Legislator
Legislator > Joe Danielsen

State Assemblymember
Joe Danielsen
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 17
In Office - Started: 10/16/2014

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Somerset Office

334 Elizabeth Ave.
Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: 732-247-3999

General Capitol Building Address

P.O. Box 068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
Phone: 609-847-3905

Bill Bill Name Summary Progress
S3309 Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
SJR154 Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. This joint resolution respectfully: (1) directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s (PJM) Reliability Pricing Model; and (2) directs the State of New Jersey to collaborate with neighboring states to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM to implement market reforms and expeditiously review new electricity generation applications. PJM is the regional transmission organization responsible for coordinating the movement of electricity and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy distribution in New Jersey, several other states, and the District of Columbia. One of PJM's responsibilities is to administer a capacity market to ensure adequate resources exist on the grid to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost through a competitive auction. The rising cost of capacity in PJM's capacity market auctions, which contributes to the overall increase in electricity bills for ratepayers, raises concerns about the alignment of capacity prices with the principles of affordability and transparency outlined in New Jersey's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act". In addition, delays in PJM's interconnection queue have prevented new electric generation resources from becoming operational in a timely manner. As a result, these new resources, which are needed to maintain reliability at low costs, will be unable to compete in PJM's capacity market auctions in the near future. The BPU has been working to incentivize the development of new generation resources to help meet growing energy demand and thereby prevent increases in energy and capacity prices. The BPU has also been actively working to protect ratepayers from price increases and coordinating with other PJM states to push for capacity market reforms. The BPU's initiatives, led by Governor Murphy, are accompanied by the actions of consumer advocates, who have furthered the region's efforts to reduce prices through additional complaints at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which the BPU has pledged to support. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AJR216 Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. This joint resolution respectfully: (1) directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s (PJM) Reliability Pricing Model; and (2) directs the State of New Jersey to collaborate with neighboring states to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM to implement market reforms and expeditiously review new electricity generation applications. PJM is the regional transmission organization responsible for coordinating the movement of electricity and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy distribution in New Jersey, several other states, and the District of Columbia. One of PJM's responsibilities is to administer a capacity market to ensure adequate resources exist on the grid to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost through a competitive auction. The rising cost of capacity in PJM's capacity market auctions, which contributes to the overall increase in electricity bills for ratepayers, raises concerns about the alignment of capacity prices with the principles of affordability and transparency outlined in New Jersey's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act". In addition, delays in PJM's interconnection queue have prevented new electric generation resources from becoming operational in a timely manner. As a result, these new resources, which are needed to maintain reliability at low costs, will be unable to compete in PJM's capacity market auctions in the near future. The BPU has been working to incentivize the development of new generation resources to help meet growing energy demand and thereby prevent increases in energy and capacity prices. The BPU has also been actively working to protect ratepayers from price increases and coordinating with other PJM states to push for capacity market reforms. The BPU's initiatives, led by Governor Murphy, are accompanied by the actions of consumer advocates, who have furthered the region's efforts to reduce prices through additional complaints at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which the BPU has pledged to support. In Committee
A5462 Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. Crossed Over
A4380 Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. 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
A3696 "Travel Insurance Act." "Travel Insurance Act." In Committee
S2783 "Travel Insurance Act." "Travel Insurance Act." Passed
A4029 Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. In Committee
S2961 Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. Passed
A4124 Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. In Committee
A4194 Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. In Committee
S1403 Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. Passed
S1067 Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. Vetoed
A3684 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
A5076 Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. Crossed Over
A2255 Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. In Committee
A1888 Provides certain protections to residents of long-term care facilities. Provides certain protections to residents of long-term care facilities. In Committee
A4083 Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. In Committee
A913 Authorizes medical cannabis for treatment of sickle cell anemia. This bill expands the list of medical conditions that qualify a patient for the medical use of cannabis to include sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized primarily by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain. The medical use of cannabis can treat or alleviate the pain or other symptoms associated with certain medical conditions. Crossed Over
A3157 Requires DMVA create Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of certain veterans. This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish a Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans who die by suicide. The department, through its regional network of Veteran Service Officers will provide the family members and volunteer caregivers with information and an application for the program, when it is aware that the cause of death of a veteran is by suicide, and provide assistance with completing and filing the forms. A funeral director will also provide the information, application, and assistance when it is known that the cause of death of a veteran in their custody is by suicide. The bill requires the department to match the family members and volunteer caregivers with clinicians. No fee will be charged to the family member or volunteer caregiver, and the clinicians will donate their time. The application for bereavement counseling will be available for up to five years after the death of the veteran, and counseling sessions will be available for a period of up to 24 months after an application for bereavement counseling has been approved and a clinician assigned. An individual will be eligible for a maximum of 30 counseling hours per year. The department will create a system for monitoring and verifying the donated hours. The department will provide notice about the program on its Internet site and any other locations and manner as the department deems appropriate. Under the bill, family member means a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or grandparent, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, legal guardian, romantic partner, or any person residing in the veteran's household. Volunteer caregiver means a person who is 18 years of age or older, is a member of a qualified veterans' organization, and has provided care in the form of counseling or social work to the veteran for a minimum of three months prior to the death by suicide of the veteran. This term will not include a person such as a licensed or professional caregiver, counselor, or social worker, and a person who received compensation for services. Veteran means a person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve Component thereof, including the National Guard, who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service and died by suicide. Crossed Over
A2415 Requires Silver Alert System receive same broadcast alerts as Amber Alert System. This bill requires media outlets that participate in the "Silver Alert System" to issue the same broadcast alerts used when an "Amber Alert" is initiated following a child's abduction. The "Silver Alert System" is a Statewide program for the dissemination of information regarding a missing person believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment. Under current law, the program is a cooperative effort between State and local law enforcement agencies and print, radio, and television media outlets. This bill requires participating media outlets, when responding to a "Silver Alert," to broadcast a distinctive sound tone and the statement: "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert." The alert is to include a description of the missing person and other information the enforcement agency deems appropriate. In addition, the alert is to be broadcast as often as possible for the first three hours that a "Silver Alert" is in progress. After the initial three hours, the alerts are to be rebroadcast at intervals that the lead law enforcement agency and participating media deem appropriate. Crossed Over
A3019 Requires new flooring for schools, community centers, and child care centers to be certified mercury-free. Requires new flooring for schools, community centers, and child care centers to be certified mercury-free. In Committee
A5721 Permits waiver of juvenile regardless of age under certain circumstances; makes juveniles eligible for waiver for terrorism and human trafficking. This bill permits the waiver of juveniles regardless of age under certain circumstances and makes juveniles eligible for waiver for terrorism and human trafficking. Under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older at the time of the alleged delinquent act who are charged with certain offenses, such as criminal homicide, other than death by auto; first degree robbery; carjacking; and aggravated sexual assault, are eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. Under the provisions of this bill, these juveniles also would be eligible to be waived to adult criminal court for terrorism or human trafficking. The bill further provides that a juvenile, regardless of age, who is charged with terrorism, human trafficking, or certain other offenses, as set forth under current law, is eligible to be waived to adult criminal court if the circumstances and severity of the offense warrant waiver. In Committee
A5561 Requires AG to establish ballistics analysis device pilot program in certain municipalities. Requires AG to establish ballistics analysis device pilot program in certain municipalities. In Committee
A1841 Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. In Committee
A2115 Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. Crossed Over
S3525 Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. An Act concerning financial institutions servicing mortgages and supplementing P.L.2009, c.53 (C.17:11C-51 et seq.). Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A4374 Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." In Committee
A1825 Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. An Act concerning step therapy protocols and supplementing Titles 30 and 52 of the Revised Statutes. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A1423 Requires MVC to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections of certain school buses. This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to conduct a minimum of two annual inspections of school buses through the MVC school bus enhanced safety inspection program (program). In addition to the annual scheduled inspection of school buses required under current law, MVC is also required to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections. The bill also provides that any fine imposed pursuant to the "School Bus Enhanced Safety Inspection Act" that is collected and remitted to the MVC is required to be used for the continued administration of the program. In Committee
A5564 Requires submission of energy usage plan to BPU for proposed artificial intelligence data centers; requires all electricity for artificial intelligence data centers to be derived from new clean energy sources. This bill would require all electricity for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers to be derived from new verifiable Class I renewable energy, energy from nuclear power plants, or a combination thereof, such that there is no net decrease of verifiable Class I renewable energy and energy from nuclear power plants supplied to the transmission and distribution system if the Board of Public Utilities (board) finds that a majority of the states in the PJM region require all electricity supplied to an AI data center to be derived from energy sources, such that there is no net decrease in energy supplied to the transmission and distribution system. In addition, the bill would require any person submitting an application for local development approval for the establishment of an AI data center within the State to simultaneously prepare and submit an energy usage plan to the board for approval if the board finds that a majority of the states in the PJM region require all electricity supplied to an AI data center to be derived from energy sources, such that there is no net decrease in energy supplied to the transmission and distribution system. The energy usage plan would be required to include, at a minimum, procedures that the AI data center will utilize to: (1) derive all electricity from new verifiable Class I renewable energy, energy from nuclear power plants, or a combination thereof; (2) minimize the amount of energy that is used to cool computers by optimizing the layout of the room, ventilation, and cooling systems; (3) optimize water usage, including the process the AI data center plans to use to source water in a manner that has the least negative impacts to the environment and to drinking water; (4) ensure that ventilation and weatherproofing of the building is optimized to minimize energy usage; and (5) utilize the heat generated by the computers in the AI data center for water or space heating in the AI data center or adjacent buildings. No later than 90 days after receipt of an energy usage plan, the board would be required to make a determination to approve the plan as submitted, approve the plan with conditions, or disapprove the plan and to provide written notification to the person that submitted an energy usage plan of the determination. If the energy usage plan is disapproved, the board would be required to inform the person that submitted the energy usage plan of the reasons for the disapproval. The person would have 30 days thereafter to submit a revised energy usage plan to the board. After receiving approval from the board, the person would be required to proceed with the implementation of the plan for the proposed AI data center. The bill would also prohibit any AI data center from connecting to the transmission and distribution system without receiving approval from the board for an energy usage plan. Finally, the bill would require the board to monitor all other states within the PJM region to determine if state laws, rules, regulations, or policies of those states require all electricity supplied to an AI data center to be derived from energy sources, such that there is no net decrease in energy supplied to the transmission and distribution system, and to prepare, and update as necessary, a list of states that have implemented such requirements. When the board finds that a majority of the states within the PJM region have implemented the energy supply requirements, the board would be required to publish that finding in the New Jersey Register and on the board's Internet website no more than 30 days after making the finding. In Committee
S3587 Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
ACR161 Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing statute transferring probation functions from Judiciary to State Parole Board. This Concurrent Resolution proposes to amend the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature to enact a statute to establish a Bureau of Probation in the State Parole Board. The constitutional amendment transfers all of the functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities concerning probation, and the probation officers and other professional supervisors, case workers, and case-related employees who perform probation functions from the Judiciary to this new Bureau of Probation. Under this proposed constitutional amendment, existing contractual terms and conditions would remain unchanged, as would the status of exclusive employee bargaining representatives. The units and contracts, as well as the contract representatives, would be continued in the Bureau of Probation. In 2001, the Legislature enacted a law (P.L.2001, c.362; C.2B:10A-1 et al.) to establish a "Probation Officer Community Safety Unit" consisting of at least 200 probation officers authorized to carry a firearm in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (17) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:39-6 and regulations adopted by the Attorney General. The legislation also granted these probation officers the authority to arrest probationers, enforce the criminal laws of this State, and enforce warrants for the apprehension and arrest of probationers who violate conditions of probation. In April 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that P.L.2001, c.362 (C.2B:10A-1 et al.) was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers doctrine. The court stated that it is the responsibility of the Judiciary to define the duties of probation officers. The court also reiterated its position that probation officers are not law enforcement officers, but impartial agents of the Judiciary. In Committee
ACR157 Condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance. This resolution condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance, and declares the State of New Jersey as a place that welcomes the diversity brought by Hindu Americans. This resolution recognizes that Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries and which encompasses an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The United States has always been a beacon of hope, progress, and innovation, attracting people from around the world to create and live a better and fulfilling life, and has welcomed more than four million Hindus from all corners of the world and given them better opportunities and the freedom to practice Hinduism, also known as "Sanatana Dharma". The American Hindu community has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, retail trade, and so much more. Hindu contributions of Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and enriched the lives of millions. Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is "a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred". There have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country. In Committee
A3169 Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. In Committee
A2308 Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. In Committee
A4696 "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. In Committee
A4757 Permits amusement games licenses to be issued to certain nonprofit organizations. An Act permitting amusement games licenses to be issued to certain nonprofit organizations and supplementing the "Amusement Games Licensing Law," P.L.1959, c.109 (C.5:8-100 et seq.). Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A4051 Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." In Committee
A5220 Restores automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $76,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $76,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $76,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $76,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions, or other changes to the Governor's budget message. Dead
ACR156 Proposes constitutional amendment recognizing fundamental right to reproductive freedom. This proposed constitutional amendment would set out the fundamental right to reproductive freedom in the State Constitution. Reproductive freedom includes the right to access contraception, choose or refuse sterilization, carry a pregnancy to term and give birth, or have an abortion. Reproductive freedom in New Jersey is currently governed by case law and statute. The right to an abortion, in particular, is established by State case law, and was codified into statute by P.L.2021, c.375, commonly known as the "Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act." Although the State right to an abortion is not expressly written in the New Jersey Constitution, New Jersey courts have inferred the existence of this right based on the State Constitution's broad protections of individual rights to privacy and liberty, and have concluded that the New Jersey Constitution protects a pregnant person's right to an abortion in the State. In Committee
A4755 Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. In Committee
A1673 "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. In Committee
A2145 Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. This bill establishes employment protections for paid first responders who are diagnosed with certain cases of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the bill, an employer would be prohibited from discharging, harassing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee, or threatening to do so, with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, duties, or privileges of employment on the basis that the employee took or requested any leave related to a qualifying diagnosis of PTSD. The bill provides that if an employer violates its provisions, an employee or former employee would be authorized to institute a civil action in the Superior Court for relief. All remedies available in common law tort actions would be available to a prevailing plaintiff. Additionally, the bill provides that a court would be authorized to order any or all of the following relief: (1) an assessment of a civil fine of $5,000 and $10,000 for each subsequent violation; (2) an injunction to restrain the continued violation of any of the provisions of the bill; (3) reinstatement of the employee to the same position or to a position equivalent to that which the employee held prior to unlawful discharge or retaliatory action; (4) reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights; (5) compensation for any lost wages, benefits and other remuneration; (6) payment of reasonable costs and attorney's fees. In Committee
A474 Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 from General Fund to Rutgers University - New Brunswick for Nurture thru Nature program. Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 from General Fund to Rutgers University - New Brunswick for Nurture thru Nature program. In Committee
S684 Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients's admission to long-term care facility. An Act allowing for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients' admission to certain long-term care facilities and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
S3179 Concerns certain emergency operations plans required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies. An Act concerning certain emergency operations plans and amending P.L.2010, c.78. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A4284 Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. Crossed Over
A5228 Excludes repeat offenders and persons convicted of certain crimes from eligibility for administrative parole release. This bill amends the "Earn Your Way Out Act," P.L.2019, c.364, to exclude inmates with prior convictions for indictable offenses and inmates serving sentences for certain enumerated crimes from being eligible for administrative parole release. The Earn Your Way Out Act established a process by which an inmate who is eligible for administrative parole release may be paroled without a hearing at the time of their first eligibility for parole. Under current law, administrative parole release is available for all inmates regardless of their prior record, except for inmates previously convicted of or currently serving sentences for crimes enumerated under the "No Early Release Act" ("NERA"), N.J.S.A.2C:43-7.2, the "Graves Act," N.J.S.A.2C:43-6, "Megan's Law," N.J.S.A.2C:7-2, and the "Sexually Violent Predator Act," N.J.S.A.30:4-27.26. Under the bill, inmates with any prior convictions for an indictable offense would not be eligible for administrative parole release. Furthermore, in addition to the crimes enumerated under NERA, the Graves Act, Megan's Law, and the Sexually Violent Predator Act, inmates currently serving a sentence imposed for a conviction of any of the following additional crimes would also not be eligible for administrative parole release:· Leaving the scene of an automobile accident resulting in death;· Leaving the scene of a boating accident resulting in death;· Vehicular homicide;· Assault in the third or fourth degree;· Leaving the scene of an automobile accident resulting in serious bodily injury;· Terroristic threats;· Stalking;· Criminal restraint;· Luring of an adult;· Human trafficking in the first degree;· Human trafficking in the second degree;· Invasion of privacy;· Sexual extortion;· Bias intimidation;· Aggravated arson;· Money laundering;· Endangering the welfare of a child causing abuse or neglect;· Child pornography;· Witness tampering;· Official misconduct;· False public alarm in the first degree;· False public alarm in the second degree;· Leader of a narcotics trafficking network;· Maintaining or operating a controlled substance production facility;· Manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing controlled substances;· Soliciting or providing material support for terrorism;· Prohibited weapons and devices;· Possession of explosives for an unlawful purpose;· Possession of destructive devices for an unlawful purpose;· Possession of a weapon except a firearm for an unlawful purpose;· Possession of a weapon during the commission of a drug offense;· Violation of a prohibition on weapons possession;· Manufacture, transport, disposition, and defacement of machine guns or sawed-off shotguns;· Leader of a firearms trafficking network; and· Causing death or injury while driving with a suspended license. In Committee
A5158 Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. In Committee
A5175 Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. In Committee
A5160 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
A583 Permits deputy county clerks and municipal clerks to perform marriages and civil unions. Permits deputy county clerks and municipal clerks to perform marriages and civil unions. Crossed Over
A1476 Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." An Act establishing the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A5152 Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. An Act concerning the date of the June 2025 primary election and adjustment of certain election related deadlines. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A4893 Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. In Committee
A2941 Concerns certain emergency operations plans required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies. This bill concerns certain emergency operations plans that are required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies. Under current law, all sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship are required to annually prepare an emergency operations plan in coordination with the appropriate local fire, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies. A copy of the plan is to be filed with the municipal emergency management coordinator and the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the sports and entertainment facility, movie theater, or place of worship is situated. The plan is required to include a copy of the building plans or building layout that identifies the internal and external access routes. Under the provisions of this bill, all sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship are required to file the emergency operations plan in an electronic format that is compatible with public safety software systems. In addition, the bill requires the emergency operations plan to include emergency mapping data. The bill defines "emergency mapping data" as a digital representation of a building's interior and exterior that is verified for accuracy by a person and provided to public safety officials as set forth under current law electronically and in a printable format through existing public safety software systems. The bill requires the emergency mapping data to include an aerial image of the building; a geospatially referenced floor plan or building schematic; site specific labeling of rooms, suite numbers, and key features; locations of hazardous material and utility shut-offs; and any other relevant information. Current law defines "place of worship" to mean a building capable of seating more than 500 people, including but not limited to a church, mosque, or synagogue, used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination registered as a not-for-profit organization pursuant to current law. This bill changes that definition from a building capable of seating more than 500 people to a building capable of seating more than 300 people. It is the intent of the sponsor to bring the provisions of this law in line with the provisions of current law requiring schools to submit certain data regarding school buildings and grounds to law enforcement. In Committee
A2334 Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. In Committee
A1878 Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DOH for Huntington's Disease Grant Program. This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to Division of Community Health in the Department of Health (DOH) for the Huntington's Disease Grant Program. The amount appropriated under the bill, in addition to any other State or federal funds allocated for the same purposes, is to be allocated to support grants to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or New Jersey based and operated research organizations for the provision of pre-symptomatic testing, neurology and psychiatry services, neurophysiological evaluations, treatment, disease management, and counseling for people living with or at risk for Huntington's disease. According to the department's Notice of Fund Availability, the Huntington's Disease Grant Program is currently estimated to distribute $200,437 in FY 2023. This supplemental appropriation would increase that amount to $700,437. Huntington's disease is a fatal rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. Huntington's disease has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders. Many describe the symptoms as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease simultaneously. According to the DOH, there are approximately 900 to 1,200 New Jersey residents who are living with Huntington's disease. The incidence of the disease is estimated between 1 in 8,000 and 1 in 10,000 State residents. There are also about 7,000 at-risk individuals in New Jersey. But since this is a fatal disease, this number may be low since the majority of people who go through genetic counseling decide to not get tested. In Committee
A3161 Broadens eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires federal active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or a Reserve component thereof. The benefits in the bill are (1) a civil service preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF, PERS, and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Eligibility for the civil service benefits for all veterans is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. In Committee
A5091 Increases PFRS accidental disability pension when disability is caused by weapon. This bill increases the accidental disability pension provided in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) when the disability is caused by a weapon. If a PFRS member is injured in the line of duty by a weapon and permanently disabled, the pension for the retiree will increase from 66 percent of final compensation to 100 percent of final compensation. When the retiree attains mandatory retirement age, the pension thereafter will be 80 percent of the final compensation. In addition, the final compensation used to determine the accidental disability pension will continue to increase until the member would have attained the age of 65 under the assumption of continuous service. The final compensation will increase by the same percentage increase which is applied in any adjustments of the compensation schedule of active members after the member's retirement but before the date on which the retired member would have attained the age of 65. In Committee
SJR71 Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A3446 "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. An Act concerning public school libraries and public libraries and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A4626 Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. In Committee
