, each independent expenditure committee making an electioneering communication pertaining to a municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election is required to file with ELEC a cumulative report on the 29th day preceding the election, a report on the 11th day preceding the election, and on the 20th day following the election, of all contributions received in excess of $7,500 in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it for the purpose of furthering the independent expenditure, and of all independent expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it. The reporting period begins on the first day of the preceding calendar year and ends on the reporting date. However, independent expenditure committees are not currently required to report contributions received and expenditures made in the period between the filing of the 11th-day pre-election report and the day of the election, thereby creating a transparency loophole. Under this bill, when an independent expenditure committee receives a contribution from a single source of more than $7,500 after the final day of a cumulative reporting period and on or before a primary, municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election which occurs after that final day but prior to the final day of the next reporting period it will be required, in writing or by electronic transmission, to report that contribution to ELEC within 72 hours of receiving it, if that contribution is received between the 15th day prior to that election and the day of the election. However, a contribution received between the seventh day prior to that election and the day of the election would be required to be reported within 24 hours of receiving it. The bill requires the committee to report the amount and date of the contribution; the name and mailing address of the contributor; and where the contributor is an individual, the individual's occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual's employer. In addition, when an independent expenditure committee makes or authorizes any independent expenditure, or incurs any obligation therefor, between the 15th day prior to the day of a primary, municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election and the day of that election, it will be required to report, in writing or by electronic transmission, that independent expenditure to the commission within 72 hours of making, authorizing, or incurring it. However, an independent expenditure made, authorized, or incurred between the seventh day prior to the election and the day of the election would be required to be reported within 24 hours of making, authorizing, or incurring it. Furthermore, this bill requires each independent expenditure committee to file its statement of registration with ELEC immediately upon incurring any obligation in excess of $7,500, in the aggregate per election. Superior Court Jurisdiction Finally, this bill affirms that the Superior Court has the authority to adjudicate campaign finance laws. The bill provides that any candidate or committee has the authority to initiate a civil action in the Superior Court for the purpose of enforcing compliance with the campaign finance laws, or enjoining violations thereof or enforcing any penalty prescribed by law, and that the Superior Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate any such claims. | In Committee |
| S3076 | Amends appropriations act to provide funding for restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts; shifts $64,920,000 from certain appropriations for purposes of restoring aid; provides supplemental appropriation of $145,215,047. | This bill amends the FY 2024 appropriations act to provide funding for the restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts. The bill ensures that: 1) school districts that previously received an allotment of Supplemental Stabilization Aid under P.L.2023, c.32 receive such aid in the same amount allocated to the district under that law; and 2) that a school district proposed to experience a State school aid reduction in the 2024-2025 school year receive an additional amount of State school aid equal to the difference between the amount of aid received in the 2023-2024 school year and the amount of aid proposed for the 2024-2025 school year. The total funds that would be appropriated under the bill to effectuate these purposes is $210,135,047. The bill would shift a total of approximately $64.9 million in funds from current FY 2024 appropriations, as well as certain unexpended balances from appropriations made in prior fiscal years, to provide for a portion of the total funding needed to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In order to provide for the remaining need, the bill appropriates an additional $145.2 million from the General Fund for the bill's purposes. | 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 |
| S3014 | Establishes presumption of pretrial detention for persons who commit carjacking, theft of motor vehicle, or burglary. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for the crimes of car theft, carjacking, and burglary. The bill provides that if, upon motion by the prosecutor, the court finds probable cause a defendant committed: (1) theft of a motor vehicle or burglary in furtherance of car theft and the defendant has a prior conviction within the preceding 12 months or prior pending charges for any of those crimes; or (2) carjacking, there would be a rebuttable presumption that the person be detained pending trial. Under current law, the rebuttable presumption applies when the court finds probable cause that the defendant committed murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. The bill would expand the rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention to car theft, carjackings, and burglary. Finally, the bill requires, after the one-year expiration of the bill, that the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) report to the Legislature and the Governor on the number of individuals detained under the presumption of pretrial detention after an individual commits the crime of car theft, carjacking, or burglary, the rehabilitation of offenders, and other related objectives of pretrial detention. | In Committee |
| SCR99 | Creates joint committee of Legislature to study report entitled "Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic." | This Senate concurrent resolution creates a joint committee of the Legislature to study the report entitled "Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic." The joint committee is authorized, empowered, and directed to study the report produced by Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP, entitled "Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic." The joint committee is to consist of 12 members of the Legislature. Three members are to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, three members are to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, three members are to be appointed by the Senate President, and three members are to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate. There are to be two co-chairs of the special committee, appointed from different political parties, one of whom is to be appointed by the Senate President from among the appointed members and one of whom is to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly from among the appointed members. In creating this joint committee, it is the sponsor's intent to address the concerns and issues raised in the report titled, "Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic," which concludes that New Jersey is unprepared for the next public health crisis. | In Committee |
| S1421 | Requires school report card to include information about placement of graduates, including apprenticeships. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to include information about the placement of students following graduation in the school performance reports, which are referred to as "report cards" under current law. School performance reports contain information on a number of student outcomes, including graduation and dropout rates, and post-secondary school enrollment. This bill would require the school performance report to contain additional information about the number of students achieving placement after graduating from high school. Under the bill, placement would include placement in an apprenticeship. | Crossed Over |
| S2956 | Revises "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act"; extends process for calculating gas tax rate until Fiscal Year 2032; imposes sales and use tax and additional registration fee on electric vehicles; appropriates $2.5 billion. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act of 1984" to make changes necessary to support the State's Annual Transportation Capital Program (capital program) for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025 through 2032. These changes also (1) extend the process for calculating the rate of tax imposed on highway fuels under the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax (PPGRT) through Fiscal Year 2032; (2) impose an additional registration fee for electric vehicles; (3) appropriate funds to the New Jersey Transit Corporation; (4) appropriate funds from the Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF); and (5) repeal the sales and use tax exemption for zero emission vehicles. Transportation Trust Fund Authority Renewal This bill extends the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority's (authority) existing authorization to issue transportation program bonds and creates the potential to increase the authority's bonding authorization from FY 2029 through FY 2032. Under current law, the authority is authorized to issue such transportation program bonds as are necessary to fund the capital program, in an amount not to exceed $12 billion, through June 30, 2024. The bill extends this authorization through June 30, 2032. The bill requires the authority, on or before June 30, 2028, to assess whether its remaining bonding capacity is sufficient to fund the capital program through FY 2032 and report its findings to the Legislature and Governor. If the authority determines that additional authorization is needed to fund the capital program, the Legislature and Governor may authorize the authority to issue a maximum of $4 billion in transportation program bonds from FY 2029 through FY 2032. This bill authorizes $15.96 billion in capital program expenditures for an eight-year period from FY 2025 through FY 2032. Specifically, this bill allows for an average annual capital program size of $2 billion from FY 2025 through FY 2032. The bill requires $500 million to be annually appropriated to the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) for capital projects during FY 2027 through FY 2032. However, under the bill, no monies are to be appropriated in the capital program to NJ Transit for these purposes in FY 2025 and FY 2026. Extension of PPGRT Rate Adjustment Procedure Until 2032 This bill extends the PPGRT annual rate adjustment procedure through FY 2032. Under current law, the rate of tax imposed under the PPGRT is annually adjusted by the State Treasurer to ensure that the State realizes a statutorily prescribed revenue target, more commonly referred to as the "highway fuel cap," based on 2016 collections of highway fuel taxes. The cap amount is based on the Fiscal Year 2016 sum of: (1) the taxes collected under the Motor Fuel Tax, (2) the amount derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the four cent motor fuel tax, and (3) the amount that would have been derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the motor fuel tax at a rate of 23 cents per gallon. All revenues collected are deposited into the TTF to support transportation infrastructure projects and debt service on transportation bonds. This annual adjustment mechanism is currently set to expire at the conclusion of FY 2026. The bill allows this process to continue through FY 2032. Additional Vehicle Registration Fee for Electric Vehicles The bill imposes an additional registration fee for electric vehicles registered in the State. The fee would be collected by the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission at the same time the vehicle is initially registered or renewed, as the case may be. Beginning on July 1, 2024, the amount of the fee would be $300 for passenger electric vehicles and $450 for commercial electric vehicles. Under the bill, the revenues generated from these fees would be credited to the "Transportation Trust Fund Account - Subaccount for Capital Reserves" to support transportation projects. However, the bill specifies that these collections may not be used to pay debt service on transportation system bonds, transportation program bonds, or any other bonds, notes or other obligations, including subordinated obligations of the authority until such time as these revenues may be constitutionally dedicated to the TTF. Appropriation of Funds to New Jersey Transit The bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $1 billion from the General Fund to NJ Transit. The bill requires $760 million of these funds to be used for the financing of capital projects and $240 million to be used for NJ Transit operating expenses. The bill also requires the State to appropriate an additional $1 billion in FY 2026 for those same purposes. Appropriation of Funds from Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to TTF The bill appropriates $1.5 billion from the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund" to the "Transportation Trust Fund Account - Subaccount for Capital Reserves" to be used for the funding of transportation capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis. The bill prohibits the expenditure of these funds for debt service on transportation system bonds, transportation program bonds, or any other bonds, notes, or other obligations, including subordinated obligations of the TTF. Repeal of Sales Tax Exemption for Electric Vehicles The bill repeals the sales and use tax exemption currently provided for the sales of zero emission vehicles and annually dedicates the revenues derived from the sales of these vehicles, up to $100 million, to the TTF. Specifically, these revenues would be credited to the "Transportation Trust Fund Account - Subaccount for Capital Reserves" to be used for transportation projects. The bill also specifies that these collections may not be used to pay debt service on transportation system bonds, transportation program bonds, or any other bonds, notes, or other obligations, including subordinated obligations of the authority, until such time as these revenues may be constitutionally dedicated to the TTF. | In Committee |
| S2958 | Establishes Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission. | This bill creates the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission to assess the effect that rules and regulations and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. Under the bill, the commission would be comprised of nine members, consisting of representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches of State government, who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The bill requires each department, office, division, or agency of the State to cooperate with the commission and furnish it with any information, personnel, and assistance it needs to accomplish its duties. The commission's findings would be advisory and cannot be used as a basis for any legal challenges based upon the action or inaction of any department, office, division, or agency of the State. The bill requires the commission to: (1) review all proposed and adopted rules and regulations and operative Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments; (2) call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply the commission with data and other information, personnel, or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties; (3) solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, and environmental organizations, businesses, workers, and other affected persons or entities as the commission deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; and (4) provide annually a written report to the Governor and the Legislature in which the commission must provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. | In Committee |
| SR83 | Creates Senate Task Force on Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review. | This resolution creates the Senate Task Force on Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review to assess the effect that statutes, rules and regulations, and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any statutes, rules and regulations, or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments. Under the resolution, the bi-partisan task force would be comprised of six members of the Senate. The Senate President would appoint three members and the Minority Leader of the Senate would appoint three members. The Senate President would appoint two co-chairs, who would not be members of the same political party. The Senate President, with the advice of the co-chairs, may appoint additional members of the public to the task force. The members would be representatives who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The resolution requires the task force to: (1) review statutes, rules and regulations, and Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any statutes, rules and regulations, or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments; (2) request data and other information or assistance it deems necessary from any department, office, division, or agency of this State; (3) solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, business and environmental organizations, workers, school districts, and other affected persons or entities as the task force deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; (4) hold one public hearing within 60 days following the adoption of this resolution; (5) provide an initial report of findings and recommendations to the Senate one year following the adoption of this resolution; and (6) provide annually a written report to the Senate, in which the task force will provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any statutes, rules and regulations, or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments. | In Committee |
| S2957 | "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act"; requires independent audit of NJT. | This bill, to be known as the "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act," requires that the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) hire an independent firm to conduct an audit of the financial management practices and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 and prepare and issue a report on the independent firm's findings and recommendations, which report is to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 resulted in the issuance of the Comprehensive Strategic, Financial & Operational Assessment of NJ Transit on October 5, 2018. Among the issues identified in the assessment is that, for eight years preceding its publication and despite increasing operation and maintenance costs, the corporation had been forced to transfer much needed capital funds for capital maintenance due to dramatically reduced State Operating Assistance. Through its requirement of an independent audit, this bill is intended to shed light on the financial needs and practices of the corporation since the issuance of the 2018 assessment, including the diversion of capital funds for operations. The report for which the corporation is required to hire an independent firm under this bill is to: (1) include findings on the financial management and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018; (2) summarize the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on the demand for the corporation's services and on the financial and practical needs of the corporation to meet current and projected long-term demand; (3) evaluate the corporation's current sources of funding and their adequacy in relation to demand for the corporation's services; and (4) recommend policies and best practices for the corporation to adopt based upon the findings of the independent firm, including, but not limited to, recommendations on the decision-making process, corporate governance, personnel hiring and protocols, and improvement of the customer experience. Within six months of the issuance of the report, the corporation is required to adopt any individual policies and best practices recommended in the report. Under the bill, the corporation is permitted to opt not to adopt an individual policy or best practice, provided that the corporation provides a detailed explanation of why the adoption of that policy or practice is not in the best interest of the corporation within six months of the issuance of the report issued by the independent firm. This bill does not affect any obligation of the corporation to conduct, or hire an independent firm to complete, an audit or study under existing law. | In Committee |
| SCR96 | Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate certain revenues for State transportation system. | This concurrent resolution would amend the State Constitution to dedicate certain additional revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). As required under the State Constitution, all revenues deposited into the TTF may only be used to support the cost of planning, acquisition, engineering, construction, reconstruction, repair and rehabilitation of the transportation system in this State. Specifically, during any fiscal year in which a tax is imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act" on receipts from the sale of electric vehicles, this constitutional amendment would require an amount equivalent to the amount annually derived from the tax, up to $100 million, be deposited into the TTF. Additionally, during any fiscal year in which an additional motor vehicle registration fee is imposed on electric vehicles, this constitutional amendment would require an amount equivalent to the amount of revenue annually derived from the additional registration fee be deposited into the TTF. This constitutional amendment would not require the State to impose a new tax or fee on electric vehicles, nor would it change the standard registration fee that is currently imposed on non-electric motor vehicles. Rather, if the State were to impose a sales tax on electric vehicles or an additional registration fee on electric vehicles, the amendment would require certain amounts of these revenues to be used for transportation purposes. | In Committee |
| S2583 | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals. | In Committee |
| S1472 | Requires DOLWD to identify and recruit unemployed individuals for employment in health care facilities; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Department of Health and healthcare stakeholders, to establish a program and standards to identify and recruit unemployed individuals to work in healthcare facilities. The identification process shall include: (1) an evaluation of the practicality of training an individual for a specific position; (2) the proximity of relevant positions to the individual's residence, and an individual's transportation options to the position; and (3) what, if any, barriers exist preventing the individual from commencing work immediately for a specific position, even if the position is probationary until the individual completes relevant or required training. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for the purpose of funding training programs and providing resources for eligible individuals. | In Committee |
| S2912 | Extends eligibility for Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to physical therapists. | This bill broadens eligibility for the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program established within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to include physical therapists. The Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program promotes access to primary care services in medically underserved areas of the State by improving the distribution of primary care health providers, including physicians, dentists, physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, by providing for the redemption of eligible student loan expenses of providers in exchange for a specified period of service in medically underserved areas. Subject to appropriation, the program will provide up to $200,000 in student loan redemption for two to four years of service as a primary care provider in areas of medicine defined by the Commissioner of Health or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in areas ranked by the Commissioner of Health reflecting a health professional shortage. This bill extends eligibility for the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to include physical therapists. | In Committee |
| S2918 | Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses employing released nonviolent offenders. | This bill allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses that employ released nonviolent adult offenders. The amount of each credit would be equal to 15 percent of the wages paid to the ex-offender with a maximum of $900 per ex-offender. A released nonviolent offender is an adult individual who at 18 years of age or older committed a criminal offense or a disorderly persons offense, other than an offense included under subsections b. through g. of section 11 of P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-11) (dangerous offenses that may be compensated for by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office), and other than an offense that involved the use, attempted use, or threat to use force against another person or property, who after incarceration or after serving an alternative sentence, has been released to the community under the supervision of the courts, a paroling authority, a probation authority, a corrections authority, or other criminal justice agency, or has successfully completed that community supervision. This bill is similar to the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides federal tax breaks for employers who are willing to hire workers who have a felony conviction in their background. This bill is limited to hires of ex-offenders who have less dangerous and nonviolent offenses in their background and have completed their terms of incarceration or are under or have completed community supervision. It provides these employers with an additional incentive to hire these ex-offenders, whose employment will aide in their rehabilitation and reentry into society. | In Committee |
| S1649 | Creates crime of fiscal victimization against senior citizens or disabled persons. | Creates crime of fiscal victimization against senior citizens or disabled persons. | In Committee |
| S2839 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| S2900 | Prohibits disclosure of body worn camera recordings under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the disclosure of body worn camera recordings obtained pursuant to the State's open public records law under certain circumstances. It has come to the sponsor's attention that bad actors have been taking advantage of the State's open public records law in order to exploit on social media young women who have been recorded on body worn cameras during law enforcement encounters. It is the sponsor's intent to prevent such exploitation without limiting legitimate access to public records by the press or others. Under the provisions of this bill, a person who has obtained a body worn camera recording pursuant to the open public records act and who is not a subject of the body worn camera recording is prohibited from disclosing the recording without the prior written consent of each subject of the body worn camera recording, unless the disclosure is for a legitimate public health or safety purpose or a compelling public interest. A person who knowingly violates this provision is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. In addition to any other right of action or recovery available under the laws of this State, a person who knowingly violates this provision is also liable to a subject of the body worn camera recording, who may bring an action in Superior Court. The court may award: 1) actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; 2) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; 3) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred; and 4) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, "body worn camera" is defined as a mobile audio and video recording system worn by a law enforcement officer. The bill defines "subject of the body worn camera recording" as a suspect, victim, detainee, conversant, injured party, or other similarly situated person who appears on the body worn camera recording and does not include a person who only incidentally appears on the recording. | In Committee |
| S2785 | Establishes crime of doxxing. | This bill establishes the crime of doxxing. Under the bill, doxxing occurs if a person, with the purpose to subject another person to violence, stalking, physical restraining, mental anguish, or to cause a person to fear for their own safety or that of another, knowingly discloses personal identifying information without the person's consent. A crime is committed under the bill when the disclosure: (1) creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or physical harm to the person or a close relation of the person; (2) creates a substantial risk that the person or a close relation of the person is subjected to stalking; or (3) inflicts mental anguish upon the person or a close relation of the person and places the person or close relation in reasonable fear of physical harm. Under the bill, "close relation" is defined as a spouse; domestic partner; partner in a civil union couple; former spouse, former domestic partner; former partner in a civil union; parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild, or grandchild, whether related by blood or by law; any person who is a present household member, or who was, within the prior six months, a household member; or any person with a significant personal or professional relationship. The crime of doxxing does not occur if the disclosure was made: (1) in good faith to inform any member of the public of conduct by the person that the actor reasonably believed to be unlawful; (2) in good faith to inform law enforcement of conduct committed by the person that the actor reasonably believed to constitute a crime; or (3) while cooperating in an official investigation or prosecution of a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:33-4.1, cyber harassment. The bill also establishes a rebuttable presumption that the actor did not act with the purpose established under the bill if the personal identifying information of another person was disclosed for the primary purpose of: (a) publishing, disseminating, or reporting in good faith conduct by an elected public official or law enforcement officer acting in their official capacity that the actor reasonably believe to be unlawful or an abuse of authority; or (b) engaging in lawful and constitutionally protected activity as it pertains to speech, assembly, press, or petition. Doxxing is a crime of the fourth degree unless the disclosure results in any serious bodily injury, physical harm, or stalking, at which time it becomes a crime of the third degree. 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. | In Committee |
| S2767 | Exempts 100 percent disabled veterans from payment of motor vehicle registration fees; requires notification of eligible motorists. | This bill exempts from motor vehicle registration fees one passenger motor vehicle owned by any resident who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States who is adjudicated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, as being permanently 100 percent disabled. The bill also requires the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, in consultation with the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, to notify all eligible motorists of the availability of the fee exemption. | In Committee |
| S2713 | Upgrades assault on victims who are elderly or disabled. | This bill would upgrade the offense of assault in situations where the victim is disabled or elderly. Under the bill, a person who causes bodily injury to a person with a disability or to a senior citizen who is 60 years of age or older would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and would be sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment of three years. Under the bill, a "person with a disability" means a person who by reason of a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, a person determined disabled pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. This bill was prompted in part by the brutal assault and mugging of Joey Damiano, a Trenton man with an intellectual disability. According to Trenton police, Joey was beaten and blinded in one eye by an unknown assailant, or group of assailants, as he was taking his daily walk on Washington Street and Roebling Avenue in the Chambersburg section of Trenton. Further, the bill was prompted by recent assaults involving elderly victims. One instance involved an assault and restraint involving a 92 year old woman during a home invasion in Ewing. Another involved the carjacking and robbery of a 78 year old woman at a shopping center in Lawrence. | In Committee |
| S2771 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is required to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
| S2779 | Authorizes reimbursement for EMT training from EMT Training Fund for certain volunteer firefighters. | This bill clarifies that agencies, entities and organizations that train and certify volunteer emergency medical technicians will be reimbursed for the cost of providing that training and certification to volunteer members of first aid and rescue squads, as well as to volunteer firefighters. Currently, any private agency, organization or entity that trains and tests members of volunteer ambulance, first aid and rescue squads seeking emergency medical technician certification or recertification may be reimbursed from the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund. This bill provides that reimbursement will also be made when this training is provided to members of volunteer fire companies. | In Committee |
| S2630 | Establishes hiring preference for veterans for teaching positions. | This bill requires a board of education to provide a hiring preference to veterans for teaching positions. In order to be eligible for the preference, the bill provides that when applying for employment with a board of education, a veteran is required to be equally qualified in all measurable criteria with all other candidates for the position. The bill specifies that in the case of a school district that has adopted Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes (approximately nine school districts), the veteran preference provisions of that chapter for those persons in the classified service of the civil service supersedes the bill's provision. | In Committee |
| S2596 | Establishes sales tax credit and sales tax holiday for portion of state of emergency related to COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill establishes a sales tax credit against small businesses' sales tax collections and a sales tax holiday for small businesses for a portion of the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A "small business" is defined as any business that is independently owned and operated and employs fewer than 100 employees. The sales tax credit is equal to a small business's quarterly remittance for the first calendar quarter of Calendar Year 2020 less the amount of remittance dedicated for property tax reform pursuant to the New Jersey Constitution. If a small business has made monthly or quarterly payments or filed its quarterly return for the calendar quarter, the small business would receive a refund from the State equal to the credit amount. The sales tax holiday will last until the Governor determines that an emergency no longer exists as stipulated under Executive Order No. 103 of 2020. On March 9, 2020, the Governor declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also referred to as the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, employers have had to cut staff hours, schools have closed, and residents are at risk of not being able to pay rent and other expenses. The bill allows residents to keep more of their income while incentivizing sales at small businesses that will experience financial hardships. The bill also provides small businesses with an infusion of cash by letting them keep sales tax collections. | In Committee |
| S2590 | Requires State parks, forests, State-owned beaches, and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution. | This bill would provide that in the event that a state of emergency is declared due to the failure to enact a general appropriation law by the deadline prescribed by Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution, the operation of all State parks and forests and State-owned beaches will continue and will be open to the public. Under the bill, during this period, the State would be prohibited from charging or collecting any fees for parking at State parking areas serving State parks and forests and State-owned beaches. All State employees that have been designated as necessary to provide for the government services at each State park and forest and State-owned beach area would be considered essential personnel. The bill would also provide that in the event that a state of emergency is declared due to the failure to enact a general appropriation law by the constitutionally imposed deadline, the operation of all New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, regional service centers, and inspection facilities, and the offices of any other State agency that directly support the operation of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, regional service centers, or inspection facilities, would continue and all such locations would be open to the public. Under the bill, all State employees or contracted employees that have been designated as necessary to provide for the government services at each New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agency, regional service center, inspection facility, or office or supporting agency office would be considered essential personnel. | In Committee |
| S2565 | Excludes deferred compensation of certain public school and federal tax-exempt organization employees from current taxation under gross income tax. | This bill excludes from gross income taxation the payments that employees of federally tax-exempt charitable organizations, like hospitals, churches, social welfare organizations and educational institutions, and employees of public school systems may make toward retirement savings, as authorized under subsection (b) of section 403 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The federal Internal Revenue Code allows employees of these tax exempt organizations to make "salary reduction agreements" with their employers, plans under which the employees may individually choose to receive less current salary (subject to limits) and instead purchase annuity contracts or invest in mutual funds for their retirement. These retirement savings are not subject to federal taxation until amounts are later distributed. The New Jersey gross income tax currently allows the employees of private, for-profit, businesses to make such tax-deferred contributions to the retirement savings plans authorized under section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code but does not allow tax-deferred contributions to the retirement savings plans authorized under section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. This bill gives the employees of federally tax-exempt charitable organizations and employees of public school systems the same tax incentives for retirement savings that are provided to the employees of for-profit businesses. | In Committee |
| S2581 | Establishes initiatives related to behavioral health care, including increasing reimbursement rates, providing cost-of-living adjustments, establishing grant programs for facility upkeep and provider training, and relaxing clinical supervision requirements. | This bill establishes certain initiatives related to behavioral health care, including increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, providing cost-of-living adjustments for residential behavioral health care facilities, establishing grant programs for facility upkeep and provider training, and relaxing clinical supervision requirements for certain professionals. Specifically, the bill requires that contracts between the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (DHS) and residential behavioral health service providers are to include an annual cost of living increase adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period. The bill establishes, in the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in the DHS, the "Residential Behavioral Health Care Access and Improvement Fund," which will be dedicated to providing grants to residential behavioral health service providers to support routine repairs and maintenance. The bill provides that, commencing on July 1, 2024, the Medicaid reimbursement rate for residential behavioral health services is to equal to the payment rate that applies under Medicare Part B. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the increased reimbursement rate, including changes in access to services or in the quality of services for Medicaid beneficiaries resulting from the rate increase, as well as recommendations for additional enhancements to the Medicaid rates. The bill establishes a grant program in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to assist in the training of behavioral health service professionals, expand the pipeline of high-quality, trained professionals, and address shortages in the behavioral health care workforce. Grants under the program will be awarded on a competitive basis to entities with or seeking to establish internship programs in behavioral health care, which grants are to be used to compensate interns and instructors participating in the internship program and foster the development of additional behavioral health internship slots and programs. Grant awardees will be required to report to the Division of Consumer Affairs concerning the use of grant funds, and the division will be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the grant program. The bill provides that, for the purposes of meeting clinical supervision requirements, applicants for a clinical social worker or professional counselor licensure may be supervised by either a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed professional counselor. Current law requires these applicants to be supervised by an individual holding the same license as the applicant is seeking. | In Committee |
| S2582 | Modifies age and education requirement to qualify as radiologic technologist. | This bill modifies certain requirements to qualify as a radiologic technologist in the State. Under the bill, to qualify, an individual can be 16 years old and demonstrate enrollment in either 1) a four-year course of study in a secondary school approved by the State Board of Education or 2) an alternative education program. Either education option is to lead to a high school diploma. The bill intends to address shortages in the radiologic technologist workforce. | In Committee |
| S2591 | Provides for student recipients of educational opportunity funds to be exempt from 20 hour weekly work requirement ordinarily required for student SNAP participation. | This bill would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to authorize a student of higher education who is the recipient of an award from the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund to obtain nutrition assistance benefits under the State's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), regardless of whether the student satisfies the 20 hour weekly work requirement, established by federal law at 7 CFR 273.5(b)(5), which is ordinarily required for students of higher education to participate in SNAP. The Educational Opportunity Fund provides financial assistance to needy students, in order to enable them to attend institutions of higher education. Because SNAP was established pursuant to federal law, and because the program is subject to compliance with certain minimum federally-established work requirements and eligibility criteria, the bill's relaxation of work requirements for Educational Opportunity Fund award recipients will not take effect until such time as the federal government adopts a law, regulation, waiver, or other approval authorizing the provisions of the bill to take effect without penalty to the State and without loss of benefits to any enrollee under SNAP. This bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services, within 90 days after the bill becomes operative, to: 1) apply for any federal approvals or waivers that may be necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of the bill; and 2) take any additional action as may be necessary to ensure that the State's implementation of the bill is undertaken in compliance with all applicable provisions of federal and State law. Following the receipt of the necessary federal approvals and waivers, the DHS will be required to implement and enforce the expanded SNAP eligibility requirements for Educational Opportunity Fund award recipients. In so doing, the DHS will be required to institute a public awareness campaign that is designed to inform high school seniors and students of higher education about the new SNAP eligibility criteria applicable to these award recipients. | 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 |
| SJR74 | Designates last day of February of each year as "Rare Disease Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution would declare the last day of February of each year as "Rare Disease Awareness Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of rare diseases, to encourage support for patients and families affected by rare diseases, and to promote further research into rare diseases and their treatment. The National Institutes of Health defines "rare disease" as any disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 persons in the United States. There are almost 7,000 rare diseases, affecting nearly 30 million Americans and their families. Many rare diseases are serious and debilitating conditions that have significant impacts on the lives of those affected. Patients with rare diseases often face challenges such as overcoming a sense of isolation, obtaining accurate and timely diagnoses, finding effective treatment options, or accessing or being reimbursed for treatment. Rare diseases include genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), as well as rare cancers, auto-immune diseases, congenital malformations, and toxic and infectious diseases. Although some rare diseases are relatively well known, many other rare diseases are unfamiliar to the public, and patients and their families must bear a large share of the burden of promoting awareness and raising funds to support needed research. Raising public awareness of rare diseases as an important public health issue will help patients with rare diseases and their families obtain more timely and accurate information about their conditions, reduce the isolation of patients and their families, and promote policies and practices that facilitate further research into rare diseases and their treatment. | In Committee |
| S2573 | Directs DCA to end veteran homelessness within three years. | This bill would direct the Commissioner of Community Affairs to develop and implement a plan to end veteran homelessness in New Jersey within three years in accordance with the criteria and benchmarks established for this purpose by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. The bill directs the commissioner to develop and implement a strategy to end veteran homelessness through the following means: (1) the coordination with State and local government entities, and private community organizations to continuously assess progress; (2) the management of a Statewide comprehensive, by-name list of veterans experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing homelessness; (3) facilitating the sharing of data among relevant service providers; (4) the establishment of a system of priority for veterans in accessing benefits through the Homeless Prevention Program, emergency assistance benefits, and any other existing benefit and housing placement processes; (5) the establishment of a system to connect veterans experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness to available health, mental health, employment, and training resources; (6) committing to housing first principles; and (7) The identification of funding sources, as needed from private, foundation, and other potential partners. The bill would require the commissioner, after the initial three-year period and every three years thereafter, to develop and then implement an updated plan to ensure that veterans do not experience homelessness in the State. The bill would also impose reporting requirements. This bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S2555 | Regulates residential mental health treatment facilities. | This bill regulates residential mental health treatment facilities. Under the bill, residential mental health treatment facilities, as defined in the bill, are to: (1) provide mental health services or treatment in a manner that is consistent with the Level 3.5 level of care according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine in a 24 hours per day and seven days per week, structured living environment for patients who require such support, and in instances where inpatient hospitalization treatment is unnecessary; (2) provide health services or treatment for limited periods of time with the goal of preparing patients to move into the community at lower levels of care; and (3) provide health services or treatment without any retrospective review or concurrent review of medical necessity. The bill provides that no residential mental health treatment facility is to operate within this State except pursuant to a license obtained from the Commissioner of Health (commissioner), upon an application made therefor. The applicant is to be required to furnish evidence of the facility's ability to comply with the minimum standards for licensure established by the commissioner and of the good moral character of the facility's owners. Under the bill, the commissioner is to issue a license to a residential mental health treatment facility if the applicant is of good moral character and the facility is in compliance with the bill's provisions. There is to be a presumption in favor of an applicant's good moral character if the applicant is currently licensed and in good standing in this State as a mental health program pursuant to N.J.A.C.8:121 et seq. A residential mental health treatment facility is not to be licensed to operate at the same location as a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program. The bill amends section 19 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-7a) to exempt residential mental health treatment facilities from the certificate of need requirement. The certificate of need program is a regulatory process that is administered by the Office of Certificate of Need and Healthcare Facility Licensure with the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). Under the certificate of need program, certain health care facilities are required to obtain the DOH's approval prior to constructing, relocating, or renovating their facilities. Finally, the bill provides that the commissioner is to adopt rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for the licensure of residential health treatment facilities and the treatment of patients therein, and if feasible, structure the rules and regulations similarly to the regulations which are applicable to residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs, as set forth in N.J.A.C.8:111 et seq. | In Committee |
| S2576 | Establishes grant program in Department of State for preservation of certain Revolutionary War sites; appropriates funds. | This bill would require the Department of State to establish a program to provide grants to local government units and qualifying tax exempt not for profit entities to support the preservation, expansion, and management of Revolutionary War Battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites in New Jersey that are endangered due to development. Under the bill, the department is to develop criteria for evaluating applications and award grants to applicants who submit specific plans and objectives for the preservation, expansion, or management of Revolutionary War Battlefields, encampments, or skirmish sites in New Jersey that are endangered due to development. The bill also appropriates $50 million from the General Fund to the Department of State to implement the provisions of the bill. According to the United States' National Park Service, New Jersey hosted more battles and skirmishes during the American Revolution than any of the other 13 original states. New Jersey's Revolutionary War heritage is a source of pride for its residents and the nation. The State's Revolutionary War Era battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites deserve every protection possible so that future generations may continue to celebrate and gain inspiration from our history. | In Committee |
| S2586 | Establishes toll free helpline for first responders and health care workers experiencing mental health issues related to COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill establishes a toll free helpline for first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers experiencing mental health issues related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder. Under the bill, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in the Department of Human Services will establish the helpline. The DMHAS will be authorized to utilize or expand existing mental health resources available through the DMHAS, as well as to consult or contract with an appropriate third party entity. The helpline is to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week and is to respond to calls from first responders, health care workers, and their families. The operators of the helpline are to seek to identify callers who should be referred to further peer support and counseling services and provide appropriate referrals. To the greatest extent possible, the operators of the help line are to be: (1) familiar with mental health issues commonly experienced by first responders health care workers, and their families, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder, as well as the aspects of those mental health issues that are unique to first responders, health care workers, and their families; or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance use disorder, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and service-related well-being of first responders, health care workers, and their families. The bill provides that the DMHAS is to ensure that the names and identities of the persons calling, the information discussed, and any referrals for further peer support or counseling are kept confidential; except that the DMHAS will have the authority to establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any person who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the first responder, health care worker, or any other person. | In Committee |
| S2572 | Establishes fund to reimburse municipalities for police and sanitation costs related to crowding at MVC sites; appropriates $500,000. | This bill would establish a fund to provide reimbursements to municipalities for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by a municipal police force or department for the management and control of crowds and traffic at a New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission ("MVC") location during the COVID-19 pandemic. When MVC locations were reopened to the public during this pandemic, there were massive crowds necessitating the presence of police, at significant expense to the affected municipalities. Since these costs were due to poor planning on the part of the State, and not the municipalities, the State should reimburse these municipalities for those costs. The bill appropriates $500,000 to the fund, which would be established within the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. To obtain a reimbursement, a municipality would have to submit an application to the division in accordance with procedures specified by the division. The bill would be retroactive to March 9, 2020, when Executive Order No. 103 was issued, declaring a public health emergency and state of emergency in response to COVID-19, and would expire upon the conclusion of both declared emergencies. | In Committee |
