Legislator
Legislator > Joe Lagana
State Senator
Joe Lagana
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 38
In Office - Started: 04/12/2018
contact info
Paramus Office
205 Robin Road
Suite 122
Paramus, NJ 07652
Suite 122
Paramus, NJ 07652
Phone: 201-576-9199
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | An Act concerning prohibition of certain employer communications and supplementing and amending P.L.2006, c.53. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | An Act concerning requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements and amending P.L.2011, c.118. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5792 | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | An Act concerning first responders and supplementing chapter 15 of Title 34 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | This bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to develop an automated system for use by the boards, committees, or other entities in the division that regulate a profession or occupation which requires a licensee to complete continuing education to renew a license to track the credits or hours completed by each licensee. The system is to determine if a licensee is in compliance with the continuing education requirement of the particular profession or occupation in time for the renewal of a license, notwithstanding any hardship experienced by a licensee that has been determined by the requisite board, committee, or other entity. | Crossed Over |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | This bill amends the local bond law to exempt a local government from appropriating an amount equal to five percent of the amount of obligations for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. The bill also exempts a local government from applying to the local finance board concerning the maturity and amount of annual installment payments related to the financing of local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. The bill also makes technical corrections to existing law. | Crossed Over |
| S4510 | Clarifies procedures in certain contested child custody cases. | Clarifies procedures in certain contested child custody cases. | Crossed Over |
| S4439 | Establishes protections for student-athletes and certain institutions of higher education concerning name, image, or likeness compensation; repeals "New Jersey Fair Play Act." | An Act concerning student-athletes, supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing P.L.2020, c.83. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4590 | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | In Committee |
| S4681 | Requires parties in arbitration proceedings to be represented by attorneys in certain circumstances. | This bill requires a party in an arbitration proceeding to be represented by an attorney in certain circumstances. Under the bill, a party to an arbitration proceeding concerning a claim for personal injury protection coverage will be required to be represented by an attorney licensed to practice law in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3302 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | In Committee |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Passed |
| S4668 | Allows courier services to sell instant lottery game tickets electronically; requires contribution from Lottery Enterprise to certain State retirement systems. | This bill authorizes lottery ticket courier services to sell instant lottery game tickets electronically to persons located in this State. The bill defines "instant lottery game ticket" to mean a physical ticket approved by the Division of State Lottery where play symbols are revealed by removing a latex or protective coating, and prizes are awarded according to the symbols revealed on a particular ticket. Additionally, the bill requires that the Lottery Enterprise contributes an additional amount of funds to the State's retirement systems, in the event that the retirement systems are not fully funded in State Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025 and ends June 30, 2026. Under current law, the Lottery Enterprise contributes 30 percent of the total sales of tickets and ticket shares to the Common Pension Fund L, which funds are then allocated to the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Public Employees' Retirement System, and the Police and Firemen's Retirement System. | In Committee |
| S4605 | Permits certain members of Prosecutors Part of PERS to qualify for service retirement with 20 or more years of service. | This bill permits an active member of the Prosecutors Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who is enrolled before the effective date of this bill to retire on or after the effective date of this bill, but no later than 5 years from the effective date of the bill, upon attaining 20 or more years of service credit regardless of age. Under the bill, such a member will be entitled to a retirement allowance equal to 50 percent of the member's final compensation. Under current law, a member must be 55 years of age or older and attain at least 20 years of service credit to retire on a service retirement allowance of 50 percent of final compensation. | In Committee |
| S4582 | Provides for permit of pool and spa service business as general contractor for pool and spa building and installation and pool and spa service contracting. | This bill provides for the permit of a pool and spa service business as a general contractor for pool and spa building and installation and pool and spa service contracting. The bill defines "pool and spa service business" as a partnership, corporation, or any other business entity engaged in the management and coordination of all phases of pool and spa building and installation and pool and spa contracting and holds a valid business license. The bill requires that a pool and spa service business shall secure a business permit from the Pool and Spa Service Contractors and Pool and Spa Builders and Installers Advisory Committee prior to engaging in the performance of any work. The board will issue a permit to a business: (1) where at least one employee holds a valid pool and spa builder and installer license or pool and spa contractor license issued by the board; (2) that pays required application and renewal fees; and (3) that meets any additional requirements established by the board. Business permits must be renewed every three years. Under the bill, a pool and spa service business holding a valid permit is authorized to serve as a general contractor for all aspects of pool and spa building and installation and pool and spa contracting, provided that all specialized work is performed by appropriately licensed professionals where required by law. Finally, the bill establishes that subcontractors working under a pool and spa service business are not required to obtain a separate license but are required to perform work under the supervision of a permitted pool and spa service business. | In Committee |
| S4392 | Revises film and digital media content production tax credit program to include requirement for production of domestic original music and musical scores. | The bill revises the Garden State Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for expenses incurred for the production of certain films and digital media content. Specifically, the bill revises the tax credit program to include an additional criterion for certain film and digital media content expenses to be considered eligible for the tax credit. The bill adds a requirement to the tax credit program for taxpayers that produce films and digital media content that include original music or original musical scores. The bill requires all original music and original musical scores developed for the production of film or digital media content to be produced and recorded domestically in the United States or any of its territories. | In Committee |
| S4374 | Requires disclosure of third-party litigation funding agreements and establishes certain responsibilities for litigation funders. | Requires disclosure of third-party litigation funding agreements and establishes certain responsibilities for litigation funders. | In Committee |
| S4224 | Establishes education requirements for certain officers of State Board of Medical Examiners. | This bill amends R.S.45:9-2 to require the State Board of Medical Examiners (the board) to elect a vice president in addition to a president, a secretary, and a treasurer, and requires the president and vice president to be an allopathic physician (M.D.), an osteopathic physician (D.O.), or a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.). This bill will take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment to allow the board sufficient time to comply with the new education requirements for its officers. | Crossed Over |
| S3906 | Revises "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" to provide enforcement and penalty provisions. | Revises "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" to provide enforcement and penalty provisions. | Crossed Over |
| S1481 | Prohibits health club services contracts from limiting liability for injuries caused by negligence of health club. | This bill prohibits health club services contracts from limiting the liability of the health club to a buyer for injuries caused by or resulting from the negligence of the owner or operator, or an agent or employee of the owner or operator, of the health club. This bill is intended to codify Justice Albin's dissent in the case of Pulice v. Green Brook Sports & Fitness, 236 N.J. 1 (2018); see also Stelluti v. Casapenn, 203 N.J. 286 (2010) (Albin, J., dissenting) (arguing that a contract limiting a health club's liability from its own negligence is void as against public policy). A violation of this bill would be an unlawful practice pursuant to the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. | In Committee |
| S4581 | Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to create open data portal and provide certain datasets online. | This bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to create, maintain, and annually update an open data portal on the division's Internet website that provides public access to certain datasets collected by the division, including information on professional and occupational licensing, registration, and certification information and consumer complaints. Datasets made available by the division on the open data portal shall comply with the provisions of the open public records act, and all applicable State and federal privacy laws. | In Committee |
| S4543 | Prohibits third-party restaurant reservation service from arranging unauthorized restaurant reservation with food service establishment. | This bill prohibits a third-party restaurant reservation service from listing, advertising, promoting, or selling reservations for a food service establishment without a written agreement between the third-party restaurant reservation service and the food service establishment. The bill defines "food service establishment" to mean a place where food is provided for individual portion service directly to the consumer whether that food is provided free of charge or sold, and whether consumption occurs on or off the premises or is provided from a pushcart, stand, or vehicle. Under the bill, "third-party restaurant reservation service" means any website, mobile application, or other internet service that: offers or arranges for reserving on-premises service for a customer at a food service establishment; and that is owned and operated by a person other than the person who owns the food service establishment. The bill provides that any person who violates its provisions is subject to a civil penalty that will not exceed $1,000 for each violation, and that a violation by a third-party restaurant reservation service under the bill will accrue on a daily basis for each day and for each food service establishment with respect to which a violation of the bill was committed. This bill mirrors legislation enacted by New York and introduced in Illinois prohibiting a third-party restaurant reservation service from listing, advertising, promoting, or selling reservations for a food service establishment without a written agreement between the third-party restaurant reservation service and the food service establishment. | In Committee |
| S4542 | Excludes from gross income tax certain compensation earned by college athletes for use of name, image, or likeness. | This bill excludes from New Jersey gross income compensation earned by a taxpayer for the use of their name, image, or likeness, pursuant to the "New Jersey Fair Play Act," P.L.2020, c.83 (C.18A:3B-86 et seq.), during any taxable year in which the taxpayer participates in intercollegiate athletics as a student at a four-year institution of higher education in the State. The amount of the exclusion would be limited to $100,000 per taxable year. Under the New Jersey Fair Play Act, a four-year institution of higher education is prohibited, in part, from preventing current or prospective student-athletes from earning compensation for the use of the athlete's name, image, or likeness. The exclusion provided under the bill would only be provided to taxpayers who participate in intercollegiate athletics as a student at a four-year institution of higher education in the State. | In Committee |
| S3689 | Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before end of five-year registration period. | Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before end of five-year registration period. | In Committee |
| S3761 | Permits Department of Human Services to appoint persons separate from civil service eligible list under certain circumstances. | Under current law, when the Department of Human Services requests an eligible list of hires from the Civil Service Commission for the purpose of hiring an American Sign Language interpreter to provide interpretation services, it may take several months to receive the eligible list, and in the meantime, positions go unfilled. In addition, there are times when the list is received and either there are no suitable persons, or the persons on the list do not accept the position. This bill will permit the waiving of the commission hiring requirements, enabling the department to fill vacancies. Under the bill, when the department requests a certified eligible list from the commission for the purpose of hiring an American Sign Language interpreter to provide interpretation services, and a list is not provided within 60 days, or an appointment does not result from the list, the department may hire an otherwise qualified candidate for the position. The department, with the written authorization of the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, must sign a waiver designed and authorized by the Civil Service Commission exempting the candidate from the civil service hiring process. Upon accepting appointment, the candidate must satisfactorily complete the working test period to be considered by the commission as qualified for the position and to have civil service status. The commission will not require the department to replace the candidate upon issuance of a subsequent certified eligible list. This bill will help reduce the number of vacancies within the Department of Human Services. | In Committee |
| S4521 | Revises certain laws governing police and fire interest arbitration. | This bill makes several changes to the current law governing arbitration awards in disputes between public employers and their police and fire departments. Under current law, any time after a collective negotiation agreement between a public employer and a public police or fire department expires, either party may petition the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) for arbitration. Current law outlines the ways in which public employers are to negotiate these contractual disputes when the parties have reached impasse and are unable to resolve their dispute. This bill provides that both parties have a duty to exchange information including the written reports of any experts intended to be called as a witness by a party at the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator would be required to have the authority to set deadlines for the exchange of information. If a party fails to timely exchange information or the report of an expert, the bill allows the arbitrator to have discretion as to the evidence that is to be included in the record. The bill also establishes certain requirements for the public employer. Under the bill, the public employer is required to provide prior to the commencement of the arbitration proceeding, the arbitrator and the employee representative with the following:· a list of all unit members during the final year of the expired agreement, their salary guide steps during the final year of the expired agreement, and their anniversary date of hire, meaning the date or dates on which unit members advance on the guide; · costs of increments and the specific dates on which they are paid; · costs of any other base salary items and the specific dates on which they are paid; · the total cost of all base salary items for the 12 months immediately preceding the first year of the new agreement; and · a list of all unit members as of the last day of the year immediately preceding the new agreement, their step, and their rate of salary as of that same day. The employee representative would be required to respond to the information provided by the public employer. Under current law, arbitrators selected to make determinations pertaining to these contractual disputes are employees of PERC. The commission is required to take measures to assure the impartial, random selection of an arbitrator from its panel of arbitrators. This bill provides that upon receipt of a petition for arbitration the commission is required to communicate to the parties the option to mutually select an arbitrator from the panel. Under the bill, the parties would have three business days to notify the commission of the mutual selection. If there is no mutual selection on the fourth business day, the bill requires the commission to randomly select an arbitrator without participation of either party. The bill also removes the requirement that arbitrators serving on the panel are required to demonstrate to the commission their professional qualification, knowledge and experience, in accordance with the criteria and rules adopted by the commission. The bill also extends the time frame during which an arbitrator is required to render an opinion to 150 days of the commission's assignment. Current law requires an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators to render an opinion with 90 days of the commission's assignment. Under the bill, an arbitrator may request an extension and the commission chair or a designee may grant the extension if warranted. The bill limits the extension time to 30 days cumulatively but in no case more than 180 days. The bill also extends from 14 days to 21 days the amount of time that an aggrieved party may file an appeal under certain circumstances. Under the bill, the parties would be required to meet within 10 days after the issuance of an award to complete the award's implementation and resolve any issued to avoid filing of an appeal. The bill also increases the fees associated with the cost of arbitration that are equally shared by the parties. Specifically the bill increases the cost of services provided by the arbitrator from $1,000 to $1,500 per day. The total cost of services of an arbitrator would be increased from $10,000 to $15,000. Finally, the bill repeals sections from current law that place a limitation on the amount that may be awarded during an arbitration proceeding and establish an Police and Fire Interest Arbitration Impact Task Force. | 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 |
| S4457 | Amends statutory law to change title of "physician assistant" to "physician associate." | This bill replaces instances of "physician assistant" and its variants in the statutory law of this State to "physician associate" and makes certain technical changes. In May 2021, the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), formerly the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the national organization representing physician associates voted to change the title of "physician assistant" to "physician associate." The State's statutory law has been changed to conform to the AAPA's usage of its preferred term. | In Committee |