A4297 Requires issuance of raincheck for unavailable good or service advertised by digital coupon. This bill requires the issuance of rainchecks for goods or services advertised by digital coupon. Under the bill, if an item advertised to the public by a person who sells or offers for sale goods or services at a retail location is not currently available in stock, as advertised to the public in a digital coupon, the person is required to provide a raincheck for not less than 60 days, which would allow the consumer to obtain the same product, service, or benefit at the same price, discount or on the same terms and conditions as that provided by the digital coupon. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. In Committee
S3201 Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
S2310 Requires transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings. An Act concerning transparency in employment listings and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AJR25 Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. In Committee
A4987 Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." This bill creates a uniform code for State and local government entities, as well as health care facilities, regarding the use of resources to aid federal immigration law enforcement, and designates the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." Under the bill, the definition of government entities includes any of the principal departments of the executive branch of State government and any parts or creations thereof, any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The bill's definition also includes political subdivisions of the State and combinations of political subdivisions, independent authorities, commissions, instrumentalities and agencies created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions. Under the bill, government entities and healthcare facilities are prohibited from collecting certain personal and identifying information unless it is strictly necessary for program or service administration. Any record resulting from that collection, whether written or oral, would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act" unless an election agency requires it to ascertain the eligibility of a candidate when citizenship is required for an elected office. Any record also shall not be disclosed except as required to administer benefits or services pursuant to State or federal law, or valid court order or warrant, issued by a federal Article III judge or magistrate or the State equivalent. The bill provides that the prohibition on sharing information may be waived if the subject of the record or information provides written consent in that person's preferred language. The written consent shall include the following: (1) the exact record or information to be shared; (2) the purpose for sharing the record or information; (3) a statement clarifying that consent is voluntary and declining to consent shall not result in discrimination or retaliation by the government entity; (4) a statement clarifying that consent may be revoked, but that revocation does not impact a record or information already shared via prior written consent provided pursuant to this section; and (5) the person or agency to receive the record or information. The bill requires government entities to review their confidentiality policies, guidance and recommendations to identify any changes necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and make any changes as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one year after the bill becomes effective. The bill also requires these entities to share their policies prominently on their Internet websites. This bill also requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Public Defender, to prepare a written notice explaining in plain language the provisions of section 6 of the bill. Section 6 of the bill details the prohibition of certain actions by law enforcement. The bill requires the notice and all translations to be posted to the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety and to be considered vital documents pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.). The Attorney General is also required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities in the development of standardized training and guidance for law enforcement to comply with the bill's provisions. The AG also shall provide mandatory training to all State, county and local law enforcement agencies within one year of the bill's effective date. Any newly sworn officer is required to complete this training within a year of the officer's appointment. The Department of Human Services is required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities to develop and lead a multilingual campaign to promote public awareness of the bill's requirements for law enforcement agencies. As part of the awareness campaign, DHS is required to publish the text of section 6 of the bill's provisions and a plain language summary and explanation of those requirements on its Internet website within 180 days of the bill's enactment. Under the bill, the Attorney General is also required to consult with other government entities and stakeholders in the development of model policies for sensitive locations. These locations include health care facilities, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and any other locations deemed appropriate by the Attorney General to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with government entities. The model policies prohibit the request or collection of certain information regarding a person's immigration status, place of birth or taxpayer identification except to determine eligibility for services or program benefits. The model policies prohibit assistance or participation of immigration enforcement, and prohibit the permission of immigration enforcement on entity premises that are not open without restriction to the general public. The Attorney General is required to publish the model policies on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires government entities with authority to regulate sensitive places to adopt the model policies within 180 days of issuance by the Attorney General's office and encourages facilities not regulated by government entities to adopt the policies. The bill prohibits certain actions by law enforcement. Specifically, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officials shall not: (1) stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law; (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number; (3) make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants; (4) use agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin; or (5) make agency or department databases available to anyone or any entity for the purpose of immigration enforcement or investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin. The bill nullifies any agreement, policy or practice in place that is in conflict with this clause. Law enforcement agencies in the State are also prohibited from: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; (2) providing to federal immigration authorities any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular person; (3) providing access to any State, county, or municipal law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property; (4) providing access to a detained individual for an interview; (5) facilitating or complying with immigration detainers, notification requests, and transfer requests from federal immigration authorities; (6) continuing to detain a person past the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant; (7) entering into, modifying, renewing, or extending any agreement to exercise federal immigration authority or conduct immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g), or otherwise exercising federal civil immigration authority or conducting immigration enforcement outside of the purview of 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g); or (8) providing or sharing funds, property, equipment, personnel, or access to facilities or real property not open to the general public for purposes of engaging in, assisting, supporting, or facilitating immigration enforcement. The bill provides that violations of the prohibitions on police conduct in the bill would be enforceable under the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143. If an agency or law enforcement official intends to comply with an immigration detainer, notification request, civil immigration warrant, or transfer request concerning a person in custody, a written explanation specifying the legal basis for that action is required to be given to the person is custody. Lastly, the bill requires each State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to submit to the Attorney General a report that includes: (1) the number of detainer requests, transfer requests, and notification requests made by immigration authorities, and the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency. For any request that was granted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting that request; (2) the number of interviews requested and the number of interviews conducted, either in person or telephonically, by immigration authorities of people in State, county, or municipal law enforcement custody. For each interview conducted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting the interview; (3) any other requests made by immigration authorities for the agency's participation in immigration enforcement, the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and the legal basis for granting the request; and (4) to the extent the law enforcement agency has knowledge, any information about State, county, and municipal databases to which immigration authorities have had access to at any time in the course of the year, including: the name of the database; an overview of information available on the database; the purpose for which immigration authorities have access to this database; the process through which immigration authorities requested access and agencies reviewed this request, if applicable; any legal basis for providing immigration authorities access to the database; and the frequency with which immigration authorities accessed the database over the course of the year. Law enforcement agencies have 180 days after the effective date of the bill to produce the first report and must then annually submit a report within 30 days of the end of the State's fiscal year. The Attorney General is initially required to publish the report on the office's website within 90 days of receipt, and then within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year thereafter. The Attorney General is also required to annually submit to the Governor and Legislature a report on each law enforcement agency's compliance with the provisions of this act. In Committee
A4529 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. Crossed Over
A2138 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
A4760 Permits cannabis retailers to sell certain non-intoxicating products in store. This bill permits Class 5 Cannabis Retailer licensees to sell certain non-intoxicating products in store. Under the bill, a retailer is permitted to sell non-intoxicating food and beverage products. The sale of non-intoxicating products is prohibited from exceeding 30 percent of the store's annual gross revenues. The 30 percent cap established under the bill does not apply to the sale of coffee or water by the retailer. In Committee
A1131 Requires DMVA provide central registry of unclaimed cremains of veterans, spouses, and dependents; requires funeral director report to DMVA possession of unclaimed veteran, spouse, and dependent cremains. Requires DMVA provide central registry of unclaimed cremains of veterans, spouses, and dependents; requires funeral director report to DMVA possession of unclaimed veteran, spouse, and dependent cremains. Crossed Over
A2378 Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. In Committee
A4151 Requires transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings. Requires transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings. In Committee
A4850 Prohibits procurement of single use plastic beverage containers by State and local government entities. This bill prohibits State and local government entities that have the authority to contract for the purchase of goods and services from purchasing single use plastic beverage containers. The bill provides exemptions to any binding contractual obligations for the purchase of goods or services entered into prior to the effective date of this bill or when the procurement of an alternative to single use plastic beverage containers would not be economically feasible. The bill directs State agencies and local government entities authorized to purchase or contract for goods and services to revise their procurement procedures in order to comply with this bill. In Committee
A4759 Expands definition and qualifications of online newspaper for required public advertisements. This bill amends the definition of a newspaper and establishes certain criteria for publications to qualify for the online publishing of official notices and advertisements by State or local bodies. The bill retains the requirements that the newspaper be entirely printed in the English language, printed and published within the State of New Jersey, be a newspaper of general paid circulation possessing an average news content of not less than 35%, and have been published continuously in the municipality where its publication office is for not less than two years. The bill removes the requirement that the newspaper be registered as a second class mail matter with the postal service. This bill states that in order for State and local government agencies to publish notices to a newspaper's website, the newspaper will be required to meet the following qualifications: (1) demonstrate a history of serving an audience which includes the jurisdiction or area of interest the agency serves; (2) provide an email newsletter to their readers, which shall include the notices published in their newspaper; and (3) provide an option to view the notice in Spanish and one additional prominent language spoken in the region the newspaper serves. In Committee
A4758 Establishes annual sales tax holiday for certain retail sales of computers, school computer supplies, school supplies, school art supplies, and school instructional materials. This bill establishes an annual "back-to-school" sales tax holiday in the State of New Jersey during August and September. During the two month period, the retail purchases of certain personal computers with a sales price of less than $3,000, school computer supplies with a sales price of less than $1,000 per item, and certain school supplies and equipment made by individual shoppers for non-business purposes will be exempt from the State sales tax. While the tax holiday is intended to provide financial relief to the students of New Jersey and their families, the general public may also make tax-free purchases for other nonbusiness uses during this time period. Annual and temporary sales tax holidays have been established in at least 19 states and the District of Columbia, and have gained popularity and support in several others. While some states have opted to celebrate tax holidays at the beginning of the calendar year or during seasonal holiday periods, a majority of states have established tax moratoria during some portion of the late summer and early autumn back-to-school period, as families prepare to send their children back to school. These tax holidays typically include exemptions for purchases of educational supplies, consumer products, and clothing items that allow students to face the challenges of the coming year. Under the bill, tax exempt school supplies and equipment during the holiday include: (1) school supplies, such as pens and pencils, notebooks, and binders; (2) school art supplies, such as paints and paintbrushes, clay, and glazes; (3) school instructional materials, such as maps, globes, reference books, and workbooks; (4) computers with a sales price of less than $3,000 per item; and (5) school computer supplies, such as computer storage equipment, printers, and personal digital assistants, with a sales price of less than $1,000 per item. Unlike other tax relief initiatives, the establishment of a back-to-school sales tax holiday in New Jersey could be developed and implemented with minimal administrative effort. It would provide an administratively simple and effective way to cut taxes for consumers that would require no special taxpayer forms or rebate applications. In addition, it would be economically beneficial to the State's merchants and small business owners by encouraging consumer spending during a period of time when demand is typically soft. In Committee
A4625 Requires employers to include in job posting whether posting is for existing position and sets additional job posting requirements. Requires employers to include in job posting whether posting is for existing position and sets additional job posting requirements. In Committee
A4530 Allows sentencing to extended term for repeat convictions of receipt of stolen property. This bill provides that a person may be sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment for repeat convictions of receiving stolen property. Under the bill, a person is a persistent offender if the person has previously been convicted on two or more prior and separate occasions of receiving stolen property in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:20-7, regardless of the dates of the convictions. A persistent offender may be sentenced to an extended term, upon motion of the prosecutor, if the prior conviction is for a crime committed on a separate occasion and the crime for which the person is being sentenced was either: (1) within 10 years of the date of the defendant's last release from confinement for the commission of any crime; or (2) within 10 years of the date of the commission of the most recent violation of N.J.S.2C:20-7 for which the defendant has a prior conviction. Crossed Over
A2481 Prohibits insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP from charging fee for paper bills and notices. This bill prohibits any insurer from charging a fee to furnish tangible printed or paper bills or notices, with respect to any insurance policy, to an insured or other owner of that policy. Insurance policies referred to under the bill include automobile insurance policies, homeowners policies, individual life and health insurance policies. In addition, the bill prohibits the State Health Benefits Commission and School Employees' Health Benefits Commission from charging a fee to furnish tangible printed or paper bills or notices to any member of the State Health Benefits Program or the School Employees' Health Benefits Program. This bill ensures that an insured, or other owner of the policy, will not be charged an additional fee if the insured or other owner of the policy elects to receive tangible printed or paper bills or notices in place of digital access to the same. The bill does not prohibit an insurer from offering a discount, credit, or other incentive to an insured for selecting a specific billing, payment, or notification option. In Committee
A2884 Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. An Act concerning the purchase of credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System for certain service and amending P.L.1991, c.153. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A4656 Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). In Committee
A4594 Requires DOH to evaluate technology uses in long-term care settings, implements certain technological requirements within long-term care settings, and clarifies existing telehealth reimbursement parity includes long-term care settings. This bill implements a variety of provisions regarding technology in long-term care settings. As used in the bill, long-term care settings include home-based care, community-based care, and residential-based care. First, the bill requires the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the applicable State entities and provider stakeholders, to evaluate, review, and provide recommendations for the use of technology in long-term care settings within the State, and to report the findings of the review, and subsequent department actions, to the Legislature within 18 months after the effective date of the bill. The goal of this review is to identify existing uses, and potential new and expanded uses, of technology within long-term care settings. Following the review, the department will encourage and support providers in implementing the department's recommendations regarding the uses of technology via the distribution of available federal and State funds, the establishment of grant or low interest loan programs, the implementation of performance incentives, or the provision of other aid deemed appropriate and necessary by the Commissioner of Health. Second, the bill expands an existing law requiring long-term care facilities to implement an electronic medical records requirement, and that provides need-based grants via the DOH to implement this requirement, to also include home and community-based service providers. The bill also requires the DOH to provide grants to long-term care providers to support the exchange of user-friendly clinical information via an electronic health record system with State hospitals. Third, commencing six months following the effective date of the bill, the DOH is to require each long-term care facility in the State, as a condition of licensure, to provide internet, television, and telephone services within each residential room. To the extent possible, the long-term care facility will also provide residents with the necessary equipment to utilize these services. The department will distribute federal and State funds to facilities in compliance with this provision, and to determine compliance with the provision during facility inspections. In addition to any other applicable penalties provided by law, a long-term care facility that fails to comply with these provisions is liable to pay an administrative penalty and may be subject to adverse licensure action. Finally, this bill amends section 11 of P.L.2021, c.310 to clarify that the provisions of that law requiring a health benefits plan to provide coverage and payment parity for health care services delivered to a covered person from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024 through telemedicine or telehealth at a provider reimbursement rate that equals the in-person provider reimbursement rate, includes those health care services provided in a long-term care setting. In Committee
A4561 Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. In Committee
A1855 Prohibits modification of mufflers and exhaust systems to produce audible sounds. Prohibits modification of mufflers and exhaust systems to produce audible sounds. In Committee
A506 Exempts disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients from payment of municipal parking meter fees when vehicle bears veteran's or recipient's special license plate or placard issued by MVC. Exempts disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients from payment of municipal parking meter fees when vehicle bears veteran's or recipient's special license plate or placard issued by MVC. In Committee
A2883 Allows gross income tax deduction for union dues paid to labor organizations. This bill allows a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for union dues paid to labor organizations. The bill defines "union dues" as the total amount of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges or expenses required of members of or public employees represented by a labor organization. The bill also defines "labor organization" as any organization of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work. To claim the deduction allowed under the bill, a taxpayer would be required to provide, in a form and manner prescribed by the Director of the Division of Taxation, verification of the union dues paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year. In Committee
S2930 Makes various changes to process for access to government records; appropriates $10 million. An Act concerning access to government records, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
A4471 Directs Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation for certain criminal contempt violations. This bill would expand the duties of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to include providing legal representation for indigent defendants charged with certain contempt violations for certain domestic violence orders. Under current law, the OPD is charged with providing legal representation to any indigent defendant charged with committing an indictable offense, and any person charged with a disorderly persons offense or with the violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of a penal nature where there is a likelihood that the persons charged, if convicted, will be subject to imprisonment or any other consequence of magnitude. A person charged with contempt under N.J.S.A.2C:29-9 for violating any provision in an order entered under the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.) or an order entered under a substantially similar law of another state, could be convicted of a crime of the fourth degree, or a disorderly persons offense, which could result in imprisonment, or other "consequence of magnitude." This bill would direct the OPD to provide representation to any indigent defendant charged with a violation of the contempt statute for certain domestic violence order violations. Currently, certain domestic violence orders do not subject a violator to a charge of contempt, which include orders relating to parenting time, orders requiring the defendant to pay to the victim monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of the act of domestic violence, order requiring the defendant to receive professional domestic violence counseling, and orders requiring that the defendant make or continue to make rent or mortgage payments on the residence. Under this bill, a violation of these orders will not entitle a person to representation by the Public Defender. This bill would implement recommendation 29 of the report of the Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice issued in June 2023. In Committee
A4463 Provides for rehabilitative release for certain incarcerated persons. This bill provides for the rehabilitative release of certain incarcerated persons. Under the bill, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is required to issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Rehabilitative Release (certificate) to any incarcerated person who: (1) is at least 60 years of age, and has served at least 20 years in custody on the sentence imposed for the offense or offenses of which the incarcerated person was convicted; or (2) if convicted of murder, is at least 62 years of age and has served at least 30 years in custody. An incarcerated person who has been issued a certificate, and has not previously sought relief under the bill, may petition the court for rehabilitative release. The Office of the Public Defender is required to represent the incarcerated person, unless the incarcerated person retains other counsel. At least 60 days prior to the date of issuance of a certificate, the DOC is required to notify the State Parole Board of its intent to issue the certificate. The superintendent or other chief executive officer of the institution in which the incarcerated person is held is required to prepare a report for any incarcerated person issued a certificate under the bill for consideration by the court at a hearing for rehabilitative release. In accordance with the provisions of the bill, a hearing on a petition for rehabilitative release is to be held in the Superior Court in the county in which the incarcerated person was originally sentenced and in accordance with the Rules of Court. In addition to other service requirements under the bill, the county prosecutor or the director, as appropriate, is required to provide a copy of the petition for rehabilitative release to any victim or family member of a victim entitled to notice relating to a parole or the consideration of a parole under current law. The victim or family member also is to be notified of their opportunity to supplement the report to be issued under the bill with a statement attached to the report, a written or videotaped statement at the hearing on the petition, or to testify to the court at the time of the hearing. Upon consideration of a petition and following a hearing, the Superior Court may modify, reduce, or suspend an incarcerated person's sentence if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that: · the incarcerated person is not a danger to the safety of any person or the community; · the incarcerated person demonstrates a readiness for reentry, which shall be demonstrated by, among other things, significant efforts to participate in educational, therapeutic, or vocational opportunities while incarcerated; and · the interests of justice warrant a sentence modification. The court is required to issue a written order stating the reasons for granting or denying modification. In determining whether the foregoing standards are met, the court is required to consider a list of factors enumerated in the bill. An incarcerated person who receives a modified sentence under the bill also is to be sentenced to a five-year term of parole supervision. An order for rehabilitative release under the bill is not to become final for 10 days in order to permit the prosecution an opportunity to appeal the court's order. A petitioner may also appeal a denied petition. In Committee
A500 Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 72 hours. Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 72 hours. In Committee
A2364 Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. In Committee
A3521 Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. In Committee
A4045 Makes various changes to process for access to government records; appropriates $10 million. Makes various changes to process for access to government records; appropriates $10 million. In Committee
A4298 Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DCA for NJ State Veterans Chamber of Commerce for veteran economic development and outreach and skills development. This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Act. The bill appropriates $500,000 to the Department of Community Affairs for the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce. The New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that is focused on improving the economic environment for veterans and military spouses. Membership is open to all veteran-owned businesses with a mission focused on education, veteran business advocacy, networking, as well as procurement and supplier diversity events. Their goal is to make New Jersey's economy fairer to veteran-owned and service-connected disabled veteran-owned businesses and facilitate veteran job creation. The New Jersey Veterans Chamber of Commerce is reliant on State funds for operational and programmatic costs. Through the provision of these funds, the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce will be able to carry out imperative programs to New Jersey veterans, such as supporting veteran economic development, as well as outreach and skills development. These programs improve the quality of life for veterans statewide, whilst also allowing them to participate in the State's economy. In FY 2023, the State funded the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce through a $500,000 appropriation. This supplemental appropriation will continue the State's support of veterans, veteran-owned businesses, and their role in the Statewide economy. In Committee
A447 Authorizes establishment of charter school payment reserve account in school districts. Authorizes establishment of charter school payment reserve account in school districts. In Committee
A3143 Removing requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations, thereby broadening eligibility for certain veterans' benefits. This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires a veteran to serve for at least 90 days, exclusive of certain types of initial training, in order to be eligible for any of the veterans' benefits identified in the bill. The bill also requires a veteran of a Reserve Component of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, to serve the entire period to which called to federal active service, exclusive of training, in order to be eligible for the veterans' benefits. A veteran who is discharged as the result of a service-connected disability will be eligible even if the veteran has not completed the 90 day service period or the period to which called to federal active service. The benefits that an eligible veteran could apply for are (1) a civil service hiring preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF and PERS. In addition, the surviving spouse of a veteran or of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve Component thereof killed while in active service is eligible in certain instances for a civil service preference. The bill also provides that an active service member of the United States Armed Forces or a member of a Reserve Component thereof, including the National Guard, who has not been discharged from service is eligible for the civil service hiring preference provided that the member otherwise qualifies as a veteran. Eligibility for civil service hiring preference is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. In Committee