| S2588 | Requires DOH to establish Statewide standardized requirements for licensure and operations of mobile food vendors; designated as "Streamlined Food Truck Licensure Act." | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to adopt rules and regulations concerning the licensure and operation of mobile food vendors. A mobile food vendor license will be valid throughout the State, and licensees will be permitted to operate without the need for any additional licensure from any other authority. Local and county authorities will be permitted to enact ordinances restricting the location and hours of operation of mobile food vendors, provided such restrictions are consistent with the rules and regulations established under the bill. Food trucks have become an increasingly popular dining option both throughout New Jersey and nationwide, and it is the sponsor's intent to facilitate the licensure and operation of these mobile food vendors by establishing standardized requirements applicable throughout the State, thereby avoiding the need to navigate potentially conflicting county and local requirements for operation and eliminating the possible need to obtain separate licenses in order to operate in more than one jurisdiction. | In Committee |
| SCR86 | Urges USDA to revise 20 hour weekly work requirement for student participation in SNAP. | This concurrent resolution respectfully urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve changes to, and the United States Congress to enact legislation that authorizes state waivers for, the 20 hour weekly student work requirement established by federal law at 7 CFR 273.5(b)(5) in order to expand the eligibility of students attending institutions of higher education to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. | In Committee |
| S2570 | Requires CATV company to establish toll-free telephone number for customers to report and to receive updates concerning CATV service outages. | This bill requires a cable television (CATV) company to establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number that may be used by its customers to report CATV service outages, to receive updates concerning the status of CATV service outages, and to receive information concerning the resumption of CATV service, which shall include, but not be limited to, an estimated time of CATV service restoration. Under the bill, a CATV company is to publish the toll-free telephone number, with an explanation of the purpose of the toll-free telephone number, on every periodic bill sent to each customer of the cable television company and in a prominent location on the homepage of the CATV company's Internet website. | In Committee |
| S2585 | Requires DOLWD and DHS to conduct assessment of community rehabilitation programs and community businesses. | This bill requires the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the Department of Human Services to conduct a case-by-case assessment of employment offered by community rehabilitation programs and community businesses, including but not limited to, work crews, call centers, employment through contracts under the New Jersey Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act, employment through AbilityOne contracts, and other independent work assignments to determine if the employment opportunity meets the criteria for "competitive integrated employment" under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The bill also prohibits the division and the commission from disqualifying work programs from being considered "competitiveintegrated employment" solely because the programs are provided through AbilityOne contracts or contracts under the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act," P.L.1991, c.147 (C.30:6-33 et al.). | In Committee |
| S2538 | Authorizes State Auditor to conduct cost-benefit analyses of certain programs and initiatives. | This bill authorizes the State Auditor to conduct cost benefit analyses of certain programs and initiatives as a means to provide State policymakers with data and information to make better informed policy and budget decisions. Under the bill, the State Auditor is authorized to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of any existing or proposed program or initiative of an accounting agency or an independent authority that is funded or is to be funded by State appropriation or that is established or is to be established for the purpose of awarding tax credits to businesses to stimulate economic development in New Jersey. The bill provides for the State Auditor to conduct a cost-benefit analysis at the direction of the Legislative Services Commission or the presiding officer of either House of the Legislature or at the State Auditor's own initiative, but specifies that for each five-year period following enactment of the bill the State Auditor is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of at least one existing or proposed program or initiative of each accounting agency and each independent authority that is funded or is to be funded by State appropriation of $1,000,000 or more on an average annual basis or that is established or is to be established for the purpose of awarding tax credits in the aggregate principal sum of $1,000,000 or more on an average annual basis. The bill gives the State Auditor the discretion to determine the scope, define the objectives, and develop the methodology employed in conducting cost-benefit analyses authorized by the bill, but requires each cost benefit analysis to include: -- an analysis of the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the existing or proposed program or initiative; -- information identifying any other programs or initiatives that are feasible of accomplishing the goals and objectives of the existing or proposed program or initiative or are capable of being used to create a baseline measurement against which the existing or proposed program or initiative can be compared; -- an analysis of the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the other programs or initiatives that are identified as feasible alternatives or capable of being used for baseline measurements; -- a description of the key assumptions used to determine the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the existing or proposed program or initiative and the other programs or initiatives that are identified as feasible alternatives or capable of being used for baseline measurements; -- a sensitivity analysis to test how the direct and indirect costs and the tangible and intangible benefits of the existing or proposed program or initiative would differ if the key assumptions were modified; and -- any other information the State Auditor determines to be necessary and appropriate. The bill requires the State Auditor to submit a written report regarding each cost-benefit analysis conducted pursuant to the bill to the Governor and to the Legislature, and to make an electronic copy of the report available to the public through a link prominently displayed on the State Auditor's Internet website. The bill is scheduled to take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S2593 | Authorizes use of certain constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants for prevention and remediation of harmful algal blooms. | This bill would authorize the use of constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to provide grants to local governments to fund sewer or stormwater infrastructure projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution of the State's lakes and reservoirs, and help prevent harmful algal blooms. The bill would allow monies from the "Watershed Management Fund," which was established by the "Watershed Protection and Management Act of 1997," P.L.1997, c.261 (C.58:29-1 et seq.), to be used to fund the grants. The bill also clarifies that the "Watershed Management Fund" would serve as the repository for the 0.3 percent of annual CBT revenues that are constitutionally dedicated to paying or financing the cost of water quality point and nonpoint source pollution monitoring, watershed based water resource planning and management, and nonpoint source pollution prevention projects. The bill would also amend the "Preserve New Jersey Act" to authorize a portion of CBT revenues--namely those dedicated to the provision of grants and loans to assist local government units to pay the cost of acquisition and development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes--to be used to provide grants to local government units to fund 100 percent of the costs of projects undertaken for the management and maintenance of lakes and reservoirs with the aim of preventing or mitigating harmful algal blooms. The amount authorized is approximately 0.17 percent of annual CBT revenues. Finally, the bill provides that both kinds of grants can be used as matching funds by local government units for the purpose of obtaining other grants, including State or federal grants. | In Committee |
| S2566 | Allows tax credits for employing members of NJ National Guard and members of reserve component of US Armed Forces. | This bill allows a corporation business tax credit or a gross income tax credit for employing members of the New Jersey National Guard or the reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States. The credit amount is: $1,500 for each member who is employed by the taxpayer and who has not completed or returned from a deployment or activation; and $2,500 for each member who is employed by the taxpayer and who has completed or returned from a deployment or activation. | In Committee |
| S2568 | Expands eligibility for pension and retirement income exclusion to taxpayers with incomes exceeding $150,000, and increases amount of exclusion that qualifying taxpayers may claim. | This bill (1) expands eligibility for the partial gross income tax exclusion on pension and retirement income to certain taxpayers with gross incomes exceeding $150,000, and (2) increases the amount of the exclusion that qualifying taxpayers may claim. Under current law, qualifying taxpayers with $150,000 or less in gross income who are at least 62 years old or disabled may exclude certain pension and retirement income from taxable gross income, up to a certain amount, depending on filing status. The bill expands eligibility for the exclusion to qualifying taxpayers with incomes in excess of $150,000, so that all qualifying taxpayers may claim a full or partial exclusion, regardless of income. The bill also increases the amount of the pension and retirement and income exclusion by allowing qualifying taxpayers to exempt the first $150,000 of pension payments and other retirement income as well as 50 percent of any payments exceeding $150,000 up to $300,000 during a taxable year. A taxpayer would not be permitted to claim an exemption for any payments exceeding $300,000. Under current law, a qualifying taxpayer with an annual income of $100,000 or less is allowed an exclusion as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointlyUp to $100,000Married filing separatelyUp to $50,000SingleUp to $75,000 For a qualifying taxpayer whose income exceeds $100,000 but is less than or equal to $125,000, current law allows the taxpayer to claim an exclusion from gross income as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointly50 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeMarried filing separately25 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeSingle37.5 percent of pension payments and other retirement income For a qualifying taxpayer whose income exceeds $125,000 but is less than or equal to $150,000, current law allows the taxpayer to claim an exclusion from gross income as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointly25 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeMarried filing separately12.5 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeSingle18.75 percent of pension payments and other retirement income | In Committee |
| S2575 | Suspends automatic voter registration under implementation of standards and procedures to maintain accuracy of voter rolls. | This bill suspends automatic voter registration at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, and at other government agencies that may have established automatic voter registration, until the implementation of standards and procedures to maintain the accuracy of the voter rolls in the Statewide Voter Registration System. Under current law, a voter may be removed from the voter rolls upon request by the voter; if the voter failed to respond to a confirmation of address notice and has not voted or appeared to vote in any county as of the day after the second general election for federal office following that date on which the confirmation notice is sent; upon death; upon incarceration; and upon an order by a Judge of the Superior Court. However, during the 2020 primary and general elections, the procedures for automatically sending a mail-in ballot to each active registered voter have revealed instances in which voters who should have been removed from the voter rolls have been sent mail-in ballots. This bill suspends automatic voter registration until each county commissioner of registration, county board of elections, and county clerk, in consultation with the Secretary of State, have developed and implemented the necessary uniform standards and procedures to maintain the accuracy of voter registration rolls consistent with State and federal law. Under the bill, the standards would include, but may not be limited to: (1) procedures to prevent the creation of duplicate voting records for the same person; (2) the timely removal of the voter registration records of inactive, deceased, and non-resident voters; and (3) the routine cross check of voter registration information with other databases maintained by this State and, if feasible, databases of other states, to identify potential voter records that might be eligible for removal. The bill requires the secretary and county election officials, within six months following the effective date, to report to the Governor and the Legislature the accuracy standards and procedures and the timeline for their implementation, including recommendations for any statutory changes that may be required. Under the bill, automatic voter registration would be reactivated upon enactment of the legislation or at a date specified by the secretary, as the case may be. Voter registration at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and at any other agency would be conducted using paper voter registrations in the manner specified under current law, until automatic voter registration is reactivated. | In Committee |
| S2567 | Provides gross income tax exclusion for minimum required distributions from qualified retirement plans. | This bill excludes from the gross income tax the required distributions from certain retirement plans. Federal law requires a taxpayer aged 72 or older to withdraw a minimum amount each year from certain retirement plans, commonly known as a "required minimum distribution" or an RMD. If the taxpayer does not make the RMD, federal law requires the taxpayer pay a penalty in the amount of 50 percent of the RMD not withdrawn. In effect, an RMD is forced income, which is then subject to federal and State income tax. Under this bill, RMDs will no longer be subject to the New Jersey gross income tax. The exclusion will benefit many New Jersey seniors by reducing their State income tax burden. | In Committee |
| S2637 | Allocates $2.5 billion to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency. | This bill allocates $2.5 billion in available federal assistance to the unemployment compensation fund (fund). The money shall be deposited into the fund in order to pay back the balance in federal unemployment insurance loan advances pursuant to Title XII of the Social Security Act, prior to the date when the first interest payment is due, and notwithstanding any other provision of law concerning the actual fund reserve ratio for purposes of employer contribution rate for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, to increase the unemployment compensation fund balance. Current law requires that unemployment contribution rates for employers, for fiscal year 2022, will be the rates set by column "C" of the of the experience rating table, for FY 2023 the rates in column "D", and for FY 2024 the rates in column "E". The bill modifies that provision of law to specify that notwithstanding any other provision of law concerning the actual fund reserve ratio, the contribution rate for employers liable to pay contributions for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, would be the rates set by column "B" of the table. | In Committee |
| S2635 | Requires institutions of higher education to review employment history of prospective employees who will have regular contact with students to ascertain allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. | The sponsor of this bill intends it to extend the same protections from sexual predators offered to K-12 students by P.L.2018, c.5 (C.18A:6-7.6 et seq.) to college and graduate students, whose positions of vulnerability in the academic setting also can be exploited by predatory members of faculties, athletic departments, and administrations. The bill prohibits the governing body of an institution of higher education from employing a person serving in a position which involves regular contact with students unless the institution conducts a review of the applicant's employment history by obtaining from former and current employers information regarding child abuse and sexual misconduct allegations. The applicant is required to list employers from the prior twenty years that were institutions of higher education, schools, or places where the employment involved direct contact with children. The institution is required to ask those employers for a statement as to whether the applicant:· was the subject of any child abuse or sexual misconduct investigation by any employer, State licensing agency, law enforcement agency, or the Department of Children and Families;· was disciplined, discharged, nonrenewed, asked to resign from employment, resigned from or otherwise separated from any employment while allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct; or · has ever had a license, professional license or certificate suspended, surrendered, or revoked while allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct.The applicant is required to also provide a written statement disclosing any of the same matters. The applicant is required to provide a written authorization that consents to, and authorizes, disclosure of the information requested by the prospective employer and releases the applicant's former and current employers from any liability arising from the disclosure. On or after the effective date of this bill, the governing body of an institution of higher education may not enter into a collectively bargained or negotiated agreement, an employment contract, an agreement for resignation or termination, a severance agreement, or any other contract or agreement or take any action that:· has the effect of suppressing or destroying information relating to an investigation related to a report of suspected child abuse or sexual misconduct by a current or former employee;· affects the ability of the institution to report suspected child abuse or sexual misconduct to the appropriate authorities; or· requires the institution to expunge information about allegations or findings of suspected child abuse or sexual misconduct from any documents maintained by the institution, unless after investigation the allegations are found to be false or the alleged incident of child abuse or sexual misconduct has not been substantiated. An applicant who gives false information or willfully fails to disclose information required to be provided under the bill will be subject to discipline, including termination or denial of employment. The applicant also may be subject to certain civil penalties. The prospective employer is required to provide notification of these possible penalties to prospective employees in the employment application. | In Committee |
| S2634 | Establishes Digital Divide Solutions Grant Program in DOE to assist public schools in purchase of connected devices and Internet access for students during periods of remote instruction. | This bill establishes the Digital Divide Solutions Grant Program within the Department of Education to assist school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools in the purchase of online instruction equipment for students who lack access to such equipment. Under the program, the State would be required to award grants to each school district, charter school, and renaissance school in an amount sufficient to defray the full costs of purchasing (1) a connected device for every student who lacks access to a connected device; (2) a Wi-Fi hotspot and mobile broadband Internet access service, as necessary, for every household that includes a student who lacks access to the Internet; (3) device peripherals such as cases, computer mice, and headsets for each connected device; and (4) device insurance to cover theft and breakage, extended warranties, off-site configuration, device management licensing, and delivery costs. To the extent permitted by federal law, these grants would be paid from the monies received by the State under the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) 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. However, if insufficient federal funds are available to support the full distribution of grants, the department would be required to provide the grants on a pro-rata basis. Specifically, when a school district, charter school, or renaissance school implements a program of virtual or remote instruction, the public school would be required to use its grant to purchase and make available online instruction equipment, including connected devices, Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile broadband Internet access service, device peripherals, and device insurance, as needed, to every enrolled student who lacks access to such equipment. Thereafter, the student would be required to return every piece of online instruction equipment no later than five calendar days following the conclusion of the program of virtual or remote instruction. If a school district, charter school, or renaissance school uses the grant to provide mobile broadband Internet access service to the residence of an enrolled student, the public school may suspend the service at any time following the conclusion of the program of virtual or remote instruction. The bill requires that 95 percent of the proceeds of each grant be dedicated to the purchase of online instruction equipment with the remaining five percent of grant proceeds used to provide professional development opportunities for student family members to learn about Internet safety, basic device troubleshooting, recommendations for supporting and monitoring student device usage, and maintaining an effective learning environment in the home. The grant may not be used to support administrative expenses. The bill also provides that every piece of online instruction equipment purchased through the grant program would be considered the property of the school district, charter school, or renaissance school. The bill also requires each school district, charter school, and renaissance school to submit a report to the Commissioner of Education within one year of receiving the grant. In addition to any other information required by the commissioner, the report would indicate every piece of online instruction equipment that was purchased under the grant program, as well as the number of enrolled students who continue to lack access to online instruction equipment. The bill would take effect immediately and be retroactive to March 18, 2020, which was the date in which schools were first closed in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency pursuant to Executive Order No. 104 of 2020. | In Committee |
| S2624 | Allows municipality to use school bus video footage to ticket driver for illegally passing school bus. | This bill permits a municipality to use school bus video camera footage to assist in the enforcement of section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), which prohibits vehicles from passing a school bus while passengers are picked up or discharged. The bill provides that in any municipality in which recorded images from a school bus video camera are used to assist in the enforcement of section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), a law enforcement official of the municipality is to review the recorded images produced by the video camera and issue a summons when it is deemed appropriate within 90 days from the date on which the violation occurred. The bill also provides that if a law enforcement official does not issue a summons for a violation within 90 days, all recorded images and information collected pertaining to that alleged violation is required to be purged. Under the bill, a person liable for a summons issued based upon images captured from a school bus video camera would be subject to a fine of $100 for a first offense and $250 for each subsequent offense. | In Committee |
| S2622 | Revises procedures for temporary guardianship. | This bill amends the law concerning the appointment of pendente lite temporary guardians for an alleged incapacitated person. Under current law, the plaintiff in a guardianship action may seek the appointment of a temporary guardian on an emergent basis, prior to a hearing to determine whether a person is actually incapacitated and in need of guardianship. Because of its emergent nature, the court can grant the appointment without a hearing. While there are situations where an alleged incapacitated person may suffer imminent harm if a temporary guardian is not appointed, the likelihood of such harm must be weighed against the person's constitutional privacy and liberty interests. Under the bill, an application for pendente lite temporary guardianship must state the reason why emergent action is required and must make certain disclosures about any proposed temporary guardian. The bill provides that the court should appoint a temporary guardian only if there is an imminent risk of harm to the alleged incapacitated person. Under current Court Rule 4:86-2, a petition for guardianship must list the alleged incapacitated person's next of kin including a spouse or domestic partner, children, and parents, and any person named as attorney-in-fact in any power of attorney executed by the alleged incapacitated person, any person named as health care representative in any health care directive executed by the alleged incapacitated person, and any person acting as trustee under a trust for the benefit of the alleged incapacitated person. In conformity with Court Rule 4:86-2, the bill requires that those same persons receive notice of both the application for pendente lite temporary guardianship and the order granting the appointment. To increase the accountability of temporary guardians, the bill requires that any payments for interim financial, social, medical, or housing services made by the temporary guardian from the alleged incapacitated person's estate must be itemized and submitted to both the court and the alleged incapacitated person's attorney. The bill also requires the temporary guardian to maintain the status quo of an alleged incapacitated person's property, personal affairs, and business affairs, and requires court approval for any sale, gift, or disposal of assets. Additionally, while the temporary guardian may receive a reasonable fee and reimbursement of expenses, the bill requires that these fees and expenses must be court authorized and are payable by the plaintiff. Under the bill, if the court appoints a temporary guardian on an emergent basis and later finds after a hearing that a temporary guardian should not have been appointed, the alleged incapacitated person has the right of equitable rescission of any contract or gift made by the temporary guardian. Finally, because a temporary guardian is appointed on an emergent basis and only meant to serve for 45 days pending the outcome of the hearing to determine actual incapacity, a temporary guardian may be ordinarily exempt from the background screening and training requirements normally required of all proposed guardians. However, if the court extends the appointment after 45 days, bill requires temporary guardians to undergo these procedures. In the sponsor's view, the guardianship process requires additional safeguards to prevent frivolous litigation, the wrongful disposal of a person's assets or the incursion of debt, abuse of the judicial process, and the unjust deprivation of personal autonomy. | In Committee |
| S2632 | Concerns recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters; appropriates $2 million. | This bill concerns the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and is based upon recommendations contained in the Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Task Force Report issued by the State of Delaware. Specifically, the bill: 1) requires the Division of Fire Safety to manage any Americorps program related to volunteer firefighters that are established in this State and implement a recruitment program for volunteer firefighters; 2) establishes a paid service program in the Office of Volunteerism to allow for new volunteers of any firehouse in this State to receive a monthly stipend for their service. The bill creates a special fund to pay for the volunteer stipends and allocates an initial $2 million to support the program; 3) encourages school districts to sponsor an after school program on the topic of volunteer fire service and requires the Department of Education to establish a public awareness campaign regarding the after school program; 4) establishes the Volunteer Firefighter Tuition Remission Program to incentivize volunteer firefighting in the State. The program is to provide tuition remission for up to 16 undergraduate or eight graduate credits per semester, for a maximum of eight semesters. The bill requires the Legislature to annually appropriate from the General Fund to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority amounts necessary to implement the Volunteer Firefighter Tuition Remission Program; 5) requires county vocational schools that include grades nine through 12 to incorporate instruction on public safety services into the curriculum for students as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction will include information on firefighting and emergency medical services; 6) requires the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to establish training course materials regarding incentives to promote the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and requires the division to administer a website dedicated to the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters; and 7) provides a $1,000 gross income tax credit to taxpayers that are members of a volunteer fire company and perform at least 100 hours of volunteer service to the company each year. To be eligible for a credit, a taxpayer would be required to obtain certification from the fire company noting the number of hours that the taxpayer performed volunteer services for the company during the taxable year. | In Committee |
| S2636 | Requires boards of education to adopt suicide prevention policies and DOE to establish model suicide prevention policy. | This bill requires each public board of education of a school district to adopt a policy on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a model policy in order to help boards of education in establishing their own policies. Each board of education's policy is required to be developed in consultation with school and community stakeholders, school-employed mental health professionals, and suicide prevention experts. The policy is required to address procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, and recognize the needs of high-risk groups. The bill defines "prevention" to mean specific actions a school implements to recognize and reduce suicidal behavior. "Intervention" is defined as specific actions a school implements in response to student suicidal behavior. The bill further defines "postvention" as planned support and interventions a school implements after a suicide attempt or suicide of a student or any employee of a school district. Finally, the bill requires each board of education to post the policy on its Internet website and notify students, parents, and guardians that the policy has been posted to the board's website. | In Committee |
| S2623 | Requires law enforcement agencies to adopt pregnancy policy for law enforcement officers. | This bill requires law enforcement agencies to adopt a pregnancy policy for law enforcement officers. Under the provisions of this bill, every State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency is required to adopt a pregnancy policy consistent with the provisions of this bill. The policy is to apply to all female law enforcement officers who have successfully met entry level probation requirements. Under the bill, a law enforcement officer who becomes pregnant is required, upon confirmation of pregnancy and the decision to continue the pregnancy, to notify the officer's immediate supervisor, who is then required to notify the chief law enforcement executive through the chain of command. The bill also provides that upon notification of pregnancy, a law enforcement officer is to be permitted to continue to work in the officer's usual, full-duty assignment until the officer and the officer's physician deem it in the best interest of the officer and the baby to do otherwise. Except as provided for under the bill, the law enforcement agency is not to require an officer to accept a maternity duty assignment or take leave absent a compelling medical or public safety reason. However, the bill provides that if, as the pregnancy progresses, it becomes necessary for the law enforcement agency to reevaluate the officer's continuing ability to safely and effectively perform the essential functions of the officer's position, the law enforcement agency may consider whether the pregnancy creates an undue safety risk to the officer, co-workers, or the public. If the law enforcement agency determines that the officer's condition unreasonably interferes with her ability to perform in a full-duty capacity, the law enforcement agency may reassign the officer to maternity duty as defined under the bill. Except as provided for under the bill and absent a compelling medical or public safety reason, the officer is not to be required to take leave. The bill also provides that during a pregnancy, upon written recommendation of a physician, a law enforcement officer may request a temporary reassignment to maternity duty. Maternity duty may consist of, but is not limited to: nonhazardous assignments, writing police reports, operating a police radio, interviewing persons, clerical functions, or investigative functions that do not put the officer at risk of being harmed. Maternity duty assignments are not to include: alternating shift work; defensive tactics or defensive tactics training; firearms training, except simulated training; patrol duties; extensive exposure to automobile exhaust fumes; standing for more than 30 minute intervals; lifting more than 25 pounds; exposure to high concentrations of toxins, chemicals, or infectious agents or controlled dangerous substances; any contact with inmates, except in an emergency situation; or any other work that involves a high likelihood of suffering physical harm. In addition, the bill sets forth permissible uniform modifications for law enforcement officers who are pregnant. Further, the bill provides that law enforcement officers who are pregnant are exempt from the mandatory handgun qualification requirements until the officer is certified for full-duty status. If the officer is beyond the mandatory handgun qualification period, the officer is to be required to surrender the officer's department-issued sidearm and is prohibited from wearing an off-duty firearm until the officer has re-qualified. In addition, the bill provides that any evaluation made by the law enforcement agency's physician is to be limited to a review of the officer's medical records and consultation with the officer and the officer's physician. The law enforcement agency's physician is not to routinely examine the officer for pregnancy-related matters. Under the bill, a law enforcement officer is to be permitted to work as long as the officer is able to perform the duties of her job and is not to be subjected to special procedures to determine the officer's ability to work. The bill provides that if the officer becomes unable to perform the functions of her maternity duty assignment, the law enforcement agency may require the officer to take leave in compliance with the Family and Medical Leave act and any other applicable law. Finally, the bill provides for certain procedures when an officer returns to duty after maternity leave, including meeting with the officer's commanding officer, providing documentation of medical fitness for duty, assisting the officer's commanding officer in identifying her individual needs, which may include accommodations for lactation, and accomplishing all reintegration tasks as directed by the commanding officer. The bill also requires the officer's commanding officer to conduct a reintegration interview and develop a reorientation program for each officer. | In Committee |
| S2621 | Permits place of worship to establish security plan to select one person to carry handgun during religious services. | This bill allows the governing body of a place of worship to establish a security program by selecting one person to carry a handgun for the purpose of protecting religious service attendees. The bill defines "place of worship" as a building, including but not limited to a church, mosque or synagogue, used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination registered as a not-for-profit under the federal Internal Revenue Code. Under the bill, the selected person would be required to participate in a firearms training course held by the Police Training Commission, the Director of Civilian Marksmanship, or a recognized rifle or pistol association that certifies instructors. The bill provides that the selected person may serve in a voluntary capacity or for monetary compensation. In addition, the selected person may transport the firearm directly to and from person's residence and the place of worship. The selected person would be subject to all other requirements imposed under current law regarding the right to carry a firearm. The bill would not prohibit a place of worship from hiring an armed security officer or allowing a law enforcement officer or other person entitled to carry a firearm at all times in this State from serving as the person selected for the security program. On November 5, 2017, a mass shooting occurred at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas during which 26 people were killed and 20 others were injured. The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, was shot twice by a civilian as he exited the church and was later found dead in his motor vehicle following a high speed chase. On October 27, 2018, a mass shooting occurred at the Tree of Life-Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, during which 11 people were killed and seven were injured. It was the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States. It is the sponsor's intent to prohibit similar incidents from occurring by allowing places of worship to establish a security program. | In Committee |
| S2625 | Expands "Body Armor Replacement Fund" eligibility. | This bill expands the eligibility criteria for recipients of grants provided by the "Body Armor Replacement" fund. Currently, local law enforcement agencies, the Division of State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Department of Corrections are entitled to grants from the "Body Armor Fund". This bill would permit the Attorney General to administer grants to any other State agency or department that appoints law enforcement officers, such as the Department of Environmental Protection, which could then procure body vests for conservation officers and State Park Police officers. The bill also defines "law enforcement officer" for the purpose of determining eligibility to receive grant funding. | In Committee |
| S2628 | Provides employer and employee protections pursuant to the use of legalized cannabis items. | Section 1 of this bill amends section 48 of P.L.2021. c.16 concerning certain rights and obligations of employers and employees concerning the use of cannabis items. The bill provides that a drug test for cannabis is not to be done as part of a pre-employment screening, except for the employees outlined in paragraph (1) of subsection b. of 48 of P.L.2021, c.16. The bill provides an employer may determine to employ or not to employ a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert in the employer's discretion. Nothing in subsection a. of section 48 of P.L.2021, c.16 is to be interpreted to require that an employer use a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert for either drug testing or determinations of suspicion of an employee's usage of a cannabis item while engaged in the performance of the employee's work responsibilities. Further, the use of the Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert is not to be deemed the industry standard for testing or making suspicion determinations. An employer may use scientifically reliable testing services and exercise its own judgment in making a good faith suspicion determination. The bill provides that an employer is not to take any action which has the effect of prohibiting an employee using cannabis products during non-work hours except under the following circumstances: (1) Upon a determination by an employer that the nature of the work of an employee at a critical infrastructure facility or a construction site has an exceptionally high risk of potential harm to other employees or to public safety if the employee were to be impaired through the use of cannabis. The approval to designate categories of these employees, or a specific employee of an employer, is to be made by the commission upon application of the employer. The commission is responsible for approving an application upon finding that the standards in the bill have been met; (2) when the nature of the work of an employee is operating, maintaining, constructing or repairing a public utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities; (3) when such actions are required under the federal Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, 49 U.S.C. s. 5331; or (4) when the employer is subject to the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.; or (5) when the employee is a law enforcement officer and the duties of the employment require the possession of a firearm. Section 2 of the bill amends N.J.S.A. 52:17B-71 to require that the Police Training Commission consult with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission with respect to developing standards and course curricula for certification as a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert in detecting and identifying an employee's use of, or impairment from, a cannabis item or other intoxicating substance, and for assisting in the investigation of workplace accidents. | In Committee |
| S2633 | Requires studies on impact of COVID-19 pandemic on elementary and secondary school attendance and higher education enrollment. | This bill requires studies to be conducted to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the attendance of elementary and secondary school students and the enrollment of college and university students, respectively. Specifically, the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to conduct, or contract with a research institution to conduct, a study to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the attendance of elementary and secondary school students. The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools to provide any information that may be requested by the commissioner or research institution, to the extent practicable. At a minimum, the study would analyze: (1) the manner in which school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools recorded student attendance during the implementation of virtual or remote instruction in the 2019-2020 school year and the 2020-2021 school year, respectively; (2) the number of elementary and secondary school students who were identified as chronically absent students or dropout students during the 2019-2020 school year and the 2020-2021 school year, respectively, disaggregated by grade level, school district, race, gender, special education designation, English language learner designation, and eligibility for free and reduced price meals; (3) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of virtual or remote instruction on the attendance rates of elementary and secondary school students during the 2019-2020 school year and the 2020-2021 school year, respectively; and (4) the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of virtual or remote instruction disproportionately impacted the attendance rates of specific subgroups of elementary or secondary school students. Additionally, the Secretary of Higher Education would be required to conduct, or contract with a research institution to conduct, a student to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the enrollment of college and university students in the State. The bill requires institutions of higher education to provide any information that may be requested by the secretary or research institution, to the extent practicable. At a minimum, the study would analyze: (1) the total enrollment of each institution of higher education during the 2019-2020 academic year and the 2020-2021 academic year, disaggregated by race, gender, age, residence, and academic program; (2) the undergraduate retention rate of each institution of higher education during the period between the fall 2019 academic semester and the fall 2020 academic semester, disaggregated by race, gender, age, residence, and academic program; (3) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of virtual or remote instruction on the enrollment rates of college and university students in the State during the 2019-2020 academic year and the 2020-2021 academic year, respectively; and (4) the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of virtual or remote instruction disproportionately impacted the rate of enrollment of certain student populations. The bill requires an electronic copy of each study to be published on the official Internet website of the Department of Education or the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, as applicable, within five days of the completion of the study. The bill also requires the commissioner and secretary to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature to summarize the findings of each study. | In Committee |
| S2631 | Requires legislative approval of State Board of Education rules and regulations; repeals equity regulations. | This bill requires legislative approval for all rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education and repeals the entirety of the "Managing for Equity in Education" regulations found within chapter 7 of Title 6A of the New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.6A:7). Under the bill, the State Board of Education is required to obtain legislative approval prior to adopting any new rule; amending a rule, readopting an expiring rule; or readopting a rule without changes, with technical changes, or with substantial changes. This legislative approval is to be in the form of the passage of a concurrent resolution. If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the rule or readoption, the rule is required to be adopted in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act." If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the rule or readoption, it cannot be adopted. Additionally, the bill provides that the State board is required to include the concurrent resolution when filing for a notice of proposal or notice of adoption with the Office of Administrative Law. Finally, this bill repeals the State board's "Managing for Equity in Education" regulations recently adopted and found within N.J.A.C.6A:7. | In Committee |
| S2629 | Directs Commissioner of Education to establish criteria and make recommendations on designation of school districts as SDA districts. | This bill provides that by March 1, 2025 and every five years thereafter, the Commissioner of Education is to recommend to the Legislature the economic and school facilities adequacy criteria to be used in the designation of school districts as SDA districts and a list of the school districts that meet the criteria for SDA designation. The economic criteria may include: equalized valuation per resident pupil; district income per resident pupil; and the municipal overburden, as defined by the commissioner, of the municipality or municipalities in which the district is situate. The bill stipulates that in the case of a school district that was designated as an SDA district prior to the bill's effective date, but loses its designation as an SDA district after the bill's effective date, the district will continue to receive 100 percent State support of the final eligible costs of any school facilities project that was in the design or construction phase prior to the district losing its SDA district designation. | In Committee |
| S2578 | Requires MVC to make mobile units available to reduce service delays at overcrowded agencies. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to utilize mobile units to reduce service delays and to assist processing customer transactions in the event that one or more commission agencies are overcrowded and experiencing service delays. Under the bill, if the number of mobile units is fewer than the number of commission agencies that are overcrowded and are experiencing service delays, then the commission is required to utilize the mobile units in a manner that maximizes the number of individuals the commission is able to serve or provides the greatest reduction in service delays. | In Committee |
| SR69 | Denounces organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and political prisoners in People's Republic of China. | This resolution denounces the practice of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, political dissidents, and ethnic minorities in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The harvesting of organs from executed prisoners is well-documented in the PRC. The practice was officially sanctioned in 1984 upon the enactment of the "Temporary Rules Concerning the Utilization of Corpses or organs from the Corpses of Executed Criminals," which explicitly stated that "the use of the corpses or organs of executed criminals must be kept strictly secret, and attention must be paid to avoiding negative repercussions." According to the former PRC Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jiefu, more than 90 percent of China's deceased organ donations in 2005 were obtained from executed prisoners. By 2013, approximately 50 percent of the country's estimated 100,000 annual organ transplantations were reportedly supplied by executed prisoners. Credible reports indicate that the PRC heavily targeted imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners for organ harvesting beginning in the early 2000s. Founded in 1992 by Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that uses meditative exercises and emphasizes the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. By 1999, the movement gained over 70 million practitioners throughout China. However, fearing Falun Gong's growing societal influence, the PRC President Jiang Zemin launched a nationwide campaign in July 1999 to eliminate the practice. Since then, Falun Gong practitioners throughout China have been imprisoned, tortured, and coerced into renouncing their beliefs. Practitioners who refused to recant became prime targets of organ harvesting. An estimated 65,000 Falun Gong practitioners were killed for their organs between 2000 and 2008 alone. Ethnic minorities and political prisoners, most notably Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang Province, were also reportedly targeted for organ harvesting. According to human rights organizations such as Freedom House, "there is reason to believe that such abuses continue" in 2017. Harvesting organs from religious or political prisoners violates not only ethical medical standards but also the universal rights of the Chinese people. The State of New Jersey stands in solidarity with the Falun Gong, its practitioners, and every other victim of Chinese organ harvesting. | In Committee |
| S2595 | Establishes bee-friendly habitat pilot program in Department of Agriculture; appropriates $1 million. | This bill would establish a bee-friendly habitat pilot program within the Department of Agriculture (department) to encourage homeowners and businesses to convert their lawns into bee-friendly habitats in order to support and protect the population of bees in the State. The bill appropriates $1 million to the fund for the pilot program. Under the program, a homeowner would be eligible for a reimbursement for eligible costs in an amount up to $250 and businesses would be eligible for up to $500. Under the bill, the department would be required to: (1) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of applications by homeowners and businesses to receive a reimbursement from the program; (2) establish criteria for a homeowner or business to qualify for a reimbursement from the program; (3) develop and maintain an Internet website or webpage providing information on how to start and manage a bee-friendly habitat and information about the pilot program; and (4) create a list of approved plants, forbs, or legumes that would qualify for reimbursement. No later than six months after the completion of the pilot program, the department would be required to submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature summarizing: the number of homeowners and business who received reimbursement under the pilot program and the amount of money distributed to homeowners and businesses; the effectiveness of the pilot program in assisting with the development of bee-friendly habitats; any recommendations concerning the need for a program or additional funding to encourage the establishment of bee-friendly habitats; and any other information that the department considers relevant in assessing the pilot program. | In Committee |
| S2587 | Permits pharmacists to dispense certain drugs in emergency without prescription. | This bill permits a pharmacist to dispense or sell an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance drug without a current, valid prescription from a practitioner, under certain conditions. To dispense or sell an emergency supply of a drug under the bill: · the pharmacy at which the pharmacist is practicing must have a record of a prescription for the drug in the name of the patient who is requesting the emergency supply, but the prescription does not provide for a refill or the time permitted for providing the refill has passed;· the pharmacist must attempt but fail to obtain authorization to refill the prescription from the practitioner who issued the prescription or another practitioner responsible for the patient's care;· the pharmacist must determine, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, that refusal to provide an emergency supply of the drug would endanger the health or welfare of the patient;· the drug must not be a controlled dangerous substance;· the amount of the drug dispensed must not exceed a 30-day supply as provided in the most recent prescription or, if the standard unit of dispensing for the drug exceeds a 30-day supply, the amount dispensed must not exceed the standard unit of dispensing;· the pharmacist may not have provided an emergency supply of the particular drug pursuant to this subsection to the same patient in the previous 12-month period; and· the pharmacist must fulfill all documentation and other requirements for dispensing established by the Board of Pharmacy by regulation. The bill provides civil immunity for pharmacists and their employers for acts or omissions in connection with the dispensing of an emergency supply of a drug pursuant to this bill unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence, recklessness, or willful or wanton misconduct. The bill also states that it would not preclude a pharmacist from dispensing an emergency supply of a drug under other authority granted by regulations promulgated by the Board of Pharmacy. Currently, N.J.A.C.13:39-7.4 permits emergency dispensing of a 72-hour supply of a drug, under conditions that are more permissive than the conditions for dispensing a longer-term supply established under this bill. | In Committee |