| S4316 | Establishes professional licensure and certification for tobacco treatment counseling. | This bill establishes professional licensure and certification for the practice of certain tobacco and nicotine treatment counseling. The bill establishes two new regulated professions: licensed clinical tobacco treatment specialists and certified clinical tobacco treatment specialists. The bill provides that both professions are to be regulated by the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee in the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners. The bill prohibits the practice of tobacco treatment counseling as a licensed clinical tobacco treatment specialist or certified clinical tobacco treatment specialist unless a person is licensed or certified pursuant to the bill. The bill establishes an application process for licensed or certified clinical tobacco treatment counselors. The bill provides that the board is to issue a tobacco treatment specialist license to any health care provider in this State who, within the scope of that provider's practice, diagnoses and treats tobacco or nicotine related disorders and demonstrates to the board that the person has: (1) received, at a minimum, a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in counseling or counseling related subjects; (2) successfully completed all the requirements to be a certified tobacco treatment specialist; and (3) successfully completed a written examination. For certified tobacco treatment specialists, each applicant is to furnish evidence satisfactory to the committee that the applicant has completed the Rutgers Tobacco Dependence Program of 42 hours. Applicants must also complete varying amounts of full-time counseling or health care experience, and supervised practice training, depending on their educational background. The bill also provides that a tobacco treatment specialist may not disclose any confidential information that the specialist, or an employee of a specialist may have acquired while performing tobacco counseling services for a patient unless in accordance with the federal regulations regarding the confidentiality of tobacco treatment patient records. The bill provides that no person shall engage in the practice of tobacco treatment counseling as a licensed clinical tobacco treatment specialist or a certified clinical tobacco treatment specialist unless the person is practicing under the direct supervision of a physician licensed to practice in this State. The bill provides it does not prevent a person from doing tobacco counseling work, or advertising that service, if acting within the scope of the person's profession or occupation and doing work consistent with the person's training, including physicians, clinical social workers, psychologists, nurses, or any other profession or occupation licensed by the State, or students within accredited programs of these professions, if the person does not hold himself or herself out to the public as possessing a license or certification issued pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| S4225 | Broadens scope of information sharing and civil immunity therefor, related to insurance fraud. | This bill broadens the scope of information a person or entity, such as an insurance carrier, may disclose to other parties related to actual or potential insurance fraud, and the scope of the related civil immunity covering the person's or entity's distribution of that information. The bill concerns information disclosure practices related to insurance fraud, with the intent of strengthening State and insurance industry efforts to hamper fraudulent activities. To that end, the bill amends and supplements the State statutes governing insurance information practices, P.L.1985, c.179 (C.17:23A-1 et seq.), popularly referred to as the "Insurance Information Practices Act," and the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," P.L.1983, c.320 (C.17:33A-1 et seq.). Specifically, the bill: -Expands the definition of "insurance-support organization" regarding insurance information practices, to permit any such organization to collect and report information about any person or entity in connection with an insurance transaction, going beyond the current scope as expressed in the definition, which focuses only on information collecting and reporting concerning an individual insured, applicant, or claimant; -Similarly expands the definition of "privileged information" regarding insurance information practices, to indicate that such information may relate to any person or entity concerning an insurance transaction; -Modifies the scope of permitted information disclosures with respect to insurance information practices, so that an insurance carrier, among other insurance institutions, or an agent or insurance-support organization may disclose privileged information (as defined above) about a person or entity in connection with, or in reasonable anticipation of, an insurance transaction, to: 1) another insurance institution, agent, or insurance-support organization; 2) any other person or entity involved in detecting or preventing criminal activity or insurance fraud; or 3) a law enforcement or other governmental authority; -Expands the existing immunity provided to any person or entity for disclosing information, as well as the existing immunity associated with the mandatory reporting requirements and information furnishings set forth under the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," to apply to a cause of action "of any nature," instead of the current law's more limited immunity against causes of action in the nature of defamation, invasion of privacy, or other related actions; and -Establishes a new, similarly expansive immunity under the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act" relating to making reports to, or providing information to, or receiving information from: 1) the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, or any employee, agent, or representative of the commissioner, including the Bureau of Fraud Deterrence; 2) federal, State, or local law enforcement, including the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, or other governmental authority; 3) any person performing a business, professional, or insurance function concerning the detection or prevention of criminal activity, fraud, material misrepresentation, or material nondisclosure which violates the provisions of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act"; 4) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a national nonprofit organization which assists state insurance regulators, individually and collectively, in serving the public interest and achieving insurance regulatory and market goals; or 5) the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing, detecting, and eliminating insurance fraud. By establishing a legal framework for the greater flow of information between the insurance industry and law enforcement, as well as among various parties within the insurance industry, the bill intends to strengthen the efforts of the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor and the insurance industry to thwart fraudulent activities. | In Committee |
| S3864 | Allows certain individuals eligible for family support services to set aside unused agency-after school care service hours for use during holiday and weekend hours. | Allows certain individuals eligible for family support services to set aside unused agency-after school care service hours for use during holiday and weekend hours. | In Committee |
| S4385 | Prohibits non-compete clauses. | This bill prohibits non-compete clauses, with certain exceptions, and prohibits no-poach agreements. The bill provides that no private, public, or nonprofit employer may seek, require, demand, or accept a non-compete agreement from any employee or other individual who provides services for, on behalf of the employer, whether the individual is paid or unpaid, including an independent contractor, extern, intern, volunteer, apprentice, or sole proprietor. A non-compete clause is defined by the bill as any agreement between an employer and a covered individual that prohibits or restricts that covered individual from obtaining employment after the conclusion of employment with the employer included as a party to the agreement. The bill provides that every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent void. Regarding non-compete clauses in effect when the bill goes into effect, the bill requires that employer to notify the affected employees that those non-compete clauses are no longer valid and not enforceable. The bill provides the following exceptions to the prohibition on non-compete clauses: 1. When a cause of action related to a non-compete clause accrued prior to the effective date of the bill; 2. Non-compete clauses entered into by an employer pursuant to a bona fide sale of a business entity or its operating assets, or of the employer's ownership interest in a business entity; or 3. Non-compete clauses between employers and senior executives which were entered into prior to the effective date of the bill will remain valid if they meet certain requirements specified by the bill, or are modified to meet the requirements. The bill's requirements for existing non-compete clause for senior executives include: 1. That the non-compete clause is not broader than necessary to protect legitimate interests of the employer, including trade secrets and other confidentiality issues; 2. That the period in which employment for a worker is restricted not be longer than 12 months; 3. That there be no retaliation against a worker for defending rights provided by the bill and no waiver of the worker's rights provided by the bill or other law; 4. That the non-complete clause is related to the work actually done by the worker and the geographic area where the work was done. The bill also prohibits employers from entering no-poach agreements to not hire each other's employees or former employees. A covered individual may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against any employer or person alleged to have violated the provisions of the bill. The court has jurisdiction to void any non-compete clause or no-poach agreement and to order appropriate relief. The bill also authorizes the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to impose penalties on employers for failing to provide the notifications to employees required by the bill. | In Committee |
| S4317 | Excludes contributions made to certain retirement savings plans under gross income tax. | This bill provides taxpayers a gross income tax exclusion in the amount of contributions made to certain retirement plans that qualify for federal income tax benefits. The affected types of plans are: (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, allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits; (3) a deferred compensation plan of a state or local government that meets the requirements of section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (4) a federal Thrift Savings Plan; or (5) a standard Individual Retirement Account pursuant to section 408 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The contributions to these plans are taxed upon distribution from the account. The bill applies to contributions made or premiums paid in taxable years beginning on or after the January 1 next following the bill's enactment. | In Committee |
| S3416 | Establishes additional health insurance carrier network adequacy standards with respect to certain physician specialists. | This bill establishes additional network adequacy standards for health insurance carriers that offer a managed care plan. Current law requires regulations for those carriers to include standards for the adequacy of the provider network with respect to the scope and type of health care benefits provided by the carrier, the geographic service area covered by the provider network, and access to medical specialists. This bill requires the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to adopt regulations to ensure that covered persons have reasonable and timely access to physician specialists at in-network hospitals and facilities, including anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, emergency medicine physicians, and services under their supervision. | In Committee |
| S1477 | Provides that contracts between subscribers and attorney in fact are not a related party transaction. | This bill amends the law concerning reciprocal insurance and interinsurance contracts. The bill provides that contracts between subscribers and the attorney in fact, and any fees charged pursuant to those contracts or arising out of those contracts, are not to be considered a related party transaction. | In Committee |
| S4223 | Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS. | This bill permits members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), or long term disability insurance recipients who are disabled and receiving TPAF or PERS disability insurance benefits, to be entitled to health care benefits under the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) and State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) in the same manner as it is provided to retirees of the TPAF and PERS retirement systems who receive health insurance under the SEHBP and SHBP, except that such health care benefits are to be free and will not require employee contributions. The bill provides that there is no deadline for disability insurance recipients to enroll in coverage and no eligibility requirements imposed to receive coverage, other than the member being required to be a recipient of disability insurance under TPAF or PERS. The bill also specifies that health benefits are not to be considered as benefits that reduce the amount that disabled TPAF or PERS members would receive in disability benefits and, for pension purposes, the member is to be considered as if the member was in active service for the duration of the time the disability benefit is received. | In Committee |
| S4161 | Prohibits release of certain substances into atmosphere for purposes of geoengineering. | This bill would prohibit persons, including private and public entities, from releasing a hazardous chemical or other hazardous physical agent into the atmosphere for the purposes of geoengineering. A person who violates this prohibition would be liable to a civil administrative penalty of up to $10,000 for a first offense, under the bill. As defined in the bill: "geoengineering" means the intentional manipulation of the environment, through use of a chemical or other physical agent, which is effectuated with the intention of bringing about changes to Earth's atmospheric or surface conditions, including weather modification, aerosol injection, chaff dispersal, or cloud seeding activities; and "hazardous" means that a chemical or other physical agent is naturally harmful to living organisms, to property, or to another interest of value. The bill would also require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to send a notice to an appropriate representative of the federal government, if a federal entity engages in the geoengineering activities prohibited by the bill in or over New Jersey. In addition, the bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a program to encourage members of the public to monitor and report geoengineering activities that violate the bill's provisions. Finally, the bill would require the DEP to enforce the bill's provisions, and to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill's provisions no later than 18 months after the bill's enactment. | In Committee |
| S3558 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for the treatment of stuttering. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) and the State Medicaid program to provide coverage for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy. Whether treatment is a medical necessity is to be determined by the covered person's medical doctor. The bill requires coverage to be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth, without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements, and without cost-sharing. Pursuant to the bill, "habilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living; and "rehabilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person restore or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired. | In Committee |
| S1473 | Revises personal injury protection coverage for basic automobile insurance policies from $15,000 to $20,000 and requires $50,000 minimum personal injury protection coverage for standard automobile liability insurance policies. | Revises personal injury protection coverage for basic automobile insurance policies from $15,000 to $20,000 and requires $50,000 minimum personal injury protection coverage for standard automobile liability insurance policies. | In Committee |
| S3880 | Amends list of hazard mitigation and resilience projects approved for funding by NJ Infrastructure Bank under FY2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program. | An Act concerning the financing of certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects in Fiscal Year 2025 and amending P.L.2024, c.45. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4062 | Requires DCA to review and amend State Uniform Construction Code concerning parking structures to address increased weight of electric vehicles. | This bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (commissioner) to review and amend the State Uniform Construction Code (UCC) to address the increased weight imposed upon those structures due to electric vehicle occupancy. The commissioner is to review and amend the UCC to address both new and existing parking structures. The bill provides that, for new parking structures, the commissioner is to study, develop, and implement UCC requirements, which are to include, but not be limited to: (1) requirements for the increased weight of electric vehicles; (2) new installation codes for electric vehicle chargers; (3) distributing electric vehicle parking spaces for the reduction of load intensity; (4) an analysis of common parking structure construction types to determine whether the parking structure could withstand an increased load; and (5) establishing a minimum of 10 percent electric vehicle parking spaces in new parking structures. The bill further provides that, for existing parking structures, the commissioner is to study, develop, and implement UCC requirements, which are to include, but not be limited to: (1) a review of existing parking structure load requirements; (2) a process for monitoring, measuring, and documenting parking structure performance with increased electric vehicle occupancy; (3) publishing detailed example analysis and strengthening projects as models for assessment and upgrade; and (4) requirements for the owners of parking structures, which the department deems unsound or structurally deficient due to increased electric vehicle occupancy, to develop a remediation plan, including a timeline for coming into compliance within 90 days of the notice of deficiency, or the department is to be empowered to close the parking structure until the owner brings the parking structure into compliance. The bill provides that the commissioner is to, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill is to take effect on the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment, except that the commissioner is permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4061 | Directs DHS to establish three year advertising campaign to attract certified home health aides to health care professions; appropriates $3 million. | This bill directs the Department of Human Services (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), to establish a three year advertising campaign to attract certified home health aides to health care professions. The campaign will promote: health care professions as engaging, dynamic, and rewarding career opportunities; and available scholarships, student loan redemption programs, and other available financial support opportunities for certified home health aides seeking careers in health care professions. The DHS, in developing and administering the advertising campaign, is also required to create targeted advertising to increase the recruitment of certified home health aides to health care professions: (1) from underrepresented racial groups; (2) with expertise in providing care to senior citizens; and (3) into certain high-demand fields. The bill requires the DHS, in consultation with the DOH, to submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the advertising campaign. The report must include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the advertising campaign's continuation. The bill takes effect immediately and expires upon submission of the report required to be prepared under the bill. | In Committee |