A4265 Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to provide monetary awards to whistleblowers who report tax law violations committed by employers in the construction industry. The bill defines "employer in the construction industry" as an employer engaging in any activity related to the erection, construction, alteration, demolition, repair or maintenance of buildings, structures, bridges, highways, roadways, dams, tunnels, sewers, underground buildings or structures, pipelines or ducts and all other construction projects or facilities. Under the bill, if the director proceeds with an administrative or judicial action against an employer in the construction industry and determines that the action is based on specific and credible information brought to the director by an individual, the director is required to provide that individual an award of at least 15 percent, but not more than 30 percent, of the proceeds collected as a result of the action or from any settlement in response to that action; provided, however, if the director determines an action is based principally on an individual's disclosure of an allegation resulting from a judicial or administrative hearing, from a governmental report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the news media, any award provided by the director to that individual may not exceed 10 percent of the proceeds. The bill requires the director to determine the amount of an award based upon the extent to which any information submitted by an individual contributed to the outcome of an action or related settlement. If the director determines that the claim for an award pursuant to the bill is brought by an individual who planned and initiated the actions that led to the violation resulting in the administrative or judicial action in which that individual is a party, the bill permits the director to reduce the amount of the award. In addition, if such an individual is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the individual's role in the violation, then the director is not permitted to provide an award to that individual. The following individuals are also ineligible to receive an award under the bill: (1) an individual who obtained information through the individual's official duties as an employee of the Department of the Treasury; and (2) an individual who filed a claim for an award based on information obtained from an ineligible individual for the purpose of avoiding the rejection of the claim that would have resulted if the claim was filed by the ineligible individual. The bill provides that any complaint with respect to an award provided, reduced, or revoked pursuant to the bill is to be filed within 30 days after the date of the provision, reduction, or revocation of that award. Finally, the bill protects any employee, as defined by the bill, from retaliatory action under the provisions of the "Conscientious Employee Protection Act," P.L.1986, c.105 (C.34:19-1 et seq.). In Committee
A4172 Concerns discrimination based on membership in a labor organization. This bill extends protection under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to members of a labor organization. The LAD, P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et. seq.), provides protections for those who are members of a protected class, including protection against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, land use, lending, and association membership. Under current law, a member of a protected class includes an employee who has one or more characteristics, including race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, sex, gender identity or expression, disability or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait of any individual, or liability for service in the armed forces. This bill provides that members of a labor organization also are members of a protected class who are entitled protection under the LAD. In addition, the bill revises the definition of "labor organization" to include any organization of any kind, including a labor union or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which public or private employees participate and which exists and is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with public or private employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment. In Committee
A3041 Establishes sales and events privileges for certain alcoholic beverage manufacturers. This bill allows craft alcoholic beverage manufacturers to hold certain events. Under the bill, a craft alcoholic beverage manufacturer is defined as a limited brewery license, cidery and meadery license, and craft distillery license. Specifically, the bill allows these craft alcoholic beverage manufacturers to hold not more than 25 off-premises special events and an unlimited number of on-premises special events and private parties. In addition, these license holders would be entitled to hold not more than 25 social affair events hosted by the holder of a social affair permit. Under the bill, a craft alcoholic beverage manufacturer would be entitled to sell and serve customers tableside utilizing servers or wait staff employed by the license holder. The license holder also would be entitled to serve the licensee's products for on-premises consumption in outdoor spaces approved by the municipality. A license holder that serves alcoholic beverages in outdoor spaces would be entitled to utilize a permanent or portable tap system located in the approved outdoor space. Pourers and servers employed by a craft manufacturer's license holder are to be certified by an industry-recognized server training program. The bill also allows the holder of a craft manufacturer's license to offer for sale or make the gratuitous offering of de minimis food items including, but not limited to, packaged crackers, chips, nuts, and similar snacks to consumers. The license holder also would be entitled to sell non-alcoholic beverages. Under the bill, a license holder also may coordinate with a food vendor, including food trucks and restaurants, for the provision of food on the licensed premises and provide menus to consumers for the sale of food. The bill prohibits a craft manufacturer's license holder from owning the food vendor. In addition, a craft manufacturer's licensed premises that is adjoining a food vendor's premises would be required to have its own entrance and exit way to and from the licensed premises and would be prohibited from having a doorway that allows direct access and egress to the food vendor's premises. Under the bill, the holder of a craft manufacturer's license would be entitled to offer discounts for promotional purposes, provide targeted discounts, and establish membership programs that offer discounts. A craft manufacturer licensee also would be entitled to show or display any televised program on televisions or other screening devices of any number or size on the licensed premises. The license holder would not be required to provide notice to or obtain a permit from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control prior to showing or displaying any televised event. The bill also removes from current law the tour requirement for limited brewery and craft distillery license holders. Under current law, these licensees are authorized to sell their products at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for on-site consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the brewery or distillery. Under the bill, consumers would not be required to take a tour of the brewery or distillery to purchase beverages for on-site consumption. Finally, the bill increases from 10,000 to 300,000 the number of barrels that the holder of a restricted brewery license may manufacture per year. Under current law, a restricted brewery license is only issued to a person who also holds a Class C consumption license, which is generally issued to bars and restaurants. The restricted brewery license allows the licensee to brew the beer, while the Class C license allows the licensee to sell that beer directly to restaurant patrons. This bill allows the holder of restricted brewery license to manufacture more beer per year. These license holders also would be entitled to directly sell and distribute to retailers 50 percent of the beer that is produced on premises in each year. Dead
A4028 Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation. This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), for purposes of supporting the enforcement of the provisions of State wage and hour laws, to provide funds and training to each county prosecutor's office for the investigation and prosecution of the abovementioned laws and worker exploitation. The bill requires the county prosecutor of each county to establish and assign an assistant prosecutor to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the State wage and hour laws. The bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the DOLWD, not to exceed $2,000,000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of the bill. In Committee
A2799 Requires redaction and nondisclosure of home address of elected officials and candidates for elected office. This bill prohibits the disclosure by the custodian of a government record of the primary or secondary home address of an elected official or a person seeking elective public office, or their immediate family member, except in certain circumstances. The disclosure would be prohibited if the elected official or person seeking elective public office, or the immediate family member, submits a request for redaction or nondisclosure to the Office of Information Privacy in the Department of Community Affairs. Under the bill, "elected official" any person holding elective public office, under the State Constitution or by law, that is filled by the registered voters of a jurisdiction at an election, including a person appointed, selected, or otherwise designated to fill a vacancy in such office, but does not mean an official of a political party. An "elected official" also includes any person seeking election to an elective public office. The bill defines "seeking election" as any individual who has made a filing with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission as a candidate. The bill specifies that the home address of the elected official will remain available to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission for residency verification purposes, but will otherwise be subject to redaction or nondisclosure. In Committee
A3868 Requires person offering digital coupon to make available in-store alternative of identical value. This bill would require retail stores that offer digital coupons to customers to also provide in-store alternatives to allow customers to purchase items at the same price and terms as provided by the digital coupon. The bill defines the term "digital coupon" to mean a store coupon, rebate, or similar instrument offered to a consumer through the Internet and only obtainable through a consumer's personal computing device, such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet, and that provides to a consumer a discounted price or benefit, redeemable at the physical location where the goods or services are being offered for sale. The bill defines the term "in-store alternative" to mean providing an on-site consumer the ability to purchase an item at the same discount or other benefit offered by a digital coupon. Examples of an "in-store alternative" set forth in the bill include: paper coupons, electronic kiosks, or providing a customer the discounted price or benefit at the point-of-sale upon request. Violation of the bill would subject a person to a civil penalty of up to $250 for a first offense, and up to $500 for a subsequent offense, which may be collected and enforced by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. In Committee
A2386 Establishes Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program; appropriates $1 million. This bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program. Due to the nature of firefighting, with its associated risks, danger, and stress, firefighters face a high probability of developing post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses. Firefighters commonly feel that disclosure of mental illness will result in negative professional consequences up to and including job loss, creating a culture in which firefighters often do not divulge mental health struggles and do not seek appropriate and necessary treatment. Family members of firefighters often face unique stressors related to their loved ones' employment and may have an elevated need for mental health services. To address these concerns, the bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the program is to award grants to mental health providers to provide confidential mental health services to firefighters and members of their immediate families who are in a mental health crisis or suicidal. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is required to develop an application by which a mental health services provider may apply for a grant for funding to provide mental health services pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The commissioner is required to establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program. The bill provides that consideration is to be given, to the greatest extent possible, to the geographical location of mental health providers and the areas where they provide services in order to facilitate patients traveling less than one hour to receive mental health services. Under the bill, the commissioner is to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program and make the application available on the department's Internet website. Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner is required to review the application and, subject to the availability of funds, award a grant to each approved grant applicant. Additionally, under the bill, the commissioner is required to publish a list of approved mental health providers on the department's Internet website. In Committee
A441 Exempts experienced volunteer firefighters from certain requirements. Exempts experienced volunteer firefighters from certain requirements. In Committee
A3018 Establishes task force to study presence of mercury in floors of certain facilities. This bill establishes the Task Force on Mercury Exposure in Schools and Child Care Centers. The task force will be established in the Department of Health, and its duties will include: examining the health risks associated with flooring that contains mercury; developing best practices with regard to testing the floors of schools and licensed child care centers to determine whether mercury is present; establishing standards for remediation of flooring containing mercury; and developing strategies and protocols to assist schools and child care centers to implement the best practices developed by task force. The task force will comprise 15 members, including the Commissioners of Health, Environmental Protection, Education, Community Affairs, and Children and Families, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; and 10 public members, with two each appointed by the Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The public members are to have knowledge and experience with regard to identifying and addressing environmental health risks in schools and child care centers, as well as with regard to the particular risks to the public health associated with building materials containing mercury. Appointments to the task force are to be made no later than 30 days after the effective date of the bill, and the task force is to organize as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following the appointment of its members. The task force will choose a chairperson from among its members and may appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. Members of the task force will serve without compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of available funding. The Department of Health will provide stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work. The task force will be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes. No later than one year after its organization, the task force will be required to submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature containing its findings and recommendations, including the standards, best practices, and strategies and protocols developed by the task force, and any recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or local government action to address issues related to the presence of mercury in schools and child care centers in New Jersey. The task force will dissolve upon submission of its report. Reports suggest that some types of polyurethane flooring commonly used in school buildings, including in multipurpose rooms, gyms, cafeterias, auditoriums, stages, and indoor and outdoor tracks, contains a chemical that releases odorless, colorless mercury vapor, which can damage the nervous system, kidneys, lungs, eyes, and skin, and may be particularly harmful to the development of young children. It is the sponsor's intent that New Jersey develop appropriate strategies to detect and remediate mercury hazards in schools and child care centers. In Committee
A3685 Establishes pilot program in Office of Planning Advocacy to reimburse municipalities for certain expenditures concerning warehouse development; appropriates $1 million. This bill establishes a pilot program in the Office of Planning Advocacy (office) for the purpose of reimbursing a municipality for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in reexamining and updating municipal zoning ordinances, and conducting certain mitigation studies, concerning warehouse development. The bill defines "warehouse" to mean any site, building, room, structure, or facility used primarily for the storage of goods intended for sale or distribution. The pilot program is to offer grant funding to reimburse a municipality for: 1) a reexamination of the municipality's master plan and adoption a warehouse-specific zoning ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill; or 2) a mitigation study on the potential effects of pending warehouse development site plan applications and, regardless of the results of the mitigation study, adoption of a warehouse-specific zoning ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that a municipality may submit to the office an application, in a form and manner to be determined by the office, for a funding reimbursement grant for expenses incurred consistent with the provisions of the bill. The application is to require a municipality to demonstrate that the municipality has enacted an ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill as a condition of receiving a reimbursement grant. The office is to develop criteria to prioritize reimbursement grant applications from municipalities that are in most need of financial assistance. The bill provides that the office is to promulgate one or more model zoning ordinances detailing different regulatory options for the siting of warehouses that may impose a negative impact on land use, traffic volume, infrastructure, storm water runoff, public health, or any other impact category determined by the office, and direct development towards areas ideally suited to handle warehousing impacts. The bill further provides that the office, upon the exhaustion of funds allocated to the pilot program, is to submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, detailing the expenditure of the appropriated funds, and making any recommendations on the feasibility of implementing the pilot program on a permanent basis. The bill appropriates from the General Fund the sum of $1,000,000 to the Office of Planning Advocacy for the purposes of the pilot program. The pilot program is to expire upon the submission of the report required by the bill. In Committee
ACR119 Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would grant every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, and make the State the trustee of all public natural resources. Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment would provide that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of the environment. The amendment provides that the State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction. The amendment would also provide that the State's public natural resources, including its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all of the people, including both present and future generations. The State would serve as trustee of these resources and have a duty to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people. Finally, the amendment would provide that the rights established in the amendment are self-executing, and are in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law. In Committee
A3694 Provides for mayor to retain appointing authority under certain circumstances. This bill explicitly provides that under a council-manager form of government, when the mayor is elected at-large by the voters of the municipality at the regular municipal election or general election, the mayor would retain appointing authority that is prescribed by general law. In Committee
A3692 Requires physicians and other prescribers to obtain electronic or written consent for certain medications with "black box warnings." This bill requires physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and other authorized prescribers to obtain informed electronic or written consent prior to prescribing them psychotropic medications that are accompanied by a "black box warning," which consent is to include an electronic or a written acknowledgement that the patient or the patient's guardian received notification about the black box warning. The bill specifies that in cases where electronic or written consent cannot be obtained but oral consent is provided, the prescriber must make a notation in the patient's file indicating the date and circumstances of the informed consent. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires pharmaceutical companies to place a "black box warning" on a drug label if medical studies indicate that the drug carries a significant risk of serious or life-threatening adverse effects. A "black box warning" is the strongest warning that the FDA requires. A physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, or other authorized prescriber who violates the requirements established under the bill is subject to disciplinary action by the applicable State professional licensing board. In Committee
A3688 Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and requires State to reimburse municipalities for cost of exemption. 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 granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 25 percent, and the exemption is capped at $15,000. 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 property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. The bill 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 requires the State to 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
A3689 Permits members of Legislature to enroll in SHBP. This bill permits members of the Legislature to enroll in the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program. In Committee
A3691 Increases personal needs allowance to $100 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. This bill would increase the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) to $100 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. Currently, the following states provide a higher PNA than New Jersey's existing $50 monthly amount: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. According to budget language in the FY 2022 Appropriations Act, despite existing statutory provisions, the minimum monthly PNA provided to persons residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers, who are eligible for Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, is $50. This bill would double the PNA to $100 per month. For Medicaid recipients, the PNA is the monthly sum of money that residents may retain from their personal income. Any income above the allowance is applied toward the cost of their care. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $70 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. In Committee
A3690 Increases FY2024 appropriation from General Fund to DCF for the Center for Great Expectations by $1.5 million from $500,000 to $2.0 million. This bill increases the FY2024 appropriation from the General Fund to the Department of Children and Families for the Center for Great Expectations by $1.5 million, from $500,000 to $2.0 million. The Center for Great Expectations is located in Somerset and provides safe housing and supportive services to over 1,000 women, men, and children annually, from both within and outside Somerset. Many of these individuals are homeless or economically marginalized, pregnant or parenting, or living with mental health or substance use disorders. Importantly, the organization administers the State's only residential program for adolescents with mental health disorders, who are pregnant or parenting. The additional State funds will be used to support the Center's adolescent residential program, the adult residential program for pregnant and at-risk women, and the outpatient substance abuse and mental health programs. All of these programs face a funding shortfall in the current fiscal year, which will be completely mitigated with the help of this additional State funding. In Committee
A3686 Requires four-year public institution of higher education to admit certain students diagnosed with cancer and sickle cell anemia. This bill requires four-year public institutions of higher education to offer admission to certain students diagnosed with cancer and sickle cell anemia. The bill requires each four-year public institution of higher education to provide admission to certain students diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell anemia before the age of 24. To be eligible for admission, a student is required to be a resident of the State for at least one year and be less than 24 years of age at the time of application. Under the bill, an institution is prohibited from denying admission to an individual diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell anemia, unless the institution has a compelling reason to deny admission. The bill permits the Secretary of Higher Education to override the admission decision of an institution. Finally, the bill requires each institution to annually report to the Secretary of Higher Education and requires the secretary to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature. In Committee
A3693 Establishes State Parkinson's disease registry. This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a State Parkinson's disease registry. Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive neurologic disorder resulting from deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine as the consequence of specific degenerative changes in the area of the brain called the basal ganglia. Parkinson's disease is characterized by tremor at rest, slow movements, muscle rigidity, stooped posture, and unsteady or shuffling gait. Parkinsonisms are related movement abnormalities and conditions that may overlap with or evolve from Parkinson's disease. Under this bill, the DOH is to oversee the creation and management of a Statewide Parkinson's disease registry. The registry will collect data on the incidence of Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonisms within the State. Health care providers, including hospitals and other health care facilities and health care practitioners, such as physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses, that diagnose or treat people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonisms will be required to report each unique case of Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonisms to the registry. The DOH will determine the specific mandatory and permissive data points to be collected in the registry. Registry information will generally be deemed confidential, but may be made available to various entities, including other Parkinson's disease registries, public health entities, and researchers, under certain circumstances. Patients will have the opportunity to opt out of inclusion in the registry, in which case only the incidence of a Parkinson's diagnosis will be reported. The DOH will be required to prepare an annual report concerning registry information and will be required to maintain a publicly- accessible webpage providing information about the registry and links to the DOH's annual reports. The DOH will additionally be required to establish a Parkinson's disease registry advisory council to assist in the development of the registry, determine what data will be collected, and advise the DOH as to the implementation of the bill. Public health agencies have long recognized that population-based data registries are required to estimate the incidence and prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases. Registries have been developed throughout the world for the purpose of surveillance of these diseases to inform public health agencies and the public on the extent of the disease and to identify trends amidst population centers to support the development of public health interventions. States that have adopted statewide Parkinson's disease registries include California, Nebraska, Utah, and Washington. A population- based registry is necessary to generate the basic data that will help researchers, treatment providers, and legislators determine the causes of the disease, evaluate the efficacy of treatment, uncover inequities in Parkinson's disease healthcare, and make decisions about the allocation of resources for prevention and treatment. It is the sponsor's belief that a State Parkinson's disease registry will enable the State to better understand the full, diverse, and heterogeneous nature of Parkinson's disease among New Jerseyans and ensure that the regional nuances and trends are captured in effort to minimize over or underrepresentation. In Committee
A3683 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
A3687 Allows certain restaurants with retail licenses to deliver alcoholic beverages and food in preloaded delivery vehicles. This bill allows the holder of a plenary retail consumption license used in connection with a restaurant to pre-load and deliver alcoholic beverages directly to consumer's residences. The bill applies to license holders who operate a restaurant which is open to the public and offers the sale of food served at a table by a restaurant employee. Specifically, the bill allows these licensees to load a predetermined amount of alcoholic beverages into a delivery vehicle owned or operated by the licensee in anticipation of future food and alcoholic beverage delivery orders made by consumers. Under the bill, these license holders are required to hire delivery employees, who are to be working under the exclusive direction and control of the license holder and whose compensation for federal income tax purposes is reported or required to be reported on a W-2 form issued by the license holder. The bill requires delivery employees to be trained by an industry recognized server training program to recognize that customers are 21 years of age or older. Under the bill, a pre-loaded delivery vehicle may be stationed in a predetermined location in anticipation of future food and alcoholic beverage delivery orders made by consumers. The bill allows delivery employees to dispatch a pre-loaded vehicle prior to receiving any orders for food and alcoholic beverages. The bill requires alcoholic beverage deliveries to be made in conjunction with a food order. Alcoholic beverages that are not delivered during the delivery employee's work shift are to be removed from the delivery vehicle and returned to the licensed premises. The bill requires alcohol beverage orders to be placed via telephone, mobile application, or the licensee's Internet website. The license holder is to receive the full purchase price amount at the time that alcoholic beverages are purchased. The cost of the alcoholic beverages are to be charged to the consumer's credit or debit card and the name of the retail establishment is to be displayed on the consumer's receipt. The bill prohibits delivery employees from accepting any payment at the time that alcoholic beverages are delivered to a consumer's residence. The licensee would be required to make a copy of the original invoice available for inspection by persons authorized to enforce the alcoholic beverage laws of this State for a minimum period of three years at the licensed premises. In Committee
A3470 Provides gross income tax credit to certain totally and permanently disabled veterans for rent constituting property taxes. This bill provides a gross income tax credit to certain totally and permanently disabled veterans for rent constituting property taxes. Pursuant to N.J.S.A.54:4-3.30, a citizen and resident, as well as a surviving spouse in certain circumstances, of this State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances, from active service, in time of war, in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, who has been declared by the United States Veterans Administration to have certain service-connected disabilities is eligible for a property tax exemption on the person's principal residence and the lot on which that residence is situated. However, a similar exemption does not exist for persons who occupy a unit of a residential rental property and pay rent. In order to create parity between disabled veterans who own their principal residence and those disabled veterans who occupy a unit of a residential rental property, the bill provides a refundable gross income tax credit in an amount equal to rent constituting property taxes, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1996, c.60 (C.54A:3A-16), for those disabled veterans, or their spouses in certain circumstances, who rent or lease a unit of a residential property, as also defined in section 2 of P.L.1996, c.60 (C.54A:3A-16). For the purposes of this bill, rent constituting property taxes is considered to be 18 percent of the rent paid by the taxpayer for occupancy during the taxable year of a unit of residential rental property which the taxpayer occupies as a principal residence. Lastly, the bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to make a separate application available for those disabled veterans who, pursuant to N.J.S.A.54A:2-4, are not subject to the gross income tax. In Committee