| S2584 | Requires employers whose employees are subject to contracts that are amendable and do not expire to provide earned sick leave. | This bill amends the New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law, N.J.S.A.34:11D-1 et seq., to clarify that collective bargaining agreements that are amendable rather than only those that expire or are terminable are subject to the provisions of the act. When New Jersey's Earned Sick Leave Law was enacted, it provided, with respect to workers subject to collective bargaining agreements in effect at the time the law was enacted, that the provisions of the law would apply to those workers upon the expiration of the collective bargaining agreements. However, not all contracts are terminable in nature. Some contracts, such as the contracts utilized in accordance with the "Railway Labor Act," 45 U.S.C. s. 151 et seq., become amendable at a certain time. Once these contracts become amendable, a deliberative process ensues to create new working terms and conditions, and the status quo remains in effect until the creation of a new contract. This bill ensures that workers who are subject to amendable contracts will receive sick leave under the State's Earned Sick Leave Law. | In Committee |
| S2579 | Requires MVC to allow customers to schedule appointments on MVC's website; extends expiration date of certain documents under certain circumstances. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to allow a customer to reserve an appointment for service at a specific commission agency location on the commission's website. If a customer schedules an appointment through the commission's website to renew a document that is set to expire and the first available appointment at the selected commission agency location is for a date and time after the document is set to expire, the document is not to expire until the date and time of the appointment scheduled by the customer for that service at the selected commission agency location. The commission is required to issue to the customer documentation that extends the expiration date of the document to the date and time of the scheduled appointment. | In Committee |
| S2571 | The "New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act." | The "New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act" would require stricter safety standards to be adopted for existing bleachers at places of public accommodation within the State. Each year, there are an average of 19,100 injuries to people in the United States, many of them children, directly attributable to falls from bleachers or unsafe conditions of bleachers. In the past twenty years, there have been at least 10 deaths related to falls from bleachers, four of them involving children under the age of 15. Recently in New Jersey, three-year old Adam J. Graham suffered severe injuries when he tumbled through a gap in the bleacher seating at a school athletic event. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, falls from bleachers can occur when guardrails are missing from the backs or open sides of bleachers. Falls from bleachers also occur when there are large enough openings between components in the seating and the guardrails to permit a person to pass through them. Often the falls involve openings between the components of the seating, such as between the footboard and seat board, as was the case with Adam's fall, but other falls through spaces related to the guardrails have occurred as well. In addition to the risk of falls, some bleachers are dilapidated or poorly constructed, and are at risk of collapsing. Although the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code (UCC) has incorporated standards for bleacher safety, these standards are applicable to new bleachers only, and do not require the retrofitting of existing bleachers with safety features to prevent falls or injuries. This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt, within six months of the effective date of the bill, safety standards for existing bleachers, which would involve replacement of these bleachers, or their retrofitting to make them safe. In promulgating the standards, the commissioner is directed by the bill to utilize the guidelines created by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for the retrofitting of existing bleachers, or to use standards for the retrofitting of bleachers developed by nationally or internationally recognized model code agencies. The commissioner is also directed by the bill to establish certification and inspection procedures. The bill requires a place of public accommodation, defined as a public or privately- owned sports or entertainment arena or park, gymnasium, auditorium, stadium, hall, special event center in a public park or other facility for public assembly, to replace or retrofit existing bleachers in compliance with the code. Governmental entities from which funding would be available for such purposes are required to comply immediately after regulations are adopted by the commissioner. An example of governmental entities which may have access to funding for such purposes would be school districts which are eligible for funds from bond acts or other funding for school facilities. Governmental entities not having access to immediate funding would have one year from the date of the promulgation of the regulations requiring retrofitting to comply. Private or nonprofit entities would have two years to comply with the regulations. Entities would be required to post a warning notice on bleachers that have not yet been certified as being in compliance with the UCC for safety features. A bleachers that is not certified as in compliance with the State Uniform Construction Code by the end of the allotted time period (one year for governmental entities, two years for all others) will be required to have a notice posted in a conspicuous place forbidding its use until certification has occurred. | In Committee |
| S2569 | Limits "tobacco and vapor products sales tax" on cigars to up to $0.50 per cigar. | This bill limits the taxation of cigars under the Tobacco and Vapor Products Tax Act to a maximum of 50 cents per cigar. Currently, the tax on cigars is 30 percent of the wholesale price. Under this bill, the tax will still be 30 percent of the wholesale price, but the tax will be capped at 50 cents per cigar. The bill also amends current law to clarify tax payment responsibilities of tobacco product wholesalers and distributors. Every state imposes some tax on non-cigarette tobacco products. Ten states have adopted a tax cap per cigar. Cigar retailers with establishments in those states have claimed that prior to the establishment of the cap their retail sales prices suffered a serious competitive disadvantage with out-of-state, Internet, and catalog businesses that did not collect state tobacco products tax. Setting a maximum tax per cigar is proposed to encourage New Jersey consumers to make more of their cigar purchases from New Jersey "brick and mortar" retailers who are often small locally-owned businesses. A 50 cent per cigar tax cap will level the playing field for New Jersey retailers and potentially increase State revenues collected under the tax. | In Committee |
| S2564 | Provides temporary deduction for food and beverage establishments from certain sales and use tax remittances. | This bill provides a temporary deduction for food and beverage establishments from remittances under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.). Through this deduction, these establishments would retain a portion of the sales taxes that are collected at certain business locations. Under the bill, a qualifying food or beverage establishment may deduct from the remittance required under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.), the amount of taxes collected from not more than $70,000 in taxable sales received per eligible business location during each month of a four-month relief period. However, the deduction may not exceed the amount of taxes collected at the business location during the month for which the deduction is claimed. After claiming the deduction, a qualifying food or beverage establishment would retain the collection of any taxes for which the deduction is claimed. The following food and beverage establishments would qualify for the deduction: (1) alcoholic beverage establishments, including breweries, wineries, distilleries, and brew pubs; (2) restaurant and food establishments, not including fast-food restaurants, and (3) mobile food service establishments, including food trucks and food stands. The bill allows a qualifying food or beverage establishment to claim the dedication for not more than five business locations. However, if a seller operates both a restaurant establishment and a mobile food services establishment, the deduction could be claimed for not more than five business locations and not more than five motorized vehicles or nonmotorized carts. Under the bill, the four-month relief period would begin on the first day of the second month following the date of enactment and conclude on the last day of the fifth month following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S2574 | Establishes signs and Internet websites for State tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts. | This bill requires the establishment of signs and Internet websites for State tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts. Under the bill, the Department of Transportation, in coordination with and subject to the approval of the Federal Highway Administration, is directed to adopt rule amendments governing participation in the Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) Program, adding tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts as eligible facilities under the TODS program. The rule amendments are intended to provide awareness of and directional guidance to tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts in the State through roadway signs, and support a trail-like path through signage which allows persons to find and visit various indoor and outdoor attractions in an efficient and reasonable manner, and promote these locations within New Jersey. The bill requires the rule amendments, as a condition of eligibility to participate in the TODS program, that tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts: (1) be located within 15 miles of the State highway on which the intersection approach sign is erected; (2) be open to the general public a minimum of six hours each day and five days per week for at least 20 consecutive weeks in a year; (3) provide artistic, cultural, historical, or entertainment value to tourists; (4) be licensed and approved by all appropriate authorities; and (5) be in compliance with all laws regarding public accommodation. The bill specifically directed the department, in coordination and subject to the approval of the Federal Highway Administration, to adopt amendments to the rules governing the procedures and standards for the implementation of the Specific Service Sign (Logo) Program, adding tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts as eligible attractions, for the purpose of applying for the installation of a business logo panel on the blue motorist service signs along designated freeways and interstate highways. In addition, the bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, in consultations with the Division of Parks and Forestry in the Department of Environmental Protection, the Historic Preservation Office in the Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Historic Trust in the Department of Community Affairs, and the New Jersey Historical Commission, to develop and maintain a website providing information on tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts in the State. The website would provide awareness of and directional guidance to tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts in the State and allow persons to find and visit them in an efficient and reasonable manner and to promote these locations within New Jersey. Under the bill, the information on the website would be searchable and available as a list and as an interactive map. The website would: (1) specify the location of each attraction, site, and district, and provide driving directions from the north, south, east, and west, as well as directions by public transit, where applicable; (2) provide information about whether an attraction, site, and district offers guided tours, the frequency of the tours, and the hours during which the tours are conducted; (3) display photographs of each attraction, site, and district; and (4) provide contact information for the owner or operator of each attraction, site, and district, including the telephone number and web address, and any other information that the Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| S2592 | Creates alternate voting members on county agriculture development boards. | This bill amends the "Agriculture Retention and Development Act" by creating alternate members on County Agriculture Development Boards (CADB) who are able to vote in the absence or disqualification of a voting member, enabling a CADB to increasingly reach quorum and help reduce or eliminate the conflict of interest between members, and allowing a CADB to move forward with its duties. This bill would require each CADB to have two alternate members, one of whom represents the general public and one of whom is actively engaged in farming. These alternate members would each serve for a term of four years and may vote in place of an appointed voting member of their respective appointment background, should a voting member be absent or disqualified. The alternate voting member may participate in discussions of the proceedings when not voting. The alternate member with a farming background would be appointed in the same manner as the four members actively engaged in farming, and the alternate member representing the general public would be appointed in the same manner as the three members representing the general public. The agricultural community in New Jersey is relatively small in comparison to the State's population and, as such, conflicts of interest often arise among CADB members, thereby impacting the ability of a CADB to obtain a quorum and inhibiting the ability of the CADB to continue the mission and work assigned to it by the "Agricultural Retention and Development Act." | In Committee |
| S1069 | Establishes county veteran transportation grant program; removes certain restrictions to the current veterans transportation assistance program; appropriates $2 million. | Establishes county veteran transportation grant program; removes certain restrictions to the current veterans transportation assistance program; appropriates $2 million. | In Committee |
| S2453 | Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at certain lakes, ponds, and rivers. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection, and counties and municipalities, to install a Type IV personal flotation device at each lake, pond, or river located in a public park or State forest at which swimming, boating, or ice-skating is permitted. The bill would allow counties and municipalities to draw on funds in their respective "Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds" in order to pay for the flotation devices and installation costs. | In Committee |
| S2474 | Requires NJTA and SJTA to automatically offer toll discounts to senior citizens. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to establish and maintain a toll discount program for all persons age 65 and older who have an account with the New Jersey electronic toll collection system (NJ E-ZPass) for passenger vehicles. The discount is to be available at all hours and is to be at least 10 percent less than the NJ E-ZPass rate for passenger vehicles. NJTA and SJTA are required to automatically apply the discount when a NJ E-ZPass account holder turns 65 and when a person who is 65 or older applies for a NJ E-ZPass account for a passenger vehicle. | In Committee |
| S2446 | Regulates performance of pet grooming services. | This bill requires a person who is found to have negligently performed pet grooming services to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill provides that a person performing pet grooming services who is the subject of three or more consumer complaints alleging the negligent performance of pet grooming, and determined to be valid by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, within a period of one calendar year must register in accordance with the provisions of the bill. For the purposes of the bill the negligent performance of pet grooming occurs when a pet experiences any of the following: (1) an injury that required veterinary contact which was sustained while at a pet grooming facility; (2) severe illness reasonably believed to be contracted while receiving pet grooming services; (3) pet escape; or (4) pet death. A person who is required to register under the provisions of this bill will remain registered for a period of one calendar year. The registration requirement expires at the end of the calendar year, unless extended. For every complaint that is received and determined to be valid by the director while the person is registered, the person will be required to remain registered for one additional calendar year. The bill provides that a pet owner who has been aggrieved by a person performing pet grooming services may file a complaint with the division alleging an incident constituting the negligent performance of pet grooming. A pet owner must file a complaint no later than 90 days after the alleged incident occurred. The director will investigate each complaint filed to determine whether it is valid. The director must render a final disposition of the inquiry within 90 days of the date the complaint was filed. The bill also provides that the director may hold investigative hearings as may be necessary and may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of any person or the production of books, records, or other evidence. The director will maintain and publish the registration required by the bill by means of a list that contains the name, business address, municipality, and any other identifying information the director determines is necessary, of every person required to register. The published registration list will provide an explanation of every person's registration, including a description of the person's negligent performance of pet grooming, the calendar date the person first appeared on the registration list, and any other information the director determines is necessary. The list must be made available to the public and prominently displayed on an Internet website maintained by the division. The director must remove a registrant's name, business address, municipality, and any other information from the registration list after the registrant's applicable registration period has expired. A person who is registered pursuant to the provisions of the bill must provide notification, in a form issued by the director, to every pet owner who engages the person in the performance of pet grooming services. In addition, the person must conspicuously post the notification in a place or places accessible to all consumers in any facility used by the person to perform pet grooming services. The bill requires the director to establish and undertake a public awareness campaign to ensure that the public, pet owners, and persons who perform pet grooming services in this State are educated and informed of the provisions of the bill, including the provisions concerning the registration requirement, complaint process, and penalties. The public awareness campaign must include, but not be limited to, the preparation, printing and distribution of booklets, pamphlets, or other written and digital pertinent information. Finally, the bill provides that it is an unlawful practice and a violation of the New Jersey consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), to violate any provision of the bill. In addition, a person is liable for a penalty of $1,000 per day for each day that the person continues to perform pet grooming services without registering as required under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2463 | Exempts certain non-profit entities from requirement that certain employers offer employees certain pre-tax transportation fringe benefits. | This bill provides that an entity organized under 26 U.S.C. s.501c(3) is exempt from the requirement under current law that all employers in this State that employ at least 20 persons offer all of that employer's employees the opportunity to utilize a pre-tax transportation fringe benefit. Under current federal law, non-profit organizations are taxed on contributions to the pre-tax transportation fringe benefit at the federal corporate tax rate of 21 percent. This tax rate burdens non-profit organizations that are required to participate in the transportation fringe benefit. | In Committee |
| S2457 | Appropriates $3 million in federal funding from "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" to DEP for construction of completely inclusive playgrounds. | This bill would appropriate to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) $3 million from the funds provided to the State by the federal government under the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub. L. 117-2, to be used for the development of completely inclusive playgrounds. "Completely inclusive playground" means a playground designated for public use for children two to five years of age or five to twelve years of age, that meet certain accessibility requirements, including standards detailed in the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.). No later than six months after the bill is enacted into law, the bill would require the DEP to solicit applications from local government units for the design and construction of completely inclusive playgrounds. The bill directs the DEP to establish, and publish on its website, a grant application process and transparent eligibility and ranking criteria for applications for funding for the design and construction of completely inclusive playgrounds. The bill would require the DEP to provide priority to applications for projects located in counties that do not currently operate and maintain a completely inclusive playground. In addition, the bill would require the DEP, no later than 30 months after the bill is enacted into law, to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, a report detailing the grants issued pursuant to the bill, including the name of the grant recipient, the amount of the grant, and a description of the completely inclusive playground project funded by the grant. | In Committee |
| S2454 | Exempts certain officers trained in animal cruelty from certain additional Police Training Commission training courses. | This bill exempts certain persons who have already successfully completed certain Police Training Commission courses from additional animal cruelty training required pursuant to P.L.2017, c.331. It also prohibits certain persons from receiving an exemption from the training requirements. The bill provides that any person who, prior to the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331, has successfully completed phase 1 and phase 2 of the Police Training Commission Basic Humane Law Enforcement Course or a similar course is exempt from the additional training required pursuant to that law. The bill also authorizes a chief humane law enforcement officer to request an exemption from the training requirements for a current or prospective municipal humane law enforcement officer, humane law enforcement officer of a county society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or chief humane law enforcement officer or other law enforcement officer who received other animal cruelty training under Title 4 of the Revised Statutes. The bill authorizes the Police Training Commission to grant a request for an exemption from the training requirements at its discretion, provided that certain conditions established in the bill are met. The bill requires a person obtain, before receiving the exemption, documentation from the person's primary care physician that the person satisfies standards of health and physical fitness to perform the duties of a municipal police officer, county investigator, sheriff's officer, correctional police officer, Class Two special law enforcement officer, humane law enforcement officer, or member of the State Police, as applicable. Finally, the bill prohibits a person from receiving an exemption who has been: 1) convicted of a crime; 2) found liable for any civil animal cruelty offense pursuant to Title 4 of the Revised Statutes; or 3) separated from duty as a municipal police officer, county investigator, sheriff's officer, correctional police officer, Class Two special law enforcement officer, or member of the State Police for seven years or more on the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331. Finally, the bill removes the authorization for agents of a county society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, appointed prior to the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.1 et al.), to be designated as municipal humane law enforcement officer, a humane law enforcement officer of a county society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or as a chief humane law enforcement officer or a law enforcement officer under the supervision of the chief humane law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| S2447 | Appropriates $30 million to EDA from federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund" to assist certain live entertainment venues. | This bill appropriates $30 million to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority from a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund," established pursuant to the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," Pub.L.116-136, for use by the EDA to provide financial support, by way of loans or grants, to food establishments for costs associated with business operation interruptions caused by Executive Order No. 158. Over the past four months, the State has been confronting the viral disease known as coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), which has necessitated certain emergency measures to curtail its spread. As part of these measures, on March 21, 2020, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 107, which directed all residents to stay at home until further notice and closed all non-essential businesses to the public. This order affected thousands of businesses and especially food establishments, some of whom shuttered their doors permanently. In the months following this order, subsequent orders have been signed lifting these restrictions as cases of COVID-19 have fallen, and since June 15, 2020, food establishments have been able to offer outdoor dining service, which has helped recoup some of their losses. In light of this progress, on June 26, 2020, the Governor, as part of his administration's reopening plan, signed Executive Order No. 157, which allowed food establishments to offer indoor dining service, with limitations. This order, originally scheduled to go into effect on July 2, was a source of added relief for food establishments who were struggling financially, even after the reopening of outdoor dining. Yet, with hospitalizations for COVID-19 having fallen 90 percent since April, and with the State on track to contain the disease, the Governor reversed his decision to reopen indoor dining, citing a rise in COVID-19 cases in other states. This decision, formalized under Executive Order No. 158, severely affected food establishments who hired additional staff and equipment in anticipation of reopening, and may lead some establishments to close permanently. Under this bill, $30 million will be allocated to the EDA from the "Coronavirus Relief Fund" in order to financially support food establishments impacted by Executive Order No. 158. By providing this support, an important part of our State's economy and culture will be protected. | In Committee |
| S2456 | Changes membership of Lake Hopatcong Commission and requires DEP to develop water level management plan for Lake Hopatcong to be approved by commission. | The Lake Hopatcong Commission has been charged with, among other things, managing and protecting the natural, scenic, and recreational resources of Lake Hopatcong and its watershed. This bill would grant the commission the authority necessary to carry out its duties. Specifically, the bill would remove the Commissioners of Community Affairs and Environmental Protection as members of the commission and would replace them with two additional members of the public to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each member of the public would serve a term of two years until a successor is appointed and qualified. The bill also expressly adds to the commission's duties and responsibilities the coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on any plan or program affecting the water quantity of Lake Hopatcong. The bill also requires DEP to provide the commission with notice of any permit application pending before or received by any division of DEP for any activity that may impact on Lake Hopatcong or its watershed. Under the bill, the DEP is required to develop a water level management plan to establish the objectives and uses of the waters of Lake Hopatcong, including downstream uses within the Musconetcong River system. The plan would also provide guidelines on any drawdowns, lakeshore construction and gate manipulation for the lake. Additionally, the plan must be submitted for approval by an affirmative vote of the majority of the full membership of the commission before the DEP may adopt or revise the plan. Finally, the DEP is required to submit to the commission any proposed action that would cause the water level of Lake Hopatcong to fall below a level of 8.5 feet as measured on the Lake gauge for approval by an affirmative vote of the majority of the full membership of the commission. | In Committee |
| SJR72 | Establishes task force to study ways to increase diversity within law enforcement agencies. | This joint resolution establishes the "New Jersey Diversity in Law Enforcement Task Force" to study ways to increase diversity and community representation within law enforcement agencies throughout the State of New Jersey including State, local, and municipal police departments. Law enforcement officers serve a vital role in all communities throughout the State of New Jersey by enforcing the law, controlling crime, and maintaining public order and safety. However, law enforcement officers are not always representative of the communities they serve. In recognition of this, many law enforcement agencies have taken measures to increase the diversity of their officers, such as focusing recruitment efforts on underrepresented groups and providing mentoring to new recruits. Despite these efforts to increase diversity within law enforcement agencies, many still do not reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. This lack of diversity and community representation within law enforcement agencies can make it increasingly difficult for law enforcement officers to build lasting community relationships. For these reasons, it is important for law enforcement agencies to expand their efforts to diversify, so that law enforcement officers and the communities they serve can work together to keep all residents of the State of New Jersey safe. The task force shall consist of 13 members with representation from the Senate, the General Assembly, the Attorney General, the President of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, the President of the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, the President of the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police, the National President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, the President of the New Jersey State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), two representatives of local police departments throughout the State, and two representatives of the public. The task force shall examine current data, research, and policies related to diversity issues within law enforcement agencies and examine current diversity present within law enforcement agencies across the State including State, local, and municipal police departments. In addition, the task force shall identify effective strategies to increase diversity and community representation within the State's law enforcement agencies and develop recommendations to implement those strategies within law enforcement agencies. Within a year after the organization of the task force, the task force shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature of the task force's findings and recommendations. | In Committee |
| S2464 | Creates affirmative defense for certain breaches of security. | This bill creates an affirmative defense for breaches of security of personal and restricted information, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill requires that if a covered entity, as that term is defined in the bill, seeks an affirmative defense to a breach of security, it is to have created, maintained, and complied with a written cybersecurity program that contains administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for the protection of personal information or restricted information, or both, and that reasonably conforms to an industry recognized cybersecurity framework. A covered entity's cybersecurity program is to be designed to protect against the following: 1) breaches of the security and confidentiality of personal information, restricted information, or both; 2) any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of personal information, restricted information, or both; and 3) unauthorized access to and acquisition of personal information, restricted information, or both that is likely to result in a material risk of identity theft or other fraud to the individual to whom the information relates. The bill requires that the scale and scope of a covered entity's cybersecurity program is to be based on all of the following factors: 1) the size and complexity of the covered entity; 2) the nature and scope of the activities of the covered entity; 3) the sensitivity of the information to be protected; 4) the cost and availability of tools to improve information security and reduce vulnerabilities; and 5) the resources available to the covered entity. The bill permits the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety (director) to deem a covered entity's cybersecurity program, required by the bill, to reasonably conform to an industry recognized cybersecurity framework if the covered entity's cybersecurity program reasonably conforms to any of the cybersecurity frameworks or provisions of law enumerated in the bill. A determination of reasonable conformance by the director is to be considered by a court as evidence in order to determine whether the covered entity is entitled to an affirmative defense. A covered entity may raise the affirmative defense in court without the director's determination of reasonable conformance. Absent the director's determination of reasonable conformance, the court may determine reasonable conformance pursuant to the standards set forth in the bill. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to provide a private right of action, including a class action, with respect to any practice regulated under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2448 | Requires health insurance coverage for certain obesity treatments. | This bill requires health insurance coverage for certain obesity treatments. 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 or School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the Medicaid Program) will be required to cover certain treatments for obesity. The methods of treatment for which benefits will be provided include preventive care, nutrition counseling, behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and anti-obesity medication. For the purpose of this bill, "anti-obesity medication" means any medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration that provides for chronic weight management in patents with obesity. | In Committee |
| S2441 | Requires MVC to take measures to prevent agency closures during public health emergency; requires MVC to provide alternatives if closure is unpreventable. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to take all measures necessary to prevent the temporary closure of a commission agency due to the coronavirus. If the chief administrator determines that the temporary closure of a commission agency is necessary, the chief administrator is required to provide reasonable alternatives to prospective customers of that agency location, which is to include but is not limited to the use of a mobile unit at or nearby the agency location. The chief administrator is required to report to the Governor and Legislature on the commission's efforts to prevent agency closures. | In Committee |
| S2462 | Requires grants from federal COVID-19 relief programs be disbursed proportionally based on population. | To the extent consistent with federal law and regulations of the federal agencies involved, all federal funding for COVID-19 relief, aid, or stimulus provided to the State to disburse to local governments in the form of a grant program, and not already dispersed, committed, or incurred as of the effective date of the bill, would be disbursed proportionally according to population with no minimum population required to receive federal funding. Prior to enactment of the bill, the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Health, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, would be required to promulgate regulations, and post the regulations on its Internet website, defining the new criteria for the grant programs, based on need, for local governments to apply. The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment and shall expire upon the disbursement of all federal COVID-19 grant monies for local governments. | In Committee |
| S2452 | Establishes COVID-19 Frontline Mental Health Claims Program in Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS and makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the COVID-19 Frontline Mental Health Claims Program in Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in the Department of Human Services (DHS). The goal of this program is to ensure that State residents who worked as first responders, health care workers, and other frontline positions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have access to mental health services, regardless of coverage for such services through a private health insurance plan or a workers' compensation claim. As defined under the bill, "frontline worker" means an individual who provides an essential or key public service. This bill appropriates such sums of money from the General Fund as are necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. In order to effectuate the goals of this program, the bill directs the Assistant Commissioner of the DMHAS to develop and implement a system through which an individual, or a health care provider on behalf of an individual, can submit a claim for reimbursement of a mental health service or services. A claim demonstrating the following is to be eligible for reimbursement: (1) the claimant is a New Jersey resident who worked as a frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) the mental health services provided to the claimant are medically necessary per an order from a health care professional licensed in accordance with the provisions of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services in this State; (3) the mental health services provided to the claimant are not reimbursable under by any other third-party entity, such as the claimant's private insurance plan or a workers' compensation claim; and (4) the date of the services rendered to the claimant is between March 9, 2020, the date of the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020 concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, and one year after the end of such emergencies. Upon approval of a claim, the Assistant Commissioner is required to provide payment for mental health services rendered to the claimant directly to the provider; and provide written notification to the claimant that the division has provided payment for services. This notification shall include, at a minimum, the date of each service, the amount paid for each service, and the name of the provider of each service. Upon denial of a claim, the Assistant Commissioner is required to provide written notification to the provider and the claimant detailing the reason for denial. This notification is to provide a phone number by which the claimant or provider can contact a representative of the division to discuss the denied claim. If the denial is due to lack of documentation, the notification is to explicitly state how the claimant or provider may resubmit the claim with the necessary documentation. The bill directs the Assistant Commissioner to design and, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health, to distribute information regarding the Frontline Mental Health Claims Program, either in printed or electronic form, to businesses and organizations that employ frontline workers. Such businesses and organizations are required to distribute this information to each frontline worker, or post this information in a manner and place accessible to all frontline workers. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health are also to post the information on a publicly accessible location on each departments' Internet website. | In Committee |
| S2461 | Establishes immunity relating to COVID-19 spread at swimming pools in planned real estate developments. | This bill would prohibit any causes of action for damages arising from a COVID-19 exposure or transmission on the premises of a swimming pool of a planned real estate development. This immunity would not apply to acts or omissions constituting a crime, actual fraud, actual malice, gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct. As used in the bill, the "premises of a swimming pool" would encompass any swimming pool, hot tub, or spa within a common area of a planned real estate development, including any adjacent patio, restroom, locker room, playground, and other areas in the vicinity of the swimming pool, hot tub, or spa meant to be frequented in conjunction with the swimming pool, hot tub, or spa. | In Committee |
| S2450 | Establishes temporary Pandemic PTSD Task Force. | This bill would temporarily establish a Pandemic PTSD Task Force in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the task force will be to: 1) evaluate the prevalence and likelihood of, and develop best practices for the identification and treatment of, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers who have engaged in the provision of health care services, emergency response services, or other essential or key public services during a pandemic; and 2) recommend the implementation and use of appropriate treatments and supports to mitigate, eliminate, and otherwise reduce the effects of pandemic PTSD on these workers. The task force will be composed of 21 members and will have the duty to: 1) identify and evaluate the causes of, the factors that contribute to, and the mental and physical effects of, pandemic PTSD in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers; 2) estimate the current prevalence of pandemic PTSD among these workers, as well as the likelihood of future cases; 3) develop best practices for the identification and treatment of pandemic PTSD; 4) identify and approve new, alternative, and innovative means and methods of diagnosing and treating pandemic PTSD; and 5) identify policies, practices, services, resources, and funding sources that can be used to: enhance the ability of health care and mental health care professionals to identify, diagnose the severity of, and appropriately treat, pandemic PTSD and its side effects in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers; facilitate the Statewide implementation and use of the best practices and diagnostic and treatment methods identified by the task force; enhance the ability of employers to identify and provide appropriate assistance to employees who may be suffering from pandemic PTSD; facilitate the cooperative and integrated provision of physical and behavioral health care in association with the treatment of pandemic PTSD and associated injuries, illnesses, or side effects in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers; increase the type and availability of community supports that are available to help first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers successfully cope with and overcome pandemic PTSD; increase public awareness of pandemic PTSD; improve the accessibility of care and treatment for pandemic PTSD; enhance the ability of first responders, health care professionals, other frontline workers, and their families to recognize symptoms of pandemic PTSD, identify the need for treatment, and seek out appropriate treatment when needed; remove any professional or other stigma associated with the receipt of treatment for pandemic PTSD; and otherwise enable the State to promptly address and mitigate the effects of pandemic PTSD on the community. Not later than 12 months after its organizational meeting, the task force will be required to prepare and submit, to the Governor and the Legislature, a written report of its findings and recommendations in relation to the issues under its purview. A copy of the report will also be posted on the Internet websites of the Departments of Law and Public Safety, Human Services, and Health. The report would be required to include: 1) the task force's findings regarding the causes, effects, and factors contributing to pandemic PTSD and the prevalence and likelihood of future occurrence of pandemic PTSD among first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers in the State; 2) a description of the best practices that have been developed and the new, alternative, and innovative diagnostic and treatment methods that have been approved by the task force pursuant to the bill's provisions, together with data and other appropriate evidence to support the adoption of each best practice and the approval of each diagnostic and treatment method; and 3) recommendations for legislative, executive, or other actions that can be undertaken to effectuate the goals described in the bill. The task force will dissolve, and the bill will expire, on the 30th day following the submission of the task force's report. | In Committee |
| S2449 | Establishes "New Jersey COVID-19 Long-Term Health Effects Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey COVID-19 Long-Term Health Effects Task Force" (task force). Under the bill, the purpose of the task force is to: (1) study the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (2) identify symptoms associated with the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (3) identify medications and other treatments that can combat the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (4) develop methods of educating the public on the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (5) identify any adverse, long-term health effects caused by COVID-19 vaccines; and (6) develop strategies for the Department of Health and county and local health departments to help health care professionals treat patients suffering from the long-term health effects of COVID-19. The bill provides that the task force is to consist of nine members as follows: (1) one member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (2) one member of the public appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (3) one member of the public appointed by the President of the Senate with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (4) one member of the public appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (5) the Commissioner of Health or a designee; (6) two representatives of local or county health departments in New Jersey appointed by the Governor; and (7) two medical doctors with experience treating patient suffering from long-term health effects of COVID-19 appointed by the Governor.z | In Committee |
| S2451 | Creates registry of individuals who required medical assistance as result of misusing controlled dangerous substance. | Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is to develop and maintain a drug abuse and misuse registry, which is to be a confidential registry of the names of individuals who required medical assistance as a result of having misused a controlled dangerous substance which information is to be submitted to the Commissioner by emergency medical response entities, hospitals, and police departments. The Commissioner is to make the registry accessible to healthcare practitioners who are to be required to access the system prior to prescribing any controlled dangerous substance. | In Committee |
| S2465 | Appropriates $15,000,000 to DCA for purpose of providing grants to DCF and DHS to establish a workforce development and job retention and advancement services grant program for mental health care and behavioral health care providers. | This bill appropriates to the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation in the Department of Community Affairs $15,000,000 in federal funds allocated to the State from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act" to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Department of Human Services (DHS), as applicable, to establish a workforce development supports and job retention and advancement services grant program for providing grants to mental health care and behavioral health care providers employed by, or contracted with, the departments. The purpose of the grants are to provide funding and resources allowing mental health care and behavioral health care providers employed by, or contracted with the DCF or the DHS to hire, train, and retain mental health care and behavioral health care workers. The grants are to be allocated, on a rolling basis, to the providers within 45 days of the departments' receipt of a complete qualifying application in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the DCF and DHS. Not more than 2.5 percent of these funds are to be utilized by the DCF or the DHS, as applicable, for organizational, administrative, and other work and services, including salaries, equipment, services, and materials necessary to administer the activities authorized by the bill. The DCF and the DHS are each to enter into a memorandum of understanding or grant agreement, as applicable, with the division to effectuate the purposes of bill, to establish appropriate administrative costs, and to ensure compliance with federal rules and guidance, including with respect to the "American Rescue Plan Act," Pub.L.117-2. The bill provides that the division will be the State's grant manager for federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds," and is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable federal rules and regulations for bill, including, but not limited to, submitting all required reporting and documentation to the United States Department of the Treasury in accordance with federal rules, including with respect to the "American Rescue Plan Act," Pub.L.117-2. As the State's grant manager for federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds," the division will require funds for organizational, administrative, and other work and services, including salaries, services, equipment, and materials necessary to administer oversee the applicable provisions of the bill. The bill stipulates that the division may transfer the uncommitted balance of any funds made available pursuant to the bill for any use authorized under the bill, and provide notice to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, no less than five calendar days before the date of the transfer, indicating the amount of the transferred funds and the purpose for which the funds are transferred. It is the sponsor's preference that the grant programs established pursuant to the bill to be implemented in a similar fashion, as is practical and appropriate, to those established under P.L.2021, c.144, which established a child care revitalization fund to provide certain supports to licensed child care providers including, but not limited to, funding workforce development supports for providers and their employees. | In Committee |
| S2466 | Increases certain power vessel operator license fees and amount dedicated from license fees to Lake Hopatcong Fund. | This bill would increase the fee for the 48-month power vessel operator's license required pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-72) from $18 to $30. The bill would also increase the amount allocated to the "Lake Hopatcong Fund," from $500,000 to $750,000 from the revenue derived from power vessel operator's license fees beginning July 1 following the date of enactment of this bill. The Lake Hopatcong Fund is used by the Lake Hopatcong Commission for activities related to the protection, preservation, restoration, maintenance, management, and enhancement of the lake, as outlined in the "Lake Hopatcong Protection Act," P.L.2000, c.175 (C.58:4B-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| SCR84 | Urges U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development to prioritize transitional housing for homeless individuals and families, including survivors of domestic violence. | This resolution urges the United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development to prioritize transitional housing for homeless individuals and families, including survivors of domestic violence (DV). Homelessness presents a variety of needs and challenges, and for many, time and support is needed to obtain and maintain permanent and affordable housing. For victims of DV, who often face physical and mental health issues stemming from their abuse, financial barriers often prevent them from obtaining such housing. Transitional housing programs allow homeless households, including those who have fled DV, up to 24 months of safe housing and supportive services that include financial education, life skills training, counseling, employment support, and housing assistance. Transitional housing is particularly important for DV victims, who need time and support in order to obtain and maintain permanent affordable housing. Over the past year, the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19) has further exacerbated the need for transitional housing programs, with millions of Americans crippled with unemployment, underemployment, and uncertainty. In high-rent communities, homeless households recovering from the financial impacts of COVID-19 will need time to regain employment, locate suitable childcare, pay off debts and repair credit, before they will be able to obtain new housing. Transitional housing programs are equipped to provide the time and resources that it will take to get households back on their feet permanently. Urging the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development to prioritize transitional housing can provide homeless individuals and families, including survivors of DV, with the opportunity to achieve financial self-sufficiency and safe, permanent housing. | In Committee |
| S2443 | Requires issuance of temporary emergency medical services certifications. | This bill requires the issuance of temporary emergency medical services certifications. P.L.2020, c.18 authorized the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) to grant: provisional certifications to emergency medical technicians and paramedics, temporary reactivation of inactive paramedic certifications, and temporary reciprocity to out-of-State paramedics. This bill requires the commissioner to grant: provisional certifications to emergency medical technicians and paramedics, temporary reactivation of inactive paramedic certifications, and temporary reciprocity to out-of-State paramedics. | In Committee |