| S3997 | Provides PERS members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and transfers all current non-retired members of PERS to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of PERS. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to PERS, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to PERS. Any years of service credit transferred to PERS from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with PERS, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into PERS and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to PERS within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to PERS. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of PERS who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of PERS will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| S3998 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| S4013 | Permits clinical laboratories to provide certain patients discounts without affecting NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates or violating NJ Familycare rebate prohibitions. | This bill establishes the "Clinical Laboratory Services Reimbursement and Vulnerable Patient Discount Act," which permits clinical laboratories to provide certain patients with discounts without affecting NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates or violating NJ FamilyCare rebate prohibitions. N.J.A.C.10:61-1.7 provides that under no circumstances is a clinical laboratory allowed to charge the NJ Family program an amount that exceeds the provider's charge for identical services to other groups or individuals. Moreover, a clinical laboratory in violation of this current NJ FamilyCare reimbursement policy would additionally be non-compliant with the existing anti-rebate regulation as, pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:61-2.4, a discount to a patient is considered a rebate. It is the sponsor's belief that these regulations, in combination, have the effect of impeding access to care for uninsured, underinsured, or underserved individuals by forcing clinical laboratories to stop offering discounted charges to these vulnerable patients. The provisions of this bill are designed to reverse these consequences. Under the bill, notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.A.C.10:61-1.7 to the contrary, reimbursement for items or services provided by a clinical laboratory under NJ FamilyCare are required to be in an amount equal to the lesser of: the amount specified in the maximum fee schedule set forth in existing regulation or future policy; or the clinical laboratory's usual charge for the identical item or service when provided to the general public. Any discount offered by a clinical laboratory is to be deemed permissible as long as it is consistent with federal law and regulation. Moreover, a clinical laboratory may charge or accept a lesser amount than the amount charged to NJ FamilyCare for an item or service, based on the financial hardship of an individual: (1) without affecting the reimbursement amount under NJ FamilyCare for the same or substantially similar item or service; or (2) without constituting a violation of N.J.A.C.10:61-2.4. Additionally, upon the effective date of the bill, all pending or existing actions initiated by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services under NJ FamilyCare regarding conduct by a clinical laboratory considered in violation of the provisions of N.J.A.C.10:61-1.7 or N.J.A.C.10:61-2.4, either alone or in combination with each other, which actions are subsequently permissible under the bill, are to be dismissed or vacated. Finally, the bill provides that any discount offered, or amount charged or accepted, by a clinical laboratory in compliance with the bill's provision are not to be subject to penalties under section 17 of P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-17). This State law, among other things, establishes that it is a crime of the third degree when a Medicaid provider willfully receives medical assistance payments in a greater amount than that to which a provider is entitled. | In Committee |
| SR121 | Urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments regarding employee whistleblower protections. | This resolution urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments to protect employees who raise risk-related concerns. Artificial intelligence technology has the potential to provide unprecedented benefits to humanity but also poses serious risks, such as perpetuating inequalities, manipulation and misinformation, and the potential loss of control of autonomous artificial intelligence systems. Many risks associated with artificial intelligence are currently unregulated, and existing whistleblower protections are inadequate to protect employees from retaliation for publicly disclosing concerns. In the absence of government oversight, employees of artificial intelligence companies are among the few individuals capable of holding the companies accountable. However, broad confidentiality agreements prevent employees from voicing concerns beyond the company failing to address the issues. Additionally, independent evaluation is critical to identifying the risk posed by artificial intelligence systems, but is stymied by the lack of both legal and technical safe harbor, without which evaluators face legal reprisal or account suspension or termination. Legal safe harbor protects evaluators from legal reprisal, and technical safe harbor protects evaluators from account suspension or termination. The resolution urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments to mitigate the risks of artificial intelligence by adhering to the following principles: (1) The company will not enter into or enforce any agreement prohibiting disparagement or criticism of the company for risk-related concerns or retaliate for risk-related criticism by hindering any vested economic benefit; (2) The company will facilitate a verifiably anonymous process for current and former employees to raise risk-related concerns to the company board, to regulators, and to an appropriate independent organization with relevant expertise; (3) The company will support a culture of open criticism and allow current and former employees to raise risk-related concerns about its technologies to the public, to the company board, to regulators, or to an appropriate independent organization with relevant expertise, so long as trade secrets and other intellectual property interests are appropriately protected; (4) The company will provide legal and technical safe harbor for good faith system evaluation, ensuring safety from legal reprisal, account suspension, or termination, while maintaining the protection of trade secrets and other intellectual property. Safe harbor should enable independent identification of all forms of risks posed by artificial intelligence systems; (5) The company will not retaliate against current and former employees who publicly share risk-related confidential information after other processes have failed. (6) Current and former employees should retain the freedom to publicly report concerns until the creation of an adequate process for anonymously raising concerns. Efforts to report risk-related concerns should avoid releasing confidential information unnecessarily. | In Committee |
| S2864 | Establishes working hours for certain minors employed as professional athletes. | An Act concerning working hours of minors in professional athletics industry and amending P.L.1940, c.153. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4043 | Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund. | An Act concerning worker contributions for unemployment insurance and amending R.S.43:21-7. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3545 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| S3772 | Concerns valuation of board and lodging with respect to workers' compensation. | This bill revises the workers' compensation law to modernize its treatment of board and lodging provided by an employer when calculating the rate of benefits. Currently, board and lodging furnished by an employer are regarded as part of wages and valued at $25 per week, unless a different amount is fixed at the time of hiring. The bill provides, instead, that, unless a different amount is fixed at the time of hiring, the value of employer furnished board and lodging be its market value, except that if the claimant continues to receive board or lodging during the period of total temporary disability, the value of the board or lodging will not be included in the calculation of the workers' compensation rate for purposes of temporary total disability. | In Committee |
| S3310 | Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund. | This bill requires that a portion of what would have been the worker contribution to the unemployment compensation trust fund instead be collected and deposited directly into the unemployment compensation administration fund. Under current law, workers who are either employed by nongovernmental employers, including non-profit employers, or who are employed by governmental employers that elect or are required to pay contributions, contribute 0.3825 percent of their wages to the unemployment compensation trust fund. The bill reduces this worker contribution to the unemployment compensation trust fund to 0.3625 percent of wages and requires that 0.0200 percent of wages be collected and deposited directly into the unemployment compensation administration fund. Under current law, workers who are employed by the State of New Jersey or any other governmental entity or instrumentality that elects or is required to make payments in lieu of contributions, contribute 0.0825 percent of their wages to the unemployment compensation trust fund. The bill reduces this worker contribution to the unemployment compensation trust fund to 0.0625 percent of wages and requires that 0.0200 percent of wages be collected and deposited directly into the unemployment compensation administration fund. The bill's redirection of funds is less than the amount that is not committed to separate trust funds of self-insured employers, so the amount that goes to the separate funds, and consequently employer contributions, will not be affected by the bill's provisions. The unemployment compensation trust fund provides the funding for unemployment benefits for workers. While the unemployment compensation trust fund is adequately funded, the unemployment compensation administration fund does not have adequate funding to maintain efficient operations of the unemployment compensation system. The unemployment compensation administration fund is funded by contributions from the federal government, but these contributions do not provide sufficient resources to maintain the State system. This redirection of contributions from the unemployment compensation trust fund to unemployment compensation administration fund will provide needed resources to the unemployment compensation administration fund. | In Committee |
| S3460 | Requires Attorney General to conduct study tracking residential burglaries and issue guidance to law enforcement and public. | This bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Superintendent of State Police, the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, and the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, to conduct a study and prepare a written report concerning residential burglaries in the State. The bill requires the report to include, but not be limited to:· annual State residential burglary statistics beginning with calendar year 2018 through the most recently available data, itemized by county, including, but not limited to: the number of residential burglaries reported, including whether the burglary occurred during the day, night, or weekend, and whether any weapon was used; the number of residential burglaries resulting in injury or death to a resident or law enforcement officer; the number of residential burglaries that coincided with theft of a motor vehicle; the average and median dollar value of property damage or theft incurred; and the number of adults and juveniles charged with and convicted or adjudicated delinquent of burglary of a residence; · a summary of law enforcement initiatives and activities, including public awareness activities, implemented during the reporting period to address the issue of residential burglaries Statewide, and the effects of those initiatives and activities; and· recommendations to decrease the number of residential burglaries committed in the State, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that may be necessary to effectuate this purpose. Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to submit an initial report to the Governor and the Legislature within six months of the bill's enactment, and to submit an annual report thereafter. | In Committee |
| S3674 | Designates 9/11 Heart Symbol flag as official State flag; mandates it be displayed at certain public buildings and memorials. | This bill designates the 9/11 Heart Symbol flag as an official State flag for remembrance of the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, the lives that were lost or forever affected on that day, and the heroism and bravery displayed by Americans in response to the attacks. The bill mandates that the flag be displayed during normal business hours at any memorial sites in this State dedicated to honoring the victims of the September 11th terror attacks, and during normal business hours at the State House in Trenton, the principal municipal building in each municipality, and the principal county building in each county seat on September 11th of each year. | In Committee |
| S3407 | Requires payment of prevailing wage for projects financed through commercial property assessed clean energy program. | An Act concerning the C-PACE program and amending P.L.2021, c.201. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3532 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| S2822 | Revises workers' compensation law to increase contingency attorney fee cap in contingency case from 20 percent to 25 percent. | An Act concerning contingency fees in workers' compensation matters and amending R.S.34:15-64. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3491 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| S2472 | Establishes minimum Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for pediatric special care nursing facilities. | This bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) within the Department of Human Services to establish a minimum Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate of $950.00 per day for pediatric special care nursing facilities (SCNFs). Pediatric SCNFs provide specialized, long-term care and rehabilitation to medically fragile children and youth, up to 21 years of age. The bill, however, conditions the provision of this minimum reimbursement rate upon a facility's compliance with applicable State and federal laws and regulations concerning licensure, patient safety, and quality of care. The bill additionally appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such sums as are necessary to implement this reimbursement rate increase. New Jersey currently has four pediatric SCNFs that participate in the State Medicaid program and the NJ FamilyCare program: the Pediatric Long Term Care Center at Children's Specialized Hospital (Mountainside and Toms River), the Phoenix Center for Rehabilitation and Pediatrics (Haskell), and the Voorhees Pediatric Facility (Voorhees). | In Committee |
| S3461 | Concerns keyless locking mechanisms and burglar's tools. | This bill expands the definition of "burglar's tool" to include that which may be considered an "engine, machine, tool or implement." Under the bill, an engine, machine, tool, implement, or program manufactured or possessed in violation of N.J.S.2C:5-5 includes such which may provide access to a premises through a keyless locking mechanism. Under the bill, it is a crime of the fourth degree if the person manufactured such instrument or implements or published such plans or instructions for tools which may provide access to a premises through a keyless locking mechanism. If the person merely possesses an instrument in violation of the statute, then it is a disorderly persons offense. A fourth degree crime is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | 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 |
| S3356 | Amends "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act" to exclude full-time students and au pairs from definition of domestic worker and remove joint and several liability provision from law. | This bill modifies the "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act," P.L.2023, c.262. The bill changes the definition of domestic worker to exclude: (1) any full-time student in primary school, secondary school, high school, vocational school, college, or other post-secondary educational institution from the law's provisions; and (2) an au pair. Under the bill, au pair is defined as a young adult from overseas who lives with a family on a legal visa and through a federally regulated program for up to two years and provides childcare in exchange for a weekly stipend, room and board. Current law provides that individuals and employers with an overlapping employment relationship with a domestic worker are subject to joint and several liability, and concurrent fines and penalties, for violations of the "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act." The bill removes the joint and several liability provision from current law. | In Committee |
| S3296 | Requires counties to establish crisis intervention services programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers. | Current law permits the governing body of any county to establish a law enforcement crisis intervention services program for the provision of debriefing and counseling services for law enforcement officers and sheriff's officers who have been involved in incidents which may produce personal or job-related depression, anxiety, stress or other psychological or emotional tensions, traumas, pressures or disorders. This bill, which is designated as the "Craig Tiger Act," requires that each county establish such a program. This bill also makes firefighters in the county eligible for the debriefing and counseling services of a program, and makes law enforcement officers who are employed by a State department or agency eligible for the debriefing and counseling services of a program when the officer resides in the county or when the officer's primary work location is in the county. The bill makes volunteer firefighters and 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers eligible for the program as well. The bill expands the definition of critical incident to include: (1) the visual or audible witnessing of the death or maiming, or the visual or audible witnessing of the immediate aftermath of such a death or maiming, of one or more human beings; (2) the response to or direct involvement in a criminal investigation of an offense involving dangerous crimes against children; (3) the need for rescue in the line of duty where one's life was in danger; and (4) the response to or direct involvement in an investigation regarding the drowning or near drowning of a child. This bill prohibits an employer from requiring a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer who is receiving services to use accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or sick leave if the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer leaves work to attend these counseling sessions. In addition, this bill provides that, if a provider of the crisis intervention services program determines that the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer is not fit for duty while the law enforcement officer is receiving debriefing or counseling services, the employer must ensure that the law enforcement officer has no loss of pay and benefits for up to 30 calendar days per incident after the date the provider determines that the employee is not fit for duty if certain criteria are met. This bill will provide qualified officers and firefighters with up to 12 counseling sessions, which can be provided in person or by telehealth. If the provider determines that the officer or firefighter requires additional counseling sessions, the program will provide up to an additional 24 counseling sessions, if the sessions occur within one year after the first session. In addition, this bill requires each county crisis intervention services advisory council to compile data regarding the program and, on or before September 1 of each year, submit the data to the Department of Community Affairs. On or before October 1 of each year, the department is required to compile the data into a report and submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature. Finally, this bill requires the State to reimburse a county for the costs of the crisis intervention services program it is required to establish pursuant to this bill. | 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 |
| S3236 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 million from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE to support Pantoliano-DePass school based mentoring pilot program in certain Bergen County school districts. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $1 million to Pantoliano-DePass School-Based Mentoring Pilot Program in Bergen County School Districts. Funding from this bill is to be distributed between the following 14 school districts: Ridgefield Boro School District, Bogota Boro School District, Englewood City School District, Fort Lee Boro School District, Franklin Lakes Boro School District, Norwood Boro School District, Northern Highlands Regional School District, Cliffside Park Boro School District, Hackensack City School District, Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional School District, Fairview Boro School District, Dumont Boro School District, Bergenfield Boro School District, and Ridgefield Park Township School District. The appropriation may be used to cover, for each district: an administrator's salary; administrative costs of the pilot program; and stipends for staff and mentors participating in the pilot program. The amounts appropriated to each school district are to be determined by the Commissioner of Education, pursuant to a competitive application process. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education is to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature. The sponsor notes that school-based mentoring programs have numerous positive outcomes on student confidence, behavior, and engagement. The sponsor also notes that these programs strengthen student relationships and enhance school safety. | In Committee |
| S3175 | Removes registered apprenticeship program requisites of public work contractors; sets apprenticeship standards for prevailing wage projects. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" by setting a standard for apprenticeship programs if a contractor or subcontractor chooses to participate in an apprenticeship program. The bill revises "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act" by removing the requirement that a contractor participate in a registered apprenticeship program in order to be eligible for public works projects. | In Committee |