AJR121 Expresses support for end to hostilities between Israel and Palestine, and hopes for peace and respect between Israel and Palestine. This joint resolution expresses the Legislature's support for the end of hostilities between Israel and Palestine, and expresses hopes for peace and respect between the two countries. Since October 7, 2023, many innocent civilians have lost their lives and many more have been injured as a result of hostilities and other human tragedies in Israel and Palestine. This State, through many of its community members, has personal connections to non-combatant victims and residents in Israel and Palestine and thus sheds its tears for all the children and families harmed in this conflict. This Legislature recognizes the thousands of innocent lives lost, extends its deepest condolences, and hopes for a quick end to all hostilities and the complete restoration of peace in the region. The citizens of both Israel and Palestine deserve to live in peace and harmony forged by a sense of freedom, dignity, and country. This Legislature is committed to supporting a peaceful coexistence among the State's diverse communities and rejects any kind of hatred and bigotry. Many in this State, and specifically this Legislature, take a pledge to "stand up for the other" which means, "while interacting with members of my own faith, or ethnic, or gender community, or with others, if I hear hateful comments from anyone about members of any other community, I pledge to stand up for the other and speak up to challenge bigotry in any form." This Legislature seeks to convey to all communities this pledge and requests every member of the State to "stand up for the other." In Committee
A3477 Requires certain accessible public restroom facilities be equipped with signs reserving use for persons with disabilities. This bill would require that certain public restroom facilities have signs indicating that they are reserved for use by persons with disabilities. Far too often, people who do not need accessible public restroom facilities use them. Sometimes, this leads to an uncomfortable situation in which an individual with a disability who needs such a facility is forced to wait for it to become vacant. This bill seeks to prevent this situation from arising by requiring signage on a limited number of accessible public restroom facilities indicating that they are reserved for the exclusive use by persons with a disability. This bill would apply to places of employment and public accommodations that have a multiple-user public restroom with an accessible toilet compartment and at least one other toilet compartment, and those places that have an accessible single-user public restroom and at least two other single-user public restrooms. Under the bill, a construction permit application for a new building that contains an applicable restroom facility could not be approved unless it provides for the placement of signs as required by the bill. For existing buildings, a construction permit application for any alteration or improvement could not be approved unless compliance is demonstrated. Existing buildings may also be subject to inspections to determine compliance. If a violation is found, the building owner is given 30 days to correct the violation. If a violation still exists after this 30-day period expires, then the owner may be subject to a $150 civil penalty. An owner may be subject to a $300 civil penalty for a subsequent violation on the same property. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill. In Committee
A3520 Requires passenger vehicles to undergo safety inspection for equipment and credentials that affect safe operation of vehicle. This bill requires all passenger vehicles registered in New Jersey, including noncommercial trucks, to undergo a safety inspection of certain equipment and credentials to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle. Under current law, passenger vehicles are only required to be inspected for emissions and emission-related items such as emission control equipment and on-board diagnostics. This bill provides that these vehicles would also be required to successfully pass a safety inspection. Specially, the safety inspections would include an evaluation for the presence and function of the following equipment within the motor vehicle: a horn, stop lamps, headlamps, tail lamps, turning signals, a windshield and windshield wipers, rear view mirrors, tires, and seatbelts. In addition to inspecting this equipment, the safety inspection would also include the confirmation of the following credentials for the owner or operator of the motor vehicle: a valid driver's license, a valid vehicle registration, and an active vehicle insurance policy. The bill also allows the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to add such additional requirements to the safety inspection as it deems appropriation. Additionally, this bill amends a section of law to clarify that all head lamps, stop lamps, and turn signals equipped on a vehicle are required to be operational. In Committee
ACR110 Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing municipalities to provide partial property tax exemption of up to 15 percent of assessed value for primary residence of certain volunteer first responders. If approved by the voters, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to enact a law permitting municipalities to provide a partial property tax exemption of up to 15 percent of the assessed value of a home for certain volunteer first responders. A municipality would have to pass an ordinance in order to provide the exemption. The exemption would mean that the volunteer first responder would not pay property taxes on a portion of the home's assessed value. Each municipality would decide whether to allow the exemption and decide the percentage amount of the exemption, however the exemption could not be more than 15 percent of the assessed value of the property. The Legislature would be required to pass a law authorizing the exemption. To be eligible for the exemption, a first responder would have to be an active member of a volunteer fire department or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad that serves the municipality. The home would also have to be the volunteer's primary residence and be located in the municipality in which the volunteer serves. In Committee
A3519 Authorizes possession of bear deterrent spray. This bill would amend current law to allow a person to possess a device or product registered with and approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a bear deterrent spray, provided that the device or product is in its original container and clearly indicates on its label that it is to deter attacks by bears on humans. The possession of such a spray would be subject to all applicable State and federal laws, including but not limited to N.J.S.2C:39-5. Under current law, a person 18 years of age or older, who has not been convicted of a crime, may possess a small, pocket-sized device capable of spraying a non-lethal chemical substance which causes temporary physical discomfort, also known as pepper spray or mace. The law limits the size of the device to one which contains and releases not more than three-quarters of an ounce of spray. A person possessing a larger quantity would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and subject to a fine of at least $100. The EPA regulates bear spray as a "pesticide" under federal law, and manufacturers of bear spray must register their products with, and receive approval from, the EPA. Bear spray products approved by the EPA have been shown to be an effective, non-lethal deterrent capable of stopping aggressive behavior in bears. To be approved by the EPA, a bear spray device must, among other things, contain a minimum content of 7.6 ounces, which is significantly larger than the maximum content of three-quarters of an ounce allowed under State law. The labels on bear sprays approved by the EPA show the EPA registration and EPA establishment number for the product. However, because bear spray devices contain much more than three-quarters of an ounce of a chemical substance, current State law effectively prohibits the possession of bear spray in New Jersey. Personal defense sprays do not contain the correct active ingredients or have the amount necessary to divert or stop a charging or attacking bear. In Committee
A2262 Requires each school district to have certified school nurse at each school building in district. This bill requires each school district to employ a certified school nurse at each school building in the district. Current law requires every school district to employ one or more school nurses. Current law also provides that a school district may only employ, for the provision of nursing services, candidates holding an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement issued by the State Board of Examiners. Under the law, however, a school district may supplement the services provided by a certified school nurse with non-certified nurses provided that the non-certified nurses are working in proximity to the certified nurse. Specifically, the law requires a non-certified nurse to be assigned to the same school building or school complex as the certified school nurse. This bill amends current law to specify that each school district is required to have a certified school nurse located at each school building in the district. A school district may continue to supplement the services provided by the certified school nurse employed at each school building in the district with non-certified nurses. In Committee
A3012 Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing. This bill prohibits, in New Jersey, the treatment, discharge, disposal, application to a roadway or other release into the environment, or storage of any wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts resulting from hydraulic fracturing for the purpose of natural gas exploration or production in any state. In Committee
A911 Requires institutions of higher education to maintain supply and develop policy governing use of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies. This bill requires institutions of higher education to maintain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies and permits emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray by licensed campus medical professionals and designated members of the higher education community. Under the bill, institutions of higher education would obtain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray pursuant to a standing order issued by a health care practitioner to be maintained in secure and easily accessible locations throughout the campus to respond to an opioid overdose emergency. Institutions also would be required to develop a policy concerning the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies occurring on campus. The policy would be required to: (1) designate a licensed campus medical professional to oversee the institution's program for the maintenance and emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray on campus; (2) permit a licensed campus medical professional to designate members of the higher education community to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to any person whom the member in good faith believes is experiencing an opioid overdose on campus; and (3) require the transportation of an overdose victim to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, even if the person's symptoms appear to have resolved. A member of the higher education community designated to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray by a licensed campus medical professional would only be authorized to administer the spray after receiving required training. The bill also directs the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and appropriate medical experts, to establish guidelines for the development of a policy by an institution of higher education for the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray. Institutions of higher education would be required to implement the guidelines in developing a policy pursuant to the substitute. Specifically, the guidelines would include a requirement that a licensed campus medical professional and members of the higher education community designated by the licensed campus medical professional receive training on standard protocols for the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to a person experiencing an opioid overdose on campus. The guidelines would further specify an appropriate entity or entities to provide the training. The bill provides immunity from liability for licensed campus medical professionals, designated members of the higher education community, pharmacists, or authorized health care practitioners who issue a standing order for naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to an institution of higher education for any good faith act or omission consistent with the provisions of the bill. The bill also provides that in the event that a licensed athletic trainer, who is designated to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, administers the spray, it will not constitute a violation of the "Athletic Training Licensure Act." In Committee
A472 Imposes restrictions on vehicle idling. This bill bans gasoline-powered and diesel-powered motor vehicles from idling for more than two minutes with certain exceptions, including for traffic congestion on a highway and for emergency service vehicles. The bill is based on current Department of Environmental Protection regulations and prohibits idling in residential neighborhoods, condominiums, townhouse developments, and apartment complexes, as well as focusing on creating buffer zones to protect entry ways and windows leading into residences from exhaust fumes created during the idling time period. The bill also makes any individual who violates the provisions of the bill subject to certain civil administrative penalties. In Committee
A471 Establishes $40 daily pay rate for jurors and certain other juror benefits; appropriate $20 million. This bill amends section 19 of P.L.1993, c.275 (C.22A:1-1.1) to establish a $40 daily pay rate for grand and petit jurors, as well as establish additional juror benefits and reimbursements. Currently, jurors receive $5 for each day's attendance. In addition, each person serving as a juror, other than certain full-time government employees, is paid $35 for each consecutive day of attendance in excess of three days. This bill requires payment of $40 per day beginning on the first day of service. Further, if in-person jury service is required of jurors, the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts ("AOC") is required to provide jurors with travel reimbursement to and from each juror's home to the courthouse or between the nearest public transportation station and the courthouse. Each juror seeking reimbursement is to provide proof of mileage or fare, as well as the method of transportation he or she used to travel to and from their home to the courthouse or between the nearest public transportation station to the courthouse. If in-person juror service is required, the AOC also is required to reimburse each juror for any road tolls the juror incurs for traveling to and from the courthouse for the duration of his or her jury service. Each juror requesting reimbursement is required to provide proof of tolls paid. This bill further requires employers, with 10 or more employees, to pay up to five days of compensation for employees who are selected for jury duty. The bill precludes these employers from applying an employee's paid-time-off benefits during this time. These employers may request proof of jury duty served and may require each juror who is seeking these benefits to apply the jury duty paycheck that the juror received to the compensation amount owed the employee under this provision. Under this bill, the work compensation applicable throughout the duration of jury duty service for private employees in New Jersey who work on a shift schedule, is to be the same as that set forth within New Jersey Administrative Code 4A: 6-1.19. This provision also applies to employers who have contracts with the State of New Jersey. This bill also makes an appropriation of $20,000,000 from the General Fund to the AOC to pay for the juror pay increase and the other benefits set forth within this bill. In Committee
A1078 Requires motor vehicle manufacturer to stamp motor vehicle identification number on catalytic converters. This bill requires every manufacturer of motor vehicles to stamp or engrave the motor vehicle identification number onto each catalytic converter installed in any motor vehicle sold within this State. Under the bill, "manufacturer" is defined to mean a person engaged in the business of manufacturing or assembling motor vehicles, who will, under normal business conditions during the year, manufacture or assemble at least 10 new motor vehicles. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the New Jersey consumer fraud act. An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. In Committee
A2426 Requires fire suppression systems in new single and two family homes. This bill, entitled the "New Home Fire Safety Act," would require the installation of a fire suppression system in new single and two-family homes during the home's construction. The provisions of the bill would not apply to manufactured homes, or to any single and two-family homes that are not connected to public water systems. The bill would also provide that a certificate of occupancy may not be issued for a new home until the State or local code enforcement agency determines that the home is equipped with a fire suppression system that conforms to State Uniform Construction Code systems promulgated by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. Equipping new single and two-family homes with fire suppression systems will provide protection for the State's residents and firefighters. Any modifications made by the Commissioner of Community Affairs to the State Uniform Construction Code must require all fire suppression systems to be in compliance with State administrative regulations regarding physical connections and cross connection control, mandate the installation of separate shut-off valves, and require a meter for measuring water usage dedicated to fire suppression. The bill permits municipalities and the Commissioner of Community Affairs to each establish a fee that covers the cost of inspection and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The requirements of this bill would apply to newly constructed single and two-family homes as of the first day of the seventh month after enactment. Accordingly, development plans and building permits approved prior to the bill's effective date would not be subject to the provisions of the bill. In Committee
A1582 Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed. This bill provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion must receive an evaluation by a licensed health care professional and written clearance from the licensed health care professional to return to school. In the event that the licensed health care professional provides notice that the student requires restrictions or limitations, the school district 504 team, as defined in N.J.A.C.6A:8-1.3, (a group of persons that makes program and placement decisions according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and 34 CFR § 104.35(c)), must immediately implement the restrictions or limitations and notify all teachers and staff who have contact with the student of the restrictions or limitations. The school district's 504 team would promptly identify the manner in which the restrictions or limitations would be provided to the student during recovery and the need for the continuation or adjustment of the restrictions or limitations, and to determine the duration of the restrictions or limitations. The bill also provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion is prohibited from engaging in any physical activity at school including, but not limited to, recess or physical education. The student may not participate in any physical activity until evaluated by a licensed health care professional and receives written clearance to participate. As defined in the bill, "licensed health care professional" means a health care provider whose scope of practice includes the ability to diagnose and treat a concussion. In Committee
A452 Establishes position of Ombudsman of Student Discipline to serve within Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to appoint an Ombudsman of Student Discipline to serve within the Office of the Secretary. The purpose of the ombudsman is to ensure that a student who is subject to the disciplinary process established by the institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled receives fair and impartial treatment throughout the course of that process. Under the bill, the ombudsman will accept and review requests from students enrolled in institutions of higher education in the State who are seeking information and assistance during the disciplinary process, including any disciplinary hearing, or a request for a review of a recently completed disciplinary hearing. The ombudsman will give priority to requests on matters which may be time-sensitive, or which may result in a financial or academic loss to the student including, but not limited to, the student's suspension or dismissal from an academic program or institution or the student's disqualification from a prospective academic program or institution. The ombudsman will conduct further investigation, as warranted, into select student requests to examine the nature of the student's alleged violation that is the subject of the disciplinary process, the manner in which the disciplinary process is conducted, and, if the process has been completed, the determination of the disciplinary board and the sanctions imposed on the student. The ombudsman will then submit a report of findings to the student, the institution's disciplinary board, and the governing board of the institution of higher education. The institution must notify the ombudsman as to whether or not it will modify the disciplinary process or the penalties imposed on the student in the event that the report of the ombudsman finds that: (1) the institution's student code of conduct lacked adequate clarity and guidance for students, or that the institution did not provide adequate tools for students to protect themselves against potential violations of the student code of conduct; (2) the institution did not provide adequate due process protections for the student; or (3) the penalties imposed on the student were unduly harsh. Finally, the ombudsman is required to publish a list of those institutions that agree to accept and respond to the findings of the ombudsman and those that do not agree. In Committee
A1872 Revises reporting requirements for nursing homes concerning financial disclosures and ownership structure. This bill revises certain reporting requirements for nursing homes. Specifically, the bill requires nursing home owners and operators, as well as applicants for a transfer of ownership of a nursing home and third party entities exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, to provide an organizational chart identifying parent corporations, wholly-owned subsidiaries, related parties, and unrelated parties that provide a service, facility, or supplies to the nursing home that are paid $200,000 or more by the nursing home. In the case of an applicant for a transfer of ownership of a nursing home, these disclosures will be based on expectations with regard to services, facilities, supplies, and payments. The bill defines "related party" to mean any organization, either directly or through contracts with a third party entity exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, providing or expected to provide a service, facility, or supplies to the nursing home or that otherwise, either directly or through contracts with a third party entity exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, does, or is expected to do, business with the nursing home: 1) in which organization an owner or principal of the nursing home, an applicant for transfer of ownership, or a third party managing entity, has an ownership or control interest of five percent or more; 2) which is an organization in which an immediate family member of the owner, principal, applicant, or third party managing entity is an owner or principal; or 3) which is an organization that is under common ownership or control with the owner, applicant, or third party entity. The bill additionally revises the financial disclosures required for nursing home owners and operators, as well as applicants for a transfer of ownership and entities to which substantial management control over the nursing home would be delegated, to require the submission of a consolidated financial statement that: 1) is reviewed or audited by a certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and 2) includes: a balance sheet detailing the assets, liabilities, and net worth that the end of the reporting entity's fiscal year; a statement of income, expenses, and operating surplus or deficit for the annual fiscal period, and a statement of ancillary utilization and patient census; a statement detailing patient revenue by payer, including, but not limited to, Medicare, NJ FamilyCare, and other payers, and revenue center; a statement of cash flows, including, but not limited to, ongoing and new capital expenditures and depreciation; and a combined financial statement that includes all entities reported in the consolidated financial report. For nursing homes that are part of a chain or group of nursing homes owned by the same parent or holding company, the parent or holding company will be permitted to submit a single consolidated financial statement for all nursing homes in New Jersey that are owned, operated, or controlled by the parent or holding company. For applicants for a transfer of ownership and entities seeking to delegate management of a nursing home, this information will be included with certain materials that current law requires be provided to the Department of Health (DOH); in the case of a transfer of ownership application, the information will be made available on the DOH's Internet website, with certain personal identifying and proprietary material excised. For current nursing home owners and operators, the following materials are to be annually posted on the nursing home's internet website, submitted to the DOH, and linked through the DOH's website: 1) the nursing home's ownership information; 2) the financial information for the nursing home, for certain parties providing services to the nursing home, and for a third party exercising substantial management control over the nursing home; and 3) the organizational chart for the nursing home and for any third party exercising substantial management control over a nursing home. Current law provides that the financial disclosures required for a transfer of ownership application vary, depending on whether the transfer involves a controlling interest in the nursing home and whether the prospective new owner has previously owned, operated, or managed a nursing home in New Jersey. The bill revises these requirements to require audited consolidated financial statements for all prospective new owners and operators who will be acquiring an interest of five percent or more in the nursing home. The bill removes an existing requirement for nursing homes to post the cost reports submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on their Internet websites. Current law allows nonprofit nursing homes to submit their Internal Revenue Service Form 990 in lieu of an owner-certified financial statement. The bill removes this language, thereby requiring nonprofit nursing homes to submit the same audited consolidated financial statements as are required of for profit nursing homes under the bill. Current law requires nursing homes to annually disclose certain ownership interests of 10 percent or more in the nursing home's mortgage, note, deed of trust, or other obligation appearing on the nursing home's books. The bill makes these disclosures applicable to ownership interests of five percent or more. The bill additionally requires nursing homes to annually provide to the DOH: 1) a disclosure of any person who owns or operates a sister company, holding company, or parent company, or who is a member of the board of trustees or the board of directors of the nursing home; 2) a disclosure of any person who has an ownership interest in a private equity pool that funds the nursing home; 3) information identifying 100 percent of the current owners of any third party entity exercising substantial management control over the nursing home, including all principals and interested parties and including 100 percent of the owners, principals, and interested parties in a third party entity identified as a principal or interested party; and 4) a copy of any lease agreements for the nursing home's use of land, buildings, facilities, or other real property. Current law establishes certain monetary penalties for nursing homes that fail to make the required disclosures. The bill grants the DOH the authority to additionally curtail new admissions at a nursing home that fails to make the required disclosures or that files false disclosures. The bill grants the Commissioner of Human Services the discretion to accept a consolidated financial statement that meets the requirements of the bill as satisfying the requirement that nursing homes report revenues and expenditures for the purposes of establishing and enforcing a direct care loss ratio, as required under current law. In Committee
A2860 Requires DHS to establish two-year Regional Community Behavioral Health Pilot Program. Within 180 days after the bill's effective date, the DHS is to issue a request for proposals (RFP) and select one or more managed care organization or organizations to administer the pilot program in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The managed care organization or organizations selected to administer the pilot program will be required to: 1) review Medicaid claims data, and work with primary care practitioners in the managed care network, to identify patients in the network who have severe behavioral health disorders. Such patients will be deemed to be eligible to participate in the pilot program; 2) contract with three community behavioral health providers, one in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and require each participating provider to promptly perform a behavioral health needs assessment for each eligible patient in the pilot program who resides in the provider's region of operations. The needs assessment is to be performed using a standardized tool or methodology and is to be used by the provider to identify each eligible patient's behavioral health and social service needs, including, but not limited to, the need for medication-assisted treatment and other substance use disorder treatment, the need for mental health treatment, including voluntary or involuntary commitment, and the need for food, housing, financial, or other social assistance; 3) work with each participating provider, as well as with primary care providers, substance use disorder treatment providers, and social service providers in the State, to ensure that eligible patients in the provider's region of operations have access to an intensive, coordinated support system to help them navigate the State's behavioral health care service system and to identify and access, in a timely manner, necessary and appropriate behavioral health care services in the State and region. The coordinated support system utilized in each region will be required to incorporate: a) the use, by participating providers, of warm hand-offs, rapid referrals, supportive contacts, and other efficient and supportive care transition methods; b) the hiring, by participating providers, of service navigation specialists and advisors to guide eligible patients through the behavioral health care system and to direct, monitor, and keep a record of, the services received by each eligible patient; and c) the use, by participating providers or the administering managed care organization or organizations, of any other means or methods deemed appropriate or necessary to facilitate behavioral health care coordination or care transitions in the State. In selecting one or more managed care organizations to administer the pilot program, the DHS will be required to give priority to those managed care organizations that have the ability to link to, and exchange relevant information and data through, a Statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) or other health information platform. The DHS will further be required to encourage the administering managed care organization or organizations to engage in the active and ongoing use of the HIE or other platform, as may be necessary to efficiently and effectively administer the pilot program. A portion of the funding that is provided to the administering organization for the purposes of the pilot program may be used to finance the costs associated with use of the HIE or other platform. The bill provides for the pilot program to be funded through the Medicaid program using a value-based payment system. The value-based payment system is to be modeled on, and consistent with, the population-based payment methodology that is described under Category 4 of the alternative payment methodologies (APM) framework developed by the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network. Specifically, the value-based payment system is to provide for a quarterly advanced bundled payment to be provided to the administering managed care organization or organizations for the purposes of financing the total cost of behavioral health care that is provided, by participating providers and other appropriate service providers, to eligible patients in the State, including, but not limited to, the costs associated with needs assessments performed and support and navigation services provided pursuant to the bill and the costs associated with the managed care organization's linkage to, use of, and exchange of information and data through, a Statewide HIE or other health information platform. The quarterly bundled payment rate is to be established by the Commissioner of Human Services, based on the commissioner's evaluation of the following factors: 1) the number of eligible patients who are expected to be served by the pilot program; 2) the average anticipated per-patient cost of care for eligible patients; 3) the anticipated costs to participating providers of hiring and training staff to provide eligible patients with assistance and support in service navigation; 4) the anticipated costs associated with ensuring the linkage to, and exchange of relevant health information through, the HIE or other Statewide health information platform; and 5) any other factors that may affect the cost of care for eligible patients. The quarterly bundled payment is to be limited to the bundled rate established by the commissioner under the bill, and may not be increased, regardless of whether the actual costs of care received by patients in the pilot program exceed the bundled payment rate provided under the bill. If the administering managed care organization or organizations, in cooperation with participating providers in each region, are able to reduce the per-patient costs of care for patients engaged in the pilot program through the effective use of care coordination methodologies, including, but not limited to, the use of the service navigation and support systems described under the bill, the administering managed care organization or organizations may retain, and will not be required to repay, any bundled payment funds that remain unexpended thereby. The managed care organization or organizations will be required to share any such savings with the providers participating in the pilot program at a rate that is proportional to the rate of per-patient cost reduction savings that was achieved by each such provider. If the actual per-patient costs of care for patients engaged in the pilot program exceed the advanced bundled payment rate established by the commissioner under bill, the administering managed care organization or organizations will be required to ensure that all eligible patients continue to receive appropriate services and care from participating providers and other appropriate providers without being subject to an increase in out-of-pocket costs. Any financial loss suffered by the managed care organization or organizations as a result of an increase in the per-patient cost of care for patients in the pilot program is to be shared by the managed care organization or organizations with the participating providers at a rate that is proportional to the rate of per-patient cost increase attributed to each provider. The bill requires the DHS, within 90 days after the two-year pilot program is terminated, to prepare and submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to apply for any State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the bill's provisions and secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. In Committee