| S2445 | Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to conduct study to identify composition of current health care workforce, estimate future gaps, and recommend solutions to address gaps. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Departments of Health and Human Services, to conduct a study of the current and future needs for the health care workforce in New Jersey. The study would consist of research on (1) vacancy rates; (2) configuration of the workforce by race, ethnicity and gender, occupation or specialty, educational level, and size of the health care workforce in each region of the State; (3) patient care needs addressed by the health care workforce in each region of the State; (4) a cross analysis of the identified data to identify common themes and differences across categories; (5) an estimate of the future pipeline of the health care workforce; and (6) identification of any gaps between supply and demand, with recommendations on addressing the gaps. The commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Legislature setting forth the results of the study within one year of the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S2442 | Clarifies bilingual Spanish and English language accessibility requirements applicable to printing primary and general election ballots in certain districts. | This bill clarifies the bilingual Spanish and English language accessibility requirements applicable to printing primary and general election ballots in certain districts. Under current law, the county clerk is required to print the primary and general election sample ballots in both English and Spanish for each election district within the county in which the primary language of 10 percent or more of the registered voters is Spanish. The statutes further provide that the sample ballots must be facsimiles of the official primary or general election ballots. This bill inserts the same language printing requirements in the statutes applicable to the official primary and general election ballots. The bill requires the county clerk to print in English the official primary election ballots of each political party, and the official general election ballots, and to print such ballots in both English and Spanish for each election district within the county in which the primary language of 10 percent or more of the registered voters is Spanish. The bill clarifies that the same bilingual printing requirements apply to mail-in ballots, the inner and outer envelopes, and the printed directions for the preparation and transmitting of such ballots. The bill also deletes a reference to a repealed section of law. | In Committee |
| S2444 | Allocates $200 million to Department of Labor and Workforce Development to improve unemployment insurance infrastructure technology. | This bill allocates $200 million in available federal assistance to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. In the event that federal funds are insufficient, the money is to be allocated from the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund" for the purpose of funding capital construction projects. The money shall be spent in efforts to improve the unemployment insurance (UI) program following the unprecedented spike in UI benefit claims filings caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Under the bill, the department is required to submit to the Legislature an implementation plan to effectuate the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| SR66 | Urges Governor to resume in-person services at DOLWD. | This Senate Resolution urges the Governor to safely resume in-person services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. In-person services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development have been closed since March of 2020. New Jersey's unemployment rate as of March 2021 was still 7.7 percent, and the State has only recovered 54 percent of the jobs lost in March and April of 2020 as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic-related shutdowns, meaning that many New Jersey residents require access to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's services. Although many of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's services are provided over the internet or the telephone, these services may not be as accessible for elderly clients, low-income clients, or clients with disabilities. The State's numbers of new cases of COVID-19 and number of COVID-19 fatalities are decreasing, leading to a safer indoor work environment, and indoor capacity limits are scheduled to be raised on May 19th if there is no surge in cases prior to that date. A resumption of in-person services at many of the Department's agencies, including a resumption of in-person unemployment claim filings and a resumption of in-person services at One-Stop Career Centers, is in the best interests of the clientele that the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is designed to serve. Additionally, a resumption of in-person services at the Division of Unemployment Insurance would allow claimants who are victims of programming and technological glitches to more effectively redress their problems and receive their claims, and would allow the Division of Unemployment and other agencies to more effectively communicate with these victims. This resolution additionally calls for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to fully staff all public-facing offices at all times. | In Committee |
| S2455 | Makes $100 million in federal funds available to DEP for grants to local governments for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects. | This bill would allocate $100 million in federal funding provided by the State pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop a grant program to provide grants to local governments to fund drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects. The bill would direct the DEP to establish a grant application process and transparent eligibility and ranking criteria, and publish them on the DEP's website no later than six months after the bill's effective date. The bill would also direct the DEP to determine a maximum grant amount, to ensure that grants are distributed to local government units throughout the State. The bill would direct the DEP to reserve at least 10 percent of the grant funds for wastewater or stormwater projects that would alleviate harmful algal blooms in Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake. The DEP would be authorized to utilize up to three percent of the money allocated to administer the program. Finally, the bill would direct the DEP, no later than three years after the bill's enactment, to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature that provides details about the projects funded by the grant program. After the report is submitted, or three years after the bill's enactment, whichever is sooner, the bill would expire. The State received more than $6 billion in funding from the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," but, as of January 2022, much of the funding remains unspent. | 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 |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | In Committee |
| S1238 | Concerns training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs. | Concerns training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs. | In Committee |
| S1470 | Provides workers' compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | This bill provides that a public safety worker who participated in the response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and is treated or monitored through the World Trade Center Health Program established by the Centers for Disease Control is presumed to be compensable under the State workers' compensation law without respect to when the worker files his claim for compensation, except that the claim is required to be filed within two years after the effective date of the bill. A worker is deemed ineligible for the benefits if the worker is eligible for benefits for the same injury, illness, or death under workers' compensation programs of other states or the federal government. The bill requires the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State, and each county, municipality, regional or joint public safety entity, or other agency involved in the public safety, to notify all active and retired personnel and next-of-kin, if the personnel are deceased, of the presumption of compensability within three months of the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S814 | Requires DOH to provide information regarding spina bifida to certain parents and families of newborns; "Levi's Law." | Current law requires DOH to make information on Down syndrome available on its website to any person who renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling of parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. This bill, which would be known as "Levi's Law," amends P.L.2015, c.173 (C.26:2-194 et seq.) to expand the information that DOH is required to make available on its website to include spina bifida, and to make the information available to any person who renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling of parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of spina bifida. Under current law, DOH: may make information on Down syndrome available to any other person who has received a positive test result for Down syndrome; is authorized to revise the information as new information on Down Syndrome becomes available; and is required to provide the information in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable for a woman or the family of a child receiving a postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Under the provisions of the bill, DOH would be: allowed to make information on spina bifida to any other person who has received a positive test result from a spina bifida blood test; authorized to revise this information as new information about spina bifida becomes available; and required to provide the information in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable for a woman or the family of a child receiving a postnatal diagnosis of spina bifida. | In Committee |
| S844 | Provides for life imprisonment without parole for killing an emergency responder. | This bill provides for life imprisonment without eligibility for parole for defendants who are convicted of murdering an emergency responder. Under current law, if a murder victim was a law enforcement officer who was murdered while performing his official duties or was murdered because of his status as a law enforcement officer, the court is required to sentence the person convicted of the murder to a term of life imprisonment, during which the person is not eligible for parole. This bill expands this provision to also make it similarly applicable to defendants who murder emergency responders. | In Committee |
| S857 | Extends time period required for public notice of certain land use applications. | The bill extends the time period required for public notice of certain land use applications from 10 days to 21 days. Currently, section 7.1 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-12) requires a developer to give written notice of a public hearing concerning certain applications for property development at least 10 days prior to the scheduled public hearing to owners of all real property within 200 feet in all directions of the property for which the public hearing is being held in addition to the following people and entities in certain circumstances: the clerk of any municipality located within 200 feet of the subject property; the County Planning Board; the New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation; the State Planning Commission; and public utilities, cable television companies, or local utilities. The bill amends section 7.1 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-12) to require that notice of public hearings be given at least 21 days before the scheduled public hearing. | In Committee |
| S975 | Requires Superintendent of State Police to publish cannabis-related fatal motor vehicle crash statistics. | This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to collect and publish data concerning the number of cannabis-related motor vehicle crash fatalities that occur in the State annually. Under current practice, the State Police publish an annual Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash Report that provides statistics on the prior year's fatal motor vehicle crashes. The report provides specific details concerning alcohol-related crashes. The provisions of this bill require the superintendent to collect and report similar information for cannabis-related crashes. | In Committee |
| S679 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on water safety as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires each school district to incorporate instruction on water safety into the health education curriculum for students in grades K through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. The instruction must provide information on: the proper use of flotation devices; how to become aware of water conditions; the danger of rip currents and how to respond if caught in one; and the importance of swimming in areas monitored by a lifeguard. Drownings are the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control. While New Jersey students participate in drills for fire and active shooter crises, they do not receive instruction on what to do if you are drowning or see someone drowning. | 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 |
| S807 | Authorizes Surrogate of every county to establish electronic systems to accept electronic signatures on qualifying documents in probate matters. | This bill provides that the Surrogate of every county is authorized to establish electronic systems to accept electronic signatures on qualifying documents including application for probate, authorization to accept service of process, executor qualification, surety bond, data entry review, renunciation of executor, application for administration, qualification of administrator, renunciation of administrator, affidavit of assets, notice of probate, and similar qualifying documents. This bill would not apply to any will. In addition, the bill provides the Supreme Court may adopt Rules of Court and the Administrative Director of the Courts may issue directives to effectuate the purposes of this act. | In Committee |
| SCR30 | Proposes constitutional amendment prohibiting any student from being compelled to attend public school other than one nearest to student's residence. | This constitutional amendment would prohibit compelling any student to attend a public school other than the public school nearest to the student's residence and which is located within the school district in which the student resides, provided the public school provides the course of study which the student is pursuing. | In Committee |
| S2114 | Concerns vaccine mandates and eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain health care workers. | This bill concerns vaccine mandates and the eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain health care workers. Specifically, the bill provides that, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an unemployed individual who is otherwise eligible may not be deemed ineligible to receive unemployment benefits because the individual was terminated or voluntarily left employment as a result of non-compliance with Executive Order 283 of 2022. Executive Order 283 of 2022 requires healthcare facilities and high-risk congregate settings to adopt and implement policies requiring covered workers at covered settings to receive and be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. | 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 |
| S803 | Removes requirement that certain special law enforcement officers turn in firearm at end of shift. | This bill removes the requirement that Class Two and Class Three special law enforcement officers turn in their firearms at the end of their shift. Current law authorizes Class Two and Class Three special law enforcement officers to carry a firearm while on duty. These officers generally are required to return the firearm at the end of the officer's workday to the officer who is in charge of the station house. These officers would no longer be subject to this requirement under the bill. The bill also conforms current law to the provisions of P.L.2013, c.21 that authorizes county sheriffs to appoint special law enforcement officers to perform court security duties. This bill does not alter current statutory law concerning these officers' right to carry a weapon. Class Two officers generally are prohibited from carrying off duty. Class Three retired police officers who are approved by the State Police have the right to carry a weapon while off duty. Special law enforcement officers are police officers appointed temporarily or intermittently to perform duties similar to those performed regularly by members of a municipal police force or to perform county court security duties. They also are authorized to provide assistance to a police force during unusual or emergency circumstances or at individual times or during regular seasonal periods in resort municipalities. Class Two officers are authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officers. Class Three officers are retired law enforcement officers who provide security in this State's public and nonpublic schools and county colleges. According to the sponsor, it is both inconvenient and inefficient for Class Two and Class Three special law enforcement officers to turn in their weapons after every shift. These officers are statutorily authorized to enforce the laws of this State and, as such, should be considered capable of safely and reliably transporting their weapons back and forth to work. | In Committee |
| S2291 | Clarifies types of firearms allowed to be transported while hunting. | This bill clarifies that a person engaged in hunting would not be permitted to use a firearm except as prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code. The bill removes from current law a restriction prohibiting bow hunting with a bow drawn, held or released by mechanical means. In addition, the bill increases from $20 to $100 the fine for unlawfully hunting certain game animals and unlawfully hunting with a firearm with certain characteristics. Finally, the bill incorporates into provisions of current law a prohibition against carrying a "long gun" while hunting. Under the bill, the term "long gun" is to include all forms of firearms except for handguns, which may be carried in accordance with Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. | Dead |
| S809 | Provides tax credits to companies contributing to loan and loan redemption program for residents who attend institutions of higher education in State and work at such company upon graduation. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Talent Retention Loan and Loan Redemption Program within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The goal of the program is to keep the most talented students in New Jersey from leaving the State during college or at the beginning of their working career. The program is a financial aid program that offers certain New Jersey high school students who attend college in New Jersey, loans of up to $10,000 per year and up to a $40,000 maximum, and then forgiveness of those loans in exchange for employment with certain New Jersey companies. The companies that are eligible under this program to employ students are the companies that provide the funding for the loan program through donations to the New Jersey Talent Retention Loan Fund which is also established in HESAA. Employers that contribute to the loan fund are eligible to take a tax credit equal to 50% of the amount contributed in the taxable year of the contribution. Contributions to the loan fund will be used to fund loans for eligible students. The employer is eligible to take an additional tax credit equal to 50% of the contribution by employing students who have received loans under the program upon their graduation. For every $40,000 contributed to the loan fund, an employer may select a student who receives a loan under the program and that student is then contractually obligated to apply to and accept an offer of employment with that company before he is eligible to accept employment with any other company that has made a contribution. A student who wants to participate in the program must submit an application to HESAA. HESAA will accept students in accordance with standards of academic merit that it is directed to establish under the bill. The accepted students will be placed on a qualified applicants list. Employers and HESAA will then select from among the qualified applicants list to decide which students will be admitted into the program. Companies that contribute the greatest amount to the loan fund will select first and then other companies will make selections in descending order of contribution amount until all monies in the loan fund for that year have been disbursed. A student admitted to the program will then be eligible for a loan from HESAA of up to $10,000 per year with a maximum amount of $40,000 for a baccalaureate degree program and $20,000 for an associate degree program. After graduation, the student must obtain employment with one of the employers that contributed to the loan fund. If the participant does not obtain employment with a qualified employer within 18 months of graduation, the participant will have to begin paying back the loans. If the participant does find employment with a qualified employer, the student will have 25% of the loan amount redeemed for every 12 months of full time employment, until the loan is completely forgiven. | In Committee |
| S811 | Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt rules and regulations requiring an electric public utility (utility) to provide priority utility service restoration, when possible, following a major event resulting in a sustained interruption of utility service to an age-restricted community. The bill requires the BPU to allow a utility to exercise its discretion to prioritize utility service restoration to an age-restricted community after a major event resulting in a sustained interruption of utility service in accordance with the an age-restricted community's needs and the characteristics of the geographic area in which that service is to be restored. The bill requires a utility to request from every residential customer, on an annual basis, information as to whether the residential customer's address is located within an age-restricted community. If a residential customer responds to the utility's request for that information in the affirmative, the utility is to designate that residential customer as eligible for priority utility service restoration. Any priority utility service restoration efforts to an age-restricted community is not to divert efforts to restore utility service where needed to otherwise maintain overall public safety. | In Committee |
| S799 | Allows corporation business tax credit for subcontracting work to NJ small businesses. | This bill allows taxpayers subject to the corporation business tax to claim a credit against that tax equal to one percent of the amount the taxpayer paid to New Jersey small businesses for subcontracted work. For purposes of the credit, subcontracted work is that work which the taxpayer subcontracts to New Jersey small businesses for performance of all or an element of the taxpayer's own contracted duties. In addition, the subcontracted work must be performed in New Jersey and the subcontractor must have less than 50 employees. | In Committee |
| S868 | Exempts certain veterans from gross income tax. | This bill exempts certain veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of New Jersey from the gross income tax. To qualify for the exemption, a veteran must: (1) be honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of New Jersey in a federal active duty status; and (2) have gross income of $50,000 or less. | In Committee |
| S874 | Exempts all transfers made to lineal relatives from the Transfer Inheritance Tax. | This bill exempts all transfers made to lineal relatives from the Transfer Inheritance Tax. The purpose of the bill is to expand the category of familial transferees covered as exempt Class A Transferees to include lineal relatives that descend or ascend from the decedent by blood or law beyond the first two generations of offspring. Under current law, the Transfer Inheritance Tax explicitly exempts spouses, domestic partners, fathers, mothers, children, grandchildren, and grandparents as Class A Transferees. However, the statute does not explicitly extend exempt Class A Transferee status to such lineal relatives as great grandparents or great grandchildren. This bill extends exempt Class A Transferee status to all lineal relatives that descend or ascend from the decedent by blood or law. The bill's extension of the Class A Transferee exemption to all lineal relatives applies to transfers made on or after January 1, 2022. The bill allows refund claims for Transfer Inheritance Tax payments for transfers made on or after January 1, 2022, but before the date of enactment, which become overpayments due to the enactment of the bill. The bill also contains an administrative provision to maintain the applicability of related regulatory provisions that may otherwise become obsolete on account of the bill's enactment. | In Committee |
| S966 | Revises definition of domestic violence to include psychological abuse and economic abuse. | This bill revises the definition of domestic violence to include psychological abuse and economic abuse. Under the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.) "domestic violence" means the occurrence of one or more of the enumerated acts set forth in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19) inflicted upon a person protected under the act. The bill would add the following enumerated acts to the statute: (1) Any other offense involving psychological abuse that causes fear or serious alarm or distress that has a substantial adverse impact on a person's daily activities; and (2) Economic abuse, defined as any behavior that has a substantial adverse effect on the ability of a person protected under the act to: (a) acquire, use, or maintain money or other property, or (b) obtain goods or services. | In Committee |
| S855 | Permits police officers to travel to and from and remain within police station located within 100 feet of polling place; permits Class Three special law enforcement officers to be assigned to certain polling places. | Under current law, the presence of police officers at polling places during the conduct of an election and at ballot drop box locations in use during the conduct of an election is limited. This bill provides that nothing in the current law is to prevent a police officer or law enforcement officer from traveling to and from, or remaining within, a police station in their official capacity for employment related activities if that police station is within 100 feet of a polling place or ballot drop box. This bill also amends current law to permit a district board, superintendent of elections, or a county clerk to request the assignment of a Class Three special law enforcement officer to a polling place located at a public school to maintain order and provide security at the school during the conduct of the election. | In Committee |
| S382 | "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act"; bans abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization. | This bill, designated as the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," provides that an abortion is not to be performed or attempted if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater, with certain exceptions noted below. It is to be unlawful for a person to perform an abortion or attempt to do so, unless the person is a physician who has first made a determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child or has reasonably relied upon this determination made by another physician. In making the determination, a physician is to make inquiries of the pregnant woman and perform any medical examinations or tests necessary to accurately determine post-fertilization age. The bill provides an exception to the above provisions if: (1) the abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant women whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by, or arising from, the pregnancy itself; (2) the pregnancy is the result of rape, if reported to a law enforcement agency prior to the abortion; or (3) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest against a minor, if reported to a law enforcement agency or to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families prior to the abortion. In terminating or attempting to terminate a pregnancy under these circumstances, the physician may do so only in a manner which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless the termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk of death of the pregnant woman or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The bill also: outlines the procedures that a physician who performs or attempts an abortion must follow, consistent with the federal "Born Alive Infant Protection Act", if an exception provided in the bill exists and the pain-capable unborn child survives the abortion or attempted abortion; outlines the documentation from a law enforcement agency, Department of Defense victim assistance personnel, or DCCP, that a physician is required to file proving a pregnant woman or minor seeking an abortion has been raped or is a victim of incest; requires the woman seeking the abortion, the physician performing or attempting to perform the abortion, and a witness to sign an informed consent authorization form; and requires any physician who performs or attempts an abortion pursuant to the bill to annually submit a summary of all such abortions to the National Center for Health Statistics as provided by the conditions outlined in the bill. A person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion in violation of the bill's requirements is to be guilty of a crime of the third degree (punishable by three to five years imprisonment or a fine of up to $15,000, or both); however, a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed is to be immune from civil or criminal liability. A woman or the parent of a minor upon whom an abortion is performed in violation of the provisions of the the bill may, in a civil action against any person who committed the violation, obtain appropriate relief the conditions delineated in the bill. The bill, which is modeled on H.R.36 of the 114th Congress, is intended to address the concern that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain by 20 weeks after fertilization, if not earlier. Surgeons in the field of maternal and fetal medicine have found it necessary to sedate an unborn child to prevent the unborn child from engaging in vigorous movement in reaction to invasive surgery. It is the purpose of this Legislature to assert a compelling governmental interest in protecting the lives of unborn children from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates they are capable of feeling pain. | In Committee |
| S962 | Prohibits mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 as condition of attending public K-12 schools. | This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Health and other State governmental entities from requiring immunization against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a condition of attendance at a public primary or secondary school. | In Committee |
| S2037 | Mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters. | This bill mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters. The bill specifies that there should be no out-of-pocket cost to the volunteer firefighter. The bill also specifies that the State is to reimburse a volunteer firefighter for the full examination up to $1,250 per three-year period, which is to be annually adjusted according to inflation. The bill establishes an occupational existing condition that makes being a volunteer firefighter a condition for reimbursement of costs associated with cancer screening examinations. | In Committee |
| S841 | Establishes credit under sales and use tax for certain small businesses that collect and remit sales and use tax. | This bill provides a credit against a seller's remittance of sales and use tax if that seller is deemed a small business pursuant to the definition set forth in the bill. The credit is equal to 10 percent of a seller's monthly remittance or $100 per month, whichever amount is less. The credit is provided to a seller at the time the seller files their sales and use tax return. The Director of the Division of Taxation can require a seller to submit any documentation, records, and other information as deemed necessary to verify that the seller is a small business. The bill defines small business as a business that is independently owned and operated and employs fewer than 20 full-time employees. If a seller willfully and knowingly falsifies any document, record, or other information required by the director to claim the credit, that seller is subject to a penalty of $100 for a first offense and $200 for each subsequent offense thereafter. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to sales and use tax collections remitted to the State on or after the first day of the sixth month next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S1705 | Protects children from certain mandatory vaccinations as a condition of school attendance. | This bill protects children from certain mandatory vaccinations as a condition of school attendance. The bill provides that, in no case, is the Commissioner of Health, the Governor, or any other entity of State, county, or municipal government to require a child to be immunized against COVID-19 or the human papillomavirus (HPV) as a condition of attendance at a public primary or secondary school. Further, the bill provides that, in no case, is the Commissioner of Health, the Governor, or any other entity of State, county, or municipal government to cause or to require a public primary or secondary school to conduct an inquiry into whether a child is immunized against COVID-19 or HPV. | In Committee |
| S1203 | Permits county board of elections to open inner envelopes containing mail-in ballots up to five days prior to election day. | Under current law, the county board of elections process mail-in ballots promptly after receiving each mail-in ballot by removing the inner envelope containing the ballot from the outer envelope and comparing the signature and the information contained on the flap of the inner envelope with the signature and information contained in the respective requests for mail-in ballots. During the processing of mail-in ballots, the ballots are not removed from the inner envelopes until the canvassing of the ballots on election day. Under the bill, a county board of elections may begin opening the inner envelopes and removing each mail-in ballot from the inner envelopes no earlier than five days prior to the day of the election. If a county board of elections begins opening the inner envelopes and removing the mail-in ballots from the inner envelopes prior to the day of the election, the county board is required to implement the measures necessary to ensure the security and secrecy of the mail-in ballots. A county board of elections is prohibited from canvassing the mail-in ballots until the opening of the polls for that election. The contents of the mail-in ballots must remain confidential in compliance with current law and regulations concerning disclosure of election results. This bill seeks to enable county boards of elections to process mail-in ballots more quickly and to provide election results in a timelier manner. | In Committee |
| S880 | Clarifies scope of affordable housing obligations. | Although the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), clearly states that the State Constitution's affordable housing obligation is comprised of the "present and prospective need" for affordable housing only, some courts have misunderstood the intent of the Legislature behind the "Fair Housing Act," and imposed a retroactive obligation for the so-called gap period. The purpose of this bill is to eliminate any possible misconception with respect to the Legislature's intent to ensure that determinations of a municipality's fair share of affordable housing will be based upon the present and prospective need for affordable housing, as clearly set forth in the "Fair Housing Act," and that a fair share obligation will not include retrospective need that may have arisen during any "gap period" between housing cycles. The New Jersey Supreme Court, through its rulings in South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 67 N.J. 151 (1975) and South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 92 N.J. 158 (1983), determined that every municipality in a growth area has a constitutional obligation to provide through its land use regulations a realistic opportunity for a fair share of its region's present and prospective needs for housing for low and moderate income families. By enacting the "Fair Housing Act," the Legislature accepted the Supreme Court's request that the Legislature occupy the field of affordable housing and defined the constitutional obligation to include the present and prospective needs for affordable housing only. The Legislature directed each municipality to comply with its constitutional obligation to address its obligations with respect to the present and prospective need by: including in the housing element of its master plan a determination of the municipality's present and prospective fair share for low and moderate income housing and a determination of the municipality's capacity to accommodate its present and prospective housing needs, including its fair share for low and moderate income housing as the present and prospective need; and adopting or revising land use and other relevant ordinances consistent with the provisions for low and moderate income housing in its housing element. The courts and the Legislature of this State require municipalities to allow low and moderate income families a chance to find housing based upon the present need and the prospective need for affordable housing in each municipality and region of the State. This requirement has always been about planning and zoning; municipalities may not limit opportunities for affordable housing through exclusionary zoning. Differences of opinion between the judicial and executive branches of government over how to calculate each municipality's "fair share" of affordable housing have resulted in a "gap period" of over 15 years, which is still going on, during which the State provided municipalities no clear guidelines on how to zone to satisfy their obligation to allow for a fair share of affordable housing. Now that the courts have assumed control over municipal compliance with affordable housing obligations, it is possible that municipalities may be obligated to allow for the production of affordable housing based upon the speculated need for affordable housing which arose during the gap period. While laudable, such a result is contrary to current law, which confines municipal fair share determinations to a present and prospective need for affordable housing, and would impose an unrealistic and excessive burden upon the residential communities of our State. Requiring fair share obligations to include the need developed through a long regulatory gap period would result in an unreasonable burden, the resolution of which would force municipalities to allow rapid, unsettling changes to the physical and demographic nature of their communities. This bill eliminates any possible misconception of what the Legislature intended the fair share obligation to include so as to preclude the imposition of a fair share obligation based upon a concept of retrospective need during the gap period. | In Committee |
| S801 | Provides free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel. | This bill would amend current law to provide free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel. Specifically, the bill would provide free admission to veterans who are residents of the State, and to any person who is in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the reserves, who is a State resident or stationed in New Jersey, regardless of their residency status. Current law already provides free admission to State residents who are active members of the National Guard, totally disabled, or 62 or more years of age. | In Committee |
| S892 | Upgrades burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree; requires mandatory period of parole ineligibility if residence was occupied at time of offense. | This bill would upgrade burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree and provide that an offender is not eligible for early release if a person was present in the residence at the time of the offense. Currently, all burglary offenses are crimes of the third degree unless the offender purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on someone or if the offender is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon, in which case it is a crime of the second degree. This bill would provide that it is also a crime of the second degree to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. Additionally, the bill would provide that, if a person was present in the dwelling at the time of the burglary, the offender would be subject to the provisions of subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.117 (C.2C:43-7.2), commonly known as the "No Early Release Act (NERA)," which requires that certain offenders must serve a minimum 85% of the sentence of imprisonment imposed for the offense. A crime of the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for five to 10 years, up to a $150,000 fine, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, up to a $15,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| S879 | Expands definition of victim of domestic violence. | This bill expands the definition of victim of domestic violence to include new categories of victims and clarifies one of the relationships of the victim to the abuser. Under current law, a victim of domestic violence is defined to include: (1) any person who 18 years of age or older or who is an emancipated minor and who has been subjected to domestic violence by a spouse, former spouse, or any other person who is a present household member or was at any time a household member; (2) any person who has been subjected to domestic violence by a person with whom the victim has a child in common or with whom the victim anticipates having a child in common if one of the parties is pregnant; (3) and any person who has been subjected to domestic violence by a person with whom the victim has had a dating relationship. The bill amends current law to expand the categories of victims to include any person who is 16 of age or older, instead of 18 years of age or older, who meets the aforementioned criteria and any person who is the parent of an adopted child who has been subjected to domestic violence by the person whose parental rights towards the adopted child has been terminated. The bill also clarifies the relationships of certain victims to their abuser to include any person with whom the victim resides or has resided, at any time in the past. The amendments to current law included in this bill incorporate recommendations made by the New Jersey Law Revision Commission, as a part of its February 8, 2021 Draft Tentative Report Relating to the Term "Household Members" as used in the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991." It is the sponsor's intent that this expansion of the statute will protect additional victims of domestic violence, otherwise not protected by law, including residents of group homes or other communal living arrangements and adoptive parents in the legal classifications identified in the bill. | In Committee |
| S798 | Provides free admission to State parks and forests, and certain historic sites and historic properties for certain veterans on certain days. | This bill provides free admission for veterans on the date that the State may designate for the celebration of Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day, and Veterans Day to: 1) State parks and forests, which also includes State owned or leased historic sites; 2) historic properties acquired or preserved by a local government unit or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization by using State funding; and 3) any historic site owned or operated by a county or a municipality. The bill defines "veteran" as any resident of the State who has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, or any member of the American Merchant Marine discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits. | In Committee |
| S392 | Imposes moratorium on affordable housing litigation until December 31, 2028. | This bill would impose a moratorium on affordable housing litigation in the State in order to provide the Legislature an opportunity to craft an alternative to litigation for the Fourth Round of affordable housing obligations set to begin in 2025. Litigation over fair share affordable housing obligations has been ongoing for decades, yet has produced little affordable housing or clarity on the issue. This litigation has been a great expense to municipalities that is ultimately borne by the taxpayers. Moreover, as the Supreme Court of New Jersey has recognized, the myriad of issues concerning affordable housing are policy matters best left to the purview of the Legislature. Accordingly, it is appropriate and fitting and in the public interest to pause litigation regarding the Fourth Round of municipal affordable housing obligations in order to allow for the development of new guidelines that will determine affordable housing obligations in a more efficient manner. In addition, the current high cost of and demand for construction materials related to the COVID-19 pandemic has made it exceedingly difficult to produce the actual affordable housing sought by litigation. Delaying the start of the Fourth Round of affordable housing obligations will allow market forces affecting the cost of building materials to normalize in a more stable post-pandemic economy, and thereby allow for a more realistic opportunity to create actual affordable housing. The moratorium would be effective from the date that the bill is enacted through December 31, 2028. | In Committee |
| S846 | Permits licensed motor vehicle dealers to facilitate issuance of titles and registrations for used motor vehicles purchased by private sale. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to permit a licensed motor vehicle dealer to facilitate the issuance of a certificate of ownership and certificate of registration for a used motor vehicle that is purchased by private sale if the vehicle is to be registered in New Jersey and complies with all requirements for issuance of a certificate of ownership and certificate of registration. The bill authorizes a person who is 17 years of age or older and has purchased a used motor vehicle by private sale that is to be registered in New Jersey to apply to a licensed motor vehicle dealer within 10 working days after purchasing the motor vehicle for the issuance of a certificate of ownership and certificate of registration, instead of applying to the commission for those documents. A licensed motor vehicle dealer may charge a reasonable fee, as determined by the commission, for this service and may issue a temporary registration certificate for the used motor vehicle. A person is required to apply to the commission to renew the motor vehicle's certificate of registration. The bill requires the Chief Administrator of the commission to adopt temporary rules and regulations within three months of the effective date of the bill. The temporary rules and regulations are to be effective for a period not to exceed one year from the date they are filed with the Office of Administrative Law. The bill provides that the rules and regulations are to be amended, adopted, or readopted in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act." | In Committee |
| S1556 | Establishes grant program for alternate route police officer training. | This bill establishes a grant program known as the "New Jersey Alternate Route Opportunity Fund" for the purpose of identifying, recruiting, and providing financial assistance to economically disadvantaged residents of this State who are seeking basic police officer training through the State's alternate route program. Generally, police officers in this State are appointed to a local police department before they complete the basic training course for police officer recruits. These police officer recruits are employees of the police department when they attend a police academy for this training. The police department to which they are appointed pays the cost of their training. But under the alternate route program, persons seeking appointment as a police officer who do not hold an appointment with a police department may enroll in the basic police training course at their own expense. Financial assistance would be available under the opportunity fund for alternate route trainees. The business and operations of the opportunity fund are to be administered by a board of directors under the general supervision of the Police Training Commission. The commission is responsible for developing and administering basic training courses for police officers and approves and oversees police training academies. The board of directors is to consist of a representative of the commission and eight public members appointed by the Governor. The public members of the board are to be selected without regard to political affiliation. They should have knowledge of, or interest in, police and law enforcement matters. The commission and the board are to mutually select a chief executive officer of the opportunity fund who will be responsible for organizing the work of the opportunity fund. The board is responsible for: developing and maintaining a Statewide system for the identification of police officer candidates in need of financial assistance to complete an alternate route program; devising methods for recruiting candidates; developing, establishing, and publicizing criteria for the determination of eligibility for financial assistance based on need and potential for success as a police officer; establishing procedures for determining the amount of each award based on need, according to the total financial need of each police officer applicant; reporting to the Governor and the Legislature on the performance of its duties; adopting bylaws and rules for its operation; and receiving and disbursing any contributions to the fund from private and public sources. A police officer applicant is eligible for an opportunity fund grant if the applicant has been a State resident for at least a year; has demonstrated financial need for an opportunity grant; and has complied with the board's rules and regulations. According to the sponsor, the purpose of the opportunity fund established by the bill is to provide economically disadvantaged persons with the opportunity to become a police officer and consequently increase diversity in the ranks of these officers. | In Committee |
| S894 | Requires school buses that transport students with special needs to be equipped with certain safety features. | This bill requires school buses that transport students with special needs to be equipped with: a video camera on the interior of the school bus to monitor student safety; a global positioning system that provides information about the location and speed of each school bus in real time; and two-way communications equipment. The bill requires a school bus driver to comply with the provisions of law that prohibit a school bus driver from using a cellular or other wireless telephone while operating a school bus. The bill provides that video footage and global positioning system data collected from a school bus video camera and global positioning system are not to be considered government records. Under the bill, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, is to promulgate rules concerning the installation and use of the video cameras, global positioning systems, and two-way communications equipment; the use of data collected from the global positioning systems; and the retention of video footage, including, but not limited to, the minimum and maximum amount of time that the footage may be retained. The bill is inspired by Emma, a non-verbal, special needs student who experienced a stressful and upsetting event when her bus driver became lost for several hours while transporting her, and fellow students, to school. The experience was traumatic for Emma, who was unaware of where the school bus was going and was unable to communicate with the school bus driver. The bill seeks to prevent similar traumatic events from occurring in the future. | In Committee |
| S805 | Establishes eligibility for PERS enrollment and retirement benefits for certain county fire instructors under certain conditions. | This bill establishes eligibility in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for county fire instructors employed and enrolled before November 1, 2008, who performed service as a county fire instructor in each calendar year of membership, who received a salary greater than $1,500 annually, and who were permanent career service employees in the civil service. The bill provides for any person who had membership in the retirement system terminated within two years prior to enactment may be reenrolled as long as they repay any returned contributions and interest. This bill would address the situation of county fire instructors who were enrolled in PERS, but subsequently were deemed not eligible for membership due to the irregular and limited work schedule of the position. | In Committee |
| S890 | Establishes "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities." | This bill establishes the "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities." The purpose of the task force shall be to study opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State and provide recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on how the use of supportive technology could improve the lives of individuals, with particular attention to the following areas: (1) proposing State policy initiatives to encourage and support the use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental disabilities; (2) advising of any impediments, law, regulation, or practice that may potentially interfere with the expanded use of supportive technology by individuals with developmental disabilities; (3) identifying areas in which sufficient support for those with developmental disabilities is not currently available and opportunities for the expanded use of supportive technology in the following contexts: employment, education, and the activities of daily life; (4) identify best practices, opportunities for shared services, or potential partnerships that would increase supportive technology opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities; and (5) make recommendations on integrating supportive technology into existing programs. The task force is to consist of 15 members as follows: the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Division of Disability Services in the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Children's System of Care in the Department of Children and Families, and 12 public members to be appointed as follows: three public members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of the Bancroft School or another nonprofit provider of specialized services to individuals with developmental disabilities, one of whom shall have professional expertise in the use of supportive technology by persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the ARC of New Jersey, three public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Network, one of whom shall be a representative of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, three public members to be appointed by Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, one of whom shall be a physician or other health care professional with expertise in developmental disability issues, and one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Association of Community Providers; and three public members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be an individual with developmental disabilities, one of whom shall be the parent or caregiver of an individual with developmental disabilities, and one of whom shall be a representative of NJ APSE-The Network on Employment. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, but not later than the 30th day following the appointment of its members. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes. The bill requires that the task force prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature, no later than 18 months following its initial meeting, outlining its recommendations for the expanded use of supportive technology for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State. The bill would expire on the 30th day following submission by the task force of its written recommendations. | In Committee |