| SJR112 | Establishes task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. | This joint resolution establishes a task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. The Centers for Disease Control has reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women. Additionally, in a 2020 report by the Women's Media Center, it was reported there are approximately 64,000-75,000 missing Black women and girls across the United States. Cases involving BIPOC women and girls often are under-reported, do not receive the required level of attention by the media or law enforcement, and are categorized improperly by law enforcement officials. The systemic racism, sexism, and suppression experienced by BIPOC women and girls leads to worse health, wealth, housing, education, and employment outcomes. Furthermore, there is no comprehensive database regarding missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls. Creation of the task force on missing BIPOC women and girls will address these inequities. The task force will be responsible for: (1) developing policy recommendations to ensure first responders are culturally competent regarding the severity and impact of missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls on the communities and families affected; (2) developing training and education materials for BIPOC communities on methods of prevention and protection and social media protocols relating to missing BIPOC women and girls, and disseminating the materials in high-impact communities within the State; (3) developing strategies and recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General to collect statistics, demographics, surveys, and oral histories; conduct data analysis; and issue guidelines to ensure de-identified data is publicly available; (4) identifying traffic hubs, highways, and resource extraction sites that lead to or facilitate the abduction of BIPOC women and girls; and (5) creating a State-wide public awareness campaign. The task force will be comprised of 15 members, as follows:· the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Health or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Superintendent of State Police or the superintendent's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and · two members to be appointed by the Governor. | In Committee |
| S3139 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | This bill provides cannabis workers employed by cannabis employers rights and protections equal to the rights and protections provided to other workers with respect to employee representation, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practices. Cannabis employers are defined in the bill as employers who are licensed or regulated under chapter 6I of Title 24 of the Revised Statutes. Currently, certain cannabis workers, most notably those employed by licensed cannabis cultivators, are excluded from protections against unfair labor practices provided to most private sector workers by the federal National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. s.151 et seq.)("NLRA"), and provided to public employees by the State public employment relations law, P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1 et seq.)("PERL") and the Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act, P.L.2018, c.15 (C.34:13A-5.11 et seq.) ("WDEA"). This bill brings those cannabis workers under protections similar to those laws, by expanding the responsibilities of the State Board of Mediation in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development regarding cannabis employment not regulated by the NLRA. It provides the board with the power to prevent specified unfair labor practices, thus providing rights to the cannabis workers similar to the rights provided to other private sector workers by the NLRA, and the rights provided to public employees by the PERL and the WDEA. The bill prohibits cannabis employers and their representatives and agents from the following unfair practices: 1. Interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights granted by the bill. 2. Dominating or interfering with any employee organization. 3. Discriminating against employees for making disclosures or otherwise exercising their rights. 4. Refusing to negotiate in good faith or sign a negotiated agreement. 5. Violating any board regulation. The bill similarly prohibits cannabis worker organizations and their representatives and agents from the following unfair practices: 1. Interfering with, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of their rights. 2. Interfering with, restraining, or coercing a cannabis employer in the selection of a representative for negotiations or grievance procedures. 3. Refusing to negotiate in good faith or sign a negotiated agreement. 4. Violating any board regulation. The board may order an offending party to cease any unfair practice and take reasonable remedial action, including, in the case of a discharge, reinstatement, paying lost wages, costs of action, and damages equal to the wages due. It is also an unfair practice under the bill for a cannabis employer to encourage or discourage employees from joining, forming or assisting an employee organization, or encourage them to end their employee organization membership or revoke authorization of the deduction of dues or fees. The board is required to order the employer to make whole the employee organization for any resulting losses to the organization. Current law, section 5 of P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1), directs the New Jersey State Board of Mediation to designate a labor organization to represent employees of any private sector employer not regulated under the NLRA, including an employer who is not a cannabis employer, if the employees select the organization in an election conforming with NLRA procedures, or, if only one labor organization seeks to represent the employees, a majority of the employees sign cards showing that they prefer that organization. The bill provides that in such cases, including cases of non-cannabis employers, the employee organization may petition the board to require the employer to provide a list of current employees with contact information. The bill increases penalties for employer non-compliance from not more than $1,000 to not more than $5,000 per day of non-compliance. Finally, the bill clarifies that the provisions of section 5 of P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1) concerning private employers not subject to the NLRA apply to employees not subject to the NLRA even if employed by an employer who has both employees not subject to the NLRA and employees who are subject to the NRLA. The bill provides, with respect to cannabis workers and employers, that if the employee organization petitions the board for that information, then the employer must also give the organization access to the employees, including allowing meetings in the workplace and employer-controlled living quarters. The bill provides that once the organization is designated as the employee representative, the employer must give the organization access to the employer's premises to investigate and discuss grievances and other issues, conduct meetings, and meet newly hired employees. The bill gives cannabis worker organizations the right to engage in publicity regarding products produced by an employer with which the organization has a dispute, including publicity asking the public to not patronize businesses distributing or selling the products. | In Committee |
| S3011 | Directs DOLWD to establish advertising campaign to attract candidates to health care professions; appropriates $1 million. | This bill directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services, to establish a multimedia advertising campaign to attract candidates to health care professions. The health care field experienced shortages due to working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign will promote health care professions as presenting engaging, dynamic, and rewarding career opportunities. The campaign shall use a combination of digital outlets, television, radio, print, and other media for its purposes. The department, in developing and administering the general advertising campaign, is also required to create targeted advertising to increase the recruitment of health care professionals: (1) from underrepresented racial groups; and (2) into high-demand fields, as identified by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development in consultation with the Department of Health and Department of Human Services. The bill appropriates to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development the sum of $1 million from the funds received by the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," Pub.L.117-2 to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A1495 | Exempts receipts from sales of materials, supplies, and services for certain affordable housing projects from sales and use tax. | An Act exempting receipts from the sales of materials, supplies, and services for certain affordable housing projects from taxation under the sales and use tax, and amending P.L.1980, c.105. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SCR97 | Proposes constitutional amendment to give $250 property tax deduction to law enforcement officers who have sustained permanent disability. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would provide an annual $250 property tax deduction to law enforcement officers who have been permanently disabled as the result of their law enforcement service, and to their surviving spouses. The proposed amendment directs the Legislature to define the "law enforcement officers" eligible to receive the $250 property tax deduction. | In Committee |
| S2976 | Establishes "New Jersey Works Dual Enrollment Option Program." | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, to establish a "New Jersey Works Dual Enrollment Option Program." The purpose of the program is to provide an alternate education option for recent high school dropouts and students who have been identified as at-risk of dropping out of school prior to high school graduation, and to provide these students with job placement assistance. Under the program, an at-risk student may complete his high school graduation requirements through coursework at a county college. The credits earned at the county college will be applicable to both the student's high school diploma and towards a credential, certificate, or degree offered by the county college. Finally, upon a student's successful completion of the program, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development must provide the student with job placement services. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to develop and distribute to each school district a list of risk factors that can be used to identify high school students who are at high risk of dropping out of school prior to high school graduation. The bill also directs the commissioner to provide guidance to school districts on which career, technical, and academic courses of county colleges may be applied as dual credit courses under the program to satisfy high school graduation requirements. Under the program, the board of education of a school district and the board of trustees of a county college may enter into an agreement to provide for the education of at-risk students under the program. The bill provides that a student enrolled in the "New Jersey Works Dual Enrollment Option Program," and his parent or legal guardian, cannot be held responsible for payment of tuition, student fees, or any other costs of the program. A student enrolled in the program will be included in the district's resident enrollment and the district will receive State aid for that student as provided under the State school funding law, P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.). | In Committee |
| S1484 | Exempts receipts from sales of materials, supplies, and services for certain affordable housing projects from sales and use tax. | Exempts receipts from sales of materials, supplies, and services for certain affordable housing projects from sales and use tax. | In Committee |
| SCR43 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S2735 | "Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Act." | This bill provides for the licensure of naturopathic doctors and establishes the State Board of Naturopathic Examiners in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. As defined in the bill, "naturopathic medicine" means a distinct and comprehensive system of primary health practiced by a naturopathic doctor for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human health conditions, injuries, and disease. The board would consist of nine members who are residents of the State, six of whom would be, except for the members first appointed, licensed naturopathic doctors who have been actively engaged in the practice of naturopathic medicine for at least five years immediately preceding their appointment; two of whom would be public members; and one of whom would be a State executive department member. Under the bill, the board is authorized to, among other items, (1) establish criteria and standards for licensure; (2) review the qualification of applicants for licensure; (3) adopt rules and regulations to enforce the provisions of the bill; and (4) establish standards for continuing education. The bill stipulates that a person can practice or hold themselves out to the public as able to practice naturopathic medicine only if the person possesses a valid license. The license is to be renewed every two years. The bill delineates the scope of services of a naturopathic doctor. This includes physical and laboratory examinations for diagnostic purposes, including, but not limited to, phlebotomy, clinical laboratory tests, speculum examinations, orificial examinations, and physiological function tests. A naturopathic doctor may also order diagnostic imaging studies consistent with naturopathic training, as determined by the board, but is to refer the studies to an appropriately licensed health care professional to conduct the study and interpret the results. Lastly, the bill establishes a naturopathic childbirth attendance advisory committee to issue recommendations concerning the medical education and training for the specialty practice of naturopathic childbirth attendance. A naturopathic doctor may not practice naturopathic childbirth attendance without first obtaining a certificate of special competency in naturopathic childbirth attendance. | In Committee |
| S2700 | Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act." | This bill establishes the "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act," which provides certain staffing standards in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and unlicensed assistive personnel-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce the bill's requirements by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. A registered professional nurse or other staff member, a collective bargaining agent of a staff member, or a member of the public, who believes that the hospital or facility in which the nurse or staff member is employed is in violation of the requirements established by the bill, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation. Following the completion of an investigation, in which investigation the department determines a hospital or facility to be in violation of the requirements established by the bill, the hospital or facility may be issued a civil penalty in increasing amounts for repeat violations. Any money collected by the court in payment of a civil penalty imposed will be conveyed to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Patient Protection and Staffing Fund (fund) established by the bill. Moneys in the fund will be dedicated and used only for the purposes of increasing the number of inspectors employed by the Department of Health to enforce the provisions of the bill, advancing nursing recruitment and retentions programs, supporting student loan forgiveness for nursing students, and increasing pay for nursing teaching staff. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S991 | Establishes permanent unit in Office of Emergency Management to address access and functional needs of residents related to disasters and emergencies. | This bill requires the State Office of Emergency Management to establish a permanent unit in the office to serve the needs of State residents with access and functional needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on residents of New Jersey with disabilities, older adults, and other at-risk groups, many of whom are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as the consequences of other types of disasters and emergencies. In 2018, the CDC estimated that 24.6% of New Jersey adult residents had a disability, which is a sizeable portion of the State's population. The economic impact on people with disabilities and their families, as well as the burden on individual health as a result of the pandemic, are an existential threat to the disability community. Accordingly, it is in the public interest for the State to engage in comprehensive planning and coordination within the northern, central, and southern regions of the State to support residents with access and functional needs. | In Committee |
| S2458 | Requires DOLWD to allow individuals to schedule unemployment service appointments at One Stop Career Centers via telephone or Internet. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to allow an individual to schedule an unemployment service appointment at a One Stop Career Center over the telephone or the Internet. The bill defines an unemployment service appointment as a scheduled meeting related to receiving or applying for unemployment benefits. Currently, an unemployment claimant may only make an appointment at a One Stop Career Center via the Internet. This bill would allow an individual to schedule an unemployment service appointment via telephone or the Internet. | In Committee |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S344 | Establishes School Safety and Security Task Force. | This bill establishes the School Safety and Security Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study and develop recommendations to improve school safety and security, and to ensure a safe learning environment for students and employees. The task force consists of 15 members as follows: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee; the Director of the Office of Homeland Security, or a designee; the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, or a designee; seven members appointed by the Governor including one each from the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; and five members of the public, three of which have demonstrated expertise in the development or implementation of school security standards or technology, one of which is an active or retired law enforcement officer, and one of which is an active or retired mental health professional. The members of the public will be appointed by the Governor, upon consideration of the recommendations of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly. It is the duty of the task force to identify potential breaches of security in the public schools, and make recommendations to improve school safety and security. The issues studied by the task force include: (1) placing screening systems at school entrances; (2) stationing school resource officers in each school building; (3) improving response times to emergency situations, including lockdowns, active shooter, and bomb threats; (4) requiring advanced student and visitor identification cards; (5) using biometric, retina, or other advanced recognition systems for authorized entrance into school buildings; (6) the effectiveness of installing panic alarms in school buildings to alert local law enforcement authorities to emergency situations, required under "Alyssa's Law"; (7) scheduling periodic patrols of school buildings and grounds by local law enforcement officers; (8) hardening the school perimeter and building entryways; and (9) considering strategies to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are reflected in all areas of emergency planning and response measures. Also under the bill, the task force is required to review and develop recommendations on building security and assessment standards for existing school facilities and new construction, including, but not limited to, standards for: (1) architectural design for new construction; (2) assessing and abating security risks in existing school facilities; (3) emergency communication plans; (4) staff training; and (5) addressing elevated risk factors, such as proximity to a chemical facility or nuclear power plant. The task force is required to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Governor and the Legislature no later than six months after its organizational meeting. The task force will expire upon the issuance of the final report. | Dead |