A2639 Prohibits public institutions of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees by more than 4% over the prior academic year. This bill prohibits a public institution of higher education from increasing the institution's resident undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees for any academic year by more than 4% over the institution's resident undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees for the prior academic year. Graduate tuition and fees will include tuition and fees for students enrolled in a graduate degree program or a professional studies program, such as law, medicine, business, dentistry, nursing, or pharmacy. In Committee
A463 Establishing Advisory Committee on Family Services and Communications in Division of Developmental Disabilities in DHS. This bill establishes the Advisory Committee on Family Services and Communications in the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the advisory committee will be to identify, and work with division leadership to redress, any inefficiencies, shortcomings, or other problems that may be associated with the division's outreach to, communications with, or provision of appropriate services and supports to, the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities. The advisory committee is to be composed of nine members, including the division's Family Outreach Liaison and Communications and Constituent Inquiries Liaison, as well as the chair of the Family Advisory Council, or their designees, who would serve ex officio, and six public members to be appointed by the Governor. The six public members are to include: 1) three residents, one from each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, who are family members of an individual with a developmental disability; and 2) three residents, one from each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, who are legal guardians of an individual with a developmental disability. The advisory committee will be required to organize as soon as practicable, but not more than 30 days after the appointment of a majority of its members. Under the bill's provisions, the Advisory Committee on Family Services and Communications will have the duty to: 1) provide the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities with comprehensive information, upon request, regarding: the nature and details of the agency's family outreach and communications systems, policies, procedures, protocols, and practices; the nature and type of services and supports that are available from the division to assist the family members and guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities; and any proposed or actualized changes in these areas; 2) engage in the ongoing evaluation of existing division systems, policies, procedures, protocols, and practices that are used to facilitate the division's outreach to, communications with, and provision of services and supports to, the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities, and determine the extent to which those systems, policies, procedures, protocols, and practices, or components thereof, are resulting in inefficiencies, ineffectiveness, or a lack of transparency or responsiveness in association with the division's outreach to, communications with, or provision of services and supports to, the family members or legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities; 3) solicit, receive, and review complaints, suggestions, and recommendations from relevant organizations and from the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities regarding the ways in which the division can improve its systems, policies, procedures, protocols, and practices to more efficiently, effectively, transparently, and respectfully serve and respond to the needs, questions, and concerns of the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities; 4) identify elements within the division's existing systems, policies, procedures, protocols, and practices that can be improved or modernized, and other remedial actions that can be undertaken by division staff, to redress the inefficiencies or other problems identified by the committee; and 5) recommend, and work with division leadership to facilitate the implementation of, changes to the division's systems, policies, procedures, protocols, and practices, as may be necessary to ensure that division staff is consistently engaging in efficient, effective, responsive, and fully transparent outreach to, communications with, and provision of appropriate services and supports to, the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities. Recommendations developed by the committee are to be presented, in writing, to the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, within one year after the bill's effective date and annually thereafter. In effectuating its duties under the bill, the advisory committee will be authorized to: 1) consult with, and solicit and receive testimony, information, documents, and input from, division staff, relevant external organizations, and the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities; and 2) solicit and receive, from the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families, any complaints received by the ombudsman that involve concerns related to the division's outreach to, communications with, or provision of services and supports to, the family members or guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities. The ombudsman will be required to promptly provide the advisory committee, upon request, with any such complaints received thereby. The advisory committee is to meet at the times and places designated by the chair, but not less than twice per year. The committee may conduct business without a quorum, but may only vote on recommendations when a quorum is present. The division will be required to provide professional, stenographic, and clerical staff, support, and resources to the advisory committee, as may be necessary to ensure the proper effectuation of the committee's duties. The division will also be required to publish, on its Internet website, the names of the committee's members, and the contact information that can be used by relevant organizations and the family members and legal guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities to submit questions, concerns, or suggestions to the committee. The website is to be updated within 10 days following any change in the committee membership. In Committee
A1857 Allows gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for purchase of classroom supplies. This bill allows a gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for the purchase of classroom supplies. Under the bill, an "eligible educator" is a teacher who is employed in a public or nonpublic school in the State. The bill defines "classroom supplies" as books, pencils and other drawing supplies, computers and related equipment, laboratory equipment, and any other equipment and supplementary materials needed for day-to-day classroom activities. In Committee
A445 Prohibits smoking within 20 feet of areas outside of indoor public places or workplaces. This bill would amend the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," to prohibit smoking within a distance of 20 feet from the exterior of any building which is an indoor public place or workplace, unless the establishment qualifies for an exception to the law, as in the case of tobacco retail establishments, tobacco businesses, casinos, and certain cigar bars and cigar lounges. Currently, the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), prohibits smoking in an indoor public place or workplace that is not exempted under the law and in any area of any building of, or on the grounds of, a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school. The law does not prohibit smoking in any area outside of an indoor public place or workplace, nor does it specify a distance from any area outside of an indoor public place or workplace where smoking is prohibited. In Committee
A2617 "Transparency in Government Act"; provides for establishment of State public finance website. This bill, the "Transparency in Government Act," establishes a State public finance website to provide State residents with a convenient, user-friendly source of information to track State revenues and expenditures and to gauge the State's overall level of bonded indebtedness. Under the bill, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, is required to design, develop, and maintain a single, searchable website that is accessible to the general public without charge, and that includes information on: -- annual State expenditures; -- annual State revenues; -- annual State bonded indebtedness, and -- any other data and information specified by the State Treasurer after consulting with and seeking the advice of the Chief Technology Officer and the Public Finance Transparency Committee established by the bill. The bill provides that the website must include data and information concerning State expenditures, revenues, and bonded indebtedness for fiscal year 2000 and each year thereafter. The bill permits data and information posted on the website to be periodically updated, but prohibits the removal of data and information posted to the site. The bill requires data and information available in the central accounting and State payroll systems to be made available on the website as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the last day of the preceding fiscal year. The bill stipulates that it does not require the disclosure of information deemed, private, personal, or confidential by State or federal law. The bill establishes the Public Finance Transparency Committee within the Department of the Treasury. The bill provides for the committee to be comprised of 13 members, including: (1) the State Treasurer, (1) the Chief Technology Officer, (1) the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, (2) two members who are commissioners, directors, or officers of a State agency, (4) four members of the general public, and (4) four members of the Legislature. The bill directs the committee to: -- serve in an advisory capacity to the State Treasurer on matters related to the development and expansion of the website and opportunities to make the website more accessible to the public; -- advise the State Treasurer and Chief Technology Officer on the incorporation of additional data and information into the website, after the site is implemented; -- seek the advice and receive feedback from the public, professional associations, State agencies, academic groups and institutions, and other individuals with knowledge of and interest in areas of public information access, gateways services, add-on services, and electronic information for the general improvement of the website; and -- issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the website. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, but provides for section 3 of the bill (concerning the design and development of the website) to not apply until the first business day of the seventh month beginning after the date of enactment. In Committee
A2936 "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act." This bill would add legal protections for tenants against landlords who might otherwise try to use immigration status as a way of intimidating tenants who have exercised, or who are about to exercise, their housing rights. The bill would prohibit a landlord from evicting a tenant as a reprisal for or on the basis of the tenant's immigration or citizenship status. Under the bill, the term "immigration or citizenship status" would include a perception that a person has a particular immigration status or citizenship status, or that a person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, a particular immigration status or citizenship status. The bill would prohibit a landlord from threatening to disclose, or actually disclosing, information relating to the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, occupant, or other person known to the landlord to be associated with a tenant or occupant, for the purpose of influencing the person to vacate a dwelling unit. Additionally, the bill would prohibit a landlord from bringing an action to recover possession of a dwelling unit based solely or partially on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant. The bill would also prohibit a landlord from bringing an action to recover possession, or otherwise causing a tenant or occupant to quit involuntarily, because of the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, occupant, or other person known to the landlord to be associated with a tenant or occupant. This prohibition would not apply if a landlord's action is in compliance with a legal obligation under a federal government program that provides for rent limitations or rental assistance to a qualified tenant. The bill would enable a tenant to bring an action seeking damages, penalties, court costs and attorney's fees, and other equitable relief against a landlord that engages in prohibited conduct. The bill also provides that the immigration or citizenship status of a person is irrelevant to any issue of liability or remedy in a civil action involving a tenant's housing rights. The bill would prohibit inquiry into a tenant's immigration or citizenship status in a civil action involving a tenant's housing rights, unless the tenant places a person's immigration or citizenship status directly in contention, or the person seeking to make the inquiry demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the inquiry is necessary in order to comply with federal law. Under the bill, a tenant's assertion of an affirmative defense to an eviction action would not constitute cause for discovery or other inquiry into a person's immigration or citizenship status. The bill would establish an affirmative defense for a tenant to raise against an eviction action if the eviction action is commenced after the start of the lease term, and after the tenant has moved in, and if the action is based, in whole or in part, either on the citizenship or immigration status of the tenant, or on the tenant's failure to provide a social security number, credit information, or a form of identification acceptable to the landlord. The bill would establish an affirmative defense for a tenant against an unlawful detainer action if a tenant can prove that a landlord has violated provisions of this bill. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption that a tenant or occupant has an affirmative defense against an unlawful detainer action if the landlord:· approved the tenant or occupant to take possession of a unit before filing an unlawful detainer action; and· included in the unlawful detainer action a claim based on one of the following:o the failure of a previously approved tenant or occupant to provide a valid social security number;o the failure of a previously approved tenant or occupant to provide information required to obtain a consumer credit report; oro the failure of a previously approved tenant or occupant to provide a form of identification deemed acceptable by the landlord. The bill specifically provides that it's provisions do not prohibit a landlord from:· complying with a subpoena, warrant, court order, or legal obligation including, but not limited to, a legal obligation under a government program that provides for rent limitations or rental assistance to a qualified tenant;· requesting information or documentation necessary to determine or verify the financial qualifications of a prospective tenant, or to determine or verify the identity of a prospective tenant or prospective occupant;· notifying a tenant that the tenant's conduct violates the terms of a lease, rental agreement, rule, or regulation. The bill does not enlarge or diminish a landlord's right to terminate a tenancy nor enlarge or diminish the ability of a municipality to regulate or enforce a prohibition against a landlord's harassment of a tenant. In Committee
A444 Designates "New Jersey State Song" as State song. This bill designates "New Jersey State Song," composed by Dr. Violet Barrett Paterson, as the State song. Under the bill, the Secretary of State is required to maintain the printed music or sound recordings of the designated song in the State Library, or in another suitable archive, as a resource for the people of New Jersey. In Committee
A1183 Requires DOE to develop registry of high school student-athletes who sustain concussions or other head injuries. This bill requires the Department of Education to develop a centralized registry for high school student-athletes who sustain concussions or other head injuries. The purpose of the registry is to collect data to determine the rates, patterns, and trends of head injuries in order to develop evidence-based injury prevention protocols. Under the bill, each person who coaches a school district or nonpublic school interscholastic sport, intramural sport, or cheerleading program must immediately notify the athletic director or other person designated by the district or nonpublic school when a student sustains a concussion or other head injury as a result of participating in the sport or cheerleading program. Each week, based on the information provided by the coach, the athletic director or other person designated by the district or nonpublic school will enter into the department's centralized registry information concerning the student-athlete's concussion or other head injury, including but not limited to:· the type of head injury;· the sport or program in which the student-athlete was participating when the concussion or other head injury was sustained;· the specific incident that occurred that resulted in the concussion or other head injury, including the specific phase of the game or cheerleading routine in which the student-athlete was engaged when the concussion or other head injury was sustained; and· the average number of days missed from practice or play before the student-athlete was cleared to return to participate in games and practices. The bill stipulates that, in establishing the registry, the department must ensure that any student identifying information is kept confidential. In Committee
AJR90 Urges United States Department of Defense and New Jersey Civil Service Commission to permit civil service examinations during deployment. This joint resolution urges the United States Department of Defense and the New Jersey Civil Service Commission to work together to permit deployed military service members to take civil service examinations while deployed. The ability to participate in civil service examinations during deployment would result in service members being in the civil service system when an employment eligibility list is requested by a public employer seeking to hire, increasing their chances of finding employment after their service. Service members would still need to provide proof of veteran status no later than eight days prior to the issuance of an employment list to receive a hiring preference. In Committee
A1483 Establishes disaster relief grant program to provide municipalities with training, supply stockpiles, and technology to assist residents with certain applications; appropriates $5 million. This bill establishes a disaster relief program within the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (division) in the Department of Community Affairs for the purposes of establishing a grant program to provide municipalities with training, supply stockpiles, and technology to be used to assist residents with disaster relief applications and other paperwork, and appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the division for the purposes of the program. The Office of Emergency Management, in consultation with the division, would establish: (1) an application process for municipalities to access grant monies for the purpose of providing training, technology, and supply stockpiles; (2) guidelines for priority in disbursals according to the Office of Emergency Management's risk assessment score for each municipality; (3) training guidelines for municipal employees who will assist residents with disaster relief paperwork and other paperwork, as appropriate; and (4) guidelines for supply stockpiles as appropriate for each municipality according to its municipal master plan. The division would disburse grant monies to municipalities based on the criteria established by the division. Each municipality receiving a grant would be required to submit a report one year after the initial disbursement to the division, the Office of Emergency Management, the Governor, and the Legislature regarding how grant funds were utilized, the current risks foreseen by the municipality, and data on how the grant money has improved the emergency preparedness and response capacity of the municipality. In Committee
A475 Requires certain insurance carriers to include firearm liability insurance as policy option. This bill requires every insurer authorized to transact the business of homeowners, renters, excess liability, or personal liability insurance in New Jersey to make available as an option for purchase coverage insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, and property damage sustained by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation or use of a firearm carried in public. The coverage is to be at least in: a. an amount or limit of $100,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to, or death of, one person, in any one incident; b. an amount or limit, subject to such limit for any one person so injured or killed, of $300,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to or death of, more than one person, in any one incident; and c. an amount or limit of $25,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for damage to property in any one incident. In Committee
A2773 Revises certain laws concerning domestic violence and firearms. This bill enhances protections currently afforded victims of domestic violence by requiring attackers to surrender their firearms while domestic violence restraining orders are in effect or when they are convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense. The bill also requires firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase handguns to be revoked if the holder of the card or permit is convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense. The bill further requires cross-referencing of records to assist in determining whether the alleged attacker owns a firearm and in removing those firearms. Seizure of Weapon at Scene of Domestic Violence The bill requires the prosecutor, prior to returning a firearm seized at the scene of a domestic violence incident, to inform the victim of the availability of restraining orders and the ability to seek revocation of the accused person's card or permit. Domestic Violence Offenders The bill revises the law regarding defendants convicted of domestic violence crimes and offenses by:? Requiring the sentencing court to inform defendants convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense that they are prohibited from possessing a firearm.? Requiring the court to order the defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender of firearms, firearms purchaser identification cards, and permits to purchase a handgun to a law enforcement officer. The bill allows the defendant five days from when the order of conviction is entered to arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed firearms dealer; the dealer has 10 days from the date of the order to take possession of the firearm from the law enforcement agency to which it was surrendered. ? Deeming any identification card and permit that has been issued to the defendant to be immediately revoked and requiring the court to establish a process for notifying the appropriate authorities of the revocation. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer to whom weapons are surrendered to provide the defendant with a receipt naming the defendant, the surrender date, and description of a surrendered item; and requiring the defendant to provide a copy of the receipt to the prosecutor within 48 hours.? Requiring defendants to attest under penalty that they surrendered or do not possess a firearm. ? Permitting the court to order a search for and removal of firearms if there is probable cause that the defendant has failed to surrender firearms and requiring the court to state with specificity the reasons for and the scope of the search and seizure. Domestic Violence Restraining Orders The bill revises the laws governing temporary and final restraining orders issued pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" by: ? Specifying that the plaintiff may provide information concerning firearms to which the defendant has access, including the location of these firearms, if known, on a form to be prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts and clarifying the confidential nature of this information. ? Requiring the law enforcement officer to properly store surrendered or removed firearms and authorizing the officer to charge the defendant a fee for storage during a temporary restraining order.? Specifying that if an order is dismissed, any firearms, cards and permits are to be returned to defendants who are not otherwise disqualified in accordance with the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991."? Requiring the court issuing a final restraining order to order the defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender of firearms, cards, and permits to a law enforcement officer. The bill allows the defendant five days from when the order is entered to arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed firearms dealer; the dealer has 10 days from the date of the order to take possession of the firearm from the law enforcement agency to which it was surrendered. ? Deeming the defendant's cards and permits to be immediately suspended and requiring the court to establish a process for notifying the appropriate authorities of this suspension. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer to whom weapons are surrendered to provide the defendant with a receipt naming the defendant, the surrender date, and description of a surrendered item; and requiring the defendant to provide a copy of the receipt to the prosecutor within 48 hours.? Requiring the defendant to attest under penalty that he surrendered or does not possess a firearm.? Permitting the court to order a search for and removal of firearms if there is probable cause that the defendant has failed to surrender firearms and requiring the court to state with specificity the reasons for and the scope of the search and seizure. ? Requiring the court to order the appropriate law enforcement agency to make a reasonable search of records of firearm ownership before issuing a temporary or final restraining order. Firearms Licensing Current law governing firearms licensing requirements is revised by: ? Requiring law enforcement to search the State's central registry of domestic violence reports as part of the investigation of the applicant for a firearm purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun. ? Requiring records relating to issuance of cards and permits, as well as firearms purchase records, to be made available to prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to enforce the State's domestic violence laws. Current law requires these records to be sent to certain law enforcement agencies, but does not specify how these records may be used. ? Requiring a law enforcement officer or prosecutor in possession of any firearms, cards, or permits surrendered or removed in whole or in part because of domestic violence to prepare an inventory of these items, cross-reference the inventory with records of firearm ownership, and if there are discrepancies, take appropriate action to ensure the defendant does not have access to a firearm. In Committee
A2991 Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. In Committee
A460 Waives pet adoption fees for certain military personnel and veterans. This bill would provide that the following persons would be entitled to adopt a domestic companion animal without paying a pet adoption fee from a licensed kennel, shelter, or pound: (1) an active member of the New Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training; (2) an active member of any branch or department of the Armed Forces of the United States, or reserves component thereof; and (3) a veteran. The bill authorizes the owner or operator of a kennel, shelter, or pound to review and adjust the pet adoption fee to offset any cost increases associated with forgoing the pet adoption fee for eligible military personnel and veterans. In Committee
A470 Allows municipalities to approve provision of traffic control services by law enforcement or certain other construction and work zone personnel for certain road construction projects. This bill would allow municipalities to approve the provision of traffic control services by law enforcement or certain other construction and work zone personnel for road construction projects on municipal roads. The bill would provide that, with approval of the relevant municipal governing body, a municipality, utility, or contractor that is engaged in a road construction project on a road under the jurisdiction of the municipality may employ either law enforcement personnel or any other appropriately trained construction and work zone personnel to provide traffic control services for the management of traffic through the area of the project. The bill would apply to road construction projects, including any improvement, repair, construction, or maintenance project completed by, or on behalf of, a municipality or utility on any road under the jurisdiction of the municipality with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less. The bill further requires the Commissioner of Transportation to establish minimum training requirements for construction and work zone personnel that would provide the traffic control. The bill authorizes the commissioner, notwithstanding the "Administrative Procedure Act," ("APA") N.J.S.A.52:14B-1 et seq., to adopt any regulations necessary to implement the bill immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law. These regulations would be effective for a period not to exceed 360 days following the effective date and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the commissioner in accordance with the requirements of the APA. The bill would take effect immediately and apply to road construction projects commenced at least 90 days after the date of enactment. In Committee
A2135 Makes $2.5 million in federal funds available to EDA to support veteran-owned businesses in need. This bill makes $2.5 million in federal funds available to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to award grants to eligible veteran-owned businesses. The EDA may use up to five percent of these funds to support administrative expenses. As defined in the bill, a "veteran-owned business" is a business that has its principal place of business in the State, is independently owned and operated, and at least 51 percent of which is owned and controlled by persons who are veterans. In Committee