| S58 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| S817 | Increases amount of cigarette and other tobacco product tax revenues provided to New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from $1 million to $4 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) from $1 million to $4 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 for cancer research in an equivalent manner as State funding for spinal cord and brain injury research. Dedicated State funding for these two causes generally ranges from approximately $4 million to $6 million annually. The NJCCR promotes significant and original research in New Jersey into the causes, prevention, treatment and palliation of cancer and serves as a resource to providers and consumers of cancer care and treatment services. Currently, under statute, the NJCCR annually receives $1.0 million of 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 2020 and FY 2021, the NJCCR was appropriated $2.0 million in funding. Under the bill, the existing Cancer Research Fund is replaced by a non-lapsing, revolving fund. This fund is to be the repository of the $4.0 million of 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 commission. Moneys deposited in the fund, and any interest earned thereon, are to be used exclusively for the purpose of providing grants for cancer research projects authorized and approved by the commission, as well as any other commission responsibilities authorized under State law. The State Treasurer is 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 commission 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 |
| S888 | Provides for certain pediatric NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries to maintain private duty nursing hours when transitioning to Managed Long Term Services and Supports; codifies and expands appeals provisions for private duty nursing services. | This bill provides that a NJ FamilyCare beneficiary transitioning from the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program for children under age 21 to the Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program for people of all ages with long-term care needs will automatically receive coverage under the MLTSS program for no less than the number of weekly private duty nursing service hours that the beneficiary was eligible to receive pursuant to the most recent nursing assessment completed under the EPSDT program. Moreover, the bill requires that such beneficiaries will be allowed to carry forward unused private duty nursing service hours from week to week. A managed care organization may decrease the number of covered private duty nursing service hours for such a beneficiary only based on a change in medical necessity, as determined by an authorized provider. The MLTSS program currently limits the number of weekly private duty nursing hours to 16. By contrast, there is no cap on such services under the EPSDT program. Furthermore, the bill directs the Department of Human Services to review the records of all beneficiaries who have transitioned from the EPSDT program to the MLTSS program in the five years preceding the bill's enactment to determine if any beneficiaries may be eligible for coverage of an increased number of private duty nursing services hours pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The bill also codifies and expands certain provisions in the contract between the Medicaid managed care organizations and the State for all private duty nursing services appeals. Under the bill, a managed care organization is required to automatically continue a beneficiary's provider-authorized private duty nursing services benefits during an appeal of a change of previously authorized private duty nursing services, provided that the appeal request is made by an eligible entity within 30 calendar days of the date of notification of the adverse benefit determination. These provisions reflect existing contract elements, except that currently an appeal request must be made within 10 calendar days, rather than 30. The bill also requires managed care organizations to continue the beneficiary's private duty nursing services benefits while an appeal is pending until 30 days after either the beneficiary withdraws the appeal or the appeal results in a decision adverse to the beneficiary. Currently, the managed care organizations can discontinue benefits upon the date of either of these two events. | In Committee |
| S635 | Requires State Board of Education meetings to be accessible virtually and in person. | This bill requires all public meetings of the State Board of Education to be accessible to the public both in person and virtually. The bill also requires that a link providing virtual access to meetings be publicly available on the State Board of Education's website. Finally, for any meeting in which the State Board of Education accepts public comment, the bill stipulates that members of the public will be able to provide comments by means of remote communication. | In Committee |
| S827 | Permits person diagnosed with autism or communication disability to voluntarily make notation on driver's license, identification card, and in MVC registry; establishes program to train law enforcement officers in interactions with persons with autism or communication disabilities. | This bill concerns the licenses, identification cards, and law enforcement officer interactions with persons who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or a communication disability. The bill defines "communication disability" as a condition involving an impairment in the person's ability to receive, send, process, or comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal, or graphic symbol systems, that may result in a primary disability or may be secondary to other disabilities. The bill permits the holder of a license or identification card to voluntarily indicate on the license or identification card that the holder has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or a communication disability. The designation is to be used by law enforcement officers or emergency medical professionals to identify and effectively communicate with a person diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or communication disability. The designation indicating that a person has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or a communication disability is to be given a restriction code that is required to be displayed on the person's driver's license or non-driver identification in accordance with procedures prescribed by the chief administrator. However, the holder of a basic driver's license or non-driver identification card who makes the voluntary designation is required to have the opportunity to remove the designation at any time. The bill also requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to establish and maintain an automated Statewide registry accessible by law enforcement officials for the purposes of identifying and effectively communicating with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or communication disability by a physician, psychologist, or any other health care professional. The registry is to be capable of storing information, which is to include, but not limited to: the license plate and registration information of any motor vehicle that the person intends to regularly operate; the emergency contact information of a person who can communicate on behalf of the person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or communication disability; and any other information that may assist a law enforcement officer when communicating with the person. Under the bill, a person may submit information to the registry through the MVC's website, by mail, or when completing an application for a driver's license, motor vehicle registration, or non-driver identification card. The information provided to the MVC for the registry is to only be accessible to employees of the commission who are designated by the chief administrator to collect and maintain the information and law enforcement officers during a motor vehicle stop or other law enforcement action. Information submitted to the MVC is not to be subject to public disclosure under the "Open Public Records Act" or the common law concerning access to public records or be discoverable as a government record by any person, entity, or governmental agency except in certain circumstances. The bill provides for certain limitations on civil liabilities and on criminal prosecution for the chief administrator and MVC employees designated by the chief administrator. The limitations on civil liabilities and on criminal prosecution are inapplicable if such failure resulted from a malicious purpose or a wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons or property. Lastly, the bill establishes a program that is to be developed by the Superintendent of the Division of State Police, in conjunction with the chief administrator and the Commissioner of Human Services, to assist and train law enforcement officers to identify and effectively communicate with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or a communication disability. The program is to also include training in de-escalation methods when interacting with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or a communication disability, proper utilization of the registry established pursuant this bill, and any other information, as recommended by the Commissioner of Human Services, that may be useful to law enforcement officers when interacting with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or a communication disability. The program is to be made available annually to every county and municipal law enforcement agency in the State. | In Committee |
| S795 | Revises State marriage license application form to permit certain changes in middle name and surname. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to issue a State marriage license application form that enables each of the applicants to enter changes in middle name and surname resulting from the marriage. The application form is to include two parallel sections permitting each of the applicants to enter one of the following options as the applicant's surname: (1) the surname of the other spouse; (2) any former surname of either spouse; (3) a name combining all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of one or both of the spouses into a single surname; (4) a combination name separated by a hyphen, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of one or both of the spouses; or (5) the premarriage surname of a spouse as that spouse's middle name, followed by the surname of the other spouse as the new surname. The application form is to include language instructing the applicants that neither party to the marriage is required to change his or her surname, and that an applicant who changes the applicant's middle name or surname should contact the applicant's local Social Security Administration Office, so that its records and the applicant's Social Security identification card can be updated to reflect the name change. The application form will also be required to advise applicants as to what additional steps may be needed on the part of the applicant to effectuate a name change with State or local departments, divisions, offices, and agencies. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health to coordinate with other State departments, divisions, offices, and agencies as necessary to establish processes under which a marriage license application that includes a name change may be used to effectuate the name change as expeditiously as possible without the need for further action on the part of the applicant, including, but not limited to, updating records maintained by those departments, divisions, offices, and agencies, and issuing to the applicant a new State driver's license, non-driver identification card, or other government-issued identification card that reflects the name change. | In Committee |
| S856 | Indexes various thresholds and qualifications under New Jersey gross income tax for inflation. | This bill indexes for inflation various gross income thresholds and qualifications under the New Jersey gross income tax. Under the gross income tax, many provisions are structured so that the provisions apply only to those with particular amounts of income. This bill adjusts those provisions so that income levels are annually adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In particular, the bill adjusts for inflation: - the minimum taxable income threshold to be subject to the gross income tax, and the minimum taxable income threshold to file a gross income tax return. The minimum taxable income threshold for both is currently $10,000 for individuals who are single or married filing separately and $20,000 for married filing jointly. Those amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the three deductions allowed pursuant to the "New Jersey College Affordability Act." Each deduction is currently limited to those with gross income of $200,000 or less. That amount will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the credit allowed pursuant to the "Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act." That credit is currently limited to those with gross income not exceeding $50,000 or $100,000 if filing jointly. Those amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the credit for expenses for household and dependent care services. That credit is equal to a percentage that the taxpayer is allowed under the federal income tax, but is reduced and phased out as the taxpayer's income increases to $150,000. The phase out will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitations on the pension exclusion and other retirement income exclusion. Those exclusions are reduced and phased out as the taxpayer's income increases to $150,000. The phase out for each deduction will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - for those required to make estimated income tax payments, the income threshold for additional estimated payments to avoid incurring underpayment penalties. Because of the complexity of exactly estimating tax payments, an alternative amount of payment is allowed to be paid without incurring penalties for underpayment of estimated tax. If a taxpayer makes payments equal to 100 percent of the taxpayer's tax liability for the previous year, or 110 percent for taxpayers with taxable income for the preceding taxable year exceeding $75,000 or $150,000 for those filing jointly, then the taxpayer will not incur penalties for underpayment of estimated tax. The income criteria for the 110 percent payment requirement will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the rebate allowed for those with a dependent child. That rebate is currently limited to those with gross income not exceeding $75,000 or $150,000 if filing jointly. Those amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket under the optional pass-through business alternative income tax. These income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket are currently structured to approximate tax liability under the gross income tax. The income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022 to conform with the changes to the gross income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket proposed in Senate Bill No. 676 of the 2022-2023 session. | In Committee |
| S1068 | Establishes and allocates funds for program to provide mental health services to veterans; appropriates $2 million. | This bill directs the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to establish a program to provide grants to certain veterans organizations to provide mental health services to veterans. The veterans organizations will contract with mental health care professionals to provide the services. The bill appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund for the program. The bill defines "veterans organization" to mean a veterans organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. It shall also include the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group and the New Jersey Catholic Charities Diocese. | In Committee |
| S1332 | Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to qualified veterans purchasing franchises. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish a program that provides grant funding to a veteran, approved by the EDA for program participation, who becomes a "franchisee," as defined in the bill, after the effective date of the bill. The EDA is to establish the terms and conditions by which a veteran may apply and receive approval from the EDA for program participation. The EDA is to enter into an agreement with a qualified veteran concerning the EDA's provision of grant funding to a qualified veteran for this purpose. The EDA is to provide a one-time grant of no more than $10,000 to each veteran approved by the EDA for participation in the program. The EDA is to provide priority assistance to a qualified veteran who submits an application and receives program approval within six months after the effective date of the bill providing proof the veteran is a franchisee, or has received a valid offer from a franchisor for the veteran to become a franchisee, operating at a location within this State. The bill requires the EDA to establish and maintain a fund to provide grant funding to a veteran that participates in the program and to administer the program. The fund is to be credited with an appropriation made to the EDA, with monies made available by the EDA for the purpose of the fund, and monies received by the EDA from any other public or private donations. In administering the program and the fund, the EDA is to establish: 1) procedures and timelines for applications for the program and approvals thereof; 2) criteria for determining grant funding to be disbursed from the fund to a qualified veteran; 3) reporting requirements for a veteran participating in the program and the qualified veteran's receiving grant funding from the fund; and 4) any other policies deemed necessary by the EDA for the administration of the program and the fund. The EDA, in its sole discretion, may amend these policies at any time if the policies are established or amended in a manner consistent with the provisions of the bill. The reporting requirements require a veteran receiving grant funding under the program to report to the EDA, in a form and manner determined by the EDA, within a year of receiving grant funding. The report is to include: 1) proof that the veteran used grant funding to purchase a franchise within the State; and 2) any other information the EDA requires in a form and manner determined by the EDA. | 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 |
| S845 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for hearing aids. | This bill would require hospital, medical and health service corporations, commercial insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and plans provided by the State Health Benefits Commission and the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses incurred in the purchase of a hearing aid. The coverage shall include the purchase of one analog or digital hearing aid for each ear at least every 48 months, as prescribed or recommended by a State licensed audiologist or State licensed hearing aid dispenser. The total cost sharing responsibility of the covered person for the hearing aid, including any copayments or deductibles, shall not exceed 15 percent of the cost of the hearing aid. | In Committee |
| S858 | Exempts sale of recreational safety helmets from sales and use tax. | This bill allows an exemption from the sales and use tax for sales of recreational safety helmets. The bill defines recreational safety helmets as any helmet or other protective headgear that: (1) meets the standards prescribed by or pursuant to the laws or regulations requiring operators of bicycles, unicycles, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, motorized scooters, roller skates, and skateboards to wear helmets or headgear; or (2) is designed by a manufacturer to be worn while engaged in the activity of downhill skiing or the operation of a toboggan, sled, snowboard, snowmobile, or similar means of transport over snow-covered terrain. | In Committee |
| S455 | Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses. | This bill provides that a student attending a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school would not be required to wear a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending. A student would also not be required to wear a face mask while present on a school bus. The bill would not prohibit a student from voluntarily wearing a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending or while the student is present on a school bus. | In Committee |
| S889 | Establishes grant program for homeless veterans shelters. | The bill would require the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to award grants, subject to the availability of funds, to certain southern New Jersey counties to provide veterans with improved access to homeless shelters. Under the bill, Atlantic County, Cape May County, and Cumberland County may submit applications to the Adjutant General proposing locations for homeless veterans shelters and identifying property the county would provide to the State for the development of a shelter. New Jersey's southern counties are in particular need of shelters for homeless veterans. Because of mobility issues, homeless veterans' access to resources is often limited by geographic location. Various factors may have caused homeless veterans to locate within southern New Jersey counties. However, when conditions, such as extreme cold, require them to seek out temporary shelter, they find themselves isolated from shelters and other facilities that provide resources for veterans. This bill would result in the development of shelters in locations appropriate to meet this need. | In Committee |
| S1491 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| S875 | Indexes amount of veterans' income tax exemption for inflation. | This bill would index the amount of the veterans' gross income tax exemption, which is currently $6,000, for inflation. The bill would require that, beginning in tax year 2023, the amount of the exemption would be adjusted annually based on the percentage change in the Chained Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) for the 12-month period ending August 31 of the previous tax year. The C-CPI-U is the index currently used by the federal government to adjust federal income tax brackets for inflation. If there is no increase in that index, the amount of the exemption would remain unchanged for the applicable tax year. | In Committee |
| S534 | "Health Insurance Claim Plain Language and Simplification Act." | This bill, entitled the "Health Insurance Claim Plain Language and Simplification Act," requires health insurance carriers to provide explanation of benefits forms to covered persons which include certain information on the form in a certain format, and to use simple, plain language that is clearly understandable. The bill requires every carrier issuing health benefits plans in this State to provide a written explanation of benefits form to a covered person whenever a claim is generated under the covered person's health benefits plan. The explanation of benefits form shall contain all of the following information on the first page of the form: (1) the name of the insured, the name of the health care provider, the date of service, the amount of the claim, the amount paid by the carrier, and the amount to be paid by the covered person; (2) if a claim is paid in whole or in part, an explanation of the reasons that the claim was paid in whole or in part; (3) if a claim is denied, an explanation of the reasons that the claim is denied; and (4) instructions as to any action that the covered person is required to take with respect to the claim or any option which may be available to the covered person with respect to the determination of benefits for that claim. The bill requires this information to be the only information provided on the first page of the explanation of benefits form and requires the information to be in 12-point font. The bill also requires the information to be in simple, plain language that is clearly understandable to covered persons, in a manner consistent with the "Life and Health Insurance Policy Language Simplification Act," P.L.1979, c.167 (C.17B:17-17 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S174 | Permits appointment of Class Three special law enforcement officers by county sheriffs. | This bill permits the appointment of Class Three special law enforcement officers by county sheriffs. Under current law, a local unit, which is defined as any municipality or county having established a regular police force, may appoint special law enforcement officers to perform certain duties. Current law provides that Class Three special law enforcement officers are authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a public or nonpublic school or a county college on the school or college premises during hours when the public or nonpublic school or county college is normally in session or when occupied by students, teachers, or professors. Under the provisions of this bill, in addition to a local unit, a county sheriff would also be permitted to appoint Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at schools or county colleges. | In Committee |
| S852 | Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions. | This bill reduces the taxable wage base applied to certain payroll tax contributions made by employers and employees. Current law establishes the level of wages subject to tax contributions required under the unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance, and family leave insurance programs, as well as under the Workforce Development Partnership Fund and the Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills. For calendar year 2021, the taxable wage base for these programs is $36,200. Under current law, the taxable wage amount is determined annually by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development by multiplying the Statewide average weekly wage by 28. This bill reduces the taxable wage base applied to these payroll tax contributions by requiring the commissioner to determine the taxable wage amount by multiplying the Statewide average weekly wage by 14, rather than 28. The bill provides that if the taxable wage amount determined by the commissioner in any given year is less than the taxable wage amount determined for the preceding year, the greater amount will be used. In effect, the bill reduces the taxable wage amount applied to tax contributions paid by employers and employees by approximately half beginning on January 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| S859 | Concerns calculation of municipal affordable housing obligations. | This bill would clarify that a municipality which receives an adjustment to the calculation of its affordable housing obligation under the State's Fair Housing Act, N.J.S.A.52:27D-301, et seq., shall be entitled to rely on this adjusted calculation for the duration of the 10-year compliance period. As such, should additional land become available during this time, a municipality would not be required to recalculate its affordable housing obligation nor means for addressing this obligation during that time. This bill will allow a municipality to make sound planning decisions and address its affordable housing obligation because these decisions will be based on a definitive number that will not be subject to change for the duration of the compliance period. The bill will afford municipalities a degree of certainty in making such decisions. | In Committee |
| S948 | Creates second degree crime for operation of stolen vehicle in manner that creates risk of injury to person or property. | This bill creates the second degree crime for theft of a motor vehicle when the vehicle is operated in a manner that creates a risk of injury to any person or damage to property. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S563 | Makes desecration of a military monument a crime of the third degree. | This bill makes purposely desecrating a military monument a crime of the third degree. As used in the bill, the term "military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle. | In Committee |
| S834 | Broadens riot and disorderly conduct; enhances penalties for public monument destruction; addresses riot victim assaults; creates crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. | In light of the exponentially greater risk of injury and damage caused by crowd based destructive behavior, this omnibus bill addresses certain violent crime committed during the course of riot. Presently, a person is guilty of riot if he participates with four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct with an unlawful purpose, enumerated in the statute. This bill expands the categories of unlawful purposes to include when the actor causes damage to property or injury to another. Riot under these circumstances is a crime of the fourth degree punishably by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under the bill, a person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, during a riot, he violates N.J.S.A.2C:33-2, Disorderly conduct, in a place of public accommodation. "Place of public accommodation, resort or amusement" includes any inn, tavern, road house or hotel, whether for entertainment of transient guests or accommodation of those seeking health, recreation or rest; any restaurant, eating house, or place where food is sold for consumption on the premises; any place maintained for sale of ice cream, ice and fruit preparations or their derivatives, soda water or confections, or where any beverages of any kind are retailed for consumption on the premises; any garage, any public conveyance operated on land or water, and stations and terminals thereof; any public bathhouse, public boardwalk, public seashore accommodation; any theater, or other place of public amusement, motion-picture house, airdrome, music hall, roof garden, skating rink, amusement and recreation park, fair, bowling alley, gymnasium, shooting gallery, billiard and pool parlor; any dispensary, clinic, hospital, public library, kindergarten, primary and secondary school, high school, academy, college and university, or any educational institution under the supervision of the regents of the State of New Jersey. Under these circumstances, the offense is a crime of the fourth degree. The bill amends N.J.S.A2C:33-7, Obstructing highways and other public passages, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if a person, who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage in the course of committing riot or disorderly conduct. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:33-9, Desecration of venerated objects, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if the desecration occurs during a riot. The term desecrate is clarified to include conduct such as actual destruction or the toppling of a monument. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:12-1, Assault. Currently, the statute enumerates the circumstances when aggravated assault occurs; this bill adds the additional circumstance. Under the bill, a person is guilty of aggravated assault if he attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another in the course of a riot. Aggravated assault under this circumstance is a crime of the third degree, punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Additionally, paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:12-1 elevates simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against certain categories of persons, including when committed against a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the officer's duties while in uniform or exhibiting evidence of authority or because of the officer's status as a law enforcement officer, and is graded as a crime of the third degree. Under the bill, if, in the course of a riot, an object is thrown at a law enforcement officer, or if the law enforcement officer is struck, whether or not with an object, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a first offense of a crime of the third degree shall not apply, and a mandatory period of six months imprisonment shall apply. The bill creates the new crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. A person promotes violent, disorderly assembly if he conspires with others as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager to commit any crime specified in chapters 11 through 18, 20, 33, 35, or 37 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; N.J.S.2C:34-1; N.J.S.2C:39-3; N.J.S.2C:39-4; section 1 of P.L.1998, c.26 (C.2C:39-4.1); N.J.S.2C:39-5; or N.J.S.2C:39-9 in the course of a riot or at the site of a peaceable assembly. Promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a crime of one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime referred to in subsection a. of this section, except that where the underlying offense is a crime of the first degree, promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a first degree crime and the defendant, upon conviction, and notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a of N.J.S.2C:43-6, shall be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 15 and 30 years. This bill is based upon a legislation concept entitled, "Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act," articulated in the media concerning an announcement made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. | In Committee |
| SCR42 | Amends Constitution to allow public funds to be used for historic preservation of places of worship. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to allow public funds to be used for the historic preservation of churches or other places of worship as part of a historic preservation program. This concurrent resolution is in response to a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, (Docket No. 079277). This court decision found that the award by Morris County of taxpayer funds to repair twelve churches, as part of a historic preservation program, violates Article I, paragraph 3, known as the "Religious Aid Clause" of the New Jersey Constitution. Under current law, counties are authorized to establish "County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds," and municipalities are also authorized to establish similar funds. These funds are often referred to as "open space trust funds," and may only be established by a county or municipality with voter approval to annually levy funds for the acquisition, development, or maintenance of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, acquisition of farmland for farmland preservation purposes, historic preservation of historic properties, and other similar purposes. In 2002, the voters of Morris County authorized the county to provide historic preservation funding under a trust fund established by this property tax levy. The New Jersey Supreme Court found, in Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, that the use of these taxpayer funds for historic preservation activities at a church or other place of worship violates the "Religious Aid Clause" of the New Jersey Constitution. This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, would allow public funds to be used for historic preservation activities at churches or other places of worship as part of a historic preservation program. | In Committee |
| S822 | Revises requirements for signage indicating accessible facilities for people with disabilities. | This bill would phase in the use of revised symbols and words on all signs, placards, license plates, and other devices used to identify for the general public accessible features designed or designated for the use of persons with disabilities, such as restrooms, access ramps, and parking spaces. The bill would additionally require that all such signs, placards, license plates, and other devices use the word "accessible" in place of the word "handicapped." This legislation would be part of a growing national and international movement to replace the current international symbol of access, which some advocates suggest conveys a sense of passivity and emphasizes the wheelchair over the person, with a new symbol of access that emphasizes the person in a dynamic posture suggesting mobility, action, and determination. The bill is based on legislation enacted by New York State and Connecticut adopting the phased-in use of the revised symbol of access. The revised symbol has been additionally adopted by hundreds of towns and cities, public and private organizations, governmental agencies, and individual citizens across the world. The Accessible Icon Project has taken a leading role in promoting and supporting the adoption of the revised symbol of access, an example of which can be found on the Project's website. In place of the wheelchair symbol currently used as the international symbol of access, accessibility signs, placards, license plates, and other markers would use a logo depicting a dynamic character leaning forward with a sense of movement. The bill would require this logo to be readily identifiable, simply designed with no secondary meaning, and provide for equivalent facilitation and accessibility as the wheelchair symbol currently in use. This bill would apply to signs, placards, license plates, and other markers being replaced or newly installed on or after the effective date of the bill, which would be the 60th day after the date of enactment. The bill expressly provides that it is not to be construed to require the replacement of a sign, placard, license plate, or other marker if replacement is not otherwise necessary or appropriate. Because it would only apply to signs, placards, license plates, and other devices that are newly-installed or that are being replaced, this bill will not impose any new or additional costs on the State above those it would normally incur installing new and replacement signs, placards, license plates, and other devices. | In Committee |
| S692 | Permits public and nonpublic schools to utilize security categorical aid to hire school security personnel. | This bill would permit a board of education to utilize security categorical aid to hire school security personnel. Under the bill, school security services that are provided to a nonpublic school under the provisions of the "Secure Schools for All Children Act" would include the hiring of school security personnel. Under the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," school districts throughout the State receive a category of funding identified as security categorical aid. This bill would permit a board of education to utilize security categorical aid to hire school security personnel. Under the "Secure Schools for All Children Act," a board of education is required to adopt policies and procedures to provide students enrolled full-time in a nonpublic school within the district with security services, equipment, or technology to help ensure a safe and secure school environment. Current Department of Education Guidance concerning the "Secure Schools for All Children Act" includes the hiring of security guards as acceptable security service expenditures. This bill amends the "Secure Schools for all Children Act" to specify that school security services may include hiring of school security personnel. | In Committee |
| S903 | Requires Secretary of State to establish voter list maintenance and crosscheck program and to include certain voter registration data in annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with each commissioner of registration, to establish and update, as appropriate, a voter list maintenance and crosscheck program. The purpose of the program would be to maintain and keep up-to-date a secure and accurate Statewide voter registration system. Under the bill, the program, at a minimum, must provide for the crosschecking of information in the Statewide database with information obtained via voter registration information agreements entered into by the secretary under current law and must provide for the sharing of voter information among each county clerk and commissioner of registration. The secretary, in consultation with each commissioner of registration, is required to establish uniform standards and procedures for voter list maintenance and crosschecking. At a minimum, the program must permit a county commissioner of registration to verify a new voter registration applicant's information, update information in the Statewide voter registration system, and remove duplicate, non-resident, or ineligible voters from the Statewide voter registration system. The bill also requires the annual report on the voter registration system to the Governor and the Legislature to be submitted no later than 90 days following the date of the November general election. Under the bill and in addition to the requirements in current law, the report is required to: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of any voter registration information agreements entered into by the Secretary of State; (2) list the number of inactive and active voters in the State by county, the number of registrants transferred to the death file by county, and the number of registrants removed from the Statewide voter registration system by county; and (3) list the counties that are not compliant with the standards and procedures for voter list maintenance and crosschecking established by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| S418 | Makes FY2023 supplemental appropriation of $17 million to DEP for grants for certain lake management activities. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the General Fund. The bill directs the DEP to establish a program to use these funds for grants to assist qualified entities to pay certain costs associated with the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects submitted by qualified entities responsible for a lake with public access; and projects to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill defines "qualified entity" to mean: the Greenwood Lake Commission; the Lake Hopatcong Commission; a local government unit; an entity established pursuant to law or an entity established pursuant to ordinance by the municipalities surrounding a publicly-accessible lake for the management of the lake, including, but not limited to, the Deal Lake Commission or the Lake Topanemus Park Commission; or a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3) and whose mission is the management or maintenance of a publicly-accessible lake. | In Committee |
| S848 | Makes local government business administrators eligible for memberships in PERS; provides for transfer of business administrators from participation in Defined Contribution Retirement Program to membership in PERS. | This bill will make business administrators serving in local governments eligible for membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Since July 1, 2007, business administrators have been required to participate in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). The bill also provides for the transfer to the PERS of a business administrator who is participating in the DCRP as of the bill's effective date. A business administrator who transfers to the DCRP may elect to receive credit in the PERS for service as a business administrator during participation in the DCRP. To receive full PERS credit for that service, the business administrator and the administrator's employer will have to pay the contributions and costs required by the PERS for the benefits provided by the retirement system. If the employer does not make the payment, the employee will have to make the employer's payment. The bill also defines the term "business administrator" to include municipal or county administrators, municipal or county managers, city managers, town managers, village managers, borough managers, township managers, or any functional equivalent. | In Committee |
| S901 | Requires Secretary of State create website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots; establishes "Vote by Mail Study Commission." | This bill requires the Secretary of State to create a website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots they receive. The bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission." Under the bill, the secretary would establish on the Division of Elections website a link for voters to report irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot received by the voter. The link would enable the voter to complete a form containing the voter's name, address, and contact information, and sufficient space for the voter to describe the issues with the mail-in ballot. The form may also include choices for the voter to select from among possible irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot, such as when the intended recipient of the ballot does not reside at that address or is deceased. The website would automatically forward each form to the appropriate county clerk, county board of elections, and county superintendent of elections, as the case may be, for follow-up. The bill also requires the secretary to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than January 15 of each year, a summary of the forms received through the website for the previous calendar year. This bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission," consisting of the following nine members: (1) the Secretary of State or a designee, who would serve as chairperson; (2) two county clerks, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Officers Association - Clerk Section; (3) one member representing the county boards of elections and one member representing the superintendents of elections, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Election Officials Association; (4) two members of the Senate to be appointed, one each, by the President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader; and (5) two members of the General Assembly to be appointed, one each, by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The bill directs the commission to investigate, research, and evaluate irregularities pertaining to the implementation, accuracy, and integrity of the vote-by-mail process and systems established in this State. The commission would hold at least three public hearings, one each in the Northern, Central, and Southern parts of the State, to receive testimony from the public and elections experts on matters concerning voting by mail. The commission's inquiries would include, but may not be limited to: (1) procedures to prevent the mailing of more than one mail-in ballot to the same person; (2) measures that may be implemented to prevent the mailing of mail-in ballots to inactive, deceased, and non-resident voters; (3) maintenance activities that may be implemented to enhance the accuracy of the voter rolls and the mail-in voter designation in the Statewide Voter Registration System; and (4) any other matter concerning voting by mail the commission deems appropriate. The bill directs the commission to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following its first meeting. The commission would expire upon the submission of its report. | In Committee |
| S723 | Restricts all ownership of agricultural land in State by foreign governments and persons. | This bill would prohibit any foreign government or foreign person from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any agricultural land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. The bill would permit a foreign government or foreign person that already owns or holds an interest in agricultural land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the agricultural land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill would provide the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of agricultural land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire agricultural land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to agricultural land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on agricultural land taken for the purposes of security. The bill further provides that, whenever land assessment valuation is undertaken in association with the acquisition of land by a foreign government or foreign person pursuant to a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether created by a mortgage or otherwise, the valuation is to incorporate and reflect the fact that the land is to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill provides that any provision of the bill which is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, no more than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, to report to the Governor and the Legislature: 1) the total acreage of agricultural land in the State that is owned by foreign governments or foreign persons; 2) the percentage change in the amount of in-State agricultural land acreage owned by foreign governments or foreign persons, per year, over the preceding 10 years; 3) the top 10 nationalities of foreign governments or foreign persons owning agricultural land in the State, by total amount of acreage owned; and 4) the purposes for which agricultural land owned by foreign governments or foreign persons has been used in the preceding five years, and any significant changes or trends in the use of such land. The bill authorizes the secretary to base the requisite data on reports that are submitted to the Department of Agriculture, by the United States Department of Agriculture, pursuant to federal law, or based on any other relevant information available to the department. The bill also directs the State Agriculture Development Committee and other State agencies and departments, as well as county boards of agriculture and other local agencies, boards, or political subdivisions in the State, to provide the secretary with any relevant information available concerning the data required to be compiled and reported by the bill. | 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 |
| S810 | Establishes Kidney Donor Insurance Fund. | This bill provides that a person who donates a kidney as a live kidney donor is to be eligible after the donation for a health benefits plan through the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program for the duration of the donor's life. The health benefits plan is to be paid for by the State through the "Kidney Donor Insurance Fund," established pursuant to the bill in the Department of Banking and Insurance, and is to include the highest level of services available through the gold level of the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program. | In Committee |
| S499 | Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for employing immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who were killed in action. | This bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for employing immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who were killed in action. The two credits established by this bill provide an employer with a credit in the amount of ten percent of the wages paid to an immediate family member of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who was killed in action. The credits may not exceed $1,200 per family member per tax year. For the employer to be eligible to receive the credit, the family member must be a new employee and be employed in the State full-time for no less than nine full and consecutive calendar months. The credit is nonrefundable, but may be carried forward for up to 20 tax years. The bill prohibits taxpayers from simultaneously using family members to qualify for the bill's credit and any other generally available employment incentive that comes in the form of a State tax credit or grant. The bill also empowers the Director of the Division of Taxation to recapture credit due to noncompliance. The bill schedules the credits to become available for tax years beginning on or after the January 1 first following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S833 | Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed. | This bill upgrades the crime of burglary of a residence. Specifically, the bill makes it second degree burglary to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. Burglary of a residence is upgraded to first degree burglary under the bill if the person is armed with or displays what appears to be an explosive or a deadly weapon while committing the burglary. Presently, burglary is punishable under N.J.S.2C:18-2 as a crime of the second degree if the defendant either was armed or inflicted, attempted to inflict or threatened, bodily injury during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $150,000 or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000 or both. This bill clarifies that a person who commits second degree burglary of a residence under the bill would not be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), but a person who commits the upgraded first degree crime of burglarizing a residence while armed would be sentenced under NERA. Under NERA, persons convicted of certain enumerated violent crimes of the first or second degree are required to serve a minimum term of at least 85% of the sentence imposed. | In Committee |
| S851 | Authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in places of religious worship; requires nonpublic security aid be used for Class Three officers upon request of nonpublic school. | This bill expands the scope of where Class Three special law enforcement officers may provide security to include places of religious worship. The bill further provides that in the event that a nonpublic school requests that its nonpublic security aid received under P.L.2016, c. 49 (C.18A:58-37.8 et seq.) be used to finance the appointment of a Class Three special law enforcement officer, the superintendent of the school district is to approve that request. Under current law, the chief school administrator of a nonpublic school and the superintendent of the school district in which the nonpublic school is located annually meet to agree upon the security services, equipment, or technology to be provided to the students of the nonpublic school with the available nonpublic security aid. This bill will allow the nonpublic school to make a determination on the use of those funds for a Class Three special law enforcement officer. P.L.2016, c.68 established an additional category of "Class Three" special law enforcement officers under the Special Law Enforcement Officers' Act to provide security in this State's public and nonpublic schools and county colleges. Appointed by the local police department, these officers are authorized to exercise the full powers and duties as those accorded full-time police officers of the department. A person is eligible to be appointed as a Class Three special law enforcement officer if he or she is a retired police officer less than 65 years old and has served as a duly qualified, fully-trained, full-time municipal or county police officer or was regularly employed as a full-time member of the State Police within the previous three years. The person also has to be physically capable of performing the job and have the appropriate law enforcement and safe schools resource officer training. These officers may only be employed to assist municipal police departments and are not to be employed to replace or substitute for full-time police officers. They may only be hired in a part-time capacity. Specifically under the bill, in addition to providing security in public and nonpublic schools and county colleges, Class Three officers could provide security in churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, or any other building used by a congregation as a place of religious worship. | In Committee |
| S902 | Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. | This bill would create the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. The inspector general will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The inspector general must have experience as either a prosecutor or investigator, or in the operation of veterans' facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. The inspector general will be independent of supervision or control by any other State officer or employee. The role of the Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities will be to receive and investigate complaints concerning policies and procedures at State veterans' facilities. In exercising investigatory powers, the inspector general would also be empowered to conduct evaluations, inspections, and other such reviews as deemed necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care provided at State veterans' facilities. The inspector general would also be empowered to initiate investigations independent of any complaints received. Upon the appointment of the inspector general, the inspector general will immediately begin an investigation into the policies and practices that may have caused or contributed to the high number of deaths in the veterans' facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector general may refer possible criminal conduct or activity to the appropriate prosecutorial authority. In light of the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at veterans' facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park, there is need for additional State oversight of the policies and procedures at all State veterans' facilities. By establishing the position of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities, the State can ensure that the health and well-being of New Jersey's veterans are protected and that tragedies like those that occurred in Paramus and Menlo Park never happen again. | In Committee |