| S2250 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services; appropriates $20 million. | This bill appropriates $20 million in order to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to determine the amount of the increases as follows: The primary care services reimbursement rates associated with the most frequently used medical billing codes under Medicaid in calendar year 2022 are to be increased so that each rate is no less than 100 percent of the payment rate that applies to the same service under part B of Medicare. The commissioner is to determine the number of primary care services rates increased under this subsection such that the annual aggregate amount of the rate increases is equal to $20 million, as appropriated under the bill, combined with the anticipated receipt of increased federal Medicaid matching funds. Under the bill, primary care services means the same as defined under section 1202 of the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," and includes evaluation and management services, which cover the non-procedural services patients receive from a provider, and services related to immunization administration. Mental health services means procedures or services rendered by a health care provider, in a traditional setting as well in an integrated behavioral health setting or via a collaborative care program, for the treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders, or drug or alcohol abuse. Primary care and mental health services include those services furnished by: (1) a physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; (2) a health care professional, including but not limited to an advance practice nurse or a physician assistant, who is working in the area of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; or (3) a midwife. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require any decrease in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for a primary care service from the previous fiscal year's reimbursement level for the same service. Moreover, the requirements established under the bill apply whether the services are reimbursed under the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the Medicaid managed care delivery system, and only to services delivered by approved Medicaid providers. The bill directs the commissioner, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature providing information on the implementation of the bill, including data indicating any changes regarding access to primary care services, as well as the quality of care of these services, for Medicaid beneficiaries following any rate increases associated with the bill. The report is also to include any recommendations for further enhancements to the Medicaid rates for these services to improve provider access and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved areas of the State. | In Committee |
| S194 | Clarifies regional municipal court jurisdiction over State Police and other matters originating outside of participating municipalities. | This bill clarifies the jurisdiction of regional municipal courts established under the pilot program set forth in P.L.2021, c.191 (N.J.S.A.2B:12-34, et seq.). Under the pilot program, a county in cooperation with five or more municipalities can create a regional municipal court operated by the county to consolidate the individual courts of participating municipalities. Currently, in addition to having jurisdiction over cases originating from the participating municipalities, the pilot program also required regional municipal courts to handle cases filed by the State Police or any Statewide law enforcement agency, or by any county law enforcement agency, any county code enforcement entity, or by any other non-municipal law enforcement agency, on a countywide basis, even if those matters did not originate from a participating municipality. The bill clarifies that regional municipal courts will no longer be required to hear State Police or county police cases originating from outside the participating municipalities; but counties may still, by ordinance, confer upon the regional municipal court with certain countywide jurisdiction if it chooses to do so. The regional municipal court will retain jurisdiction over currently pending countywide cases, but new cases originating from non-participating municipalities brought after the effective date of the bill will be filed in their municipality of origin. In the view of the sponsor, requiring regional municipal courts to handle these types of countywide cases has resulted in a higher than anticipated caseload and higher than anticipated expenses where such courts have been established. At the same time, in non-participating municipalities where a large volume of cases involve the State Police or county police, that municipality is required by law, N.J.S.A.2B:12-1, to continue to operate a municipal court even if its caseload has been significantly reduced. In the view of the sponsor, this unintended result runs counter to the cost-savings goal of municipal court consolidation. | In Committee |
| S1449 | Requires hospitals to provide breast cancer patients with information concerning reconstructive surgery; prohibits certain provisions in managed care plan contracts. | This bill requires general hospitals that provide surgical services for the treatment of breast cancer, the breast cancer gene, or other breast abnormality, including, but not limited to, mastectomy surgery, lymph node dissection, or lumpectomy, to ensure that breast cancer patients are provided written notice of the patient's right to seek a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon of the patient's choosing who provides reconstructive services concerning the patient's treatment options during and after the provision of surgical services, including the use of a prosthesis and the option of undergoing reconstructive surgery either during, or after receiving, surgical treatment for breast cancer, the breast cancer gene, or other breast abnormality, as well as the patient's right to obtain such services, regardless of the plastic surgeon's hospital affiliation or network participation. Patients are also to be provided with written notice concerning the availability of coverage under a health benefits plan for reconstructive surgery pursuant to State and federal law. The written information is to be provided to the patient when the hospital is notified of the patient's breast cancer diagnosis and in advance of obtaining consent to the surgical procedure. The bill also supplements the "Health Care Quality Act" to provide that a contract between a carrier and a health care provider for network participation will not contain any provision that prohibits or limits a health care provider in making recommendations or referrals for a covered person to a board-certified plastic surgeon, regardless of network affiliation, who provides the full scope of breast reconstructive services necessary and appropriate to the patient's treatment needs, as determined by the patient's treating physician based on the plastic surgeon's training, experience, and location in relation to the patient's primary residence, provided that the primary consideration in making such recommendations and referrals is the patient's treatment needs. Carriers will not be permitted to deny authorization for reconstructive surgery and related services based on the plastic surgeon's network status or hospital affiliation. The provision applies to reconstructive breast surgery or surgery to restore and achieve symmetry between two breasts following treatment or surgery for breast cancer, the breast cancer gene, or other breast abnormality, including, but not limited to, mastectomy surgery, lumpectomy, or radiation. For purposes of the bill, the term "carrier" means a carrier as used in the "Health Care Quality Act," P.L.1997, c.192 (C.26:2S-1 et seq.), as well as the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program. | In Committee |
| S1479 | Authorizes health care providers to negotiate with carriers regarding fee- and non-fee-related matters. | This bill authorizes health care providers to be involved with joint negotiations on the terms and conditions of contracts with health and dental insurance carriers. Under the bill, two or more health care providers authorized by the State to provide services in a health care profession are allowed to participate in a joint negotiation. The negotiations would be carried out through a joint negotiation representative selected by a health care provider to act on their behalf. In the bill, two or more health care providers practicing in a service area of a carrier can jointly negotiate, and engage in related joint activity, regarding non-fee-related matters which may affect patient care, including (1) the definition of medical necessity and other conditions of coverage; (2) clinical practice guidelines; and (3) any provider rating program and the ability to appeal a carrier's rating of a provider. In addition, the bill establishes that if the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, finds that a carrier has substantial market power in its service area and that any of the terms or conditions of the contract with the carrier pose an actual or potential threat to the quality and availability of patient care among covered persons, two or more independent health care providers may jointly negotiate with the carrier, and engage in related joint activity, on fees and fee-related matters. This includes such items as (1) the amount of payment or the methodology for determining the payment for a health care or dental service, including, but not limited to, cost of living increases; (2) the amount of any discount on the price of a health care or dental service; and (3) the procedure code or other description of a health care or dental service covered by a payment and the appropriate grouping of the procedure codes. The bill also establishes that, before entering into negotiations, a person or entity which proposes to act as a joint negotiation representative is to submit a petition to enter into negotiations to the Attorney General for approval. The petition is to identify, among other items, the representative, the health care providers who the representative will represent, and the intended subject matter of the proposed negotiations. Under the bill, a process is established regarding the steps necessary for when the joint negotiation representative and the carrier have reached an agreement on the contractual terms or conditions that were the subject matter of negotiations. The bill also stipulates that if a party to the negotiations decides to decline or terminate negotiations, within 14 days of this decision, the joint negotiation representative is to report to the Attorney General that negotiations have ended. The Attorney General may, within 30 days of a termination, make a binding determination as to the merits of the joint negotiation request. The bill also establishes the process by which the Attorney General is to provide written approval or disapproval of a petition or proposed contract furnished by a joint negotiation representative. A decision by the Attorney General to approve or disapprove is to be rendered within 30 days after receipt of the petition or proposed contract. If that timeline passes with no decision rendered, the joint negotiation representative may petition a court for an order to require a decision from the Attorney General. The petition or proposed contract is to be approved by the Attorney General shall approve a petition or a proposed contract if a determination is made that the petition or proposed contract demonstrates that the benefits which are likely to result from the proposed joint negotiations or contract outweigh the disadvantages attributable to a reduction in competition that may result from the proposed joint negotiations. If a decision is made to disapprove of a petition or proposed contract, a petitioner has 45 days to submit a written request to the Attorney General for a hearing. Lastly, the bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation of the bill. The report is to include, among other items, an assessment of the impact that the bill has had on health insurance premiums in the State. The report is to also include the recommendations of the Attorney General as to whether the provisions of the substitute should be expanded to include other types of health care facilities. | In Committee |
| S2056 | Provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of books at school book fairs. | This bill provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of books at school book fairs. The bill defines "school book fair" as a fair held at an elementary or secondary school, at which the sale of books is offered exclusively to the students at that school and to the parents and guardians of those students. | In Committee |
| S1482 | Expands eligibility for State gross income tax credit for child and dependent care expenses and increases amount of credit. | This bill (1) expands eligibility for the credit against the New Jersey gross income tax for employment-related expenses incurred while caring for a child or dependent, and (2) increases the amount of the credit. Under current law, the New Jersey credit is available to resident taxpayers who are allowed the federal credit and have New Jersey taxable income of $150,000 or less for the taxable year, regardless of the taxpayer's filing status. The amount of the New Jersey credit allowed to a taxpayer is equal to a percentage of the federal credit allowed to the taxpayer for the taxable year. The bill expands qualifying income brackets for taxpayers who are married filing jointly or filing as a head of household or as a surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes, and raises the $150,000 income eligibility limit to $250,000 for these taxpayers. Under the bill, the income limit would remain at $150,000 for all other filing statuses. The bill also expands eligibility for the New Jersey credit to married individuals filing separately who (1) meet the income eligibility criteria for single filers under the bill and (2) would have been eligible for the federal credit except that those individuals did not meet the joint filing requirement. To be eligible for the New Jersey credit, the bill requires married individuals filing separately to meet all requirements, except for the joint filing requirement, of the federal credit. Finally, the bill increases the amount of the New Jersey credit available to taxpayers. For example, under current law, a taxpayer with income less than $30,000 is allowed a New Jersey credit equal to 50 percent of the federal credit. The bill increases the amount of the New Jersey credit for taxpayers in this bracket to 60 percent of the federal credit, and the amount of the credit that can be claimed by all other brackets has also been increased by 10 percentage points. | In Committee |
| S1461 | Requires new flooring for schools and child care centers to be certified mercury free. | This bill provides that no construction permit may be issued for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, repair, or upgrade to any flooring in a school or child care center unless the applicant presents a certification issued by the manufacturer of the flooring materials to be used in the construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, repair, or upgrade of the school or child care center that the materials are free of mercury and compounds containing mercury. A flooring manufacturer that issues a certificate for the purposes of the bill that falsely states that a flooring product is free of mercury and compounds containing mercury will be liable to a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for a second or subsequent offense The bill will take effect 90 days after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S1471 | Clarifies radiator cover requirements for residential landlords. | This bill clarifies radiator cover requirements for residential landlords. The bill removes the reference to steam radiators and instead requires the provisions of N.J.S.A.52:27D-198.20 to apply to all types of radiators with a surface temperature greater than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The bill also requires that radiators be equipped with a cover or durable guard, rather than insulating materials. Finally, the bill would remove the specific monetary penalty amount from N.J.S.A.52:27D-198.20 and provide that owners of property who are in violation of the law may be assessed a fine pursuant to N.J.S.A.52:27D-210, section 19 of the "Uniform Fire Safety Act." | In Committee |
| S111 | Requires Commissioner of Health to establish maternity care public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a maternal health public awareness campaign to improve overall maternal and child health while ensuring equitable care among women and children of all races and ethnicities. The campaign is to disseminate information about maternal health and encourage the public to access a user-friendly website to be established and maintained by the Department of Health (department). Under the bill, the campaign will, at a minimum: (1) disseminate aggregated data to the public concerning hospital rates of: cesarean births, exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, and vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, among other information, to assist women in the selection of maternity care providers and birthing locations; (2) promote active engagement in maternity care, patient rights, making informed choices, and the use of shared decision-making models and decision-making aids; (3) disseminate information to healthcare professionals regarding how to document the patient' s preferences regarding care provided during labor and delivery, otherwise known as a birth plan, in the patient's health records; (4) disseminate information to the public on avoiding interventions that may be unneeded or that may increase pregnancy-related risks, the advantages of physiologic birth, which is a pregnancy, labor, and birth process that progresses through natural biologic processes, and the benefits of using high-value forms of care such as midwives, birthing centers, doulas, and lactation support; (5) promote the maternal and child health programs and services that are available in the State and encourage the public to contact county central intake agencies to obtain information and appropriate referrals; (6) provide information on the department' s Internet website regarding parent' s rights to family leave under State and federal law; (7) provide the public with information about breastfeeding and pregnancy discrimination rights; and (8) provide the public with information about the eligibility requirements and the application process to enroll in coverage for pregnant women under the State Medicaid program. | In Committee |
| S2091 | Provides electric public utility customers' right to decline installation of smart meter under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits an electric public utility (utility) from installing a "smart meter," as that term is defined in the bill, at a customer's premises prior to the utility providing written notice to the customer, in a manner determined by the Board of Public Utilities, no less than 90 days prior to the scheduled installation of a smart meter. The bill allows a utility customer to decline the utility's request to install a smart meter at the customer's premises for the duration of the customer's account with the utility. If a utility customer elects to decline having a smart meter installed at the customer's premises within 30 days of receiving written notice from the utility, the utility is not to assess the customer a fee, penalty, or service charge for that decision for the duration of the customer's account. If a utility customer elects to decline having a smart meter installed at the customer's premises after 30 days but within 90 days of receiving written notice from the utility, the utility is not to assess the customer a fee, penalty, or service charge of more than $100 for that decision for the duration of the customer's account. | 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 |
| S2107 | Requires DEP and owners of certain reservoirs to implement certain flood control measures; authorizes Office of Emergency Management to order lowering of reservoirs levels in response to severe weather events. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to identify those reservoirs in the State with a documented record of flooding, as determined by the DEP. For each identified reservoir, the DEP would be directed to study and assess (1) the downstream river or stream capacity and water storage capacity of the reservoir, and (2) the water usage needs of the residents and businesses served by the reservoir. The bill would also require the DEP to adopt rules and regulations necessary for implementation of the bill, including rules and regulations that establish a maximum level for each reservoir based on the results of the studies. Furthermore, the DEP would be required to set the maximum level for each reservoir at a level that best protects the areas surrounding the reservoir against flooding while ensuring an adequate water supply. The bill would also direct the DEP to notify each owner of a reservoir of the adoption of these rules and regulations and require compliance within 90 days after their adoption. The bill would require every owner of a reservoir in the State that has a documented record of downstream flooding, as determined by the DEP, to prepare, submit, and implement a flood action plan approved by the DEP, which would include, but need not be limited to, the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of flood gates sited at the reservoir. The bill would also authorize the Office of Emergency Management in the Division of State Police to order the water level of any reservoir in the State to be lowered in a manner prescribed by the office prior to, or during, a severe weather event if the office has made a determination, after consultation with the DEP, that lowering the reservoir level is in the general public interest and reasonably necessary to prevent or reduce the severity of flooding. The bill would indemnify any owner of a reservoir against any act or omission with respect to any claims or any cause of action arising out of the proper implementation of a flood action plan approved by the DEP under this bill, provided, however, the owner is in full compliance with any order of the Office of Emergency Management to lower reservoir levels, as may be issued pursuant to this bill. | In Committee |