A477 Creates new taxable category of alcoholic beverages called flavored malt beverages, imposes separate rate of taxation on new category pursuant to alcoholic beverages tax and allocates associated revenue. This bill creates a new taxable category of alcoholic beverages called flavored malt beverages, imposes a separate rate of taxation on flavored malt beverages pursuant to the alcoholic beverages tax and allocates the associated revenue evenly between the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund and the General Fund. Though produced in a manner which incorporates certain aspects of beer brewing, much of the flavoring and alcohol in flavored malt beverages is derived from the addition of distilled spirits. This production process has the effect of creating an alcoholic beverage that is sufficiently beer-like to be taxed like beer, but sold as something else entirely. Alcoholic lemonades, alcoholic colas and cooler-type products are examples of such products. This bill creates a new category of alcoholic beverages entitled flavored malt beverages for purposes of the alcoholic beverages tax. The new flavored malt beverage category is taxed at a rate of $4.40 per gallon to account for its reliance on distilled spirits during the production process. The bill also calls for the proceeds derived from this new category to be allocated evenly between the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund and the General Fund. In Committee
A456 Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having service-connected permanent disability; extends eligibility to veterans suffering from mental illness; establishes eligibility of property owned by disabled veteran with surviving partner for exemption. This bill revises current law regarding the property tax exemption provided to totally disabled, honorably-discharged veterans who incur a 100 percent service-related disability during their service in the United States Armed Forces. Proportional Property Tax Exemption Under current law, veterans who are not 100 percent totally and permanently disabled are not eligible to receive a proportional property tax exemption. This bill allows all honorably-discharged veterans who have a service-related disability rating resulting from their service in the United States Armed Forces, including those who receive a 100 percent disability determination, to receive a proportional property tax exemption in an amount equal to the degree of their service-connected, permanent disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A veteran who was determined by the VA to be 100 percent totally and permanently disabled due to a service-related disability would continue to receive the full property tax exemption under the current exemption statute. Broadening of Eligibility The bill extends eligibility for the property tax exemption to veterans granted a disability rating due to mental illness. The bill broadens the eligibility criteria for the property tax exemption granted to surviving civil union partners and domestic partners of disabled veterans. The bill extends the property tax exemption to the surviving civil union partner or domestic partner of a disabled veteran until such time as the surviving partner enters into a new civil union, establishes a new domestic partnership, or remarries. The bill also allows the surviving civil union partner or domestic partner to receive the property tax exemption when a disability declaration is granted after the veteran's death. Under current law, only the surviving spouse of a veteran who at the time of death was entitled to the exemption is entitled to receive the same exemption. This bill provides that an eligible surviving spouse, surviving civil union partner, or surviving domestic partner of a deceased disabled veteran, after filing a proper claim with the municipal tax collector, shall be exempt from all property taxation in the succeeding year. In Committee
A2285 Establishes fund for DEP for Blue Acres acquisition and relocation projects; appropriates $25 million. This bill establishes the Blue Acres Buyout Fund (hereinafter referred to as the "fund") as a nonlapsing, revolving fund in the Department of Environmental Protection and appropriates $25 million from the General Fund for the purposes of the fund. The fund would be administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to be used for relocation assistance for homeowners and tenants displaced by a Blue Acres acquisition, to acquire flood prone property under the Blue Acres program, and for administrative costs associated with the program. No more than five percent of the total annual revenue allocated to the fund in each fiscal year may be used by the DEP for administrative costs. In Committee
A469 Authorizes cannabis cultivation on land receiving farmland assessment. This bill permits cannabis to be cultivated on land receiving a farmland assessment. Current law prohibits medical and recreational cannabis from being cultivated on land that is valued, assessed, or taxed as an agricultural or horticultural use pursuant to the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964. This bill eliminates this prohibition. In Committee
A439 Requires development of longitudinal data system that maintains individuals' data from preschool through entry into workforce. This bill requires the development of a Statewide longitudinal data system that is capable of retaining individual-level information. The data records would include information starting when an individual enrolls in a public school, and would continue as the individual enters the workforce. Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education, the Commissioner of Education, and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will jointly establish a P-20 Longitudinal Data System Working Group. The working group will determine:· the data elements to be maintained in the longitudinal data system;· the process by which entities will submit information to the data system; · the measures to be taken to ensure that all data in the longitudinal data system are secure and that individuals' privacy is not compromised;· the development of analytic reports that will be created using information stored in the longitudinal data system; and· the feasibility of collecting postsecondary education and employment data for inclusion in the longitudinal data system of individuals who graduated from a public secondary school in the State and subsequently moved out-of-State. The bill requires that the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development enter into a memorandum of understanding no later than the beginning of the first full academic year following the bill's effective date to develop the longitudinal data system. The system would be operational by the beginning of the second full academic year following the bill's effective date. In Committee
A3348 Concerns regulatory guidance for local approving authorities on approval of warehouse development. This bill directs the State Planning Commission (commission) to adopt rules and regulations, or publish a regulatory guidance document to assist municipal planning boards and other agencies acting pursuant to the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.), in considering applications for the development of warehouses, as defined in the bill. The bill directs the commission to produce the guidance publication in a concise, plain-language format, incorporating examples of questions and reports that would customarily be asked of, or requested from, a warehouse development applicant prior to the issuance of development approvals. These model questions and report requests are to address potential community concerns, including but not limited to, traffic volumes, road safety, and environmental considerations. The bill directs the commission to make the guidance publication available to the public on its Internet website. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to incorporate the guidance document into the course offered to officials with responsibilities to enforce the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.). The commission would be required to notify the commissioner upon completion of the guidance document, and upon any updates. Due to the rise of e-commerce, warehouse development has increased significantly in recent years, leading to concerns over the impacts of these facilities on nearby neighborhoods. This bill intends to enhance the ability of local approving authorities to sufficiently scrutinize warehouse developers prior to authorizing further warehouse construction in New Jersey communities. This bill would take effect immediately, and would require the commission to produce the guidance publication by the first day of the third month following enactment. In Committee
A1689 Authorizes issuance of electronic copies of vital records. This bill authorizes the issuance of certified copies of vital records electronically by the State registrar or local registrar. Upon the request of an individual authorized to receive a certified copy of a vital record, including records of a birth, death, fetal death, certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, domestic partnership, civil union or marriage, the State registrar or local registrar will make the certified copy available to the requester in both a paper form and electronically. This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to establish standards for the furnishing of certified copies of vital records electronically including, but not limited to, protocols for data sharing, authenticating the identity of a requester, establishing a method of data encryption for accessing and transmitting electronic certified copies, and ensuring data privacy and security. In Committee
A2431 Requires electronic voting system vendors disclose financial ties prior to electronic voting system approval by Secretary of State. This bill requires electronic voting system vendors to disclose any financial ties prior to approval by the Secretary of State. As amended, the bill would require those vendors to report significant changes in ownership or shareholder status on an ongoing basis. Currently, voting system vendors must meet a number of requirements prior to approval and certification of voting systems in the State. However, the vendors are not required to disclose financial and investment ties. This bill would require voting system vendors to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies, or in the vendor's parent company. The bill would also require changes of five percent or greater in ownership or shareholder status to be reported. This bill is a response to the recent elections security issues. Several states have taken steps to address potential security risks. In Maryland, the state moved to require voting system vendors to disclose its investment ties following the revelation that a former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, owned the firm which financed the buyout of Maryland's voting system vendor. In June of 2019, North Carolina's State Board of Elections voted unanimously for each vendor seeking certification in the state to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies or in the vendor's parent company. This bill draws on the actions of these states to ensure the security of the elections of the State of New Jersey. In Committee
A450 Establishes certain procedural requirements to enroll or withdraw child from school district. This bill requires that when a child is enrolled in a school district for the first time, or a child is being withdrawn from enrollment in a school district, each parent or legal guardian of the child must be physically present at the time of enrollment or withdrawal, and the parents or guardians must provide a valid form of identification. If any parent or guardian of the child is unable to be present, a notarized letter shall be provided by the parent or guardian indicating that the parent or guardian agrees that the child is to be enrolled in, or withdrawn from, the school district. Under the bill, the child's parents or guardians must provide to the school district a copy of any custody agreement or custody order pertaining to the child. In addition, the bill requires that a school district's application to enroll or withdraw a child include a question regarding whether there is a pending custody case involving the child. In Committee
A1862 Requires procurement of management support and other services for certain nursing homes. This bill requires the procurement of management support and other services for certain nursing homes. Under the bill, if the Department of Health identifies a nursing home in substantial violation, or with a pattern and practice of habitual violations, of the standards of health, safety, and resident care established under federal or State law, the department may, with adequate notice and as appropriate, provide or appoint at the expense of the nursing home, or direct the nursing home to employ, contract with, or otherwise provide, a monitor or other vendor for management support services and resources, consultative services, staffing services, or any other support that may be necessary to: (1) remedy the violations or deficient conditions; (2) transition the nursing home to new ownership; (3) facilitate the safe and orderly closure of the nursing home if ordered by the department; or (4) avoid the cessation of operations of the nursing home. A monitor or vendor selected pursuant to the bill's provisions may: (1) attend any meetings of the nursing home's: owners or board, executive committee, finance committee, steering committee, infection control committee, or any other meeting of the nursing home, including meetings held with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services if permitted under federal law; (2) hire consultants; (3) undertake studies of the nursing home; (4) access records of the nursing home in a manner that is consistent with federal and State privacy laws; (5) convene meetings with the owners of a nursing home; and (6) take actions that are necessary and appropriate to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the nursing home. In Committee
A2794 Establishes pilot program for 24-hour urgent care for behavioral health. This bill seeks to expand access to behavioral health care services by requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a two-year Urgent Care Facility Behavioral Health Pilot Program. The goal of the program will be to provide behavioral health care at hospital urgent care facilities to stabilize individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in a way that reduces unnecessary emergency department and inpatient admissions. In doing so, it is the sponsor's goal to provide quality, timely behavioral health care in a setting that offers positive patient outcomes, addresses the stigma associated with behavioral health issues, reduces the burden on hospital emergency room departments, and minimizes costs. Under the bill, "behavioral health" or "behavioral health care" means procedures or services rendered by a health care or mental health care provider for the treatment of a mental illness, a mental health or emotional disorder, or a substance use disorder. Within 180 days after the effective date of the bill or, if the DHS submits State plan amendments or waivers to receive federal reimbursement under Medicaid for services provided under the bill, within 30 days of the receipt of any necessary federal approvals, the DHS is required to issue a request for proposals and select one or more Medicaid managed care organizations to participate in the pilot program. Under the bill, the two-year pilot program is to commence upon the selection of the managed care organizations. The managed care organizations selected are to demonstrate the ability to meet the requirements of the pilot program and are required to operate in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The selected managed care organizations are required to contract with six hospitals, with two in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, to provide integrated behavioral health care within one of the hospital's urgent care facilities. In determining which hospitals to contract with, the selected managed care organizations are to prioritize hospitals that specialize in pediatric care if feasible. Under the bill, a participating urgent care facility is required to provide services 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Furthermore, to be eligible, a hospital is to demonstrate the ability to coordinate a patient's care with primary care providers, outpatient behavioral health and substance abuse providers, community health centers, and social service providers, and may not receive funding from the DHS to provide Early Intervention Support Services. Each participating urgent care facility is required to integrate behavioral health care with the facility's existing physical health services, which will, at a minimum, include: employing a behavioral health team of at least one licensed behavioral clinician and one licensed clinical social worker; partnering with one or more licensed psychiatrists to provided services, as needed, via telemedicine and telehealth; providing behavioral health awareness and intervention training to staff; and using warm hand-offs, rapid referrals, supportive contacts, and other efficient and supportive care transition methods. The pilot program is to be funded in part through the Medicaid program using a value-based payment system. The value-based payment system is to be modeled on, and be consistent with, the population-based payment methodology that is described under Category 4 of the alternative payment methodologies (APM) framework developed by the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network. Specifically, the value-based payment system is required to provide for a quarterly advanced bundled payment to be provided to the managed care organization for the purposes of financing the total cost of behavioral health care that is provided by participating urgent care facilities. The quarterly bundled payment rate is to be established by the Commissioner of Human Services and is required to be based on the commissioner's evaluation of the following factors: (1) an assessment of claims data indicating the cost to provide behavioral health care in hospital emergency departments and inpatient settings, absent the pilot program; (2) the number of patients who are expected to be served by the pilot program; (3) the average anticipated per-patient cost of care under the pilot program; (4) the anticipated costs to participating urgent care facilities of complying with the provisions of the bill; and (5) any other factors that may affect the cost of care. Once established, the quarterly bundled payment may not be increased, regardless of whether the actual costs of care received by patients under the pilot program exceed the bundled payment rate provided. If the managed care organization, in cooperation with participating urgent care facilities, is able to reduce the per-patient costs of care for patients receiving care and services under the pilot program, the managed care organization may retain, and will not be required to repay, any remaining unexpended bundled payment funds. The managed care organization will be required to share any savings achieved with participating urgent care facilities at a rate that is proportional to the rate of per-patient cost reduction savings achieved by each such facility. If the actual per-patient costs of care for patients receiving care and services under the pilot program exceed the advanced bundled payment rate established by the commissioner, the managed care organization is to ensure that all patients continue to receive appropriate services and care from participating urgent care facilities without being subject to an increase in out-of-pocket costs. Any financial loss incurred by the managed care organization as a result of an increase in the per-patient cost of care for patients in the pilot program is to be shared by the managed care organization with participating urgent care facilities at a rate that is proportional to the rate of per-patient cost increase attributed to each facility. The bill requires the DHS, within 90 days after the two-year pilot program is terminated, to prepare and submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to apply for any State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the bill's provisions and secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. In Committee
A3185 Permits dogs as service and emotional support animals at State veterans' residential facilities. This bill permits veterans to have dogs as service and emotional support animals at a State veterans' residential facility. Under federal law, service animals are permitted on federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property with some restrictions. The federal regulation defines service animals as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal are required to be directly related to the individual's disability. The federal regulation does not include emotional support animals in its definition of service animals; therefore, emotional support animals are not permitted on VA property. Under the bill, the State law is aligned with federal standards by permitting dogs as service animals at State veterans' residential facilities. The bill further expands beyond federal law to permit dogs as emotional support animals at State veterans' residential facilities. As veterans become increasingly diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), health care providers are recommending an emotional support animal to many veterans. Under the bill, those veterans with emotional support needs will not be excluded from having a dog on State veterans' residential facility property. The bill prohibits animals other than service animals or emotional support animals on a State veterans' residential facility property unless the animal is present for law enforcement purposes or under the control of the Office of Research and Development in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also requires a veteran accompanied by a service animal or emotional support animal to provide documentation with the following information: (1) the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal or emotional support animal, that lists the work or tasks the animal has been trained to perform; and (2) confirms the service animal or emotional support animal has had a current rabies vaccine as determined by State and local public health requirements, and current core canine vaccines and immunizations as dictated by local veterinary practice standards, which at minimum includes distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2. Under the bill, State veterans' residential facility" means any State veterans' memorial home or Veterans Haven facility. In Committee
A1687 Establishes Office of Supportive Action Functionality Experts to prepare for catastrophic loss of technological services. This bill establishes the Office of Supportive Action Functionality Experts ("S.A.F.E.") to prepare for a catastrophic loss of technological services in this State. This bill establishes the Office of Supportive Action Functionality Experts in the State Office of Emergency Management. The purpose of this office is to analyze the potential risks and impacts of a catastrophic loss of technology and develop strategies for enhancing the State's response. The office's functions are to include, but not be limited to, gathering information about the impact of technological dependency; assessing the potential consequences of a catastrophic loss of technology; and developing procedures for managing the loss of technology. In addition, under the bill, the office is to provide quarterly reports to the Governor and Legislature on its research findings and develop a plan for essential services in case of a catastrophic technology loss. The Director of the State Office of Emergency Management, in consultation with the State's Chief Information Officer, is to appoint a director of the office who is qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The State's economy, public safety, and general welfare depend on the availability of technological systems and infrastructure. A catastrophic loss of technology could severely disrupt the State's essential services, including communication systems, medical services, transportation infrastructure, utilities, and financial services. It is essential to proactively address the potential risks from technological dependence and create strategies for managing the consequences of a catastrophic loss of technology. In Committee
A442 Provides adjustment to school district tax levy cap for expenditures associated with opening of new school facility during budget year. This bill authorizes an adjustment to the school district tax levy cap for expenditures incurred by the district in connection with the opening of a new school facility during the budget year. The allowable adjustment will include costs associated with the new facility that are related to new teaching staff members, support staff, materials and equipment, custodial and maintenance expenditures, and other costs as may be determined by the Commissioner of Education. It is unrealistic to expect a school district to accommodate within its base 2% tax levy increase the new costs that will be incurred by the district in the first year that it opens a new school facility. This bill will allow a school district to increase its tax levy in that first year of the school's operation to reflect these new facility-related expenditures. In Committee
A435 Concerns definition of veteran for civil service hiring preference. Under current law, a veteran is eligible for a civil service hiring preference if the person served during specified dates or in specified locations, and in some instances, for a specific length of time. This bill changes the definition of veteran for civil service hiring preference by removing the requirement of service for specific lengths of time and broadens the specified locations for eligibility. This bill also adds a definition of disabled veteran and veteran to include persons who served in the active military of the Armed Forces of the United States, was discharged or released under other than dishonorable conditions, applies for civil service preference on or after the date of enactment of this bill, and meets the criteria set forth in the definition of disabled veteran or veteran under federal law. This bill will not impact the eligibility status of any veteran currently eligible for a civil service preference. The bill will expand the number of veterans eligible for a civil service preference. For veterans who would be eligible under federal law pursuant to this bill but who did not serve in time of war or conflict, the changes provided by this bill will apply only if an amendment to the State constitution is approved by the voters to permit such veterans to receive the benefit. In Committee
A2270 Establishes Interagency Council on Homelessness. This bill establishes the "Interagency Council on Homelessness" (council) in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs to replace the statutorily-established "New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Task Force." The bill establishes the council to serve as an advisory body to the existing Office of Homelessness Prevention, to develop recommendations, through a collaborative effort among representatives of State government, providers of services to the homeless, and other concerned representatives of the public, and to develop, promote, and support efforts for the most effective means of coordinating and funding programs to meet the various needs of persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The bill also expands membership of this advisory board. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to notify the members of the New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Task Force of the termination of the task force and otherwise provide for the transfer or other disposition of the records, property, and personnel of task force to the council. This bill requires the council to prepare an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and to submit the report to the Governor and to the Legislature. Dead
AR32 Expresses to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission opposition to proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement Project; urges consideration of certain alternative projects. This Assembly Resolution expresses to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) its opposition to the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project, a proposed capacity expansion of the Transco Pipeline, an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline, which includes a natural gas compressor station to be located in Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey on land previously owned by Trap Rock Industries LLC, which operates the nearby Kingston Quarry. Much of the current natural gas transmission pipeline system in the area is approximately 50 years old and it is unclear whether this older natural gas transmission pipeline will be able to withstand the increased natural gas volume and velocity proposed by the NESE Project. The Kingston Quarry is an active blasting zone, which may increase the potential for an explosion at the natural gas compressor station and raises concern over the health and safety of local residents. In March 2017, it was announced that Transco, which operates natural gas transmission pipelines in the northeast, filed an application with the FERC seeking authorization for the NESE Project to be built. This House opposes the NESE Project and urges the FERC to consider alternative projects that may satisfy New York's energy growth needs without risking the health and safety of New Jersey residents and visitors, and the environment. In Committee
A1680 Vacant Storefront Registry Program; establishes public database of vacant commercial space for small businesses. This bill requires the NJ Business Action Center (center), which is in the Department of State, to establish and maintain a public database of vacant commercial space available for purchase or lease by small businesses in this State. The database will include information such as: the square footage of any vacant commercial space; the capital equipment included in any vacant commercial space; and the building systems installed in any vacant commercial space, including, but not limited to, fire alarms, fire suppression systems, security systems, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Under the bill, the center is required, using information provided by commercial property owners, realtors, and municipalities in the State, to update the database on a monthly basis with new information concerning the availability of vacant commercial space. The bill requires the center to make the database available through its Internet web page and to publicize the availability of the database as part of an awareness campaign targeted at business associations, state and local chambers of commerce, and municipalities in the State. Under the bill, the Secretary of State is to require every owner of a commercial property in the State to notify, as necessary, the center when a commercial property belonging to such an owner becomes vacant, if no person or entity is presently scheduled to lease or purchase the property, or when such a property becomes occupied. For many industries, commercial space is often one of the most costly barriers to entry. The expense is compounded by the time dedicated to locating storefronts that are well-suited and appropriate for the needs of a business. The creation of a public database of vacant commercial space will expedite this process and help fill vacancies quickly. In Committee
A925 Allows voter registration at polling place on election day or at early voting site during early voting period. This bill allows for voter registration at polling places on election day or at early voting sites during the early voting period. Under current law, a person must register to vote at least 21 days before the election. This bill allows a person who has not registered to vote by that deadline to register at a polling place on the day of the election or at an early voting site during the early voting period. This bill also allows a person to cast a provisional ballot if the person has registered to vote within the period of 21 days before the election if the person can affirm that the person has not previously voted in that election. If the county commissioner of registration is not able to verify the person's Motor Vehicle Commission New Jersey driver's license number or non-driver identification number, or the last four digits of the person's Social Security Number, the county commissioner of registration will notify the person by mail, e-mail, or telephone within 24 hours that they must provide valid identification no later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election in order for their ballot to be counted. In Committee
A2098 "New Jersey Transit Villages Act." This bill establishes the "New Jersey Transit Villages Act" for the purpose of encouraging municipalities to promote intensive mixed-use development within close proximity to mass transit. The bill encourages municipalities to use transit-oriented development techniques by directing transportation investments into the redevelopment of our older urban and suburban areas around transit hubs. The bill also seeks to increase transportation options and transit availability, which will have the effect of reducing automobile traffic, stabilizing property taxes, and providing affordable housing. Several years ago the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Transit Corporation administratively established the "Transit Village Initiative" to encourage appropriate intensive development within a half-mile radius of mass transit facilities. This bill would codify the Transit Village Initiative and permit State funding to be used to further the goals of the program. In Committee
A464 Provides for preparation and distribution of written notice to senior citizens concerning risks and prevention of fraud and identity theft. This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to annually disseminate, to appropriate parties, a notice on fraud and identity theft that is to be prepared by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. At a minimum, the notice prepared by the director is to provide information necessary to alert senior citizens about the different ways in which senior citizens may be contacted for, or lured into providing, information or funds for a fraudulent purpose, and the ways to prevent the loss of funds or identity theft. The director will be required to regularly review and update the notice to ensure that it contains the most current information on fraud and identity theft. The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services, at a minimum, to distribute the notice to: 1) members of the public, upon request; and 2) each organization that is contracted by or receives State funding from the Department of Human Services (DHS) and that provides services to senior citizens 60 years of age or older, for dissemination by the organization to senior citizens in the course of business. The bill further requires the commissioner to post a copy of the notice on the DHS website. In Committee