| SCR13 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by Governor to 14 days. | This constitutional amendment provides that certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by the Governor during a period of a state of emergency will terminate on the 15th day following the date of issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of a concurrent resolution. The constitutional amendment prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially the same effect as the one terminated pursuant to the amendment for the same emergency. The constitutional amendment does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute. | In Committee |
| S800 | Provides accidental death benefit to surviving spouse, surviving child, or surviving parent of a State Police recruit who dies during required pre-service training. | Under current law, State Police recruits are not sworn members of the New Jersey State Police until the recruits complete the required training and graduate from the New Jersey State Police Academy. As a result, the death of a recruit cannot be classified as a death of a member and, therefore, death benefits cannot be provided to the survivors. This bill classifies the death of a State Police recruit who dies during required pre-servicing training, or complications therefrom, as a death in the line of duty and provides an accidental death benefit to the surviving spouse, surviving child, or surviving parent of the State Police recruit. Under the bill, the benefit paid to the surviving spouse must be at least $50,000. The bill provides that if there is no surviving spouse, a final compensation of at least $50,000 would be used to calculate the death benefit to the surviving child or surviving parent, as the case may be. | In Committee |
| S390 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-owned lakes; appropriates $1 million. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to construct, cause to be constructed, or enter into long-term contracts with the owners of private marinas to provide for, public boat access to any State-owned lake at which boats with or without onboard motors are allowed. Any contract entered into with an owner of a private marina would be subject to a public bidding process. If the DEP is unable to construct, or cause to be constructed, public boat access to any State-owned lake at which boats with or without onboard motors are allowed, the commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature identifying the lakes at which public boat access is unable to be provided and the reasons therefor. If the reason is due to a lack of sufficient funds for the purpose, the report would be required to detail the necessary funding required. The bill would appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to the DEP in order to provide for the public boat access required by the bill. | In Committee |
| S2045 | Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance. | This bill requires any cat, dog, or ferret used for product testing or research conducted or contracted by a company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility in the State to be offered to an animal rescue organization or private individual for adoption when the testing or research is concluded, if the animal is assessed to be suitable for adoption. Current law limits circumstances under which animal product testing or research may be conducted by manufacturers and contract testing facilities. Current law also requires, pursuant to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act," P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), that cats and dogs used for educational, research, or scientific purposes by an institution of higher education or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for such use of cats and dogs, to be assessed for the suitability of adoption, and if suitable, to be offered for adoption. The bill expands the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to include testing or research using ferrets and to provide for adoption of ferrets used in that way. The bill directs the Office of Veterinary Public Health (OVPH) in the Department of Health (DOH) to establish procedures for documenting the assessment and disposition of any cat, dog, or ferret used by a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or a research institution for such purposes. The bill authorizes the OVPH to monitor compliance with the procedures and enforce the provisions of section 1 of the bill and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), concerning the assessment of the suitability of animals for adoption and the requirements to offer suitable animals for adoption. The bill further requires that each company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility that is subject to the bill, and each institution of higher education and research institution that is subject to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to register with the OVPH when undertaking animal testing with cats, dogs, or ferrets, and to report to the OVPH: 1) the type and number of animals being used; 2) the date on which the testing or research is completed or upon which the animal is no longer being used in the testing or research; 3) an assessment of the condition of any animal no longer being used in the testing or research and its suitability for adoption; 4) the disposition of the animal, including the name and contact information of the animal rescue organization with which, or the animal rescue organization facility in which, the animal is placed; and 5) if an animal assessed as suitable for adoption is not adopted, documentation of the good faith effort to place the animal with an animal rescue organization or in an animal rescue organization facility, and any effort to offer the animal for private adoption. The bill provides that private individuals who have adopted animals would not have to be identified but requires documentation of which animals were adopted by private individuals. The bill establishes civil penalties for noncompliance with the bill's provisions and requirements, and the provisions of the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." The bill provides for a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense, and $50,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by the DOH pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Upon finding of a third offense, the DOH is required to institute an action for an injunction to prohibit the company, corporation, manufacturer, contract testing facility, institution of higher education, or research institution from conducting animal testing. The bill provides that the Superior Court would have jurisdiction for enforcing the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and for imposing an injunction for a third violation. Finally, the bill requires the DOH to maintain a registry of animal rescue organizations and animal rescue organization facilities, directs the DOH to establish a database of those animal rescue organizations and facilities that accept animals that have been used in testing or research, and requires a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or research institution, as applicable, to contact an animal rescue organization or animal rescue organization facility listed in the database whenever a cat, dog, or ferret used in testing or research is determined to be suitable for adoption. | In Committee |
| S808 | Requires State Treasurer to publish certain State expenditure and revenue information on government transparency website. | This bill requires the State Treasurer to publish certain State financial information on an Internet State government transparency website. The State Treasurer, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer, must make information concerning State expenditures and revenue and State contracts available to the public, at no charge, in a format that is searchable and archivable. The State Treasurer is also required to ensure that this information is kept current. Specifically, this website must publish the following information: (1) amounts spent the Governor's Office on travel, including hotel and lodging, airfare, meals, whether in-State or out-of-State, and whether overnight or non-overnight; (2) amounts spent by the Attorney General's Office on external contracted legal services; (3) amounts spent by the Division of Travel and Tourism on advertising, including marketing, publicity, promotion, and amounts paid to advertising agencies; (4) amounts spent by the Department of Corrections on electricity; (5) amounts spent by the Division of Pension and Benefits on postage, shipping, and other mail services; (6) amounts spent by the Department of Agriculture on motor vehicle fuel; (7) analysis of government finances based on the most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which itemizes expenditures into at least five categories, includes graphs or visual aids, written in plain language that is understandable to the average taxpayer, and not more than 35 pages in length; (8) analysis of State economic development programs, including businesses that receive subsidies, the amount of subsidies received, the amount of subsidies recaptured from recipients, and public benefits (e.g., jobs and capital investment) projected to be attributable to the program; (9) the specific types of transactions and government entities for which financial information has been excluded from the government transparency website, and the reason therefor, and (10) quarterly expenditure reports, monthly revenue reports, budget information, compensation paid to public employees, bonded debt and related information, and State liabilities for pension and post-retirement medical benefits, as reflected in Executive Order No. 8 of 2010. Moreover, the State Treasurer may make available other information deemed relevant. Any information that falls within one of the aforementioned categories but is deemed private or confidential by federal or State law is prohibited from being published on the website. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 8 of 2010, the Department of the Treasury is already required to publish certain State fiscal information in a format that is easily-understandable to the average taxpayer and allows opportunity to download and meaningfully compare data, available at http://www.yourmoney.nj.gov. Evaluations of state transparency websites, such as the April 2018 "Following the Money 2018" report compiled by the Frontier Group and U.S. PIRG Education Fund, highlight areas for improvement in the state provision of online access to governing spending data. This bill is intended to implement recommendations contained in the report, in particular recommendations pertaining to the State government transparency website. | In Committee |
| S634 | Enters New Jersey into Counseling Compact. | This bill enters New Jersey into the Counseling Compact. The Counseling Compact (compact) is an interstate compact, or a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without need for multiple licenses. The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. The practice of professional counseling occurs in the state where the client is located at the time of the counseling services. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. In addition, the compact is designed to achieve the following objectives: 1) increase public access to professional counseling services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses; 2) enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety; 3) encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate practice for licensed professional counselors; 4) support spouses of relocating active duty military personnel; 5) enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information among member states; 6) allow for the use of telehealth technology to facilitate increased access to professional counseling services; 7) support the uniformity of professional counseling licensure requirements throughout the states to promote public safety and public health benefits; 8) invest all member states with the authority to hold a licensed professional counselor accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the client is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of member state licenses; 9) eliminate the necessity for licenses in multiple states; and 10) provide opportunities for interstate practice by licensed professional counselors who meet uniform licensure requirements. The compact is administered by a commission comprising representatives of each of the member states. The commission has certain powers to promulgate rules and bylaws, create a budget, conduct investigations, assess member fees, and to generally enforce the provisions of the compact. The compact sets forth procedures for investigating and disciplining professional counselors for misconduct, as well as for communicating to member states information concerning a professional counselor who is under investigation, has lost the right to practice under the compact, or who has regained the right to practice under the compact. The compact provides that it takes effect when it has been adopted in 10 states. Currently, 16 states have joined the compact: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. | Dead |
| S829 | Allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against taxpayer's delinquent local property taxes. | This bill allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against a taxpayer's delinquent local property taxes in the same manner as is currently allowed for homestead property tax rebates and credits claimed by delinquent property tax taxpayers. | In Committee |
| SCR15 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Senate concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| S1623 | Establishes Small Business Resiliency Project Loan Program in EDA for certain small businesses implementing certain resiliency projects. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish and maintain the Small Business Resiliency Project Loan Program (program) and Small Business Resiliency Project Loan Fund (fund). Loan Program Eligibility The EDA is to provide financial assistance in the form of low-interest loans to qualified businesses that are engaging in or have completed resiliency projects. Under the bill, a qualified business is a business that: 1) is registered to do business in New Jersey with the Director of the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the Department of the Treasury; 2) intends to maintain its principal business operations in the State after receiving assistance from the EDA under the program; and 3) employs not more than 50 full-time employees at the time of approval of financial assistance to the business. Under the bill, a resiliency project means those projects or activities, which may include, but are not limited to, projects or activities that improve or support the treatment or management of drinking water, wastewater, and storm water; enhance the reliability and resiliency of the electrical grid and public utility infrastructure; expand access to broadband internet; or utilize technology, infrastructure improvements, and other materials that mitigate against or protect the business in the event of climate change-related natural hazards, including, but not limited to, increased temperatures, drought, flooding, hurricanes, and sea-level rise. Application Criteria The bill requires the EDA to establish an application process. A qualified business that seeks assistance under the loan 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 an applicant to submit information demonstrating that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and an outline of the anticipated use of loan proceeds. Under the bill, the EDA is required to approve applications for the loan program on a rolling basis or on one or more dates, subject to the availability of funds. Loan Awards and Loan Requirements Under the program, the EDA is to provide financial assistance in the form of low-interest loans for qualified businesses that are engaging in or have completed resiliency projects, with priority consideration, as determined by the EDA in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, given to a qualified business based the long-term impact of the qualified business on the State economy, the type of resiliency project, and whether the principal business operations of the qualified business are located in a municipality of the State that has incorporated a climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment into the land use plan element of the municipality's master plan. Upon approval of an application, the EDA is required to enter into a loan agreement with the qualified business and provide a low-interest loan to the qualified business. Each loan issued under the program is required to bear interest at rates lower than and provide more flexible repayment terms than are customarily made available through conventional business loans issued by private lenders. A qualified business that receives financial assistance under the loan program is to annually report to the EDA until such time as the full balance of the loan has been repaid to the EDA. At a minimum, the annual report is to include information outlining the expenses supported by the loan and the financial information of the qualified business, audited by a certified public accountant, which is to include a consolidated summary of the performance of the qualified business. Any information about the performance of a qualified business is considered confidential and not subject to the law known commonly as the open public records act. Loan Fund Any monies received by the EDA for the repayment of a loan issued pursuant to the program would be deposited into the non-lapsing revolving loan fund. Any interest collected from loans provided by the loan program may be used by the EDA to offset the costs of the administration of the loan program, or otherwise are required to be deposited into the fund. The EDA may also credit the fund with monies received from State, federal, or private sources and may use those funds to provide financial assistance to qualified businesses in a manner consistent with federal law or the private source of funds. | In Committee |
| S927 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $5,000 income tax deduction. | This bill permits volunteer firefighters and first aid or rescue squad members to claim an additional exemption of $5,000 to be taken as a deduction from their gross income if they meet certain qualifications. Under the bill, firefighters may claim the $5,000 deduction if they: 1) volunteered during the entire tax year; 2) performed 60% of fire duty; and 3) had, by January 1st of the tax year, attained the rank of Firefighter I Certified according to approved standards. To satisfy the "60% of fire duty" requirement, volunteer firefighters without duty hours must have responded to 60% of the regular alarms and drills in which the department or force participated and volunteer firefighters with duty hours must have at least 400 duty hours during a calendar year of which not more than 50% was for drills. First aid or rescue squad members may claim the deduction if they: 1) volunteered during the entire tax year; 2) performed 10% of rescue duty; and 3) had, by January 1st of the tax year, either passed an approved training program or qualified as an emergency medical technician. To satisfy the "10% of rescue duty" requirement, first aid or rescue squad members who volunteer with duty hours must complete at least 400 hours of duty during the year, of which not more than 50% is for drills. If they volunteer without duty hours, the squad members must attend and render first aid at not less than 10% of the regular alarms and participate in 60% of the drills. The bill defines duty hours as those during which volunteers committed themselves to respond to alarms. The bill requires eligible volunteers to submit proof with their tax claim that they are entitled to the deduction. The Director of the Division of Taxation is responsible for establishing the manner of this proof. An official of each fire department or force is responsible for providing a list of firefighters who are eligible for the deduction for the previous tax year to the Department of Community Affairs by March 31st. Similarly, an official of the rescue or first aid squad is responsible for providing a list of squad members who are eligible for the deduction for the previous tax year to the Department of Health and Senior Services by March 31st. The lists are to be made available to the Director of the Division of Taxation for verification purposes. An official who files a false list is subject to prosecution under section 29 of P.L.1987, c.76 (C.54:52-19), which makes it a crime of the fourth degree to knowingly certify a false statement with the intent to evade a tax. Fourth-degree crimes are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S909 | Permits exemption from certain civil service examinations for person with disability. | Under current law, a person must pass a civil service open competitive examination prior to becoming eligible for employment in an entry level position. Under this bill, a person with a disability who seeks to apply for a civil service position may request, in writing, an exemption from the examination required for the position. The Civil Service Commission will grant the request if the commission determines that the duties of the position for which the person seeks to apply can be performed by a person with a disability who is otherwise qualified to satisfactorily perform those duties. The appointing authority will require proof of the person's disability prior to making an appointment. The appointing authority will accept as proof of disability a letter or other official certification from a medical professional. The appointing authority will also accept as proof of eligibility participation in certain specified programs. The records pertaining to a person's disability, except to the extent necessary for the proper administration of this bill and for statistical purposes, will be deemed confidential and not subject to the law commonly referred to as the open public records act. | In Committee |
| S816 | Expands purpose of Traumatic Brain Injury Fund to support transportation costs incurred by eligible individuals in accessing support group meetings. | This bill expands the purpose of the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund to support transportation costs incurred by an eligible individual in accessing support group meetings. Under the bill, support group meetings mean any gathering of individuals with traumatic injuries who congregate in order to obtain information and perspective, relative to their injuries, and to improve their general well-being. Pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:141-1.11, the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund currently provides payment to an eligible individual for transportation services related to accessing medical appointments, treatment facilities, or vocational programs. The Traumatic Brain Injury Fund purchases supports and services for eligible New Jersey residents of any age, who have survived a traumatic brain injury, to foster independence and maximize quality of life when insurance, personal resources, or public programs are unavailable to meet those needs. A portion of the fund also is used to support public education, outreach, and prevention activities related to traumatic brain injuries. A $.50 surcharge on motor vehicle registration fees generates revenue for the fund. | In Committee |
| S812 | Exempts medical alert devices and services from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts medical alert devices and services from sales and use tax. As defined in the bill, "medical alert device" means an electronic device that allows or causes a subscriber, meaning a person with a subscription to a medical alert service, to send a signal to or communicate with an assistance operator. "Medical alert service" is defined as a service that provides a subscriber with a medical alert device and access to an assistance operator who is authorized by the subscriber to contact one or more medical alert responders on the subscriber's behalf when the subscriber uses a medical alert device. Exempting medical alert devices and services from sales tax will help make these devices and services more affordable and accessible to the elderly and other vulnerable populations in New Jersey. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S861 | Exempts volunteer fire companies from paying annual charitable registration fee. | This bill exempts volunteer fire companies from paying the annual registration fee that is required by the State "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." The State Attorney General has authority to set annual registration fees for charitable and other non-profit organizations. These fees are currently based on the amount of revenue received by an organization, starting with a $30 annual fee for an organization receiving up to $10,000 per year, to a $250 fee for an organization receiving over $500,000 per year. While there are certain exemptions that apply to the fee and registration requirements under current law, volunteer fire companies are not categorically exempted from registration and fees. If enacted, this bill would exempt volunteer fire companies from paying an annual registration fee, but it would not relieve volunteer fire companies of their obligation to register as non-profit organizations. | In Committee |
| S797 | Requires suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners. | This bill requires suicide prevention training both as a condition of initial mental health licensure and as an ongoing requirement for mental health practitioners in the State. The bill requires that new applicants for licensure as a mental health practitioner complete a minimum of four hours of suicide prevention training and submit proof of completion to the appropriate State Board of Examiners or Committee. Following their licensure, mental health practitioners are to complete a minimum of four hours of suicide prevention training every six years. Mental health practitioners who are already licensed to practice on the bill's effective date will be required to complete a minimum of four hours of suicide prevention training within one year following the bill's effective date, and every six years thereafter, and provide proof of completion to the appropriate State Board of Examiners or Committee. The bill defines "mental health practitioner" as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, alcohol and drug counselor, professional counselor, associate counselor, rehabilitation counselor, clinical mental health counselor, psychologist, or psychoanalyst who is licensed or otherwise authorized to practice pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. The bill defines "suicide prevention training" as a training program, provided online, in person, or through telephonic means, concerning the prevention, assessment, screening, treatment, and management of suicide in the clinical context that has been approved by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to establish a list of approved suicide prevention training programs and a protocol by which providers of suicide prevention training may seek approval of their training programs by the division. | In Committee |
| S1561 | Establishes increased penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on public beaches. | The New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act prohibits the smoking of cannabis and marijuana, as well as cigarettes, on a public beach. Penalties for smoking in violation of this act are $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. This bill increases the penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on a public beach to $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $1,500 for the third and subsequent offenses. The penalties for smoking cigarettes on a public beach would remain unchanged. Beach towns in New Jersey have experienced difficulty in enforcing the Smoke Free Air Act in light of the legalization of recreational cannabis and the decriminalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. It is the sponsor's view that these increased penalties will help deter the smoking of cannabis and marijuana on public beaches in this State. | In Committee |
| S886 | Provides for establishment of child support lien against life insurance proceeds; requires insurers perform child support judgment search. | This bill would amend section 1 of P.L.2000, c.81 (C.2A:17-56.23b) to require that if a person who has affected an annuity contract or a policy of individual or group life insurance on himself, or who is the beneficiary of a person's annuity contract or life insurance policy, is found to be a child support judgment debtor, a lien shall be placed on the proceeds of the contract or policy at the time the proceeds become available for the use of the person's estate or beneficiary. The lien would stay the distribution of the proceeds of the annuity contract or life insurance policy to the estate or beneficiary until the child support judgment is satisfied. Proceeds from the assignment or sale of a viatical settlement contract or life settlement are also subject to the provisions of the bill. As provided in the bill, a lien can be placed on any net proceeds of any award, judgment, inheritance or settlement payable to a prevailing party or beneficiary, whenever the net proceeds exceed a threshold of $2,000, if the party is found to be a child support judgment debtor. The bill would provide that reasonable funeral expenses are not included as net proceeds. The $2,000 threshold would not apply to the proceeds of an annuity contract or life insurance policy; the child support lien would attach regardless of the amount of the proceeds. Under the provisions of this bill, prior to the distribution of any of the proceeds of the annuity contract or life insurance policy to the insured's estate or beneficiary, the estate or beneficiary would be required to provide the insurance company responsible for issuing the contract or policy with a certification that includes the insured's and his beneficiary's name, mailing address, date of birth and social security number. The insurance company would then initiate a child support judgment search using a private judgment search company. The search would be used to determine whether the person or the person's beneficiary is a child support judgment debtor. This judgment search would not be required if a prevailing party or a beneficiary is a minor child under the age of 16, except in the case of the distribution of the proceeds of an annuity contract or life insurance policy. A fee of not more than $10 for each name of a child support judgment debtor searched would be permitted. This fee would be chargeable against the proceeds of the annuity contract or life insurance policy. Under the bill, pre-paid funeral policies, credit life insurance policies and payment of reasonable funeral expenses are exempt from the provisions of the bill. The judgment search company would provide a certification to the insurance company responsible for issuing the annuity contract or life insurance policy identifying whether the insured or his beneficiary is a child support judgment debtor. If a child support judgment is not found, the proceeds of the annuity contract or life insurance policy may be distributed to the insured's estate or beneficiary immediately. If a child support judgment against the insured or his beneficiary is found, in a case monitored by the Probation Division of the Superior Court, the insurance company would be required to contact the Probation Division and arrange for the satisfaction of the judgment prior to the disbursement of any funds. The bill would also limit the liability of an insurance company when satisfying a judgment from the proceeds of an annuity contract or a life insurance policy. In addition, the bill prohibits a private judgment search company from using any information provided by an insurance company for purposes other than determining if the insured or his beneficiary is the debtor of a child support judgment. The bill would also amend N.J.S.17B:24-6, N.J.S.17B:24-7, and N.J.S.17B:24-9 to clarify that the proceeds of an annuity contract and of individual and group life insurance are subject to a child support lien. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance would be required to adopt such rules and regulations as would be necessary to effectuate the purposes of the act. | In Committee |
| S837 | Establishes task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and intimidation. | This bill establishes in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety a task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and intimidation. The purpose of this task for is to evaluate and make recommendations relating to the cost and feasibility of implementing appropriate technology and other methods to reduce incidents of telemarketing harassment and intimidation of consumers in this State. The task force is to consist of 11 members as follows: 1) the Attorney General, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel, or their designees, who are to serve ex-officio; and 2) eight public members who shall be appointed by the Governor, including a telecommunications technology expert from AT&T Communications of New Jersey, a telecommunications technology expert from Verizon New Jersey, a telecommunications technology expert from Verizon New Jersey with particular expertise in fiber optic technology, a representative from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a representative from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and three senior citizens who have experienced telemarketing harassment and intimidation. The bill requires the task force is to issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature, which is to include, but not be limited to, a cost-benefit analysis concerning the implementation of technology and other methods that may be used to reduce telemarketing harassment and intimidation in this State, the various options for financing the cost of implementation, any other information relevant to the subject of the report, and any draft legislation the task force deems appropriate to implement the purposes of this bill. | In Committee |
| S1671 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S823 | Requires urgent care and retail health clinics to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator. | This bill requires urgent care and retail health clinics to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) on site and employees trained in AED use, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill. An urgent care clinic is a health care facility that offers episodic, walk-in care for the treatment of acute, but not life-threatening, health conditions. A retail health clinic is a health care facility located within a retail store, supermarket, pharmacy, or similar retail outlet that offers episodic, walk-in care for a limited set of acute conditions. Pursuant to provisions of this bill, an urgent care clinic or retail health clinic shall acquire at least one AED, as defined in N.J.S.A.2A:62A-24, and store the AED in a central location within the clinic or that is known and available to the employees of the clinic. The bills requires the clinic to ensure that the AED is tested and maintained and to provide notification to the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the defibrillator, the type acquired, and the AED's location. The clinic is responsible for training the clinic employees in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of an AED and ensuring that there is at least one trained employee on site during the clinic's normal business hours. Lastly, the clinic should ensure that employees comply with the provisions of N.J.S.A.2A:62A-26 concerning the use of the AED. | In Committee |
| S820 | Allows gross income tax deduction for functional improvements and home repairs made to taxpayer's primary residence. | This bill provides State taxpayers with a gross income tax deduction for functional improvements and repair and maintenance performed on a taxpayer's primary residence. Specifically, a taxpayer may claim a deduction for all: "functional improvement expenses" paid by the taxpayer for expenses incurred for the purpose of considerably prolonging the useful life of the taxpayer's primary residence and materially improving the operating condition of the taxpayer's primary residence; and for all "repair and maintenance expenses" paid by the taxpayer for work performed on that taxpayer's primary residence in order to maintain the property in an ordinarily efficient operating condition. The term "primary residence" means a residence located in this State that is actually and continually occupied as a taxpayer's permanent residence, including mobile homes and co-op units. Improvements that adapt all or part of a residence for new uses (e.g., renovating a basement), remodel an aspect of a residence for aesthetic purposes, or that do not concern an essential aspect of the habitability of the residence do not qualify for this deduction. The gross income tax deduction made available by this bill covers expenses incurred by a property owner or a property renter. This bill does not impose a limit on the amount of expenses that may be claimed by a taxpayer for a taxable year. However, if a married couple files separate tax returns, they each may claim half of the same functional improvement or repair and maintenance expense. This mechanism allows both spouses to benefit from the deduction made available by this bill while avoiding potential "double-dipping." This bill eases the burdens placed on New Jersey taxpayers associated with maintaining a home. By offering this gross income tax deduction, this bill encourages investing in our homes, promotes the safety and welfare of our communities, and encourages more individuals to reside in this State. | In Committee |
| S582 | Establishes crime of gang shoplifting. | This bill establishes the crime of gang shoplifting as a crime of the third degree. A person commits the crime of gang shoplifting if, in concert or participation with one or more other persons, the person enters the premises of a store or retail mercantile establishment and in an open and conspicuous manner: (1) purposely or knowingly takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred, any item displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use, or benefit of the item or converting the item to the use of the person without paying to the merchant the full retail value thereof; or (2) purposely, knowingly, or recklessly tampers with tangible property within or on the premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment so as to endanger any person, or the property or premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment, including the damaging or destroying of any item on the premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment. 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 person who commits gang shoplifting is required to minimum term of imprisonment of not less than one year, during which time the person is not eligible for parole. It is the intent of the sponsor to address the rise in flash mobs which organize the looting of stores in an open and conspicuous manner. | In Committee |
| S884 | Allows person on police officer or firefighter eligible list who is unable to complete requirements for employment due to certain military service to have name placed on subsequent eligible list. | The purpose of this bill is to offer a second opportunity for employment to a member of the National Guard or the Reserves who could not accept a position as a police officer or firefighter because of service to the nation. It allows a person who previously passed or subsequently passes a civil service examination for the position of police officer or firefighter, but who was unable or is unable to complete any other requirements for employment because of active duty in the National Guard or the Reserves, to have the person's name placed in order by score on a subsequent eligible list (designated by the person) for the same type of position. This privilege would be available to Guardsmen and Reservists called to at least 30 days of continuous active duty after September 11, 2001 and prior to the termination of operation "Enduring Freedom." Any such person who met the maximum age requirement for a position at the announced closing date of the civil service examination on which the first list of eligibles is based will be deemed to have met such maximum age requirement on the date that the person's name is placed on a subsequent eligible list. | In Committee |
| S1337 | Establishes "Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant Program" for students enrolled at county colleges. | This bill establishes the "Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant Program" to encourage county colleges in the State to partner with local manufacturers to provide internship opportunities for their students. Through the creation of these partnerships, county colleges will be able to better prepare their students for entry into the workforce by providing real workplace experiences as a complement to traditional classroom instruction. Under the provisions of the bill, the program would be created by the Secretary of Higher Education in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. Eighty-five percent of program funds would be used by recipient county colleges to fund student stipends for hours worked at a program internship while the remaining fifteen percent of funds received would be used to cover costs incurred while administering the program, fund career counselor positions, and for any other purposes as may be approved by the secretary to meet the program's objectives. Priority status would be granted to county colleges that demonstrate that one or more of the proposed manufacturing internships to be offered by the college are for careers designated as labor demand occupations. Students who successfully complete a program internship would receive academic credit towards completion of an associate's degree and may earn an offer of employment. The secretary would be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature by December 31 of each year concerning the number of new and current partnerships created by each county college with local manufacturers, the total number of students participating in the program, a description of the various work skills students have learned or refined through participation in the program, the number of students in the program who have transferred to a four-year institution of higher education, the number of students who received offers of employment upon successful completion of a program internship, the amount of money distributed through the program and the purposes for which those funds have been used, and any other information deemed relevant by the secretary. | In Committee |
| S476 | "Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors, 65 years and older. | This bill, entitled the "Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act," would reduce the school property tax burden on senior residents of the State who are 65 years or older by 50%. The bill provides a reimbursement for property taxes paid to eligible claimants from the Casino Revenue Fund. The bill phases in eligibility over a three-year period through income limits. For the first year, only seniors with incomes of $35,000 or less would be eligible for the reimbursement. The income limit rises to $75,000 for the second year and there is no income limit for the third year and thereafter. A surviving spouse who is at least 55 years of age also would qualify for the reimbursement. The Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury would be responsible for promulgating application forms for the reimbursement and issuing rules and regulations. | In Committee |
| S1656 | Establishes certain animal abuse offenses committed in manner manifesting extreme indifference to value of animal's life as crime of second degree; designated as "River's Law." | This bill establishes as a crime of the second degree a violation of paragraph (1) of subsection c. of R.S.4:22-17 committed against a domestic companion animal in a manner manifesting extreme indifference to the value of the animal's life. Paragraph (1) of subsection c. of R.S.4:22-17 makes it unlawful to purposely, knowingly, or recklessly torment, torture, maim, hang, poison, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, cruelly abuse, or needlessly mutilate a living animal or creature. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. These offenses would constitute aggravated animal abuse. The bill is designated as River's Law in recognition of River, an animal that suffered this type of aggravated abuse committed in a manner manifesting extreme indifference to the value of the animal's life. | In Committee |
| S870 | Prohibits public institution of higher education from charging tuition to student who is dependent child of veteran who died or is disabled as result of service-related injury. | This bill provides that the dependent child of a veteran who entered the United States Armed Forces in New Jersey or was a New Jersey resident upon entry into the United States Armed Forces, and either died as a result of a service-related injury or illness, is missing in action (MIA), or is totally and permanently disabled as a result of a service-related injury or illness as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, is entitled to up to 60 credit hours tuition-free in a public institution of higher education associate degree program and up to 120 credit hours tuition-free in a public institution of higher education baccalaureate degree program provided that: (1) the dependent child has no federal veterans education benefits, or no federal veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition that exceed the amount of tuition free credit hours established in this act; (2) the dependent child is a New Jersey resident; (3) the dependent child meets the grade point average requirements of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy; (4) the dependent child has been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution; (5) the dependent child has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the dependent child is eligible; (6) the dependent child has applied for tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the dependent child is eligible under the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.); and (7) available classroom space permits and tuition-paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. The bill provides that the State will reimburse each public institution of higher education for the costs of waiving tuition pursuant to the provisions of this act. | In Committee |
| S1393 | Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis. | This bill authorizes the home cultivation of medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient's personal medical use. Specifically, the bill provides that a registered qualifying patient who is 21 years of age or older who provides notice to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission of the intent to home cultivate medical cannabis will be allowed to either home cultivate medical cannabis himself or herself, or authorize a designated caregiver to home cultivate medical cannabis on the patient's behalf. A home cultivator will be allowed to cultivate and possess up to four mature cannabis plants and up to four immature cannabis plants. Medical cannabis may only be home cultivated at the residence of the authorized home cultivator that is on file with the commission. The notice of intent to home cultivate medical cannabis provided to the commission is to specify which individual will home cultivate the medical cannabis. In no case may more than one individual home cultivate medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient at one time. A patient may change the designated home cultivator upon providing 10 days' notice to the commission. At least 10 days after providing the notice of change, but no more than 30 days after providing notice, any medical cannabis plants in the former home cultivator's possession may be transferred to the new designated home cultivator. Any plants that are not transferred to the new home cultivator are to be promptly surrendered to law enforcement for destruction. The failure to provide notice of a change in designated home cultivator will result in the patient's registration with the commission being deemed null and void. The commission will be required to promptly update the registry information for the patient and any affected designated caregiver upon receiving notice of the patient's intent to home cultivate medical cannabis or of a change in who is authorized to home cultivate medical cannabis for the patient. Any designated caregiver of a patient who elects to home cultivate medical cannabis will be authorized to possess, transport, and assist the patient with the administration of home-cultivated medical cannabis in dried form or in any other consumable form, regardless of whether the designated caregiver is designated as the patient's home cultivator. In addition to any other civil or criminal penalties as may apply, any individual in possession of home-cultivated medical cannabis in the form of a mature or immature plant or in any consumable form, who sells, donates, or furnishes the home-cultivated medical cannabis to any individual who is not authorized to be in possession of the home-cultivated medical cannabis under the bill, will be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000. In addition, the individual's registration with the commission will be deemed null and void, and the individual will be permanently ineligible for re-registration with the commission as a qualifying patient, a designated caregiver, or an institutional caregiver. It is the sponsor's intent to expand access to medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients who may find the medical cannabis that is available through a medical cannabis dispensary unaffordable, or who may otherwise benefit from the convenience of home cultivation or the ability to readily access medical cannabis in the strain and form appropriate to the patient's individual treatment needs. Of the 36 states that have approved a comprehensive medical cannabis program, 17, or nearly half, currently allow for home cultivation of medical cannabis: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. | In Committee |
| S670 | Authorizes schools to administer commercial driver license exam and other motor vehicle services for school bus drivers. | This bill authorizes the administration of all motor vehicle services associated with becoming a school bus driver, except for the road test, by school districts, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The bill requires the MVC to implement a program that promotes the administration of these motor vehicle services at school facilities and requires the MVC to coordinate with school districts for the administration of the these services for prospective school bus drivers. | In Committee |
| S1684 | Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety. | This bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey Education and Law Enforcement Working Group, to establish a program that provides a means for the public to anonymously report information concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities in schools or the threat of those activities. The program will allow students, parents, school staff, and other community members to anonymously report information through readily accessible methods such as a telephone tip line, that is staffed by trained individuals at reasonable hours each day of the week, and a mobile application. The program must ensure that the identity of the reporting party remains unknown, except in instances where the reporting party voluntarily discloses his identity and verifies that his identity may be shared with law enforcement officers, school officials, and employees operating the program. The bill requires that information received through the program be promptly shared with the appropriate law enforcement agencies or school officials. Under the bill, training will be provided to law enforcement dispatch centers, school districts, nonpublic schools, and other entities determined by the Attorney General on awareness of the program and appropriate response to tips received through the program. Proper guidelines will be provided to students regarding the procedures for reporting potential threats to school safety. In addition, program awareness and education materials will be provided to all public and nonpublic schools in the State. The program established under this bill would be similar to Colorado's "Safe2Tell" program, which provides an anonymous and readily accessible tool for the reporting and sharing of information regarding potential threats to school safety. This bill also requires the Attorney General to annually prepare a report on the program that includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) the total number of reports made to the program, disaggregated by subgroups to be determined by the Attorney General; (2) the dates, times, and means of reporting; (3) the total number of instances of misuse of the program; and (4) a summary of the outcomes and actions taken on reports made to the program. The Attorney General is required to submit the report to the Governor and the Education Committees of the Senate and General Assembly and post the report on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety by January 1 of the year immediately following issuance of the report. | In Committee |
| S839 | Removes requirement for branch office registration certificates and modernizes requirements to notify State and consumers of locations where dentists provide services. | This bill removes the requirement in current law for a separate permit for each branch office where a licensed and registered dentist provides services, if that dentist provides services at a place other than the location where the required certificate of registration was issued. Under the bill, a dentist would be required to notify the secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry, to the best of their knowledge and on a form or in a format as to be determined by the board, prior to the issuance of an initial certificate the addresses of the locations where dental services are to be provided by the licensee. The bill requires the same information to be included on the form sent by the secretary-treasurer annually to all licensed dentists for a new registration certificate. These locations do not include 1) hospitals or institutions that receives no fees, other than entrance registration fees, for the services rendered by the dentist and where the dentist receives no fees or compensation directly or indirectly for services rendered and 2) the homes, hospitals or institutions where a patient is confined and receives necessary dental services. Additionally, language in current law requiring the board to advertise in various newspapers on the need for licensed dentists to obtain new registration certificates is removed and replaced in the bill with a provision to require the Division of Consumer Affairs, under which the board is governed, to post notification, in a conspicuous manner, about the need for a new registration certificate on its website. Lastly, language in current law referencing repealed statutes is also removed in the bill. | In Committee |