| S1474 | Requires DEP to prioritize funding for certain projects for acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes and certain environmental infrastructure projects that include, or allow for, flood mitigation projects. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide additional priority points to certain applicants that seek funding, for Blue Acres projects and for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. Specifically, under the bill, projects that include, or allow for, a flood mitigation project to occur onsite would receive additional priority points in the ranking for funding pursuant to the respective program. The DEP would factor these additional points into its calculations when establishing: (1) the list of projects eligible to receive "Blue Acres funding"; (2) the "clean water project priority list," pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-20); and (3) the "drinking water project priority list," pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-20.1). As used in the bill, "Blue Acres project" means any project of the State or a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization to acquire, for recreation and conservation purposes, lands that have been damaged by, or may be prone to incurring damage caused by, storms or storm-related flooding, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage. | 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 |
| S1460 | Requires sample ballots to be watermarked as sample ballots. | This bill requires official general election sample ballots and official primary election sample ballots to contain a watermark clearly identifying the sample ballots as sample ballots. | In Committee |
| S1941 | Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities. | This bill establishes staffing standards for registered professional nurses in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. As specified in the bill, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios will vary depending on the type of unit, and will range from one registered professional nurse for every five patients in a behavioral health or psychiatric or a medical/surgical unit, to one registered professional nurse for every patient under anesthesia in an operating room. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any nurse-to-patient staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing direct care registered professional nurse staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The acuity and staffing system will be based on: patient classification or acuity; professional nurse staffing standards adopted by nurse specialty organizations; skill mix; and the staffing levels of other health care personnel and the use of agency or temporary staff. The system is to be established in the facility by the facility's department of nursing, with the approval of a majority of the unit staff nurses or their bargaining agent. The bill requires the acuity and staffing system to allow for the forecasting of staffing levels, and to provide a method to adjust staffing levels for each patient care unit based on objective criteria currently set forth at N.J.A.C.8:43G-17.1(a)3, including, but not limited to: (1) the documented skills, training, and competency of staff to plan and provide nursing services in the nursing areas where they function; (2) a patient database incorporating objective factors such as the case mix index, specific or aggregate patient diagnostic classifications or acuity levels, patient profiles, critical pathways or care progression plans, length of stay, and discharge plans; (3) operational factors, such as unit size, design, and capacity, the admission/discharge/transfer index, and support service availability; (4) contingency plans to address critical departures from the staffing plan, including policies and procedures to regulate the closure of available beds if staffing levels fall below specified levels; and (5) policies and procedures for the reassignment of staff, including float and agency staff. The acuity and staffing system will additionally be required to permit waiver of minimum staffing level requirements in the event of an unforeseen emergent circumstance which causes significant changes in the patient census for a regular shift. Waiver will not be permitted unless the facility has made reasonable efforts to provide sufficient additional staff to meet the required minimum staffing levels, including seeking volunteers and making use of on-call staff, per-diem staff, agency staff, and float pools. The bill defines "unforeseeable emergent circumstance" to mean an unpredictable or unavoidable occurrence requiring immediate action. The Commissioner of Health will also be permitted to waive the minimum staffing level requirements for any hospital or facility that the commissioner determines is in financial distress. A waiver may be revoked upon a determination that the facility is no longer in financial distress. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce minimum staffing ratios by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. The bill provides a system, pursuant to which a registered professional nurse, other staff member, or member of the public, believing that a facility is in violation of the staffing requirements or the staffing and acuity system, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation, and to take such other action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S1483 | Requires Division of Highway Traffic Safety to conduct public awareness campaign regarding bicyclist and pedestrian safety. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information to the public concerning bicyclist and pedestrian safety. The campaign is to include, but is not limited to, information regarding the provisions under current law that require a person operating a bicycle to keep to the right side of the road, the penalties and dangers associated with violating this provision, information regarding the provisions under current law concerning motorists safely passing a pedestrian, bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or any other lawful personal conveyance, and the penalties and dangers associated with violating this provision. | In Committee |
| S1468 | Provides that public school used as polling place shall not be open for classes on day of election. | This bill would prohibit boards of education from holding classes whenever a public school is used as a polling place on the day of an election. The board is permitted to use the day for in-service training or professional development for the teaching staff members employed by the school district. The purpose of this bill would be to ensure the safety of students at a time when an increased number of individuals from the general public will be entering school grounds. | In Committee |
| S1562 | Eliminates high school graduation proficiency test. | This bill eliminates the high school graduation proficiency test, which is required under current law to be taken in the 11th grade. It is the belief of the sponsor that graduation exit testing does not accurately represent student learning or career and college readiness. Studies have shown numerous flaws with standardized testing, including variation in student performance based on external circumstances, strong racial and socioeconomic biases, and inconsistency with material taught in class. The purpose of using standardized tests as graduation requirements is often to assess college readiness, however studies have shown that other metrics, such as grade point average, can predict the likelihood of graduation from college up to five times better than standardized test scores. In recent years, many states have eliminated graduation exit testing for these reasons, and currently only 11 states still maintain a testing requirement for high school graduation. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from including in the standards for graduation from high school a requirement that students achieve satisfactory performance on the Statewide graduation proficiency test. The bill also amends current law to remove various references to the graduation proficiency test, including: the requirement that a Statewide proficiency test be included in the State or district standards for graduation from high school; the requirement that an out-of-school youth or adult age 18 or older pass the graduation proficiency test before being granted a State endorsed diploma; the requirement that school district report cards include information regarding the results of the graduation proficiency test; and the requirement that renaissance school projects be evaluated based on students' performance on the graduation proficiency test. The bill clarifies that a student participating in the State Seal of Biliteracy program would not be required to take a State graduation proficiency test as a condition of graduation from high school. Finally, the bill repeals the section of law that requires the State to administer a graduation proficiency test to all 11th grade students and certain 12th grade students, and repeals the section of law that requires the Commissioner of Education to consult with educators, parents, students, business and community representatives, and members of minority groups while developing the graduation proficiency test. The bill also repeals sections of law requiring the commissioner and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools to review and report on performance on the graduation proficiency test. | In Committee |
| S271 | Prohibits public utilities from discontinuing residential electric, gas, water, and sewer service after expiration of coronavirus public health emergency; requires those utilities to implement deferred payment agreements for those services. | This bill prohibits public utilities (utilities) providing electric, gas, water, and sewer utility services to residential customers from discontinuing those services following the end of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) public health state of emergency. The bill prohibits a utility from discontinuing, curtailing, or abandoning service for the sole reason of residential customer service bill nonpayment for 180 days following the expiration of the COVID-19 public health state of emergency. Instead, a public utility is required to enter into a deferred payment agreement with the residential customer under terms and conditions established by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). At a minimum, the terms and conditions established by the BPU will allow residential customers to make monthly payments to the utility over a period of at least 48 months. As long as a residential customer complies with the terms and conditions of the deferred repayment plan, a utility cannot discontinue service. | In Committee |
| S1450 | Requires health insurance companies to cover lead screenings for children 16 years of age or younger. | This bill requires health insurance companies to cover lead screenings for children 16 years of age or younger. Under current law, health insurance companies are only required to cover screenings by blood lead measurement for children under the age of six. This bill will help protect the children of New Jersey from the harms of lead poisoning and elevated blood lead levels. There is no safe level of lead exposure in children, as even low levels of lead in the bloodstream can stunt a child's development. By requiring health insurance companies to cover lead screenings in children who are 16 years of age or younger, the State will be taking a substantial step to detect lead exposure in children before it is too late. | 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 |
| S1480 | Requires calculation of national average time needed to approve applications for initial credential in profession or occupation and use of average time as standard in New Jersey. | The bill requires the boards created under Title 45 in current law to collect, from each state in the country, the amount of time, or the average amount of time, required or necessary to approve an application for an initial credential for each profession or occupation in which the New Jersey board also issues a credential. A board may contact a national or regional association to obtain data regarding average approval times in other states. Based on the data collected, a national average of the time required or necessary for application approval is to be calculated for each profession and occupation and used by the corresponding board in New Jersey as the amount of time it has to approve an application for an initial credential. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, or a designee, is to review and approve the calculated national averages of times prior to their use by the boards. After one year of using the calculated national average of times by the boards, the division is to review if the boards are meeting the requisite calculated average times for approval of applications for initial credentials. If the review demonstrates a board is not meeting the calculated time, licensing fees collected by the board are to be used to contract with a third-party, with expertise in the professions or occupations regulated by the specific board, to determine best practices that the board is to implement to meet the calculated average time for application approval. Upon completion of the review by the third-party, the board is to implement the best practices immediately. The division is to review the data on the approval of applications for initial credentials by the board six months after the implementation of best practices to ensure the calculated national average time is met. The boards have six months after the effective date of the bill to complete the initial collection of data and calculate the national average time. Additionally, an annual review of the calculated national average time is to be performed by each board, in collaboration with the director or a designee, to determine the accuracy of the calculations. The bill stipulates that each board is entitled to retain all funds collected as a result of fees paid for an initial credential and for the renewal, reactivation, and reinstatement of a credential in order to administer the provisions of this bill, until the board is meeting or surpassing its calculated national average time for application approval. | In Committee |
| S737 | Requires motor vehicle history checks and adds certain disqualifying offenses for community agency employees. | This bill requires motor vehicle history checks and adds certain disqualifying offenses for community agency employees. N.J.S.A.30:6D-64 requires criminal background checks for community agency employees. This bill amends N.J.S.A.30:6D-64 to also require motor vehicle history checks for community agency employees. Under the bill, a prospective or current employee of a community agency may be disqualified from employment if his or her driving record reveals any of the following offenses in New Jersey or any other state or jurisdiction in the previous 10 years: operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs; operating a motor vehicle in a reckless or careless manner; or a driver's license suspension due to the accumulation of motor vehicle penalty points or multiple motor vehicle offenses. The bill provides that no individual is to be disqualified from employment or from being qualified as a community care residence applicant, alternate, or household member on the basis of any conviction disclosed by a motor vehicle history record background check if the individual has affirmatively demonstrated to the Department of Human Services, clear and convincing evidence of the individual's rehabilitation. | In Committee |
| S277 | Provides that act of sexual penetration committed without victim's consent constitutes sexual assault; defines the terms "consent." | This bill specifies that an act of sexual penetration committed without the victim's consent would constitute sexual assault or, depending on the circumstances, aggravated sexual assault. Under current law, an act of sexual penetration constitutes sexual assault if the act is committed without the victim's affirmative and freely-given permission. The bill provides that an act of sexual penetration would also constitute sexual assault if the act is committed without the victim's consent. Sexual assault is a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years or a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Current law provides that an act of sexual penetration constitutes aggravated sexual assault if the actor is aided or abetted by one or more other persons and the act is committed without the victim's affirmative and freely-given permission, or if the act is committed without the victim's affirmative and freely-given permission and severe personal injury is sustained by the victim. The bill provides that an act of sexual penetration under either of these circumstances would also constitute aggravated sexual assault if the act is committed without the victim's consent. Aggravated sexual assault is a crime of the first degree. A crime of the first degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years or a fine of up to $200,000, or both. The bill defines "consent" as "a freely given, knowledgeable, and informed agreement." | In Committee |
| S266 | Makes publishing on Internet home address or unpublished telephone number of judges, prosecutors and certain court personnel a crime of the fourth degree under certain circumstances. | This bill makes it a crime of the fourth degree for a person with purpose to expose another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property, or in reckless disregard of the probability of such exposure, to knowingly post or publish on the Internet the home address or unpublished telephone number of any judge, prosecutor, or court administrative personnel. A fourth degree crime is punishable by a prison term of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. This bill is modeled in part after N.J.S.A. 2C:20-31.1 which makes it a similar crime with respect to law enforcement officers. | In Committee |
| S1459 | Alters procedure for reimbursing nurses who provide nonpublic school nursing services in certain circumstances. | This bill permits, under certain circumstances, a school district to provide State aid directly to an individual that is providing nursing services for a nonpublic school. Under P.L.1991, c.226 (C.18A:40-23 et seq.), a board of education is required to provide certain basic nursing services for nonpublic school students enrolled at a nonpublic school located within the district, and the board is permitted to provide certain other nursing services to the nonpublic school students. Under this bill, the State aid provided to a school district for the provisions of nonpublic school nursing services will be distributed by the school district directly to the individual providing nursing services to the nonpublic school students if the following conditions are met: (1) the nonpublic school provides to the school district all required documentation attesting to the individual's status as a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing; (2) the nonpublic school provides to the school district documentation of the actual hours the individual provided nursing services at the nonpublic school; and (3) the nonpublic school, on a form developed by the Department of Education, submits to the school district an attestation that all documentation provided to the school district is valid and an agreement to assume any liability that may arise if the individual is determined not to be a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing during the school year. The bill also provides that the provisions of the bill will not apply to a school district that entered into an agreement for the provision of nursing services for nonpublic schools for the 2020-2021 school year prior to the effective date of the bill. The provisions of the bill will apply to a school district that renews an agreement, or enters into a new agreement, for the provision of nursing services for nonpublic schools for the 2021-2022 school year and any subsequent school year, after the effective date of the bill. Finally, the bill requires a nonpublic school, prior to renewing or entering a new agreement with a school district for the provision of nursing services for the nonpublic school, to notify the school district that it intends to avail itself of the provisions of the bill by meeting the three conditions set forth in the bill regarding documentation and attestation. | In Committee |