A3070 Requires State entities to recycle certain materials and provide recycling bins in State buildings. This bill would require State governmental entities to source separate and recycle any aluminum, corrugated cardboard, glass, paper, or plastic waste generated at buildings and facilities owned, leased, or operated by the State entity. Under the bill, every State entity would be required to establish procedures for the collection and storage of any materials to be recycled under the bill, and make necessary contractual arrangements for the collection, transportation, and recycling of those materials. State entities also would be required as to provide adequate receptacles, signage, information, education, and staffing at buildings and facilities owned, leased, or operated by the State entities to ensure compliance with the bill. The provisions of the bill would not apply to any building or facility located in a State park or forest where the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is implementing a "carry-in, carry-out" trash program in which visitors to the State park or forest are required to take their trash with them upon departing the State park or forest. The bill would require the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the DEP, to (1) prepare and distribute guidance to assist State entities with compliance, and (2) work with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Legislature to ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill by the Judicial and Legislative Branches of State Government, respectively. In Committee
A451 Modifies various aspects of charter school program including approval, student admissions and enrollment procedures, and board of trustee membership. This bill makes several modifications to the charter school program. Under current law, a board of education may review a charter application and submit a recommendation to the Commissioner of Education, but the commissioner has final authority to grant or reject a charter application. Under this bill, a local board of education will have the authority to either accept or overturn the commissioner's determination to grant a charter application. The commissioner will retain final authority to reject a charter application. The bill would allow a charter school applicant to appeal the decision of the commissioner, or to appeal the decision of the local board of education if the board acts to reject the charter application. In addition, the bill limits the population of students who are eligible for admission to a charter school. Under the bill, a charter school will be open to all students who reside in the charter school district of residence on a space available basis. If spaces remain available, a charter school may enroll non-resident students from two additional school districts which are located in municipalities that border the charter school district of residence. The application for a charter school must include the names of the school districts and municipalities in which there are students who will be eligible for enrollment. Under current law, if space permits the school may enroll non-resident students without geographic limit. The bill also modifies charter school enrollment procedures. Under the bill, students will be selected for enrollment through a lottery, and the name of each student who is enrolled in the charter school's district of residence will be placed in the lottery. If the parent or guardian of a student who is selected through the lottery decides not to enroll the student, the charter school will fill that enrollment space with a student from the school's waiting list. The bill provides that each charter school will maintain a waiting list of grade-eligible students and will use the list to fill enrollment spaces that become available after the lottery. Under current law, a random selection process for charter school enrollment is only used if there are more applicants than there are openings in the charter school. In addition, the bill requires that the board of trustees of a charter school include at least two members who are members of the local board of education of the charter school district of residence, and at least two members of the community who are chosen by the local board of education. The bill also amends current law to provide that a charter school may not expel a student. In Committee
A2216 Requires certain information to increase public awareness and use of voting by mail; requires certain mail-in ballots received by county board within 48 hours be considered valid; requires certain mail-in ballots to be retained. This bill requires certain information to increase public awareness and use of voting by mail, requires certain mail-in ballots received by county board within 48 hours be considered valid, and requires certain mail-in ballots to be retained. Under current law, county boards of elections are required to retain voted mail-in ballots for a period of two years. This bill clarifies that ballots that are received 48 hours after the closing of the polls, along with their envelopes, are also required to be retained for two years. The bill would also require that every mail-in ballot that does not bear a postmark date but that is received by the county board by delivery of the United States Postal Service within 48 hours after the time of the closing of the polls for the election for which the ballot was prepared is to be considered valid and canvassed. Under the bill, the Secretary of State is required to: (1) prepare informational posters for use at all polling places that promote voting by mail, (2) include with mail-in ballots information for the voter on how to check the status of the voter's mail-in ballot, and (3) provide educational materials to county board of elections employees on the standards for acceptance and rejection of mail-in ballots. Under the bill, the educational materials prepared by the Secretary of State would serve an educational purpose for the county board and would not replace, supersede, or void the authority of the county board or a judge of the Superior Court to accept or reject a mail-in ballot. This bill also prohibits the rejection of a mail-in ballot due to missing or insufficient glue on an outer or inner envelope. In Committee
A465 Makes supplemental appropriation of $1.2 million to DOE to provide additional State school aid to Franklin Township School District in Somerset County. This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $1.2 million for the Franklin Township School District in Somerset County. The additional State school aid provided under the bill would assist the school district in offsetting increases in student transportation costs and charter school tuition costs. In Committee
A2360 Requires establishment of grant programs to provide workforce shuttles and cover transportation costs; appropriates $10 million in federal funds. This bill requires the Department of Transportation (department) to establish and administer the "Workforce Shuttle Grant Program" (grant program) for the purpose of awarding grants to local government units or non-profit organizations that provide workforce shuttle services in areas of rapid population and housing growth. The bill also requires the department to establish and administer a temporary program, until the grant program is operational, to provide grant funding to qualified businesses, nonprofit organizations, and temporary help service firms (temporary program) to provide temporary grant funding to offset the transportation costs incurred by qualified small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and temporary help service firms. The purpose of the grant program is to support the purchase of workforce shuttles and the operation of workforce shuttle services in order to reduce traffic congestion in areas experiencing rapid growth. To qualify for the grant program, a local government unit or non-profit organization is required to meet certain eligibility requirements set forth in the bill, including a requirement to enter into agreements with employers to provide workforce shuttles, and any other eligibility criteria established by the department. The amount of each grant is determined by the department. The grant funds may be used to support: (1) the purchase or leasing of workforce shuttles; (2) the operation of workforce shuttle services targeting high traffic corridors; (3) the effectuation of partnerships with local employers to provide workforce shuttle services; or (4) any other workforce shuttle related purposes as determined by the department. Under the bill, applications for the grant program are to be submitted to the department in a form and manner determined by the department. In addition to any other information required by the department, each application is required to contain information demonstrating that the local government unit or non-profit organization meets the eligibility requirements, outlining the anticipated use of the grant, and identifying the funding sources available to support the workforce shuttle services. The department is permitted, under the bill, to approve applications for the grant program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds. The department is required to prioritize applications submitted by local government units or non-profit organizations that have experienced a significant increase in population, housing development, or traffic congestion and those that have the greatest level of financial support from participating employers. Under the bill, the department would be required to prepare and submit a report on the "Workforce Shuttle Grant Program" to the Governor and the Legislature and make the report available on the department's Internet website. The report is required to include certain information as set forth in the bill. To qualify for the temporary program, applicants are required to demonstrate to the department that the applicant: (1) qualifies as a small business, nonprofit organization, or temporary help service firm; (2) intends to use the grant to offset transportation costs; (3) intends to enter into an operating partnerships with either a county or nonprofit entity to provide transportation on a permanent basis after receipt of the grant funding; and (4) meets any other eligibility requirements that the department deems appropriate. Under the bill, applications for the temporary program are to be submitted to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the department. In addition to any other information that the department may deem appropriate, each application is required to contain information demonstrating that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and outlining the anticipated use of the grant. The department is permitted, under the bill, to approve applications for the temporary program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds, and is also permitted to prioritize applications based on any considerations that the department deems appropriate. Once an applicant is approved, the department may establish any terms and conditions that the department deems appropriate for the provision of grant funding to a small business, nonprofit organization, or temporary help service firm. Finally, the bill appropriates $10,000,000 from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," to the department to provide the grant funding for the temporary program until the "Workforce Shuttle Grant Program" is fully operational, at which point the funds are required to be used exclusively for that program. After the grant program has been established, the bill also requires the State to annually appropriate $10,000,000 to the department to support the operations of the grant program. In Committee
A1863 Expands scope of Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman; appropriates $1 million. This bill expands the scope of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (ombudsman) and appropriates $1 million. Specifically, the bill provides that the office of the ombudsman will oversee all long-term care facility residents, not just the elderly. The bill updates certain statutory references to reflect this change, and additionally removes references to "patients" and "clients" of a facility. Current law provides that, upon completing an investigation, the ombudsman's findings and recommended action are to be submitted to the Commissioner of Health or the Commissioner of Human Services, as appropriate, as well as to any other governmental agency that regulates or operates the facility. The bill revises this requirement to provide that the report be furnished to these entities upon request, and upon substantiation of the report or complaint. The bill further provides that the report may also be provided to the complainant, if the resident or the resident's legal representative consents to the complainant receiving a copy of the report. The bill provides that, in addition to obtaining the name and address of a person on a consent form, the ombudsman is to make reasonable efforts to obtain the person's phone number and email address. The bill revises a requirement for the Legislature to review the development, administration, and operation of the office through certain standing reference committees to instead make the Legislature directly responsible for the review. The bill appropriates to the ombudsman $700,000 for the purpose of employing additional staff; purchasing, renting, or leasing vehicles or other transportation; and such other expenses as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the office. Further, $300,000 is appropriated for the purpose of undertaking a Statewide advertising campaign to promote the ombudsman's Volunteer Advocate program. The bill makes various technical and stylistic changes involving grammar and citation. In Committee
A1600 Requires school districts to take certain actions in circumstances when school meal bill is in arrears; prohibits shaming students with school meal bills in arrears; prohibits certain district actions in collecting unpaid school meal fees. In February of 2015, the Legislature enacted P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) to establish a process that a school district must follow prior to denying a school breakfast or a school lunch to a student due to the fact that the student's school breakfast or school lunch bill was in arrears. The purpose of the law was to ensure that a student was not suddenly denied a school breakfast or school lunch, and that the student's parent or guardian received proper notice of the arrearage and an adequate opportunity to address the arrearage prior to the school district making a determination to deny the student school meals. This bill clarifies that nothing in section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) requires a school district to deny school breakfast or school lunch to a student whose bill is in arrears, but rather to provide adequate notice and opportunity to the student's parent or guardian if the district determines to take such an action. The bill amends that same section of law to require that, if a student's parent or guardian has not made full payment of a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill in arrears by the end of 10 school days, a school district must provide notice of any action to be taken by the school district in response to a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill being in arrears. The bill also amends that section of law to include a number of provisions regarding a school district's responsibilities when a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears. Pursuant to the bill, prior to contacting the parent to provide notice of the school meal bill in arrears, the school district is required to exhaust all options and methods to directly certify the student for the free or reduced priced meal program. If the school district is not able to directly certify the student, when the district sends the notification of the arrearage to the parent, it must include a paper copy of, or an electronic link to, an application for the school meal program and contact the parent to encourage submission of the application. The bill includes a provision that requires school districts to ensure that a student whose school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears is not shamed, treated differently, forced to go to the end of the food line, or served a meal that differs from what a student whose bill is not in arrears would receive. Under the bill, a district may not permit any action directed at a student to collect unpaid school meal fees. Districts may attempt to collect unpaid school meal fees from parents, but the districts are not permitted to threaten to make a child protective services report solely in regard to the arrearage. In Committee
A2101 Requires school districts to include environmental sustainability plan in long-range facilities plan. This bill requires school districts to include environmental sustainability plans in the long-range facilities plans submitted to the Commissioner of Education. Every five years, each school district submits a long-range facilities plan to the Commissioner which discusses projected enrollment, building capacities, health and safety conditions, and any anticipated facilities projects in the district. Under this bill, the district would also be required to submit an environmental sustainability plan which would consider the environmental impact of district facilities and operations, and set goals for improving sustainability. The environmental sustainability plan would be required to contain information about improvements to facility energy efficiency, including efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase use of renewable energy, and transition to high-performance sustainable buildings. The sustainability plan would also include a commitment to the acquisition of more sustainable school supplies, electronics, and other materials, and to prioritize contracts with vendors focused on sustainability. The district would also be required to include a plan to optimize transportation to reduce carbon emissions and transition the district's school bus fleet to electric vehicles. This bill would require school districts to publish the environmental sustainability plan or a summary of the goals and initiatives in the plan. The district would be required to establish performance measures to monitor progress toward each goal, and each year the district would be required to publish a summary of the progress toward the district's sustainability goals. School districts would be required to amend existing long-range facilities plans to include the environmental sustainability plan no later than the end of the first full year after this bill is enacted. In Committee
A571 Requires MVC to provide certain services at each MVC agency location. This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide both vehicle and licensing services at each commission agency location and to allow these services to be completed in person at each agency. The bill also requires that, at each commission agency location, the commission provide service to walk-in customers seeking vehicle and licensing services. The bill also requires the commission to adopt a permanent online scheduling system for commercial motor vehicle drivers to use and requires that online scheduling and subsequent test administration is available at each commission agency location. In Committee
AR31 Urges President and Congress of United States to restore "net neutrality" in federal law. This Assembly Resolution respectfully urges the President and Congress of the United States to restore the principle of "net neutrality" in federal law. "Net neutrality" is a principle concerning the free and open Internet, which specifically discourages Internet service providers from speeding up or slowing down Internet access and discriminating against or blocking access to content, applications, or websites. In Committee
A1143 Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for programs providing mental health, substance use treatment, or services to persons with developmental disabilities. This bill stipulates that on or after the effective date of the bill, the terms of a contract entered into between the Divisions of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS) and a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities include an annual increase in the cost of living adjustment received by the organization. The cost of living adjustment would be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor, and the DHS would be required to announce the rate of the increase on October 1 of each year. As used in the bill, a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities shall include State programs partially funded or fully funded by Medicaid and licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Human Services or other appropriate State licensing agencies. In Committee
A440 Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish performance-based funding plans for public institutions of higher education. This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to develop performance-based funding plans for the public institutions of higher education. The purpose of the plans will be to increase accountability and efficiency and improve student outcomes at the public institutions. In addition, the plans should seek to promote and increase the satisfactory progression, matriculation, and graduation of all students enrolled in the public institutions. The secretary will create a funding plan for the county colleges and a funding plan for the four-year public institutions, and may create a separate funding plan for the public research institutions if deemed appropriate. Under the bill's provisions, the secretary is directed to work with the presidents and governing boards of the public institutions of higher education, business and industry, Statewide organizations representing faculty and staff, and other stakeholders to develop a system for allocating a percentage of State operating aid based on the institution's achievement of established measures. The secretary will review performance-funding models in other states to assess funding measures and methodologies, and the weighting of measures. The plans should be sensitive to the differing programmatic missions of the institutions, responsive to changes within the institutions, and hold institutions accountable for the quality of instruction and student learning. The bill establishes a number of performance measures, including degree and credit completion, to be included in the performance-based funding plans; however, the secretary is not limited to those measures. The bill establishes a schedule that will gradually phase-in the percentage of each public institution's State operating aid that will be affected by the performance-based funding plan. Beginning in fiscal year 2019, the following percentages and schedule will apply: - 5% for fiscal year 2019; - 10% for fiscal year 2020; - 15% for fiscal year 2021; - 20% for fiscal year 2022; and - 25% for fiscal year 2023 and each successive fiscal year. Fiscal year 2018 will be a "learning year" in which no institution will be affected by the performance-based funding plans, but the secretary will provide each institution with a detailed report on what the impact of the plans would have been, if they had been implemented at 5% in that year. The bill includes a stop-loss provision for fiscal year 2019, so that no institution will experience a reduction of more than 2% in State operating aid as compared to fiscal year 2018. In Committee
A437 Immunizes from civil liability first responders who forcibly enter property to provide emergency assistance. This bill provides compensated and volunteer public and private first responders, including emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement officers, and firefighters and police officers appointed by the governing body of an independent institution of higher education pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1970, c.211 (C.18A:6-4.2) with immunity from civil liability for any damages that may result from a forcible entry into a home, business, or other structure at which an emergency is reported. This immunity applies only where the first responder's decision is based upon a good faith belief that forcible entry is necessary to provide emergency medical care or to prevent imminent bodily harm and where no occupant of the property responds to the first responder's requests for entry within a reasonable period of time. In Committee
A2154 Prohibits open public records requests for commercial purposes. This bill prohibits requests for access to government records for commercial purposes. The bill also requires a requestor to certify that the information requested will not be used for a commercial purpose, and a requestor who is found to have intentionally failed to certify that a records request is for commercial purposes will be subject to a fine of $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $2,000 for each subsequent offense. In Committee
A2795 Establishes pilot program to refer certain emergency department patients for development of coordinated behavioral health care treatment and support services plan. This bill establishes in the Department of Human Services (DHS) a pilot program for the specialized treatment of individuals with behavioral health issues, including, but not limited to, mild-to-moderate mental health issues, emotional disturbances, and substance use disorders. Under the bill, the DHS will be required to select two hospitals in each Regional Health Hub in the State to participate in the pilot program. To the extent possible, the DHS is seek to select hospitals to participate in the pilot program that are not currently affiliated with the Early Intervention Support Services (EISS) program, as well as hospitals that are connected with or demonstrate a plan to connect with the Regional Health Hub's health information network and the New Jersey Health Information Network. Hospitals participating in the pilot program will be required to refer any patient presenting at the hospital's emergency department with a behavioral health issue, including, but not limited to, a mild-to-moderate mental health issue, emotional disturbance, or substance use disorder, which behavioral health issue does not meet the criteria for admission to inpatient care, to appropriate clinical behavioral health treatment and support services as are available in the community. Each designated Regional Health Hub will be required to provide administrative and support services to member hospitals and community-based providers participating in the pilot program to help connect patients to appropriate behavioral health treatment and support services. The Regional Health Hubs are to support hospitals and community-based providers in developing protocols that: 1) are designed to ensure that patients referred to care under the pilot program are provided timely referrals to behavioral health treatment and support services appropriate to the patient's behavioral health and related social services needs, including, but not limited to, the Early Intervention Support Services program, medication-assisted treatment, cash assistance programs, housing assistance programs, and other appropriate services as may be available; and 2) include requirements for timely follow up with patients, transportation coordination services, and assistance in scheduling appointments for primary care services and other appropriate health care services. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. Subject to the approval of any necessary State plan amendments or waivers, the State Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs will be required to provide coverage for behavioral health services provided under the pilot program. The DHS will be required to provide funding, as necessary, to the Regional Health Hubs to support hospitals involved in the pilot program through the funding mechanisms identified in P.L.2019, c.517 (C.30:4D-8.16 et seq.), the law establishing the Regional Health Hub program. In Committee
A438 Establishes the New Jersey School Counts County College Scholarship Program. This bill establishes the New Jersey School Counts County College Scholarship Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Under the program, a student who graduates from a participating public or nonpublic high school located in this State who has satisfied certain attendance, punctuality, and academic criteria during high school will be eligible to receive a two-year scholarship to a county college. This scholarship program is modeled on an initiative developed by the Business Coalition for Educational Excellence of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. That initiative provides students with a School Counts certificate which attests to the student's efforts and hard work during high school and which the student can present to potential employers as evidence of his diligence and accomplishments. The initiative recognizes those student who, although they may not be straight A students, have demonstrated a commitment and understanding of the importance of education. This initiative is currently operational in several counties. Under the bill, the authority will work in conjunction with the Business Coalition for Educational Excellence to encourage the participation of public and nonpublic high schools in the School Counts Scholarship Program. Each participating high school will award a School Counts certificate to a student who graduates from that high school and 1) achieves a 95% or greater rate of school attendance in each year of high school; 2) achieves a C grade point average or above in all academic courses in each year of high school; 3) completes more than the minimum number of credits required for graduation from high school; 4) completes high school in eight consecutive semesters or, in the case of a special education student, within the timelines established by the student's IEP; and 5) successfully competes Algebra I. A student who receives a School Counts certificate will be eligible for a two-year scholarship for full-time enrollment in a degree program at a county college in an annual amount not to exceed $2,000. The second year of the scholarship will be dependent upon the student making application to the authority and presenting evidence to the authority of satisfactory progress toward the award of an academic degree. Prior to receipt of a School Counts Scholarship, a student would have to have applied for all other available forms of State and federal grants and scholarships. The student must begin a course of study at a county college within six months of graduation from high school. The scholarship program will be financed through a combination of State appropriations, county college funds, and private contributions. A county college will be eligible to receive State funds on a per student basis when the college demonstrates that it has raised an equal amount of funds for the student's scholarship from private donations or other sources. In the first year of the scholarship program's operation, four county colleges will be selected for participation with not less than one college from the north, central, and southern regions of the State. In each subsequent year, three additional county colleges will be selected for participation until such time as all county colleges are eventually participating in the program. In Committee
A1835 Requires pharmacy practice sites to document reasons for not filling certain prescriptions. This bill requires pharmacy practice sites to document reasons for not filling certain prescriptions. Under the bill, if a pharmacy practice site determines that a patient's prescription is unlawful, the pharmacy practice site is to cite the law that it determines was violated, briefly explain and record this determination in the pharmacy practice site's patient profile system, and make the determination available to the patient and the patient's prescribing physician or health care professional within 72 hours of the pharmacy practice site's decision to not fill the patient's prescription. Nothing in the bill is to be construed as granting a pharmacy practice site the power to supersede the lawfully exercised authority of a patient's prescribing physician or health care professional, or as granting a pharmacy practice site the authority to promulgate internal operating procedures or rules that are less or more stringent than what is prescribed by State law. In Committee
A449 Requires Department of Treasury to review and approve digital payment platform. This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to review and approve a viable blockchain-based, digital payment platform to provide payment services to legal and licensed businesses in this State that do not have access to traditional financial services and are forced to operate in cash-only or cash-heavy environments. The purpose of the payment platform is to provide a safe, secure, and compliant system that does not exclude these businesses from participating in digital commerce. The bill requires the payment platform to provide businesses with access to cashless transactions and to secure revenue on a one-to-one basis of virtual currency to United States dollars. A business is to only have access to the payment platform with approval from the State. The payment platform is to provide the ability to manage and process all business expenditures and allow all transactions to be recorded on an immutable blockchain ledger. The payment platform is to facilitate regulatory compliance, provide for audits by the State, and allow for payment of sales tax to local municipalities. In Committee