| S865 | Requires MVC to provide certain services at each MVC agency location for certain individuals. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide in-person vehicle and licensing services at each commission agency location for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission designated each commission agency location as either a licensing center or vehicle center and required certain services to be completed online. The commission continues to operate in this manner, which places a great burden on seniors and persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| S885 | Establishes protections from abusive and controlling litigation for victims of domestic violence. | This bill establishes protections from abusive and controlling litigation for victims of domestic violence. Specifically, this bill provides additional protections for victims of domestic violence who suffer continued abuse in the form of abusive and controlling litigation. "Abusive and controlling litigation" is defined under the bill to mean litigation initiated, advanced, or continued by a person that is filed in bad faith and primarily for the purpose of delay or malicious injury, or harassing, intimidating, or maintaining contact with the other party. While current law provides relief for citizens in this State who are subjected to baseless or "frivolous" litigation, the relief is limited to certain types of litigation, and typically limits the relief to an award of attorneys' fees and costs. Current law does not provide specific protections for victims of domestic violence who are subjected to ongoing litigation filed in bad faith by their abuser in an attempt to maintain contact with them or cause financial or emotional harm. This bill establishes a process for the court to determine whether a person is an abusive and controlling litigant. Under the bill, the process is initiated upon motion of a victim of domestic violence or on the court's own motion. A person is deemed an abusive and controlling litigant if the person has committed an act of domestic violence pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991"; initiates, advances, or continues litigation against their victim in bad faith and primarily for the purpose of delay; malicious injury; or harassing, intimidating, or maintaining contact with the victim; and the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence that:· claims, allegations, and other legal contentions in the litigation are without any reasonable basis in law or equity and could not be supported by a good faith argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, an existing order, or the establishment of a new order; or· allegations and other factual contentions in the litigation are made without evidentiary support; or· one or more of issues that are the basis of the litigation have previously been the subject of litigation filed in the same or another court in this State or any other court of competent jurisdiction and the actions have been litigated and disposed of unfavorably to the alleged abusive and controlling litigant. The provisions of the bill provide that there is a rebuttable presumption that a person is an abusive and controlling litigant if: · the litigation initiated, advanced, or continued by the person allegedly engaging in abusive and controlling litigation involves the same or substantially similar issues between the same or substantially similar parties which have been litigated within the past five years; or· within the past 10 years, a court has determined that person has previously engaged in abusive and controlling litigation or similar conduct; or· within the past 10 years, the party allegedly engaging in abusive and controlling litigation has been found to have initiated, advanced, or continued litigation that was found to have been frivolous. Upon finding that a person is an abusive and controlling litigant, the court is required to enter an order:· dismissing any matter or denying any relief requested pursuant to pending abusive and controlling litigation;· awarding reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, including those associated with a motion filed pursuant to this bill; · providing that the victim is not required to respond any pending or future litigation initiated by the abusive and controlling litigant, unless directed to do so by the court; and· prohibiting the abusive and controlling litigant from initiating, advancing, or continuing litigation involving the victim of the abusive and controlling litigation, except upon leave of court granted upon application submitted in accordance with the rules of court. Nothing in the provisions of the bill is to be deemed to restrict an abusive and controlling litigant from filing, initiating, advancing, or continuing litigation that does not violate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S792 | Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill indexes for inflation the taxable income brackets under the New Jersey gross income tax. This adds to the State personal income tax a common-sense taxpayer protection called inflation indexing that has been provided under the federal income tax since the 1980s. Inflation indexing means that tax brackets are revised annually to reflect nominal price and wage increases that result from inflation. When tax brackets are not indexed for inflation it results in what is called "bracket creep," which is an increase in effective tax rates caused by inflation. Higher income can bump a taxpayer into the next tax bracket, even if that higher income is merely keeping pace with inflation. A lack of inflation adjustment can also push more of a taxpayer's income into the highest bracket for which they qualify. The final result is a tax increase that occurs without any legislation being passed. Indexing addresses this by altering each bracket level each year by the level of annual inflation. Under this bill the inflation adjustment for taxable income brackets is the national consumer price index for all urban consumers as prepared by the United States Department of Labor. This is the same measure of inflation that is used for indexing the taxable income brackets under the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill compares an annual inflation measure from the year prior to the one for which taxes will be imposed to a base year measure from the year prior to the one in which the bill is enacted. This delay allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to determine the adjusted amounts when the tax year begins. | In Committee |
| S940 | Establishes "Parents Bill of Rights Act"; prohibits school district from interfering with fundamental right of parent or guardian to engage in and direct student's education; permits opt-out of school district curriculum. | This bill establishes the "Parents Bill of Rights Act." The bill provides that a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school in the State has a fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education. Under the bill, the parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education includes, but is not limited to, the right to (1) a summary of the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (2) review the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (3) review a list of the media services, textbooks, and books that are used in the classroom and that are available to a student through the school district; and (4) opt their child out of any curriculum that the parent or guardian believes is in conflict with their conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. No penalties as to credit or graduation are permitted as a result of a parent or guardian's decision to opt their child out of the curriculum under the provisions of the bill. The bill prohibits a school or school district from interfering with a parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education or denying a request by a parent or guardian for information made pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S864 | Permits municipalities to establish affordable housing preference for first responders. | This bill permits municipalities to establish an affordable housing preference for first responders. Under the bill, a municipality would be authorized to enter into agreements with developers to provide affordable housing occupancy preferences for low and moderate income first responders, who meet certain service requirements, of up to 50 percent of the affordable units in a particular project. Current law does not provide any preference for first responders who otherwise qualify for affordable housing. For the purposes of the bill, "first responder" is defined as a law enforcement officer; paid or volunteer firefighter; paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association; or any other person who, in the course of the person's employment, is dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance; and who, in the case of all the foregoing, has served in that capacity for at least two years. | In Committee |
| S793 | Establishes "Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, and Protection (RSVP-3) Pilot Program." | This bill establishes in the Department of Law and Public Safety a three-year "Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, and Protection (RSVP-3) Pilot Program" in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union and in cities of the first class, which include Jersey City and Newark. This program is designed to train law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school staff, and students to identify and report behaviors that signal potential threats to school safety with the intention of giving the school community the tools it needs to detect and prevent school violence before it occurs. According to the sponsor, this bill is intended to provide the State with an opportunity to learn the most effective ways to prevent school shootings from occurring in New Jersey and fulfill its duty to provide a thorough and efficient education that is safe and secure. Following the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Education launched a collaborative effort through the Safe School Initiative to perform an extensive examination of 37 incidents of targeted school shootings and school attacks that occurred in the United States from 1974 through May 2000. The focus of the Safe School Initiative was on examining the thinking, planning, and other behaviors of students who carried out school attacks, with particular attention given to identifying pre-attack behaviors and communications that might be detectable and could assist in preventing some future attacks. The RSVP-3 pilot program builds upon on an initiative developed in Morris County that is based on many of the key findings of the Safe School Initiative. This bill requires the Attorney General to work in collaboration with the Commissioner of Health and Commissioner of Education to accomplish the goals of the pilot program which include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the creation of a threat assessment measurement tool for use by law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school employees, and students to evaluate a potential threat of school violence; (2) the development of a scientifically based school violence threat assessment and management training curriculum concerning the identification of behaviors that indicate a potential risk of school violence and the need to report these behaviors; (3) the delivery of the school violence threat assessment and management training curriculum to law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, teachers and other school employees, and students; (4) the development of an effective mechanism to immediately report an identified threat of school violence; and (5) the establishment of procedures for addressing and eliminating an identified threat of school violence. The Attorney General is required to submit to the Governor and the Legislature an annual report containing an evaluation of the pilot program and a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be continued as a Statewide program. In addition, the bill provides for an appropriation from the general fund in the amount necessary to implement the provisions and effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S804 | "New Jersey Disability Savings Act." | This bill expands the "New Jersey Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program," P.L.2015, c.185 (C.52:18A-250 et al.) to incentivize qualified individuals with disabilities and their families to save for disability-related expenses in tax-advantaged savings accounts, known as ABLE accounts. Pursuant to current federal statute, qualified individuals who have significant disabilities with onset prior to age 26 years, and who receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, may contribute as much as the federal gift tax limit, or $16,000 in 2022, to a qualifying ABLE account. Individuals with disabilities, or their parent or guardian, may open an ABLE account in the individual's state of residence, or in another state. As of January 2022, there are 49 ABLE plans operating nationwide. Funds deposited into an ABLE account may only be used for qualifying disability-related expenses such as transportation, housing, education, assistive technology, legal fees, and personal support services. Distributions from a New Jersey ABLE account are not subject to federal tax, provided the distributions do not exceed the individual's disability-related expenses for the year. New Jersey statute currently limits total lifetime contributions to an ABLE account to $305,000. Once the value of an ABLE account exceeds $100,000, SSI cash benefits for the ABLE account owner are suspended until the account's value falls below this threshold. However, a qualifying individual will not lose Medicaid benefits, no matter the balance in an ABLE account. Pursuant to the bill, all contributions to a qualifying New Jersey ABLE account are fully-deductible on a New Jersey State tax return, similar to qualifying contributions to the State's Section 529 educational savings program, known as the NJBEST. As amended, the bill additionally incentivizes taxpayer savings in New Jersey ABLE accounts by providing up to $750 in dollar-for-dollar matching funds for taxpayers whose gross annual income equals $150,000 or less, and who deposit funds into a newly opened ABLE account. It is important to note, however, that the savings incentives instituted under this bill are subject to the annual appropriations process. Therefore, the bill authorizes the Department of Human Services to select a methodology for allocating these incentive funds in years in which State appropriations for these incentive payments are insufficient to fulfill the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S821 | Requires COAH to credit municipalities with units against fair share affordable housing obligation for certain types of housing; provides certain types of affordable housing units will be credited as two units. | This bill provides municipalities with credit against their fair share affordable housing obligation for bedrooms in community residences and provides that certain types of affordable housing units will be credited as two units. Under the provisions of the bill, the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), or its successor body, would credit one unit toward a municipality's fair share obligation for each bedroom in a community residence. The bill defines a "community residence" as a group home, supervised apartment, or other type of shared living environment that provides housing and treatment or specialized services needed to assist individuals with special needs to live in community settings, but which is not considered a health care facility. The term includes, but is not limited to, group homes, halfway houses, supervised apartment living arrangements, hostels, and community residences for the developmentally disabled. The bill also requires COAH to credit at least two units toward a municipality's fair share obligation for each unit of housing restricted for very low income households and each unit of special needs housing. | In Committee |
| SCR24 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of annual veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250. | 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 $1,250, beginning in 2024. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, to be increased by $50 each year over a period of four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| S840 | Revises gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and designated as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. | The bill revises the gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and is designated as the Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. As is common with progressive income tax structures, a marriage penalty occurs when married taxpayers, who would have otherwise faced a lower income tax liability by remaining single and filing individual tax returns, face a higher tax liability due to their marital status and filing their taxes jointly. For the sake of tax equity, the bill would amend the tax brackets for those filing jointly to align the tax brackets with those imposed on taxpayers filing individual tax returns. These changes would lower the gross income tax liability of most joint filers. The bill accomplishes eliminating the so-called marriage penalty by making the following changes to the tax brackets of joint filers:· Taxable income up to $40,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.40 percent. · Taxable income over $40,000 but not over $70,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.75 percent. The bill would take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| S828 | Requires MVC to accept certain documents as proof of name change for driver's license. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to accept a licensee's birth certificate, marriage certificate, social security card, divorce decree, or court order as sufficient proof of the licensee's legal name for display on the driver's license. The bill also extends the time period that a licensee has to change the licensee's name with MVC from two weeks after a legal name change to six months after a legal name change or upon the next driver's license renewal, whichever date is sooner. It is the sponsor's intent to remove the barriers to changing a licensee's legal name on a driver's license that have been created by the MVC. The MVC does not currently permit a licensee to change the middle name of a licensee's legal name, as a result of marriage, without a court order, despite the fact that the Social Security Administration and many other States allow this change. | In Committee |
| S615 | Provides a gross income tax deduction for veterinarian expenses. | This bill provides a gross income deduction for veterinarian expenses. Specifically, the bill allows a taxpayer to deduct up to $2,500 in nonreimbursed veterinarian expenses incurred by the taxpayer for the examination and care of their pet during the taxable year. | In Committee |
| S831 | Removes stump grinding as service requiring licensure by New Jersey Board of Tree Experts. | This bill removes stump grinding as a service for which a person has to obtain a license from the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts in order to perform. | In Committee |
| S2125 | Repeals law providing that violation of rear seat belt law be treated as secondary offense; establishes certain reporting requirements; requires AG to issue report. | This bill makes it a primary offense to violate the law requiring a rear seat motor vehicle passenger to wear a seat belt. Under current law, failure to wear a seatbelt in the rear seat of a motor vehicle constitutes a secondary offense, which means a law enforcement officer cannot stop and issue a ticket to a person solely for a violation of the rear seat belt law, but only when the motor vehicle has been stopped for some other suspected violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes or other law. This bill repeals the current law requiring that enforcement of the rear seat safety belt law be accomplished by treating a violation as a secondary offense. In addition, one year after the effective date of this bill, all State and local law enforcement agencies are required to submit a report to the Attorney General containing information from the preceding year on any traffic stop where a passenger received a citation for a violation of subsection c. of section 2 of P.L.1984, c.179 (C.39:3-76.2f). The information is to include the alleged traffic violation that led to the motor vehicle stop, any citation or warning issued as a result of the motor vehicle stop, whether a search was instituted as a result of the motor vehicle stop, and whether the motor vehicle stop led to an arrest of a driver or any passenger of the vehicle. The Attorney General is to compare the data contained in this report with any traffic stop data available from two years prior to the effective date of this bill, in order to determine the effect of the implementation of this bill on law enforcement practices. Within six months of receiving a report by State and local law enforcement agencies, the Attorney General is to issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature which details the Attorney General's conclusions regarding the impact of this act on law enforcement practices. Finally, the bill provides that information pertaining to the implementation of this bill is to be included in the State of New Jersey Highway Safety Plan sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. The information is to include, but not be limited to, the effect of the implementation of this act on the number of injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle accidents in this State. | In Committee |
| S825 | Exempts persons with disabilities and persons who are homeless from payment of identification card fees. | Exempts persons with disabilities and persons who are homeless from payment of identification card fees. | In Committee |
| S842 | Extends military leave of absence for public officers and employees to those serving on federal active duty in US Coast Guard Reserve. | This bill extends military leave of absence granted to public officers and employees to those serving on Federal active duty in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Under current law, public officers and employees serving in the United States Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or National Guard are entitled to a leave of absence while on Federal active duty for up to 30 days a year without loss of pay or time.Notably, those serving in the Coast Guard Reserve are not entitled to this benefit despite being members of the United States Armed Forces. This bill would correct this omission and allow members of the Coast Guard Reserve to enjoy the same benefit as those serving in other branches of the Armed Forces. | In Committee |
| S434 | Permits students to be eligible for high school graduation credits in health, safety, and physical education for completing county fire academy course under certain circumstances. | The bill permits a student who successfully completes a course at a county fire academy to be eligible to receive credit toward meeting the high school graduation requirements for health, safety, and physical education if the student meets certain criteria. The student is required to: be between the ages of 16 and 18 years old; complete an examination, as applicable, to become a junior firefighter, or equivalent; and commit to volunteer at the fire department that serves the municipality in which the student resides for a period of two years. | In Committee |
| S867 | Requires certain funds from Main Street Recovery Fund to be used for grants for veteran-owned small businesses. | This bill requires certain funds from the Main Street Recovery Fund to be used for grants for veteran-owned small businesses. Pursuant to current law, as part of the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority provides grants to eligible small businesses from the Main Street Recovery Fund, subject to appropriation or the availability of federal funds. This bill requires seven percent of the grant funds to be made available to eligible small businesses that are owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans as defined at 15 U.S.C. s.632(q). | In Committee |
| S1333 | Increases from $750 to $3,000 annual State payment made to certain veterans and their surviving spouses. | This bill increases the annual payment made by the State to a veteran with certain specified service-connected injuries and the surviving spouse of that veteran. The payment will increase from $750 to $3,000 annually. The amount is paid to a veteran who has sustained a total loss of sight, or who has paraplegia and permanent paralysis of both legs and lower parts of the body, or who has osteochondritis and permanent loss of the use of both legs, or who has hemiplegia and permanent paralysis of one leg and one arm or either side of the body, resulting from injury to the spinal cord, skeletal structure, or brain, or who has had hands or feet amputated, or who has lost the use of both feet or both legs, due to multiple sclerosis, sustained through enemy action, or accident, or resulting from disease contracted while in active military service. The surviving spouse of the veteran continues to receive the payment. There are currently 207 persons receiving the benefit. | In Committee |
| S734 | Requires insurers and SHBP to provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer. | This bill requires hospital, medical, and health service corporations, commercial individual, small employer, and larger group insurers, health maintenance organizations, and the State Health Benefits Program to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses incurred in screening for ovarian cancer for symptomatic women or women at risk of ovarian cancer, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, an annual pelvic examination, an ultrasound and blood testing for cancer markers, such as CA 125 levels. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. The provisions of this bill will ensure that women who may have symptoms of ovarian cancer, or are at risk of ovarian cancer because of a family history or other health conditions, are able to receive appropriate and necessary diagnostic screening tests for this deadly disease. | In Committee |
| SCR61 | Constitutes special committee of Senate and General Assembly entitled "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." | This concurrent resolution constitutes a special committee of the Legislature entitled the "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." The creation of this committee is in response to several news articles highlighting the recommended increase in premiums and periodic charges for the State health care programs and allegations the Governor's Office may have intervened during contract disputes with the State's contractor, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. The committee will review and investigate the recommended increases in the premiums of the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will also investigate allegations that the Governor's Office may have pressured staff at the Department of the Treasury to halt the contract dispute with Horizon and the effort by the department to recoup the $34 million from the contract. Additionally, the committee will review the implementation, if any, of P.L.2019, c.143, which created subaccounts in the State Health Benefits Program Fund and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Fund and also required the State to procure a professional services contract for a third-party medical claims reviewer for the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will make recommendations that address this subject. | In Committee |
| S869 | Establishes annual four-day sales tax holiday after Thanksgiving. | This bill establishes an annual four-day New Jersey sales tax holiday to cover the popular, early seasonal shopping days after Thanksgiving. The sales tax holiday will extend from what has been called "Black Friday," and include that Saturday, also known as "Small Business Saturday, the next day of Sunday, and extend through what has been termed "Cyber Monday. Black Friday is a colloquial term for the Friday after Thanksgiving. It traditionally marks the start of the Holiday shopping season. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as early as midnight. Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held during the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. It is always the last Saturday in November. Starting in 2010 and officially cosponsored by Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses' holiday shopping season. Small businesses create local jobs and pay local taxes, which keeps money circulating within communities. By doing their shopping at local small businesses, customers can directly support their neighbors and help benefit their local economies. Shopping small for the holidays can also be environmentally friendly. When locally owned businesses locally source raw materials or manufactured products, it reduces the distance that goods travel, and often involve less packaging making for a smaller carbon footprint. Local retailers' websites and social media pages often promote special store offerings, hours and event announcements in the days leading up to Small Business Saturday.Cyber Monday is the marketing term for e-commerce transactions on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It was created by retailers to encourage people to shop online and offers a way for smaller retail websites to compete with larger chains. Beginning in 2005, it has become the largest online shopping day of the year. | In Committee |
| SR19 | Supports preservation of Columbus Day as federal and State holiday. | This resolution supports preserving Columbus Day as a federal and State holiday. Americans have celebrated Columbus' voyage, which culminated in his arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492, since the colonial period. Since 1970, the federal government has recognized Columbus Day as a federal holiday taking place on the second Monday in October of each year. This House recognizes the significance of Columbus's arrival in the New World and expresses its support of Columbus Day as a holiday to honor and celebrate Columbus' historic achievement. | In Committee |
| S1672 | Allows credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax liability for employing persons with a developmental disability. | This bill allows taxpayers to claim a credit against their corporation business tax liability or gross income tax liability in the amount of 10 percent of salary and wages paid to an employee with a developmental disability. The credit is capped at $3,000 per employee, and the total credit is capped at $60,000 per taxpayer per year. The bill defines "employee with a developmental disability" as an employee of the taxpayer who has a developmental disability as defined in N.J.S.A.30:6D-25 and for who the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services has declared eligible for its services. New Jersey already allows taxpayers to claim a credit for the employment of certain persons with disabilities at an occupational training center or sheltered workshop. This bill allows a credit for any type of employment, but taxpayers will be prohibited from claiming the credit allowed by this bill if in the same year they claim a credit for employment of the same employee at an occupational training center or sheltered workshop. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S941 | Requires MVC to provide certain services at each MVC agency location. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to provide both vehicle and licensing services at each commission agency location and to allow these services to be completed in-person at each agency. The bill also requires that, at each commission agency location, the commission provide service to walk-in customers seeking vehicle and licensing services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission designated each commission agency location as either a licensing center or vehicle center, required appointments for certain services, and required certain services to be completed online. The commission continues to operate in this manner, which in certain circumstances, requires customers to travel a great distance or make multiple appointments to obtain service. This bill requires the commission to operate as it did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and to offer both vehicle and licensing services at each agency location, allow walk-in customers to obtain service, and allow customers to obtain service at each agency rather than requiring certain services to be completed online. | In Committee |
| S835 | Requires electric public utilities to provide training, equipment, indemnity, and reimbursement to certain municipal employees for moving and securing detached, above-ground distribution lines impeding vehicular traffic during lengthy power outages. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to submit to the Board of Public Utilities (board) a plan for the utility's response to a major emergency event, which shall require the utility to: 1) properly train each municipal emergency management coordinator (coordinator) and any public works employee, or other employee of a municipality designated by the governing body of a municipality located within the utility's operating area to receive the necessary certification under any applicable industry code or national electric industry practice, to move a disconnected, above-ground distribution line impeding vehicular traffic and protect the line from doing harm to life or property, and to provide those municipal employees with any necessary equipment to move and protect the distribution line and communicate on a real-time, two-way basis, with the utility, until a utility employee reattaches the distribution line; 2) indemnify, and if requested by the municipality, defend the municipality and those designated municipal employees against all claims made by any person for injuries or damages that may be caused or sustained by those designated municipal employees during the course or as a result of moving a disconnected, above-ground distribution line impeding vehicular traffic and protecting the line from doing harm to life or property; and 3) reimburse a municipality, as applicable, at a rate of no less than half of those designated municipal employees' hourly wage rate, or the cost of the provision of services by any employee who is a volunteer equal to the rate for volunteer services under any applicable assistance program administered by the federal government, for the amount of time spent by the those designated municipal employees in moving and protecting the distribution line. The bill requires any plan submitted by a utility to be subject to board review and approval. In the event that the board disapproves a plan, the board shall provide the utility, in writing, its reasons for disapproval. If the board fails to approve or disapprove of the plan within 60 days of receipt of the plan, it shall be considered approved by the board. Each utility shall file a copy of an approved plan with the board. | In Committee |
| S853 | Establishes Mental Health Awareness Pilot Program in DOE. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a two-year Mental Health Awareness Pilot Program, the purpose of which is to address mental health issues prevalent among middle and high school students. The school districts that are selected to participate in the pilot program will identify innovative methods to increase mental health awareness among students and provide students with coping skills necessary to manage the various life stressors that give rise to or exacerbate mental health issues. Under this bill, a school district that wishes to participate in the pilot program will submit an application to the commissioner. The application will include (1) a description of the school district including the number of enrolled students; absenteeism rates; academic performance indicators; and the percentage of enrolled students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch under the federal School Lunch Program; (2) the number of psychologists, social workers, and guidance counselors working in the school district; (3) an inventory of mental health services currently provided by the school district; and (4) any other information the commissioner deems appropriate. This bill directs the commissioner to select six school districts to participate in the pilot program. The commissioner will select school districts in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas. Under this bill, the commissioner will submit a report to the Governor and Legislature two years after the establishment of the pilot program. The report will contain information on the implementation of the pilot program and the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of continuing or expanding the program. | In Committee |
| S815 | Requires DHS to provide psychiatric service dogs to first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill requires that in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Human Services (DHS) contract with a recognized service dog training agency or school to provide psychiatric service dogs trained by the agency or school to first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the pandemic. As used in the bill: "post-traumatic stress disorder" means a mental illness classified within the current version of the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) with symptoms that include, but are not limited to, anxiety, reclusiveness, night terrors, startle reaction, neurochemical imbalance, dissociative flashback, startle response, sensory overload, social withdrawal, hyper-vigilance, and hallucinations; and "psychiatric service dog" means a dog trained to assist an individual who has a psychiatric or mental disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder. To be eligible to receive a trained psychiatric service dog from the DHS, an individual must: be a State resident; be a first responder, health care worker, or frontline worker; suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and qualify as limited in their ability to function due to mental illness under the Americans with Disabilities Act "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" due to COVID-19, as certified by a physician or mental health provider; apply to receive a trained psychiatric service dog on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Human Services; and adhere to the standards established by the commissioner for receiving a trained psychiatric service dog including, but not limited to, providing humane shelter and care for the service dog and obeying all State laws concerning the prevention of cruelty to animals. An individual who meets the eligibility requirements of the bill will: be provided with a trained psychiatric service dog, at no cost to the individual; procure a license and register the service dog in the municipality where the individual resides; and be responsible for all costs relating to the dog's shelter and care. An individual who receives a psychiatric service dog from the DHS would have the option to maintain ownership of the psychiatric service dog. If the individual opts not to maintain ownership of the service dog, that individual would return the service dog to the DHS, and the DHS would then return the service dog to the training agency or school that trained the dog. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders, including PTSD, are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults, or 18.1 percent of the population, every year. The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to increase stress and anxiety, both because of the fear of catching the virus and also because of uncertainty about how the outbreak will affect us socially and economically during the pandemic and for years to come. Individuals who may respond more strongly to the stress of the pandemic include, but are not limited to, older individuals, individuals with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, health care workers, first responders, frontline workers, and individuals with PTSD. A service dog is specifically task-trained to help an individual with a disability, including PTSD, that substantially limits one or more life activities. This bill would allow individuals suffering from PTSD due to the COVID-19 pandemic to receive service dogs which can help alleviate the stress, grief, and anxiety, and other PTSD symptoms that they may be experiencing. | In Committee |
| S881 | Delays fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective need and related litigation, until July 1, 2028. | This bill would delay the start of the fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective need and related litigation, set to commence in 2025, to July 1, 2028. For decades, New Jersey municipalities have expended significant taxpayer money to comply with affordable housing obligations. The State Supreme Court has recognized affordable housing policy is best left to the Legislature. Compounding the burden of litigation expenses, the COVID-19 pandemic led the Governor and Legislature to take drastic action, which shut down the State economy, causing severe economic difficulties for municipalities. These difficulties, and others, have presented and continue to present severe hardship for municipalities seeking to satisfy their affordable housing obligations. Reliance on data from the third round, therefore, will be even more critical in establishing fourth round present and prospective regional needs and affordable housing obligations. It is therefore necessary to delay the start of the fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective need and related litigation, to July 1, 2028. This bill would not impair or affect any settlement or judgment concerning the obligation of a municipality that was issued or executed prior to the end of the third round of affordable housing obligations on July 1, 2025. The bill would expire on June 30, 2028. | In Committee |
| S863 | Exempts certain volunteer emergency service organizations from charitable contribution filing fees. | The bill would exempt certain volunteer emergency service organizations from paying registration filing fees under the State's "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." Under current law, charitable organizations, other than religious organizations and schools, which raise over $10,000 in a fiscal year are required to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety as charitable organizations. Pursuant to regulations promulgated under the act, these organizations are charged a fee for this registration. Charitable organizations which raise $25,000 or less in a fiscal year, whether they are required to register or voluntarily register under the act, are required to file a short form registration. The fee charged by the division for filing a short form registration is $30. Charitable organizations that raise more than $25,000 are required to file a long form registration. The fee charged by the division for filing a long form registration is $60 if the organization raised $100,000 or less. The long form registration fee for organizations which raise more than $100,000, but less than $500,000 is $150. If the organization raises over $500,000 the fee is $250. Under this bill, non-profit corporations, associations, or organizations located in this State which are regularly engaged in providing emergency medical care, rescue services, the transport of patients, or fire protection services, including part-paid fire departments and fire districts and emergency service providers, would be exempt from paying these filing fees. | In Committee |
| S847 | Requires do not forward label on mail-in ballot envelopes; allows mail-in voter to cure mail-in ballot due to missing or detached certificate; requires certain voter data be entered into voter file within 30 days. | This bill clarifies that an official mail-in ballot envelope is for the intended recipient only. When an official mail-in ballot is mailed to an address at which the listed voter no longer resides, the person residing at that address may return the ballot to the county clerk of the county in which the ballot was issued. The person residing at that address may return the unopened official mail-in ballot envelope in person to the county clerk or deposit the envelope in a ballot drop box or any outgoing United States Postal Service mailbox or letter collection box with a return to sender notation on the front of the envelope. Under the bill, the person residing at that address may write one of the following notations on the front of the unopened official mail-in ballot envelope: (1) Return to Sender - No Longer at this Address; (2) Return to Sender - Moved out of State or County; (3) Return to Sender - Deceased; or (4) any other notations deemed appropriate by the Secretary of State. Under the bill, the Secretary of State is required to prepare and transmit, within 60 days of the bill's effective date, instructions on how to return an unopened official mail-in ballot envelope to sender. The instructions prepared by the Secretary of State are required to be contained in any printed or electronic voter information notices or educational materials provided or disseminated by the Department of State. The New Jersey Division of Elections and each county clerk and board of elections in this State must make available on their websites, if one exists, the instructions prepared by the Secretary of State. This bill also requires the words "Do Not Forward. Return to Sender. Return Postage Guaranteed." to be printed or stamped on the official mail-in ballot envelope sent by the county clerks. Under the bill, any mail-in ballot that is sent to a qualified voter and that is returned to the county clerk for any reason is required to be forwarded by the county clerk to the commissioner of registration within 30 days from the date the mail-in ballot is returned to the county clerk. If the reason the mail-in ballot is returned is due to the death of the qualified voter, the commissioner of registration is required to determine if the death was filed by the officer in charge of records of death in the municipality in which the decedent resided as prescribed in current law and must undertake the procedures provided in current law. The bill requires that any deceased registrant on the monthly or yearly list of deceased persons 18 years of age or older to be transferred to the death file within 30 days after the investigation provided in current law is completed. Under the bill, a mail-in voter is permitted to cure their mail-in ballot due to a missing or detached mail-in voter certificate. Under current law, each mail-in voter is required to complete the Certificate of Mail-in Voter that is attached to the flap of the mail-in ballot inner envelope. By completing the certificate, the mail-in voter certifies, subject to the penalties for fraudulent voting: the voter's address, that the voter is the person who applied for the enclosed ballot, that the voter marked the ballot in secret, and that a family member may provide assistance to the voter. The mail-in voter and any person who provided assistance to the voter are required to sign the certificate. Under this bill, when the voter failed to include the Certificate of Mail-in Voter or includes a detached Certificate of Mail-in Voter, the county board of elections would be required to provide the voter, along with the Cure Letter and Cure Form, with a substantially similar certificate for the voter to complete in order to cure the voter's mail-in ballot in accordance with the same requirements, procedures, and timeframes specified for ballot curing due to a missing or discrepant signature. | In Committee |
| S505 | Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential customer for cost of food and prescription medicine spoiled or compromised as a result of sustained electric service outage. | This bill would require an electric public utility to reimburse a residential customer for the cost of food and prescription medicine that spoils or is compromised as a result of a sustained power outage. Under the bill, a customer whose food spoils due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained power outage would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $500 for the amount paid for the food that spoiled. A customer whose prescription medicine is compromised due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained power outage would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $1,000 for the amount paid for the prescription medicine that is compromised. In both cases, a customer would be required to submit to the electric public utility an itemized list of losses and proof of loss, as specified in the bill. No later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, each electric public utility in the State would be required to develop and implement a system for customers of the electric public utility to apply for a reimbursement online via the electric public utility's Internet website. Applications for a reimbursement would be made in a form and manner as determined by the Board of Public Utilities. The board would be authorized to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the bill. | In Committee |
| S2053 | Provides tax credits to small businesses to offset increases in unemployment insurance contributions. | This bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to small businesses to help offset increases in their unemployment insurance contributions, including increases scheduled pursuant to P.L.2020, c.150. The tax credit provided by the bill to a small business is an amount equal to the difference in the business's actual unemployment insurance contribution as required pursuant to R.S.43:21-7(c)(5) and the amount the small business would have paid if contributions had been computed based on rates set by column "C" of the table in R.S.43:21-7(c)(5)(E). The credit will be provided for any year in which the unemployment insurance contribution rates are greater than those imposed under column "C", and will end upon the first year in which the tax rates are equal or less than the rates of column "C". The bill adopts the U.S. Small Business Administration's definitions of a small business based on size standards and other applicable criteria. The tax credits are non-refundable, but may be carried forward for seven years. If a small business utilizes alternative relief options, such as grants or subsidies, to offset their increase in employer contributions, the small business would not be eligible for the bill's tax credits. | In Committee |
| S824 | Allows possession of bear spray under certain conditions. | This bill would allow individuals 18 years of age or older to possess, under certain conditions, bear spray for the purpose of repelling an aggressive bear. Under current law, a person 18 years of age or older, who has not been convicted of a crime, may possess a small, pocket-sized device capable of spraying a non-lethal chemical substance which causes temporary physical discomfort, also known as pepper spray. The law limits the size of the device to one which contains and releases not more than three-quarters of an ounce of pepper spray. A person possessing a larger quantity would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and subject to a fine of at least $100. However, because bear spray devices contain much more than three-quarters of an ounce of a chemical substance, current law effectively prohibits the possession of bear spray. This bill would allow any person who is 18 years of age or older to possess, for the sole purpose of repelling an aggressive bear while hiking, biking, or engaging in any other outdoor recreational activity, a bear deterrent or bear spray product approved and registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and clearly identified as such on the product label. The EPA regulates bear spray as a "pesticide" under federal law, and manufacturers of bear spray must register their products with, and receive approval from, the EPA. To be approved by the EPA, a bear spray device must, among other things, contain a minimum content of 7.6 ounces, which is significantly larger than the maximum content of three-quarters of an ounce allowed under State law. The labels on bear sprays approved by the EPA show the EPA registration and EPA establishment number for the product. In addition, the bill provides that a person who uses bear spray upon or toward another person would not be liable in any civil action for damages resulting from that release or discharge when the actor reasonably believes that the releasing or discharging of the bear spray is immediately necessary for the purpose of personal self-defense. However, nothing in the bill would be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing any damage by the willful, wanton, or grossly negligent unlawful releasing or discharging of bear spray upon or toward another person. A person who knowingly possesses and uses bear spray in a manner contrary to the provisions of the bill would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree in accordance with the penalty in current law. Bear spray products approved by the EPA have been shown to be an effective, non-lethal deterrent capable of stopping aggressive behavior in bears. Personal defense sprays do not contain the correct active ingredients or have the amount necessary to divert or stop a charging or attacking bear. | In Committee |
| S877 | Exempts municipal electric utilities from regulation by BPU. | This bill exempts municipal electric utilities from regulation by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Under current law, municipal utilities generally are not regulated by the BPU. However, if a municipality provides any product, including electricity, beyond its boundaries, the municipality is considered to be a public utility and is regulated by the BPU. In this event, the BPU is responsible for regulating the rates imposed by the municipality for the provision of these regulated services. Under the bill, if a municipality provides electricity to customers beyond its boundaries, the municipality would not be considered a public utility and would not be subject to regulation by the BPU. As a result, the bill provides that municipal electric utilities would no longer be subject to rate regulation by the BPU. However, the bill provides that the BPU would retain jurisdiction to determine disputes concerning the service territory of any municipal electric utility, consistent with current law governing rural electric cooperatives. | In Committee |
| S1464 | Requires medical fee schedule by automobile insurers to provide for reimbursement of certain services provided by ambulatory surgical center at rate of 300 percent of Medicare payment rate. | This bill requires the medical fee schedule promulgated by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance that is used for the reimbursement of medical expenses by certain automobile insurers to provide for reimbursement of services provided by an ambulatory surgical center that are not currently listed on the medical fee schedule at a rate of 300 percent of the Medicare payment rate for that service provided that the services are reimbursable pursuant to current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines. Unlisted medical supplies utilized in conjunction with services that are not currently listed on the medical fee schedule are required to be reimbursed at invoice cost plus 20 percent. | In Committee |
| S1666 | Removes criminal liability for law enforcement officers who have investigative encounter with underage person for possession of alcohol or cannabis unless civil rights are violated. | This bill provides that a law enforcement officer is not criminally liable for deprivation of civil rights for certain interactions with an underage person who possesses or consumes alcohol, marijuana, or certain cannabis items unless the officer acted with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Under current law, a law enforcement officer, when responding to a call for service or upon the initiation of any other law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation concerning the unlawful possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or any cannabis item by a person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items, may be guilty of a crime of official deprivation of civil rights under certain circumstances. Current law imposes criminal liability regardless of whether the officer's act was done with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity, which motivation is required to be proven for other acts of criminal deprivation of civil rights under section 2 of P.L.2003, c.31 (C.2C:30-6). Under this bill, a law enforcement officer who purposely intimidates or discriminates against an underage person because of the person's race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity by engaging in a law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation concerning the underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or any cannabis would be guilty of deprivation of civil rights. | In Committee |
| S672 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism," while noting that criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country is not antisemitic. The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Under the bill, nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. The bill also provides that nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. | In Committee |