| S1455 | Provides veterans with up to 60 credits tuition-free at county college serving county of residence. | This bill provides that veterans who are enrolled in good standing at the New Jersey county college serving their county of residence will be eligible to receive up to 60 credits tuition-free. For purposes of the bill, a "veteran" is a citizen and resident of the State who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component, and was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances. In order to be eligible for tuition benefits under the bill, the veteran is required to apply for all available State and federal student grants and scholarships for which he is eligible, as well as any tuition benefits for which he is eligible under the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.). If the county college in which the veteran is enrolled awards the veteran any credits for military experience, those credits will count toward the maximum number of 60 credits tuition-free. | In Committee |
| S1452 | Establishes new crime of domestic violence committed in the presence of a child. | This bill would establish the new crime of committing an act of domestic violence in the presence of a child. Under current law, a person commits an act of domestic violence if the person commits one or more of acts of homicide, assault, terroristic threats, kidnapping, criminal restraint, false imprisonment, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, lewdness, criminal mischief, burglary, criminal trespass, harassment, or stalking upon a person protected under the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et seq.). In addition to the remedies available to a victim under the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," a person who commits an act of domestic violence may be subject to criminal prosecution for the act that constituted domestic violence. This bill would provide that when the act of domestic violence is committed in the presence of a child to whom the actor or the victim is a parent, guardian, or resource family parent, the person committing the act would be subject to criminal prosecution for both the underlying offense and for the separate crime of committing an act of domestic violence in the presence of a child. However, the bill would not require the person be convicted of the underlying offense to be convicted of committing an act of domestic violence in the presence of a child. This bill would require that the person committing the act of domestic violence know the child was present during the commission of the act. "In the presence of a child" would mean in the physical presence of a child or having knowledge that a child is present and may see or hear an act of domestic violence. The bill would additionally require that the child be 16 years of age or younger. The crime of committing an act of domestic violence in the presence of a child would be a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense; otherwise, it would be graded one degree higher than the most serious underlying offense. If the offender is convicted of both the underlying offense and committing an act of domestic violence in the presence of a child, the convictions would not merge and a court would be required to impose a separate sentence for each conviction. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, up to a $10,000 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. 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 first degree is punishable by imprisonment for 10 to 20 years, up to a $200,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| S1448 | Prohibits leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor under age of 18; requires law enforcement officers who observe unsecured firearms to conduct follow-up. | Under section 1 of P.L.1991, c.397 (C.2C:58-15), a firearm owner is prohibited from leaving a loaded firearm within easy access of a minor under the age of 16. This bill increases the age of a minor to under the age of 18. The bill also requires a law enforcement officer who observes that a firearm owner has not properly stored or secured his or her firearm to return to the firearm owner's premises to ensure that the firearms are properly secured. Under section 1 of P.L.1991, c.397 (C.2C:58-15), unless a firearm owner takes certain precautions, the owner is guilty of a disorderly persons offense if he or she knows, or reasonably should know, that a minor is likely to gain access to a loaded firearm at a premises under the owner's control and the minor gains access to the firearm. The precautions required under the law include storing the firearm in a securely locked box, secure location, or with a trigger lock. A disorderly person's offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S1454 | Adds to property tax levy cap exclusions increases in flood insurance premiums. | This bill provides a limited exclusion from the calculation of a local unit of government's property tax levy cap for certain increases in flood insurance premiums resulting from changes to federal flood insurance maps. The amount of the cap exclusion allowed by the bill is dependent on the local unit's existing flood insurance coverage and the number of years that have elapsed since changes to federal flood insurance maps were made. The bill provides that in the first year following a change to the federal flood insurance maps, a local unit of government that has flood insurance is permitted to exclude from that unit's property tax levy cap the amount of any increase in flood insurance premiums that are more than two percent more than the prior year's flood insurance premiums. The bill provides that a local unit of government that does not have flood insurance is permitted to exclude from that unit's property tax levy cap the entire initial cost for flood insurance premiums that are incurred in the first year following a change to the federal maps. The bill provides that in the second, third, and fourth years following a change to the federal flood insurance maps, a local unit of government that either did or did not have flood insurance in the year prior to the change in the flood maps, is permitted to exclude from that unit's property tax levy cap flood insurance premiums that are more than two percent more than the prior year's flood insurance premiums. The exclusion provided by the bill will not apply in the fifth and subsequent years following a change to the federal flood insurance map. | In Committee |
| S1467 | Requires public schools that offer student psychological services to offer remote sessions. | This bill requires school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects that employ a school psychologist and offer in-person school psychology services to students in grades kindergarten through 12 to allow students to attend counseling sessions or meetings of any kind through virtual or remote means. Under the bill, a student will not be eligible to participate in remote psychology sessions if the school psychologist determines that in-person counseling is in the best interest of the student. Also under the bill, a student will not be required to attend a school counseling session or meeting with a school psychologist remotely, and will be permitted to continue to attend sessions in-person. As used in the bill, a "school psychologist" means a person who holds a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a school psychologist endorsement. School psychologists assist educators in implementing safe, healthy classroom and school environments by providing students with a wide range of emotional and academic services. This bill ensures that students who are unable to attend in-person sessions, for whatever reason, will continue to have access to their school psychologist by offering virtual or remote counseling sessions. | In Committee |
| S1592 | Adopts State definition of Islamophobia for certain civil and criminal purposes. | This bill adopts the first-ever State definition of Islamophobia in New Jersey and in the nation. Attacks on persons who are Muslim or perceived to be Muslim have grown significantly since September 11, 2001. From 2014 to 2019, there were 10,015 anti-Muslim bias incidents, which included 1,164 anti-Muslim hate crimes. This rise in Islamophobic sentiment is widely acknowledged by the American people, as a 2019 study by Pew found that most American adults (82%) say that Muslims are subject to at least some discrimination in the United States today. According to the FBI, approximately 19% of religion-based incidents from 2015-2019 were against Muslims, who make up only about 1% of the United States population. Furthermore, the United States Attorney General has commented that since September 11, 2001, the Justice Department has led more than 1,000 investigations into "anti-Muslim hatred" acts and bigoted behavior that have led to more than 45 prosecutions. According to a 2017 Pew Poll, while perceptions of religious groups improved overall in 2017, Muslims rated most negatively of all religious groups, scoring a 48 out of 100. New Jersey ranked among the top 10 states for anti-mosque incidents according to the ACLU, including multiple incidents against Muslim persons and Muslim institutions. This bill provides a State definition of Islamophobia modeled in part after the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), which is composed of British Parliament Members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Awareness of this definition of Islamophobia will increase understanding of the parameters of contemporary Islamophobia crime and discrimination. Under the bill, the definition of Islamophobia in the bill would not include any criticism of any Muslim-majority country similar to that leveled against any other country. The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts under the civil or criminal laws of this State, a public official or law enforcement officer is required to take into consideration the definition of Islamophobia contained in this bill for the purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by Islamophobia and discriminatory anti-Muslim intent. Nothing contained in this bill is to be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution, and nothing in this bill is to be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. | 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 |
| S1478 | Establishes grant program for NJ YouthBuild programs through DOLWD; makes appropriation. | This bill directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to establish a grant program for YouthBuild programs throughout New Jersey. YouthBuild is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational opportunities for at-risk youth ages 16 to 24 through the United States Department of Labor. The bill would expand YouthBuild programs in the State by establishing a State program with funding that would work in coordination with the federal program. In order for a YouthBuild program to be eligible to receive this grant funding, several program requirements must be met: (1) serving economically disadvantaged young people ages 16 to 24 who have not received a secondary school diploma or its equivalent; (2) offering integrated education and job skills training services and activities which are evenly divided within the program, with 50 percent of students' time spent in classroom-based instruction, counseling, and leadership development instruction and 50 percent of their time spent in service learning experiences at job sites; (3) curriculum culminating in an industry recognized credential, with the YouthBuild program being the entity administering the examination; (4) providing stipends to youth participants to cover the costs associated with their full time participation in this program. Only not-for-profit private agencies that are affiliates of YouthBuild USA or have received a federal Housing and Urban Development YouthBuild award are eligible to use the term YouthBuild and apply for this funding. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will require all programs eligible to receive YouthBuild grant funding to meet the specific application requirements outlined in this bill. YouthBuild programs selected for funding under the bill will be required to report outcomes to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which will be publicly available. The department will also complete an initial evaluation report on the progress of individual programs funded under the bill; this report will be available to the Governor and the Legislature. The purpose of this bill is to increase accessibility and sustainability of the evidence-based YouthBuild model. For more than 30 years, the YouthBuild model, through YouthBuild USA, has demonstrated positive outcomes for youth-supporting young people in earning their high school diploma, or equivalent, and acquiring the skills and credentials necessary to meet their postsecondary goals. Over the years, the number of YouthBuild programs throughout the State of New Jersey has fluctuated because the federal YouthBuild appropriation from the federal Department of Labor is not guaranteed. A Statewide YouthBuild appropriation would help ensure that opportunity youth throughout New Jersey are consistently served with an evidence-based model. It would promote the sustainability of currently operating YouthBuild programs and would also likely lead to an increase in YouthBuild programs throughout New Jersey. The bill appropriates an unspecified amount from various federal sources. | Dead |
| S1466 | Establishes Train the Trainer Program for Student Wellbeing in DOE; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes a Train the Trainer Program for Student Wellbeing in the Department of Education. The bill also appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Education for the bill's purposes. The bill directs the Department of Education to develop and implement a Train the Trainer Program for Student Wellbeing. The purpose of the program will be to educate participants on how to effectively lead a course for public school teachers and staff on the topic of student behavioral and mental health. Participants will be provided with the knowledge and resources necessary to lead a training course on methods that promote student behavioral and mental health in the school and classroom environments. Under the bill, the Train the Trainer Program for Student Wellbeing will provide evidence-based instruction on, and prepare a participant to lead, a student behavioral and mental health training course in a public school that addresses:· trauma-informed approaches to improve overall school climate and culture;· the signs of behavioral and mental health challenges and substance use disorders that may be experienced by students;· restorative practices for addressing youth behavioral and mental health challenges;· methods to improve youth social and emotional health and fostering a positive school climate;· methods to encourage positive bystander behavior;· best practices to provide assistance to students in non-crisis situations;· how to safely de-escalate crisis situations; and· how to identify and access available behavioral and mental health resources and substance use disorder support services appropriate for students. The bill permits the department to enter into an agreement with an organization to provide the program, provided that the organization has experience in: (1) providing evidence-based youth behavioral and mental health training programs; and (2) educating instructors using a train the trainer model. The bill does not require a school district to participate in the program. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to annually evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Three years following the bill's effective date, the commissioner is required to report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of the program. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Education the sum of $1,000,000 for the purpose of effectuating the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S1457 | Makes $1.3 billion in federal funds available to DEP for use in New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program for lead service line replacement projects. | This bill would provide that, subject to the availability of federal funds provided or made accessible to the State from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, or any other federal funds provided or made accessible to the State in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, $1.3 billion from such federal funds are to be made available to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill specifies that the funds made available to the DEP, pursuant to the bill, are to be reserved by the DEP to provide financial support, in conjunction with financing from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) and pursuant to the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (NJEIFP), for lead service line replacement projects undertaken by suppliers of water in the State. The DEP would be authorized to use up to one percent of the funds to defray administrative expenses incurred in the implementation of the bill's provisions. The bill authorizes the DEP to transfer, to the NJIB, the uncommitted balance of funds made available to the DEP pursuant to the bill. The NJIB would be required to use the transferred funds to provide financial support, in conjunction with the DEP and pursuant to the NJEIFP, for lead service line replacement projects undertaken by suppliers of water in the State. The NJIB would be authorized to use up to one percent of the transferred funds to defray administrative expenses incurred in the implementation of the bill's provisions. The use of federal funds for lead service line replacement projects, as provided by the bill, would be conditioned upon the upfront provision of matching funds for each lead service line replacement project by the public water utility or other supplier of water undertaking the project, except when the project is being undertaken by a small water supplier, in which case, the small water supplier will not be required to provide upfront matching funds, but may be required to commit to provide matching funds at some future date, as agreed to by the DEP in consultation with the NJIB. A "small water supplier" is defined, consistent with federal law, to mean a supplier of water that serves not more than 3,300 customer connections in the State. The bill would authorize the NJIB to facilitate the provision of matching funds by making loans to project sponsors for lead service line replacement projects undertaken by suppliers of water in the State. The DEP, in consultation with the NJIB, would be required to determine the amount of matching funds to be provided by each supplier of water. When determining the amount, and the timeframe for provision, of matching funds by a small water supplier, the DEP would be required to consider the financial reserves held by the small water supplier and any other factors that would enable, or negate the ability of, the small water supplier to provide matching funds for the project. The department, in consultation with the NJIB, would be required to establish the size of each financial award that is made available to a supplier of water using federal funds made available under the bill, as well as the eligibility of suppliers of water for such financial support. The use of federal funds made available pursuant to the bill, the establishment of eligibility standards for the financial awards being made with those federal funds, and the provision of loans to project sponsors would each need to be done in accordance with the "New Jersey Infrastructure Trust Act," P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.), and any other applicable laws or regulations. | In Committee |
| S916 | Requires Director of Division of Developmental Disabilities to align rates for self-directed employees with maximum service provider rates. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (division) in the Department of Human Services to ensure that there is parity between service provider and self-directed employee rates, regarding approved services funded by the division and provided to eligible individuals. Under the bill: "self-directed employee" means a person who is recruited and offered employment directly by an individual who is eligible to receive services funded by the division, or the individual's authorized representative, to perform approved services, for which the self-directed employee is qualified; and "service provider" means an entity or individual who enters into a contract with the division to provide approved services to individuals who are eligible to receive services funded by the division. The director's efforts are to include, at a minimum, setting the rates contracted between the division and a service provider as the maximum self-directed employee rates, provided that the rates are for the same service, duration of time, and level of care. Currently, under the self-direction service model, the individual, or the individual's authorized representative, offering employment to the self-directed employee determines the employee's hourly rate, within a "reasonable and customary" framework. The individual's service budget must be able to support this rate. The comparable service provider rates are specific by amount and are generally much higher. For example, the hourly base rate for high acuity community based supports provided by a service provider is approximately $51.00, while the hourly rate for the same service provided by a self-directed employee is "reasonable and customary." The current threshold for "reasonable and customary" is between approximately $20 and $25 per hour. Under this bill, the maximum hourly rate for a self-directed employee providing community based supports would be equal to the hourly service provider rate of approximately $51.00, provided that the level of care is identical for both services. | In Committee |