| S1058 | Requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided to victims of domestic violence upon request. | This bill requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided, upon request, to victims of domestic violence. Under the bill, a domestic violence victim, or the victim's legal representative, may request copies of certain records from the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a domestic violence complaint. If the release of the records would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, the records are required to either be redacted so that release to the victim does not jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, or released pursuant to a protective order. A person who disseminates a copy of a law enforcement record in violation of a protective order issued under the bill may be subject to criminal prosecution.The following records may be requested:· photographs taken by a law enforcement officer;· law enforcement officer body worn camera or dashboard camera footage;· 9-1-1 transcript or recording; or · contents of the police report. The bill clarifies that the right to access records provided under the bill is in addition to the right of a victim to obtain records under current law pursuant to the open public records act (OPRA) or the Rules of Court. The records are to be provided at no charge within 10 calendar days of the request. If the law enforcement agency is unable to produce a copy of a requested record within the 10-day period, the law enforcement agency may request additional time from the court. If granted additional time, the law enforcement agency is to provide a copy of the records to the victim or victim's legal representative within 24 hours after the record becomes available. A record is to be provided in accordance with the request of the victim or victim's representative. A victim of domestic violence who is seeking to access law enforcement agency records under the bill, but who is not seeking other relief in the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court may enforce their right of access pursuant to OPRA on an expedited basis. The victim shall not be required to complete a formal OPRA request form to access the records. Under current law, a hearing is to be held in the family part within 10 days of the filing of a domestic violence complaint. If a plaintiff has requested records pursuant to the provisions of the bill but has not received the records as of the date of the original or rescheduled hearing, the law enforcement agency's failure to provide the requested records is to be noted on the record prior to the court making a final determination on the request for restraints. The absence of law enforcement records is not to be a basis to deny relief. The bill also provides that a party to a domestic violence complaint may request the release or unsealing of expunged records. The records may be provided to either party, the county prosecutor, Criminal Division of the Superior Court, or Attorney General, in relation to a domestic violence temporary or final restraining order, weapons forfeiture complaint, or a temporary or final extreme risk protective order. Under the bill, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding brought pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" would estop the defendant from denying the same conduct in any proceeding brought under the bill. | Dead |
| S289 | Designates and preserves Caven Point Peninsula in Liberty State Park as natural habitat. | This bill would designate as natural habitat and preserve the 21.5 acre Caven Point Peninsula. Caven Point Peninsula is an estuarine ecosystem for plants and animals, critical bird breeding habitat, and urban environmental education resource. The peninsula is located in Liberty State Park, in Jersey City, Hudson County, and stretches into the Upper New York Bay. | In Committee |
| S725 | Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings. | This bill would criminalize unlawful occupancy of a dwelling, also known as "squatting." Currently, squatting is not a criminal act. In order to lawfully evict a squatter, the owner of the property must apply to the court for a writ of possession. This bill would create three criminal offenses: housebreaking, unlawful occupancy, and unlawful reentry. They would be crimes of the fourth degree. Housebreaking. Under the bill, a person who forcibly enters an uninhabited or vacant dwelling knowing or having reason to believe that such entry is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner, with the intent to take up residence or provide a residency to another therein, would be guilty of housebreaking. The bill provides that a person is presumed to know that an entry is without the permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Occupancy. The bill provides that a person who takes up residence in an uninhabited or vacant dwelling and knows or has reason to believe that such residency is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner is guilty of unlawful occupancy. A person is presumed to know that the residency is without the permission of the owner or an authorized representative unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner, and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Reentry. The bill provides that a person commits unlawful reentry if an owner of real property has recovered possession of the property from the person pursuant to a court order and, without the authority of the court or permission of the owner, the person reenters the property. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S1908 | Authorizes "100 percent Disabled Veteran" license plates for qualified veterans; entitles holders to handicapped parking privileges. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue 100 Percent Disabled Veteran license plates. In addition to honoring those veterans who have been rendered 100 percent disabled while serving the country, this plate grants those 100 percent disabled veterans all the benefits, privileges, and considerations afforded to the holders of handicapped license plates, most notably the privilege of legally parking in handicapped parking areas. Under the bill, these special plates are to display the words "100 Percent Disabled Veteran" and an emblem or symbol chosen by the chief administrator, after consulting with representatives of organizations consisting of or representing the interests of 100 percent disabled veterans. There is to be no cost to the applicant for 100 Percent Disabled Veteran license plates. Finally, the bill specifies that these plates are not transferable and are exclusively for the use of the person to whom they are duly issued. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of a 100 Percent Disabled Veteran license plate will be sufficient cause for the revocation of the benefits, privileges, and considerations provided to the holder of the license plate and the forfeiture of the license plate. | In Committee |
| S838 | Creates sexual assault prevention and response program and coordinator for service members. | This bill establishes in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a sexual assault prevention and response program. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint an individual to serve as the sexual assault prevention coordinator. The coordinator will provide victim advocacy services, including ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate responsive care, understand available reporting options, and are notified of eligibility for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The coordinator may also file an application with the consent of the victim for a protective order on behalf of the victim. The protective order may be filed at the State level and with the military authorities. The program will permit a victim of sexual harassment to: (1) file a confidential complaint of sexual harassment with the coordinator alleging that a service member committed the offense; (2) participate in the United States Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender Program; (3) receive notice if the accused service member is subsequently accused of an offense of sexual assault by a service member or another person; and (4) convert a confidential complaint to a formal complaint at any time. An annual report will be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the program and the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs relating to the prevention of sexual assault. The report will include: (1) the policies and procedures implemented by the coordinator and the Adjutant General in response to incidents of sexual assault; (2) an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the program and the policies and procedures on the prevention and oversight of and response to sexual assaults; (3) an analysis of the number of sexual assaults involving members of the New Jersey National Guard; (4) deficiencies in the department's sexual assault prevention training; and (5) the department's plans for preventing and responding to sexual assault. The program will apply to alleged sexual assaults committed by a service member against another service member, regardless of whether or not either person was on or off duty at the time of the alleged assault. A complaint may be filed if the alleged offense took place while the accused was a service member and retires or is discharged from service prior to the filing of the complaint. Under the bill, "service member" means a member of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| S579 | Establishes independent State Office of Consumer. | This bill establishes the independent State Office of the Consumer in the Legislative Branch of State Government. The head of the office will be a director who will serve a term of six years. The director will be appointed the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Senate Minority Leader and the Assembly Minority Leader by consensus and be a person qualified by education, training, and prior work experience to direct the work of the office and to perform the duties and functions and fulfill the responsibilities of the position. The Office of the Consumer will be responsible for conducting routine, periodic, and random phone call assessments of local government, school district, and State offices and the offices of regulated health insurance companies by calling those offices to determine the responsiveness and accessibility of the office. The office will also be responsible for periodic assessments of the websites of local government, school district, and State offices and the offices of regulated health insurance companies and by assessing the user-friendliness of the websites. The director will make monthly reports to the Legislature and the Governor that include the frequency and ease of reaching a live person to speak to when calling offices and the ease of finding information and user-friendliness of the websites visited during the reporting period. | In Committee |
| S850 | Permits members of Community Emergency Response Teams to perform traffic duties under certain circumstances. | This bill permits members of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to perform traffic duties under certain circumstances. Under the provisions of this bill, a volunteer CERT may appoint certain members to perform traffic duties during times of emergency or disaster for a term of up to five years. Prior to performing any duties, the appointed member is required to qualify by: 1) passing a physical examination documenting the member's ability to stand and direct traffic for extended periods of time; 2) successfully completing a basic training course formulated or approved by the New Jersey Police Training Commission; and 3) taking and subscribing an oath that the member will justly, impartially, and faithfully discharge the member's duties. The bill provides that after appointment, a qualified member is eligible to perform duties as a CERT traffic officer and may act anywhere in the county in which the officer is appointed or any county where the officer is called upon to act. In addition, under the bill, the duties of a CERT traffic officer are to perform traffic duties at the request of a law enforcement agency during times of emergency or disaster: 1) on any roadway or intersection until the arrival of a duly authorized law enforcement officer; or 2) at any public event where CERT traffic officer services have been requested to protect the public, subject to the approval of and supervision by the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the public event takes places or the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have a police department. Under the bill, Community Emergency Response Team traffic officers acting in good faith and within the confines of the officer's training are not to be liable in any civil action to respond in damages as a result of any acts of commission or omission arising out of and in the course of performing traffic duties pursuant to the bill. Finally, the bill defines CERT as a group of volunteers working under the authority of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management who are trained to respond to emergency situations. | In Committee |
| S1969 | Establishes Office of Child Advocate. | This bill establishes the Office of the Child Advocate in, but notof, the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The bill provides that the child advocate would seek to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, and that children under State supervision due to abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Child Advocate would be deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill allows the Child Advocate to: investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response on, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State; inspect and review the operations, policies, and procedures of juvenile detention centers, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for the care of abused or neglected children, shelters for the care of juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis cases, shelters for the care of homeless youth, or independent living arrangements; and any other public or private residential setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; 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, or children who receive child protective or permanency services; review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children at risk of abuse or neglect by conducting research audits or other studies of case records, policies, procedures, and protocols, as deemed necessary by the child advocate to assess the performance of the entities; receive, investigate, and make referrals to other agencies or take other appropriate actions with respect to a complaint received by the office regarding the actions of a State, county or municipal agency, or a State-funded private entity providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect; hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the office, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the child advocate deems appropriate; 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 child advocate, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies and contract services, protect children; and intervene in or institute litigation, or 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. The bill provides that the Child Advocate would seek to ensure the protection of children who are in an institution or resource family home by reviewing, evaluating, and monitoring the operation and activities of the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit in DCF. The bill also provides that the Child Advocate would report annually to the Governor, Commissioner of Children and Families, and Legislature on: the activities of the office; priorities for children's services that have been identified by the child advocate; and recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, and are in State or institutional custody, or receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities, and make the annual report available to the public and post the report on DCF's website. | In Committee |
| S883 | Requires NJT to equip trains with defibrillators. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to supply and maintain an automated external defibrillator on every railroad train set used by the corporation. The bill defines train set to mean a locomotive and any accompanying railroad car, passenger car, or other car in the train or a string of connected railroad cars. The bill requires the corporation to maintain a defibrillator in an accessible location on each train set, to ensure the availability of each defibrillator at all times during which the train set is in operation and used by the general public, to ensure that at all times that a train set is in operation, an employee is present who is trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator, and to ensure that each defibrillator is tested and maintained. The corporation is required to mark the location of each defibrillator with a prominent sign. The corporation is required to provide notification to the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider of the type and location of each defibrillator in addition to providing requisite training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator for appropriate employees. The bill also specifies that the corporation and its employees are immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of defibrillators pursuant to existing State law. | In Committee |
| S944 | Requires Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to perform audit of voter registration records in Statewide Voter Registration System. | This bill requires the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to perform an audit of the voter registration records in the Statewide Voter Registration System within 90 days of its effective date. The purpose of the audit is to identify (1) any voter registration records of persons who are ineligible to vote who successfully registered to vote; (2) whether any person who is ineligible to vote attempted to register to vote, even if that attempt was not successful; and (3) whether the procedures to ensure that a reasonable effort is made to remove registrants who are ineligible to vote pursuant to federal or State law are effective, as required under current law. The bill directs the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to jointly develop the audit methodology, processes, and procedures to apply uniformly in each county. Within 30 days of completing the audit, the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration are directed to issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature containing the results of the audit, their findings, and recommendations. | In Committee |
| S830 | Authorizes Chief Administrator of MVC to waive fee for non-driver identification card if applicant submits proof of enrollment in public assistance or social service program. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to waive the fees for a non-driver identification card if an applicant, at the time of application, submits proof that the applicant is enrolled in a public assistance or social service program, as defined in the bill. | In Committee |
| SCR40 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase to $500 veterans' property tax deduction. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to: $300 in calendar year 2023, $350 in calendar year 2024, $400 in calendar year 2025, $450 in calendar year 2026 and $500 in calendar year 2027 and for each year thereafter. The veterans' property tax deduction provided for in the State Constitution was last increased in 1999, when the amount of the annual deduction was raised from $50 to $250 over four years. | In Committee |
| SR49 | Urges immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of marine life off the coast of New Jersey. | This resolution urges the State and federal governments to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of whales and dolphins off the coast of New Jersey. Since December 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recorded at least twelve whale deaths off the coast of New Jersey, eight of which have been humpback whales. In addition, there were also five deaths of dolphins recorded in February 2023 alone. Most of these deaths remain unexplained, but have occurred in or near areas of offshore wind energy development. Given the unprecedented number of these recent deaths, their occurrence in or near areas of offshore wind energy development may be more than coincidental and warrants State and federal investigation. A possible cause of these deaths is the increased use of sonar and other underwater mapping technologies for the development of offshore wind energy projects, which may interfere with marine mammals' ability to hear, communicate, and navigate underwater. Therefore, an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping for these offshore wind energy projects is urged, so that further scientific study of these projects' impact on marine life can be conducted. | In Committee |
| S1704 | Reinstates penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcohol and cannabis as disorderly person offense. | This bill reinstates the criminal penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages, cannabis, marijuana, and hashish as a disorderly person offense. A disorderly person offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. This bill also re-establishes a minimum fine of $500 and re-establishes the penalty of a six month suspension of driving privileges. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement, Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act" ("CREAMMA"), P.L.2021, c.16, established a penalty for underage possession and consumption of cannabis and marijuana equivalent to the penalty for underage alcohol. Shortly after CREAMMA was enacted, the criminal penalties for underage alcohol and cannabis were replaced with a system of non-punitive written warnings, under P.L.2021, c.25, and P.L.2021, c.38. It is the sponsor's view that the written warning scheme has proven ineffectual in curbing underage use and abuse of alcohol and cannabis, as demonstrated by a sharp rise in 2022 and 2023 in the number of police complaints regarding underage parties where alcohol and cannabis were found, particularly in the beach communities along the Jersey Shore. It is the sponsor's intent to control underage alcohol and cannabis use and abuse by reinstating the threat of criminal prosecution, as well as driver's license suspension. | In Committee |
| S826 | Permits certain drivers' schools to conduct road tests. | This bill permits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to designate and appoint examiners that are licensed to operate drivers' schools to conduct the road test required to obtain a driver's license. The bill requires the examiner, upon the completion of a road test, to provide the applicant sitting for the road test with documentation, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the MVC, certifying successful or unsuccessful completion of the road test. Any applicant, who has successfully completed a road test conducted by an examiner licensed to operate a driver's school, is to provide the document certifying successful completion of the road test, in addition to all other documents required pursuant to law, to an MVC agency or regional service center to obtain a probationary driver's license. Any applicant, who has unsuccessfully completed a road test conducted by an examiner licensed to operate a driving school, is required to wait a period of 14 days prior to retaking the road test. Under the bill, the Chief Administrator of the MVC is required to promulgate rules for the conduct of drivers' schools, including the standards for the provision of the road tests that are conducted by an examiner licensed to operate a driver's school within 30 days of the implementation of the bill. The temporary rules and regulations adopted under the bill are to be in effect for a period not to exceed one year after the date of the filing with Office of Administrative Law. Any rules and regulations adopted, amended, or readopted thereafter by the MVC are to be in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act." | In Committee |
| S1352 | Requires school districts to receive written permission from parent or legal guardian before administering certain student health surveys. | This bill would require school districts to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering certain health surveys to students. Under current law, a school district that sends prior written notification to a parent or legal guardian may administer an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment or evaluation to the student which reveals information concerning any of the following issues: · use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping;· sexual behavior and attitudes;· behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or· physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. Written notification provided to a parent or legal guardian is required to be delivered by regular mail, electronic mail, or a written acknowledgement form to be delivered by the student at least two weeks prior to administration of the survey, assessment, analysis, or evaluation. Information obtained through the survey is also required to be submitted to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and may be used to develop public health initiatives and prevention programs. This bill would amend current law to require a school district to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian, rather than providing notification, prior to administering an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation to a student concerning the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping; sexual behavior and attitudes; behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. | In Committee |
| S818 | "Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act." | This bill, which is designated as the "Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act," provides that a physician or dentist who is certified as a volunteer medical professional by the Department of Health (DOH) is immune from civil liability in accordance with its provisions. In order to be certified as a volunteer medical professional and receive civil immunity under the bill, an individual must, at the time of application for certification:· be a physician or dentist licensed to practice in New Jersey;· be deemed to be an employee of the federal Public Health Service as a free clinic health professional providing qualifying health services pursuant to section 224 of the "Public Health Service Act," (42 U.S.C. s.233); and· have provided at least four hours of qualifying health services at a free clinic or a free clinic offsite program each week for four consecutive weeks within the calendar quarter of application. In order to maintain certification as a volunteer medical professional, an individual must:· continue to meet the State licensure requirement;· continue to be deemed as an employee of the federal Public Health Service as a free clinic health professional; and· provide a total of at least 48 hours per calendar quarter of qualifying health services (equivalent to approximately four hours per week) at a free clinic or a free clinic offsite program. Physicians and dentists seeking and maintaining certification, and medical directors of free clinics, as applicable, are required to provide DOH with documentation certifying that the above criteria have been met. The bill provides that a volunteer medical professional certified by DOH is immune from civil liability for any personal injury or wrongful death that is a result of any act or omission in the course of providing care or treatment if the care or treatment was reasonably provided in good faith and the volunteer medical professional was acting within the scope of his practice, except that the immunity does not extend to an act or omission that was the result of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. The exclusive remedy for injury or damage suffered as the result of any act or omission of the volunteer medical professional is by commencement of an action against the State in a court of competent jurisdiction. The bill takes effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Health is authorized to take prior administrative action as necessary for its implementation. | In Committee |
| S832 | Elevates impersonating public servant to crime of fourth degree in certain instances; establishes offense of exploiting authority implied by a public emergency. | Currently, impersonating a public servant is graded as a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. This bill elevates the crime of impersonating a public servant to a crime of the fourth degree during a period of a public health emergency or a state of emergency, or both, when a person falsely pretends to be a contact tracer with purpose to (1) induce another to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense and divulge personal identifying information belonging to the contacted person or personal identifying information belonging to another, or (2) to defraud another using pretended official authority. The bill further establishes that a person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he defrauds another under the guise of a public health emergency or state of emergency, whether or not one has been declared, as the inducement to obtain personal identifying information. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000 or both. Under the bill, "personal identifying information" means any name, number or other information that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific individual and includes, but is not limited to, the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, official State issued identification number, employer or taxpayer number, place of employment, employee identification number, demand deposit account number, savings account number, credit card number, mother's maiden name, unique biometric data, such as fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image or other unique physical representation, or unique electronic identification number, address or routing code of the individual. It is the sponsor's view that taking advantage of periods of crisis in the State to facilitate the crime of impersonating, or committing a crime by exploiting a public emergency regardless of impersonation, not only violates attempts by a vulnerable population to aid in suppressing a crisis, but also undermines the confidence and willingness of the public to cooperate. | 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 |
| S1703 | Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance. | This bill adds $2.35 billion from the General Fund to the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund," and appropriates a total of $4.32 billion from the fund to the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of providing funds to each municipality and county in the State to be used by the municipality or county to retire and defease local debt or to fund capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than issuing additional local debt. The total amount of funds appropriated by the bill includes $1.97 billion in currently unallocated balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund. Under the bill, $3.0 billion would be allocated to each municipality on an equal per capita basis wherein each municipality receives the same dollar amount per resident. The remaining $1.32 billion appropriated by the bill would be allocated to each county on an equal per capita basis. The bill requires that all funds appropriated by the bill be distributed to each municipality and each county within 30 days of enactment. The State budget has recently benefited from debt reduction and avoidance from prior appropriations to the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention account, though typically only after funds have remained in the account for inordinately long periods of time while inflation destroys its value. Local governments can frequently have significant debt which can be equally or more expensive for taxpayers than State debt. Local governments have compelling infrastructure and capital needs that include, but are not limited to: water, sewer, parks, flooding, storm water, public safety, emergency medical services, community development, and traffic improvements. The State's budgeting process has frequently provided only small and symbolic amounts of assistance towards local infrastructure and capital improvements and only after burdensome, inefficient, and politicized processes that chose winners and losers based on favoritism. The sponsor believes it is sound public policy to quickly and efficiently direct remaining balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund towards debt reduction and avoidance that benefits property taxpayers and all residents of the State through a fair and reasonable allocation process. | In Committee |
| S713 | Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities. | This bill creates a State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities. This bill would add a new three percent set-aside program for disability-owned business enterprises which is in addition to other State set-aside programs. The three percent set-aside would represent three percent of all contracts awarded by contracting agencies. "Disability-owned business enterprise" would be defined to mean a business which has its principal place of business in the State, is independently owned and operated and at least 51 percent of which is owned and controlled by persons with disabilities and is certified by nonprofit organizations focused on business disability inclusion, including Disability:IN, as a disability-owned business enterprise. Disability-owned business enterprise is a commonly used term by several non-profit organizations focused on business disability inclusion, such as Disability:IN, to recognize such businesses. The term "disability" would be defined to mean a physical or mental disability that substantially impairs a major life activity. | In Committee |
| S866 | Suspends fines for certain first-time paperwork violations committed by small businesses. | This bill would suspend the assessment of fines against small businesses for certain minor first-time paperwork violations. Under the bill, a small business means a business entity that employs 50 full-time employees or fewer and qualifies as a small business concern as defined in the federal "Small Business Act." Under the bill, a fine would not be suspended if:· the violation has the potential to cause serious harm to the public interest;· failure to impose a fine or penalty would impede or interfere with the detection of criminal activity;· the violation concerns the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt;· the violation was not corrected within six months of the date the small business received notification of the violation; or· except as provided below, the violation presents a danger to public safety. If a State agency or regulatory authority determines that the violation presents a danger to the public safety, the agency or regulatory authority may nevertheless suspend the assessment of a fine under certain circumstances if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after notification to the business of the violation. This bill is based upon a federal bill that was sponsored in the 114th United States Congress, introduced on January 7, 2015. The federal bill provided for the suspension of fines under certain circumstances for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses. | In Committee |
| S806 | Permits purchase of service credit in PERS, TPAF, PFRS, and SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy. | Under current law, a period of service in the United States Armed Forces qualifies as military service that a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) may purchase for retirement purposes. This bill permits the purchase of the period of enrollment in a United States military service academy. The four service academies affiliated with the United States military educate young people to serve as commissioned officers in the various branches of the United States Armed Forces. They are the only academies whose students are on active duty in the United State Armed Forces from the day they enter the academy, with the rank of cadet and midshipman and subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The military service academies are the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy. | In Committee |
| S509 | Eliminates weekly COVID-19 testing requirement for unvaccinated State employees. | This bill eliminates the periodic COVID-19 testing requirement for unvaccinated State employees. Under the bill, a State employer will not maintain a policy requiring that employees, regardless of vaccination status, submit to periodic COVID-19 testing or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. This bill does not prohibit an employee of the State from voluntarily testing for COVID-19. The bill also does not prohibit a State employer from requiring testing of an employee who is symptomatic for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. | In Committee |
| S802 | Authorizes free admission to State parks and forests for certain veterans, military personnel, first responders, and police. | This bill would expand upon current law to provide that the following persons also would be entitled to free admission to State parks and forests: (1) an active member of any branch or department of the Armed Forces of the United States, or reserves component thereof; (2) a veteran; (3) a first responder who is a resident of New Jersey; and (4) any immediate family member of a person who qualifies for free admission to a State park or forest. Under the bill, a "first responder" is defined as a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual who, in the course of employment, is dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance. In addition, an "immediate family member" is defined as a spouse, child, step child, father, mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandmother, grandfather, or grandchild living in the same household with the person qualifying for free admission, pursuant to paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection a. of the bill. Current law already provides free admission to State residents who are active members of the New Jersey National Guard, totally disabled, or 62 or more years of age. This bill would expand that eligibility to the categories of persons described above. | In Committee |
| S849 | "New Jersey Safe Haven for Protection of Domestic Companion Animals Act." | This bill provides that any person, may voluntarily and anonymously deliver a domestic companion animal to a shelter, pound, veterinary hospital, or police station in the State, and leave the animal with an employee, veterinarian, or police officer at the facility. The bill provides that the person would not be liable for the care or disposition of the animal. The bill further provides that no employee, veterinarian, or police officer at the shelter, pound, veterinary hospital, or police station, as applicable, may refuse to accept any domestic companion animal. Finally, the bill directs the Commissioner of Health to establish a public education and information program to disseminate the information on the requirements of this bill to every municipality, shelter, pound, veterinary hospital, police station, and public school with students in grades three through 12. | In Committee |
| S872 | Excludes bonuses for reenlistment or voluntary extension of enlistment in armed forces from gross income. | This bill excludes from taxable gross income under the New Jersey gross income tax certain bonuses received by members of the Armed Forces. Amounts received as bonuses for reenlisting or voluntarily extending enlistment may be excluded from gross income pursuant to this bill. The purpose of the bill is to provide tax relief to taxpayers that valiantly and unselfishly serve their country, often at considerable sacrifice to themselves and their families, by allowing them to exclude reenlistment and voluntary extension of enlistment bonuses from taxable gross income. | In Committee |
| SCR41 | Memorializes President and Congress to expand certain benefits to grandchildren of veterans impacted by Agent Orange. | This resolution memorializes the President and Congress to provide the grandchildren with Spina Bifida of veterans exposed to Agent Orange the same benefits as the children with Spina Bifida of veterans exposed to Agent Orange as provided by the "Agent Orange Benefits Act of 1996." Grandchildren of Vietnam and Korean War veterans who are negatively affected by their grandparent's service through the acquiring of diseases caused by Agent Orange, such as Spinia Bifida, will have limited support in managing the consequences of their illness unless provided the same benefits as the children of veterans with the same affliction. Spina Bifida is a life-long debilitating disease that can cause numerous serious health issues. The expansion of benefits to include the grandchildren of these veterans will alleviate the financial burden of the disease and provide valuable services such as counseling, education, and employment services. The United States of America has greatly benefitted from the service of all veterans and owes its support to the grandchildren of veterans afflicted by diseases linked to military service. | In Committee |
| S860 | Exempts law enforcement and certain other emergency personnel from liability for breaking into motor vehicle to rescue animal under certain circumstances. | This bill exempts from any liability for any damages caused by any law enforcement officer, firefighter, rescue squad member, or other emergency personnel breaking into a motor vehicle in which an animal has been left in conditions that the person reasonably believes are an immediate threat to the health of the animal and breaking into the vehicle was the last resort to rescue the animal from serious injury or loss of life. | In Committee |
| S882 | Extends period of usefulness of fire engines for bonding purposes from 10 to 20 years; eliminates exclusion of passenger cars and station wagons. | This bill amends N.J.S.40A:2-22, a section of the "Local Bond Law," to increase the period of usefulness of fire engines, apparatus, and equipment, for bonding purposes, when purchased new, from 10 to 20 years. The bill also allows for passenger cars and station wagons, when purchased new, to be financed for a period not to exceed five years. This bill specifies that the period of usefulness for certain vehicles and apparatus for bonding purposes is as follows: (1) for automotive vehicles, including original apparatus and equipment, when purchased new, the period of usefulness is five years, with the bill extending applicability for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) below 15,000 pounds, and the period of usefulness is 10 years for vehicles with GVWR in excess of 15,000 pounds; and (2) for major repairs, reconditioning, or overhaul of fire engines and apparatus, ambulances, rescue vehicles, and similar public safety vehicles, the bill extends applicability to public works vehicles with GVWR in excess of 15,000 pounds, and heavy construction equipment with a weight in excess of 10,000 pounds, which may reasonably be expected to extend for at least five years the period of usefulness thereof, the period of usefulness is five years. The bill also defines "Gross vehicle weight rating" to mean the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single or combination (articulated) vehicle. The GVWR of a combination (articulated) vehicle, commonly referred to as the "gross combination weight rating" or "GCWR," is the GVWR of the power unit plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units. | Dead |
| S887 | Prohibits reporting medical information of children without consent of parent or legal guardian. | This bill prohibits reporting medical information of children without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The bill supplements Title 26 of the Revised Statutes to provide that no information of a child is to be reported by a health care provider to, or otherwise shared with, the Department of Health, or any other local or State governmental employee or entity, without first obtaining the express, informed, and written consent of the child's parent or legal guardian. However, the bill's provisions do not prohibit reporting or sharing a child's information if a health care provider has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse, including sexual abuse. Further, the bill amends various statutes within Title 26 of the Revised Statues regarding registries for autism, lead screening, birth defects, hearing loss, severe neonatal jaundice, sudden cardiac events, and vaccines, to provide that no information is to be reported to the Department of Health without first obtaining the express, informed, and written consent of the child's parent or legal guardian. | In Committee |
| S796 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of cancer treatments, tests, procedures and prescription drugs covered under health benefits or prescription drug benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, pharmacy benefits managers, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of treatments, tests, procedures, or prescription drugs covered under a health benefits or prescription drug benefits plan when prescribed for a covered individual who has been diagnosed with cancer. This bill will ensure that cancer patients are not burdened with technical requirements by health benefits providers which employ utilization management review systems that slow down medical care. The sponsor is concerned that complaints from people who need medical treatment are on the rise, and feels that it is time to end the nightmare of the insurance company bureaucracy that is frustrating patients who need care and medicine. The so-called "pre-approval" process, now required by insurance companies, is a nightmare for patients across New Jersey. Historically, doctors would order a treatment, test, or medicine and patients received it. Now, a myriad of bureaucratic obstacles makes patients and doctors pawns in a sad game of insurance-company chess. There are examples of cancer patients waiting for long periods of time to receive treatments or medicine because of a cumbersome and slow approval policy. The sponsor is convinced that it is time for the doctors to make decisions, not insurance companies; it is time for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer to not be burdened with technical requirements by insurance companies that employ systems that slow down medical care and are incredibly frustrating. It is the sponsor's goal that insurance companies pay for what the doctor orders. | In Committee |
| S813 | Establishes public awareness campaign concerning programs and services for first responders, healthcare workers, other frontline workers, and their families experiencing mental health issues related to COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information to the general public concerning the programs and services available for first responders, healthcare workers, other frontline workers, and their families experiencing mental health issues related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder. In establishing the public awareness campaign, the commissioner will be required to develop outreach efforts and provide information to the general public on: the link between mental health issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder; resources for first responders, healthcare workers, other frontline workers, and their families experiencing mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the programs and services provided by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and other federal, State, and local social services and mental health agencies; any telephone helpline established by the Department of Human Services for first responders and healthcare workers experiencing mental health issues due to their work during the pandemic; and anxiety reducing strategies and other methods to manage stress, depression, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill: the public awareness campaign is to target the general public and first responders, healthcare workers, other frontline workers, and their families experiencing mental health issues through a variety of media, including television, radio, print, and on the DHS's Internet website; and the commissioner will provide for the development of advertisements, by signs, billboards, placards, posters and displays placed on New Jersey Transit bus, rail, and light rail system, in English and Spanish, on the public awareness campaign. | In Committee |
| S873 | Requires EDA administer small business loan program to provide loans to small businesses owned or controlled by certain veterans. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), to the greatest extent practicable, to administer an existing small business loan program in a manner to provide that at least 12 percent of all moneys directly loaned under the program in any calendar year are loaned to eligible small businesses that are owned or controlled by one or more veterans, with priority given to businesses owned or controlled by veterans who have been declared as having a service-connected disability. | In Committee |
| S878 | Permits conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | This bill permits raffle licensees to conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. Under current law, municipalities where voters have approved a referendum to allow raffle games may license eligible organizations to conduct these games. The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety regulates the conduct of these games. Under Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2, subparagraph B of the State Constitution, and under the Raffles Licensing Law, eligible organizations may apply for a license to conduct raffles. Bona fide organizations or associations of veterans; churches or religious congregations and religious organizations; charitable, educational, and fraternal organizations; civic and service clubs; senior citizen associations and clubs; officially recognized volunteer fire companies; and officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squads are eligible to apply for a license. This bill permits eligible organizations to conduct Queen of Hearts raffle games. A "Queen of Hearts raffle" means a raffle game utilizing a Queen of Hearts raffle board onto which 54 thoroughly shuffled playing cards are placed facedown, side-by-side. Raffle tickets are placed into a ticket drum or other receptacle and a winning ticket is drawn at random. The participant holding the winning raffle ticket is entitled to "Search for the Queen of Hearts" by selecting one of the facedown playing cards. When the playing card selected is not the Queen of Hearts, the card is placed out of play, and the person is awarded a cash prize valued according to a certain schedule. The raffle drawings are conducted weekly until a person selects the Queen of Hearts. When a person selects the Queen of Hearts, that person will be awarded 50 percent of the prize, and the remainder of the prize will be retained by the licensee as proceeds from conducting the raffle. The bill specifies that the licensee may use the net proceeds derived from the conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games in any manner allowable by law and in accordance with State regulations. The bill directs the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | In Committee |
| S1289 | Authorizes creation of non-lapsing fire academy trust fund by county. | This bill authorizes any county to establish a "Fire Academy Trust Fund" into which it would deposit all fees paid by individuals registering for courses at the county fire academy and from which expenditures would be disbursed exclusively for the procurement of equipment, ongoing maintenance and supplies, and associated services necessary to operate and maintain the county fire academy. By allowing counties to establish a trust fund for revenue generated from individuals paying a course registration fee at county fire academies, this bill permits these revenues to be dedicated to covering the costs of the fire academies beyond the one-year budget cycle otherwise provided for in the "Local Budget Law." Without this amendment, these funds would lapse into the county budget surplus at the end of any given budget year. | In Committee |
| S2257 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures and prescription drugs covered under health benefits or prescription drug benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, pharmacy benefits managers, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures or prescription drugs covered under a health benefits or prescription drug benefits plan. This bill will ensure that patients who are ill are not burdened with technical requirements by health benefits providers which employ utilization management review systems that slow down medical care. The sponsor is concerned that complaints from people who need medical treatment are on the rise, and feels that it is time to end the nightmare of the insurance company bureaucracy that is frustrating patients who need care and medicine. The so-called "pre-approval" process, now required by insurance companies, is a nightmare for patients across New Jersey. Historically, doctors would order a test or medicine and patients received it. Now, a myriad of bureaucratic obstacles makes patients and doctors pawns in a sad game of insurance-company chess. There are examples of cancer patients waiting for long periods of time to receive medicine because of a cumbersome and slow approval policy. The sponsor is convinced that it is time for the doctors to make decisions, not insurance companies; it is time for patients who are ill to not be burdened with technical requirements by insurance companies that employ systems that slow down medical care and are incredibly frustrating. It is the sponsor's goal that insurance companies pay for what the doctor orders. | In Committee |
| S819 | Provides dedicated funding for New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from Workforce Development Partnership Fund. | This bill would establish a permanent new source of funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund. The primary purpose of the Commission on Cancer Research is to promote significant and original research in New Jersey into the causes, prevention, treatment, and palliation of cancer and to serve as a resource to providers and consumers of cancer services. Since it was established in 1983, the commission's grants have helped to support over 500 cancer research projects, helping to launch the long and successful careers of cancer researchers in New Jersey. Under current statute, the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research is meant to receive $1 million annually from the receipts from cigarette taxes. However, this money has been diverted to fill other gaps in the budget in several recent years. The bill would provide approximately the same amount of funding from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund. The bill would not affect other sources of dedicated funding received by the commission, such revenue from sales of "Conquer Cancer" license plates; or the Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, and Prostate Cancer Research Funds. | In Committee |
| S836 | Authorizes municipality to deliver property tax bills, construction permits, and receipts for payment via e-mail. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Office of Information Technology and the State Treasurer, to establish a mechanism by which a municipality may transmit property tax bills, construction permits, and receipts for payment of municipal fees and charges via e-mail. The bill permits a municipality to adopt an ordinance designating the use of e-mail as an authorized means of delivery, but does not permit a municipality to designate it as the sole means of delivery. The bill specifies that a municipality would have to continue providing hard copies though regular mail, at no extra charge, to any taxpayer, applicant, or fee payer who does not request electronic delivery | In Committee |
| SR137 | Urges State to recognize September 22, 2025 as "National Family Day." | Urges State to recognize September 22, 2025 as "National Family Day." | Introduced |
| S4727 | Requires volunteers, employees, and organizers of certain youth and sports organizations to receive criminal history record background checks. | Requires volunteers, employees, and organizers of certain youth and sports organizations to receive criminal history record background checks. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Nay |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Nay |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 25 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 10/24/2019 | |
| NJ | District 25 | House | Republican | Out of Office | 01/12/2010 | 01/23/2024 |