| S1463 | Clarifies the violation of "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act" results in loss of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage in certain circumstances; provides coverage for innocent persons in certain situations involving insurance fraud. | This bill amends the "Motor Vehicle Security-Responsibility Law," to clarify that a violation of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act" results in the loss of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage in certain circumstances, and that innocent persons who are injured have primary recourse under uninsured motorist coverage or from the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund. Specifically, the bill provides that whenever a person violates any provision of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," the carrier whose motor vehicle liability policy would otherwise provide coverage for that person or any innocent person that was injured, shall not be responsible for any loss or damage claimed by that person or by the innocent person, in situations in which the policy was voided due to a violation of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act." The bill provides that an innocent person injured by a vehicle for which the applicable policy was voided for a violation of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act" shall have primary recourse from the uninsured portion of any private passenger automobile insurance policy for which the innocent person is eligible for coverage or, if that policy was voided or if no such coverage exists, then from the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund in accordance with any applicable law. The bill also provides that an innocent person injured by a motor vehicle for which the applicable policy was voided due to a violation of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," whose primary recourse is the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund, shall not be subject to the verbal threshold requirements. The bill also provides that nothing in the bill shall be construed to interfere with or eliminate any cause of action the innocent person may have against the person who engaged in fraudulent conduct. The bill also makes technical changes, including the deletion of references to certain statutes that have been repealed. | In Committee |
| S1451 | Establishes gross income tax credit and corporation business tax credit for student loan payments. | This bill establishes an incentive for New Jersey residents who have graduated from a community college, college or university, or graduate school to stay, or return to, New Jersey after their graduation and for employers to hire college graduates to work in this State and subsidizes their loan payments. The bill provides qualified taxpayers and businesses with a credit against the gross income tax (GIT) or the corporation business tax (CBT) for certain educational loan payments. The tax credit is allowed for any payments made by a taxpayer or on behalf of a taxpayer during the taxable or privilege period on a loan which is: (1) secured through a State student loan program, a federal student loan program, or a commercial lender and which is (2) obtained and expended exclusively for purpose of paying the tuition and fees and other expenses such as room and board and book and books and supplies, related directly to the enrollment of the qualified taxpayer at an institution of higher education. Under the bill, the GIT credit is equal to payments made by a qualified taxpayer, during that part of the taxable year they were employed in the State. The GIT credit for an individual taxpayer is equal to the lesser of: (1) the taxpayer's monthly loan payments multiplied by the number of months the taxpayer made loan payments; or (2) the benchmark loan payment multiplied by the number of months during the taxable year in which a taxpayer made loan payments. The GIT credit is refundable if an individual taxpayer earned an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The refundable GIT credit is available only to individual taxpayers and is not available to a business that makes loan payments on behalf of an employee. A gross income taxpayer who is an employer or a business subject to the CBT may receive a tax credit equal to any payments made on behalf of a qualified employee who graduated from an accredited institution of higher education and was employed in New Jersey during the tax year. The GIT credit for a taxpayer who is an employer and the CBT credit are equal to the monthly loan payment made by the employer multiplied by the number of loan payments made by a taxpayer on behalf of a qualified employee during a taxable year or privilege period. The credit is reduced to 50 percent if a qualified employee is employed on a part-time basis. The bill defines a qualified employee as a resident taxpayer who (1) obtained an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education or a graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education who was employed in this State during the privilege period; and (2) was employed in New Jersey on a full-time or part-time basis by an employer, was a self-employed individual, or was an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, New Jersey National Guard, or the Reserve Component of the United States Armed Forces. | In Committee |
| S1456 | Directs AOC to establish implicit bias training for judges and judicial personnel. | This bill would direct the Administrative Office of the Courts to establish an evidence-based training program on implicit bias. This training course would be reviewed at least every two years and modified by the Administrative Office of the Courts from time to time as need may require. The Administrative Director of the Courts would be responsible for ensuring that all judges and judicial personnel attend initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer and annual inservice training. The bill defines "implicit bias" as a bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. In addition, "implicit stereotypes" is defined as the unconscious attributions of particular qualities to a member of a certain social group, influenced by experience, and based on learned associations between various qualities and social categories, including race and gender. | In Committee |
| S2059 | Establishes nonpublic school transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for mandated nonpublic school busing. | This bill establishes a nonpublic school consortium transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for participating school districts' mandated nonpublic school busing for those students. Under the program, a participating school district will disburse to the consortium an amount equal to the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount (currently set at $1,022) for each nonpublic school pupil who is attending a nonpublic school which is a part of the consortium and who is required by law to be transported by a school district. The consortium is to assume the responsibilities of transporting the pupils for whom it receives the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount. The bill provides that if the per pupil cost of the lowest bid received exceeds the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount, the parent or guardian of the student will be eligible to receive the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount from the consortium for that school year. In addition to providing transportation for students who are mandated to be transported, the consortium may provide non-mandated busing to students attending the nonpublic schools that are a part of the consortium, provided that the parents or guardians of those students pay all of the costs of that transportation. At the end of the school year, the consortium will refund to individual participating school districts a portion of the aid-in-lieu-of amount the district provided to the consortium for a nonpublic school student who did not receive transportation for the entire school year. If any unexpended funds remain, the bill requires the consortium to allocate that amount among the school districts in proportion to the number of nonpublic school pupils for whom the school district distributed funds to the consortium. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a committee to oversee the operations of each consortium in implementing the program. The oversight committee will consist of five members appointed by the commissioner, one of whom must represent a nonpublic school that is part of the consortium, and one of whom must represent a school district that is participating in the program. Under the provisions of the bill, the consortium is required to annually enter into a contract with an independent entity to audit the implementation of the program and the audit is required to be submitted to the commissioner no later than December 1 of each year. The bill stipulates that nothing in the bill is to be construed as altering the amount paid by the State for nonpublic school transportation costs pursuant to N.J.A.A18A:39-1a for any school district that participates in the program. The bill takes effect immediately and provides that the program will first be applicable in the 2023-2024 school year. | Dead |
| S1462 | Requires automatic machine recount for certain elections that result in tie vote and establishes process to resolve subsequent tie votes. | This bill requires an automatic machine recount and, if necessary hand recount, of the results of any election, other than a primary election or school election that produces a tie between two or more candidates for elective office. The bill also requires a special election be held in the event of a tie following a hand recount. Candidates and voters of this State can request recounts through a judge of the Superior Court for any election in which they have reason to believe that an error has been made in counting the votes. Under current law, either party may contest an election result that is a tie. Additionally, current law further provides a process for filling a vacancy in a primary election or school election that results in a tie. This bill requires that an automatic machine recount of the votes cast at an election, other than a primary election or school election, in any district or districts would occur within 48 hours following the initial result of a tie between two or more candidates for elective office. If the automatic machine recount results in a tie, an automatic hand recount would take place within 48 hours following the automatic machine recount. If the automatic hand recount results in a tie, a special election between the candidates that remain ties would take place within 60 days of the original election. The appropriate board of elections or boards of elections would conduct the automatic recount. The State would reimburse the costs incurred for conducting an automatic recount. | In Committee |
| S1465 | Requires local boards of education to employ certain number of school psychologists. | This bill requires local boards of education to employ and assign on a fulltime basis to each school within the school district at least one school counselor. The bill also provides that the maximum student to school psychologist ratio per school in a school district will be 500:1. The most recent recommendations of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) suggest that it is necessary to maintain a ratio of one school psychologist per 500 students in order to provide comprehensive school psychological services. The NASP estimates a national ratio of one school psychologist per 1,211 students, with some states approaching a ratio of one school psychologist per 5,000 students. School psychologists are uniquely qualified educational services professionals who receive advanced graduate preparation that includes coursework and field experiences relevant to both psychology and education. It is vital that school districts make school psychologists available to their students to ensure that they receive the best direct support and interventions needed to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. | In Committee |
| S1476 | Creates "New Jersey Kratom Consumer Protection Act." | This bill establishes the New Jersey Kratom Consumer Protection Act. The bill regulates the safe distribution and sale of kratom products and provides the necessary definitions for purposes of effectuating the act. The bill defines "kratom" as the tropical evergreen known as the Mitragyna speciose that is native to Southeast Asia that contains the alkaloid mitragynine, which has stimulant and opioid-like properties. The bill establishes that a kratom retailer shall disclose on the label that the product is a kratom product. The information disclosed on the label shall be regulated by the Department of Health. The Department of Health may also establish fees for registration of kratom products and may establish administrative penalties for any person who sells a kratom product with out product registration. Lastly, the bill establishes penalties and prohibitions on kratom retailers. Retailers shall not distribute or sell any kratom product to an individual under 21 years of age. If a retailer so distributes to an individual less than 21 years of age, the retailer shall be guilty of a petty disorderly offense. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 30 days in prison, or up to a $500 penalty, or both Further, a kratom retailer shall not prepare, distribute, sell, or expose for sale: (i) any kratom product that is adulterated with a dangerous non-kratom substance; (ii) any kratom product that is contaminated with a dangerous non-kratom substance, including, but not limited to, a controlled dangerous substance as defined in the New Jersey Statutes; (iii) any kratom product containing a level of 7-hydroxymitragynine in the alkaloid fraction that is greater than 2% of the overall alkaloid composition; (iv) any kratom extract that surpasses the standards in USP-NF chapter 467; (v) any kratom product containing any synthetic alkaloids; (vi) any kratom product that does not include on its package or label the amount of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine contained in such product. Violators of these rules are subject to a $500 civil penalty for the first offense, $1,000 penalty for the second offense, and in the instance of a third offense, a retailer shall be prohibited from selling kratom products for a period of 3 years. If a retailer sells kratom products during this period, the person shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 30 days in prison, a penalty up to $1,000, or both. Any retailer shall have the right to request a hearing to challenge a penalty. A retailer shall not be subject to penalty or imprisonment if it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the retailer relied in good faith upon the representation of the manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor that the product represented was a kratom product. | In Committee |
| S1453 | Provides gross income tax credits to support development of New Jersey-based small business start-ups. | This bill provides credits against the New Jersey gross income tax to support the development of certain New Jersey-based small business start-ups. Under the bill, taxpayers that meet the definition of a qualified small business are allowed gross income tax credits that can be taken to reduce the taxpayer's liability for tax during the first, second, and third taxable years in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit by the taxpayer. The bill provides that the amount of credit permitted to be taken is determined based upon a fixed percentage of the taxpayer's New Jersey gross income tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of the qualified small business. The bill provides that the fixed percentage of the credit is weighted in favor of tax liabilities incurred during the first few years of profitability. The bill specifies that in the first taxable year the business is conducted or operated for a profit, the taxpayer is allowed a credit equal to 75 percent of the New Jersey gross income tax liability that is incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of the qualified small business. In the second year of profitability, the credit is equal to 50 percent of the tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of the business. In the third year, the credit is 25 percent of the tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the business. The bill limits the application of the allowable credits to the tax otherwise due and required to be paid for the taxable year to which the credit applies. This means, for example, that a credit allowed for tax liabilities incurred in connection with the conduct or operation of a qualified small business during the second taxable year in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit can only be taken to reduce the tax liabilities required to be paid by the taxpayer during the second taxable year the business is profitable; the credit cannot be carried back or carried forward to reduce a past or future tax liability. The bill establishes a mandatory pre-approval process in connection with the credits. The bill provides that taxpayers seeking a credit to offset a tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of a qualified small business must make and file an application with the Director of the Division of Taxation to obtain the director's written authorization prior to taking the allowable credit. The bill authorizes the director to establish an application process and prescribe the form and manner through which a taxpayer may make and file an application to obtain the director's authorization for the credit, but stipulates that the taxpayer must demonstrate that the qualified small business (for which the taxpayer is seeking a credit) is unrelated to the conduct or operation of any other business that was, or is currently, conducted or operated by the taxpayer or, if the qualified small business and any other business that was, or is currently, conducted or operated by the taxpayer are related, that the qualified small business was not established or acquired for the purpose of enjoying the benefit of the credit. The bill provides that taxpayer applications are deemed approved and written authorizations are deemed issued if the director fails to make a determination regarding the approval of an application within 90 calendar days of the date a complete application is received or if the director fails to issue a written authorization within five calendar days of the date the determination is made. The bill authorizes the director to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill, and allows for the immediate filing of those rules and regulations with the Office of Administrative Law, effective for a period not exceeding 360 calendar days following the bill's effective date. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to tax liabilities incurred and required to be paid in connection with qualified small businesses first conducted or operated for a profit in taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following the date of enactment. For purposes of the bill, a "qualified small business" is a business that: -- is registered to do business in this State, -- maintains a business location or otherwise derives a majority of its income from business activities or operations conducted within this State, -- has no more than 50 employees in any calendar month during the first taxable year in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit by the taxpayer, and -- has net income of not more than $100,000 from all business activities or operations conducted within and without this State during the first taxable year in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit by the taxpayer. The purpose of this bill is to support the development of start-up small businesses that are based in New Jersey. The credit provided by the bill will significantly reduce the tax liabilities associated with the conduct or operation of small businesses during the first few years of profitability, and provide small business owners with the opportunity to reinvest additional resources back into their businesses during the most critical period in the life of any small business. | 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 |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Suspend Rule 23:5 | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4028 | Limits amount of payment that State agency as property owner may withhold from certain contractors on State construction contracts to two percent of amount due. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4451 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4400 | Extends hours that minor employed by national sports association, league, or team may work under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 38 | Senate | Democrat | In Office | 04/12/2018 | |
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 38 | Assembly | Democrat | Out of Office | 01/01/2014 | 01/23/2024 |