A436 Establishes offense of criminal mischief committed on historical sites. This bill amends the State's criminal mischief statute, N.J.S.2C:17-3, to include the crime of knowingly damaging, interfering, or tampering with a historic place or site. Under the bill, it is a crime of the third degree to knowingly damage, interfere, or tamper with a historic place or site. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of $15,000, or both. The bill defines a "historic place or site" as a place, building, monument, or structure approved for inclusion in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places pursuant to P.L.1970, c.268 (C.13:1B-15.128 et seq.), the National Register of Historic Places, or any applicable rule or regulation; has been identified in a county or municipal master plan as a place, building, monument, or structure of historic interest; or has been officially recognized as having historic value or significance in accordance with criteria established by the State Agriculture Development Committee. In Committee
A642 Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. In Committee
A3347 Requires basic course in land use law and planning offered to certain officials to include module on warehouse development and high-density development. This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to prepare and offer a module on warehouse development and high-density development as a part of the commissioner's basic course in land use law and planning. The basic course is offered to current and prospective members, and alternate members, of: local planning boards; zoning boards of adjustment; supplemental zoning boards of adjustment; and combined boards. Innovation within the warehousing sector of the economy has led to the development of very large warehousing facilities on sites that were zoned for smaller, traditional types of warehouses. While these types of developments are of Statewide economic importance, the unanticipated development of large-scale regional warehousing facilities has, at times, resulted in significant negative regional impacts. In order to better inform municipal governments and local planning officials of this problem and possible solutions, the State Planning Commission prepared a warehouse guidance document in September 2022. By including a module on warehouse development and high-density development as a part of the basic course in land use law and planning, local officials will be better prepared to consider and address these important issues. In Committee
A455 Clarifies notice required to be provided to property taxpayers of a change in interest rate on delinquent property taxes under certain emergency circumstances; permits municipality to extend grace period under certain emergency circumstances. This bill permits a municipality to extend the 10-day grace period in which property taxes may be paid without accruing interest during a period in which a public health emergency has been declared by the Governor and is in effect, and would clarify the form and content of the notice required to be provided to property taxpayers when a municipality extends the 10-day grace period. The bill would require municipalities to provide notice to all taxpayers when the governing body extends the 10-day grace period during a public health emergency. The bill would permit the governing body of a municipality to satisfy the notice requirement by using either regular mail, or by using a telephonic system and one of the following alternatives: electronic mail, a text messaging system, or any other digital platform used by the municipality to disseminate information to municipal residents electronically. The municipality would also be required to notify the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs of its adoption of a resolution providing for an extension of the 10-day grace period not later than the third business day next following the municipal governing body's adoption of the resolution. In Committee
A1601 Requires school district to establish "School Meal Fund" to assist students with school meal bill in arrears. This bill requires a school district to establish a "School Meal Fund" for the purpose of accepting donations to assist students with the purchase of school breakfast or school lunch and to fund any arrears in the school breakfast or school lunch bills of students enrolled in the school district. The fund will be established through the adoption of a resolution by the board of education. The board will also adopt a policy that will ensure the fiscal accountability of the fund and will outline the standards that will be applied in making a determination to disburse moneys from the School Meal Fund. The fund will be subject to audit as part of the school district's annual audit required under current law. The bill directs a board of education to provide, through written and electronic means, information to the parents and guardians of students enrolled in the school district and to other residents of the school district and community organizations on the establishment of the fund, its purposes, and the procedures to be followed to make a donation to the fund. The information will also be posted in a prominent location on the school district's Internet website. In Committee
A2807 Requires mail-in ballot applications to include prepaid postage. Under current law, a voter may complete and return to the county clerk by regular mail an application requesting to receive a mail-in ballot. This bill requires the mail-in ballot application form to include prepaid postage, to be paid by the State. In Committee
A2892 Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income who are veterans or spouses of veterans and provides for annual cost-of-living increase in allowance. This bill increases the personal needs allowance for veterans and their spouses who are recipients of Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and reside in a nursing home or developmental center, or are patients in a psychiatric hospital. This allowance is used to purchase personal items, such as clothing, grooming aids, newspapers, and other items not regularly provided by the facility in which the recipients reside. The bill provides that the monthly personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $35 to $50, and that the monthly personal needs allowance for recipients of SSI who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $40 to $50. The bill further provides that these amounts will be increased annually, on January 1 of each year, by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits that year. In the case of SSI recipients, the bill provides that the Commissioner of Human Services shall administer the $10 increase provided in the bill if the federal government, which provides the basic allowance, cannot administer the increase. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Human Services to apply to the federal government for such Medicaid State plan amendments as may be necessary to increase the personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients, and to seek federal government approval for the commissioner's administrative plan to implement the increase for SSI recipients. The respective increases provided for in the bill will not be operative until such time as the commissioner receives federal approval for the Medicaid State plan amendment and the commissioner's SSI administrative plan. In Committee
A3303 Requires notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of automobile and homeowners insurance policies to be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. This bill requires that a written notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of a homeowner's insurance policy or an automobile insurance policy must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail with a proof of mailing, or the policy remains in effect. In Committee
A458 Prohibits owner or operator of parking facility from preventing customer from leaving due to malfunction of parking facility payment process. This bill prohibits the owner or operator of a parking facility from preventing a customer from leaving the premises if the parking facility cannot process and accept payment. Under the bill, an owner or operator of a parking facility that charges a fee for use is not to prevent a customer from leaving or removing the customer's motor or other vehicle from the premises due to a mechanical, technical, or other type of malfunction that causes the parking facility's regular method of processing and accepting payment to fail. If a malfunction occurs, the owner or operator of the parking facility may delay a customer for not more than 10 minutes to repair or otherwise correct the malfunction in order to collect payment by the regular method. The bill provides that if the malfunction cannot be repaired or corrected within that period of time, the owner or operator of the parking facility is required to accept payment from the customer in cash or by credit or debit card. If the customer is unable to pay in cash or the owner or operator of the parking facility cannot process a credit or debit card payment, the owner or operator is to bill the customer for an amount not to exceed the actual amount charged for the customer's use of the parking facility. If, due to the malfunction, the owner or operator of a parking facility is unable to determine the amount owed for use of the parking facility, the owner or operator is to charge the customer not more than the amount regularly charged for only one hour of use. The bill defines a "parking facility" to mean any area or place, garage, building, or other improvement or structure operated for the parking or storage of motor or other vehicles. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations 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
A457 Exempts sale of recreational safety helmets from sales and use tax. This bill allows an exemption from the sales and use tax for sales of recreational safety helmets. The bill defines recreational safety helmets as any helmet or other protective headgear that: (1) meets the standards prescribed by or pursuant to the laws or regulations requiring operators of bicycles, unicycles, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, motorized scooters, roller skates, and skateboards to wear helmets or headgear; or (2) is designed by a manufacturer to be worn while engaged in the activity of downhill skiing or the operation of a toboggan, sled, snowboard, snowmobile, or similar means of transport over snow-covered terrain. In Committee
A2143 Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. This bill amends the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), to prohibit smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Current law prohibits smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces, with certain exceptions, including indoor public places and workplaces which are within the perimeter of casinos and casino simulcasting facilities and accessible to the public for wagering. This bill would eliminate these exceptions from the smoking ban. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that casino workers are at greater risk for lung and heart disease because of secondhand smoke, and a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that the air in casinos can have up to 50 times more cancer-causing particles than the air on rush-hour highways. This bill would protect all workers in New Jersey from the hazards of second hand smoke by requiring that casinos and casino simulcasting facilities be smoke-free workplaces. In Committee
A467 Permits county board of elections to open certain ballot drop boxes for fire district elections. Under current law, whenever a municipal, school, or special election is held, a board of elections may open the following ballot drop boxes: (1) the ballot drop box located geographically closest to the municipal government building in which the main office of the municipal clerk is located; and (2) the ballot drop box located at the board of elections or county office, if one is placed at that location. Under current law, fire district elections are not included. This bill would expand current law and include fire district elections. Under the bill, a board of elections would be permitted to open the following ballot drop boxes during the conduct of a fire district election: (1) the ballot drop box located geographically closest to the municipal government building in which the main office of the municipal clerk is located; and (2) the ballot drop box located at the board of elections or county office, if one is placed at that location. The bill also provides that whenever a fire district election is held, the board of elections would retrieve the mail-in ballots deposited in the ballot drop boxes, at a minimum, once per week. In Committee
AJR23 Designates March 10 as "Social and Emotional Learning Day" in New Jersey. This resolution permanently designates March 10 as "Social and Emotional Learning Day" in New Jersey in order to emphasize the importance and impact of integrating evidence-based social and emotional learning into the State's schools, organizations, and communities. Social and emotional learning is the process of acquiring and applying the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Proficient social and emotional learning skills increase academic achievement and positive behaviors both in and out of the classroom and may be linked to positive long-term social and economic outcomes. New Jersey's pilot program to improve social and emotional learning in schools, the "Clayton Model Pilot Program," provides a network of support services for students, teachers, and parents. Schools across the State utilize social and emotional learning to promote health and wellness and to create an environment where all members are welcomed, supported, and feel safe in school. Due to the positive impact of social and emotional learning on the growth and wellbeing of students in New Jersey, it is fitting to designate March 10 as "Social and Emotional Learning Day" in New Jersey. In Committee
A2323 Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to suspend accrual of interest on certain New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program loans in deferment or forbearance. Under current regulations governing the New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Student (NJCLASS) Loan Program, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) is permitted to grant NJCLASS loan borrowers deferment or forbearance under certain circumstances in the repayment of NJCLASS loans. During periods of authorized deferment, borrowers may be permitted to defer payments of interest and/or loan principal for specified periods of time. Borrowers, however, remain responsible for the payment of the interest accruing on their loan, except for during approved periods of temporary total disability of the eligible student borrower. Forbearance, meanwhile, may be granted to a borrower for situations including, but not limited to, financial hardship. In granting a forbearance, HESAA permits: 1) a temporary cessation of principal payments and temporarily permits payments of interest only or 2) a temporary cessation of both principal and interest payments. Interest continues to accrue during all forbearance periods. This bill would require HESAA to suspend the accrual of interest on NJCLASS loans, the borrowers of which apply for a loan deferment or loan forbearance due to temporary total disability, unemployment, or financial hardship between March 9, 2020 and September 9, 2020, and are approved for the loan deferment or loan forbearance. In Committee
A1588 Increases certain penalties for violations of wage and hour law. This bill revises certain penalties for violations of the "New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law," P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a et seq.). The bill provides that an employer who violates any provision of that law is, upon conviction of a first or second violation, guilty of a disorderly persons offense, and, upon conviction of a third or subsequent offense, guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Current law states that for a first violation an employer is guilty of a disorderly persons offense and may be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not less than 10 and not more than 90 days or by both the fine and imprisonment. The bill increases the applicable fines for a first violation to not less than $500 and maintains the maximum fine of not more than $1,000. Current law also states that for a second or subsequent violation an employer is guilty of a disorderly persons offense and may be punished by a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not less than 10 and more than 100 days or by both the fine and imprisonment. The bill increases the applicable fines for a second violation to not less than $1,000 and not more than $2,000. Finally, the bill provides that a third or subsequent violation constitutes a crime of the fourth degree, punishable by a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for up to 18 months or by both the fine and imprisonment. In Committee
A898 Establishes program to subsidize purchase price of medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare programs. This bill requires the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to establish a program to subsidize up to 20 percent of the purchase price of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products dispensed to or on behalf registered qualifying patients who are currently enrolled in the State Medicaid program or the NJ FamilyCare program. The subsidy will reduce the purchase price of the medical cannabis or medical cannabis product as listed on the medical cannabis dispensary's or clinical registrant's website, and will be applied after any other discounts or price reductions are applied. The price reduction will apply at the point of purchase. The program developed by the CRC will include a mechanism for medical cannabis dispensaries and clinical registrants to quickly verify whether a registered qualifying patient to whom or on behalf of whom medical cannabis or a medical cannabis product is being dispensed is currently enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare. The CRC will be required to coordinate with the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to develop this enrollment verification system. Medical cannabis dispensaries and clinical registrants are to make patients and their caregivers aware of the subsidy program through posted signage, and may provide additional notice of the program verbally, using written materials, or both, but are not to apply a subsidy or attempt to verify whether a patient is enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare except at the request of a patient or the patient's designated or institutional caregiver. The CRC will additionally be required to establish a process for medical cannabis dispensaries to apply for and receive reimbursement from the CRC for the amount of any subsidies applied to the purchase price of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products under the bill. Reimbursements for the subsidies will be paid out of funds available through the "Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Fund" established pursuant to P.L.2021, c.16 (C.24:6I-31 et al.), or other funds made available to the CRC for this purpose. In Committee
A2144 Requires issuance of one free copy of birth certificate to military veteran. This bill requires the issuance of one free copy of a birth certificate to a military veteran. Under the bill, a current or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard is to be eligible to receive one certified copy of his or her birth certificate upon request. Additional copies of the birth certificate are to be subject to the regular statutory fee. As used in the bill, "veteran" means any individual who has been discharged or released from service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits. "Veteran" is not to include an individual discharged or released under dishonorable circumstances. In Committee
A454 Establishes motor vehicle insurance compliance programs; allows law enforcement agencies to utilize license plate readers to enforce motor vehicle insurance requirements. This bill establishes an "Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement and Compliance Program" and an "Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion Program." Under the "Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement and Compliance Program," counties, municipalities, and law enforcement agencies would have the authority to enter into contractual agreements with automated license plate reader providers to provide the necessary technology and equipment. A law enforcement agency would be permitted to utilize the automated license plate readers for the purpose of enforcing the requirement that drivers maintain motor vehicle liability insurance. Specifically, law enforcement officers would be permitted to utilize automated license plate readers to determine whether a driver is uninsured. The bill also requires law enforcement officers to have access via computers located in law enforcement vehicles to the information contained in the insurance database maintained by the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The bill provides that access to the database is to be restricted to authorized prosecutors and law enforcement agency users in the program. Any entity with which a contract has been executed to provide or maintain the technology or equipment necessary to utilize automated license plate readers or the database would be entitled to access the data collected exclusively for the purposes of enforcing the provisions of the bill. The bill requires a law enforcement officer to verify by sworn affidavit that a photograph generated by an automatic license plate reader system unit identifies a particular vehicle operating on the public roads or highways of this State and that the database confirmed that the vehicle was uninsured at the time such vehicle was being operated. The affidavit is to constitute probable cause for prosecution under the compulsory motor vehicle insurance law. The bill requires the automated license plate data to be retained by the prosecuting authority and law enforcement agency when used as evidence and then purged thereafter. Any data collected or retained through the use of an automated license plate reader system is not to be used for purposes other than enforcing the motor vehicle compulsory motor vehicle insurance law. Images of the driver or motor vehicle occupants would not be used or maintained as evidence by any prosecuting authority or law enforcement agency. Any recorded image or information produced in connection with the automated license plate reader would not be deemed a public record under the "Open Public Records Act," or the common law concerning access to public records. The "Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement and Compliance Program" would not take effect until the MVC verifies that at least 90 percent of the personal lines auto insurance market in the State submits insurance information to the commission's database. In addition, this bill establishes an "Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion Program" to allow county and municipal prosecutors to defer prosecution of a person who violates the compulsory motor vehicle insurance law. Under the program, a prosecutor may move before the court to postpone proceedings against a person who operates a motor vehicle without insurance. The prosecutor would have the sole discretion to determine if an offender qualifies for and is admitted to the program after considering: (1) whether it is in the interest of public safety to postpone proceedings against the offender; (2) the driving record of the offender; (3) whether there are criminal complaints pending against the offender; and (4) whether the offender has provided the prosecutor with satisfactory proof of motor vehicle liability insurance prior to the hearing. The bill requires a prosecutor to notify a person who is referred to the diversion program. The notification is to include the date on which the violation occurred, a statement of the penalties for violating the compulsory motor vehicle insurance law, and the date on which the person is required to submit to the prosecutor satisfactory proof of motor vehicle liability insurance. A prosecutor who determines that the person has failed to obtain motor vehicle liability insurance may notify the court that the prosecutor is prepared to proceed with prosecuting the offense and the court is to schedule court proceedings, as appropriate. A prosecutor who moves before the court to postpone proceedings against a person who violates the compulsory motor vehicle insurance law, is required to enter into a deferral agreement with that person. If, after a minimum of six months from the date of the deferral agreement, the prosecutor is satisfied that the person maintained motor vehicle liability insurance he or she may move before the court to dismiss the charges. A person who enters into a deferral agreement is required to pay a surcharge of $245. Of the $240 assessment: (1) $120 is to be paid to the county or municipality in which the person entered the agreement to pay for the cost of the Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion Program; (2) $120 is to be paid to the municipal, county, or State authority that issued the summons for the cost of equipping, operating, and monitoring the Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement and Compliance Program, including but not limited to, contractual payments to third party entities providing essential services and equipment for the detection of violations of the compulsory motor vehicle insurance law; and (3) five dollars is to be paid to the Public Employees' Retirement System. In Committee
A1170 Allows $250 gross income tax deduction for members of military on active duty. This bill allows a gross income tax deduction of $250 for taxpayers who are on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for the entire taxable year. According to the U.S. Department of Defense Manpower Data Center, as of September of 2017, there were a total of 7,669 active duty military personnel in the State serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. It is the sponsor's intent that the service of these men and women be recognized and that this deduction provide some assistance by potentially reducing their New Jersey Gross Income Tax liability. The bill would take effect upon enactment and apply to taxable years commencing on or after the January 1 next following the date of enactment. In Committee
A2518 Establishes reasonableness standard for persons lawfully transporting firearm who deviate from course of travel. This bill clarifies the type of situations in which persons may deviate from their statutorily required course of travel when lawfully transporting a firearm. Under current law, certain persons in specific situations may lawfully transport a weapon without a permit to carry. A person who is lawfully transporting a firearm in a motor vehicle may deviate from the course of travel between statutorily permitted locations only to the extent "reasonably necessary" under the circumstances. The "reasonably necessary" standard applies to the following persons: (1) licensed firearms dealers and their registered employees during the normal course of business while traveling to and from their place of business and other places for the purpose of demonstration, exhibition, or delivery related to a sale; (2) firearms owners carrying their firearms on or between their place of business and residence or dwelling, or between where the firearm was purchased and the home or business, or between their business or residence and a repair shop; (3) members of authorized rifle and pistol clubs carrying a firearm to or from target practice; (4) licensed hunters or fishermen traveling directly to or from their hunting or fishing destination; and (5) persons traveling to a target range or other authorized place for practice, match, target, trap, or skeet shooting exhibitions. The Acting Attorney General recently issued guidelines to be followed by prosecutors and law enforcement officers when determining whether a deviation in the course of travel with a lawfully-possessed firearm is "reasonably necessary." The guidelines provided examples of "reasonably necessary" deviations which may include: collecting and discharging passengers; purchasing fuel, food and beverages, medication, or other needed supplies; using a restroom; contending with an emergency situation; or driving around a traffic jam. This bill amends current law to replace the "reasonably necessary" standard with a less stringent reasonableness standard which allows persons lawfully transporting a firearm to deviate from their course of travel for a common, brief, and lawful purpose associated with reaching a statutorily permitted destination. The bill provides that reasonable deviations may include, but are not limited to, collecting and discharging passengers; obtaining supplies, medication, food or other provisions; and using restrooms prior to reaching an authorized destination. In addition, the bill clarifies that a person may travel with a firearm to contend with a bona fide emergency, or when a State or local emergency has been declared and an evacuation plan is in effect. In Committee
A448 Requires certain veterinary facilities to obtain signed consent form for unsupervised overnight stays of domestic companion animals. This bill requires for-profit veterinary facilities that board domestic companion animals overnight without having a person physically present at the facility to obtain a signed consent form from the owner of the animal or the person bringing the animal to the veterinary facility for care or treatment. The bill requires the consent form to include information about the frequency of injuries relating to the unsupervised overnight boarding of domestic companion animals at the facility. In addition, the bill provides that, in the event that a veterinary facility fails to collect the signed consent form from the owner of a domestic companion animal staying unsupervised overnight or from the person bringing the animal to the veterinary facility for care or treatment, the veterinarian will be strictly liable for any injury or death occurring as a result of the unsupervised overnight stay. The bill also provides that the veterinarian may not charge for any veterinary services rendered due to an injury occurring from lack of overnight supervision. In addition, the bill provides that nothing in the bill shall be deemed to grant immunity to any veterinarian who collects a consent form from the owner of an animal or the person bringing the animal to the veterinary facility for care or treatment. In Committee
A1479 Provides for notification to new residents regarding banned weapons. This bill requires the Office of the Attorney General to create printed and online notices, informational graphics, pamphlets, and other relevant materials regarding weapons, components, and modifications thereof that are illegal or banned in this State. The Attorney General is required to post hyperlinks on its website to digital and printable copies of all materials created pursuant to this bill. This bill further requires real estate licensees to include in all sales contracts and leases for residential and commercial real estate property the web address of the materials created by the Attorney General pursuant to this bill. Additionally, this bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to publish on its website a link to the Attorney General's materials on illegal or banned weapons, components, and modifications. Finally, the bill requires institutions of higher education to publish a link to the Attorney General's online materials on illegal or banned weapons, components, and modifications on their websites. In Committee
A443 Requires financial institutions to cash payroll checks under certain circumstances. This bill provides that, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a financial institution shall, upon the request of a person, including a minor, who presents a payroll check and who provides photographic identification indicating that he or she is the payee on that payroll check, cash the check without charging any fee for that service, as long as the person has an account with that financial institution or the check is drawn on that institution. A financial institution that violates a provision of this bill shall: (1) be subject to a fine of not more than $500 for each violation which shall be collected by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance in a summary manner pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.); and (2) reimburse the person for any attorney's fees incurred by the person with respect to any legal services necessary to enforce the person's rights under the bill or to bring a civil action to recover damages caused by the financial institution's failure to comply with the provisions of the bill. In Committee
A468 Clarifies delivery and shipment privileges of certain retailers when storing alcoholic beverages at licensed warehouse. This bill clarifies the delivery, shipment, and warehouse storage privileges of the holder of a plenary retail distribution license, plenary retail consumption license, or seasonal retail consumption license. Under current law, the plenary retail distribution license authorizes the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption and is primarily used in connection with liquor stores and supermarkets. The plenary retail and seasonal retail consumption license allows the license holder to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises. Under the bill, the holder of a plenary retail distribution license would be entitled to accept alcoholic beverage deliveries made by a wholesale licensee at a public warehouse. In addition, the licensee would be entitled to deliver alcoholic beverages from the public warehouse directly to a consumer. The bill clarifies that warehouse operators may response to consumers delivery orders by collecting, preparing, and packaging alcoholic beverages stored in the warehouse on behalf of its customers, including, but not limited to manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and individuals. In Committee
A461 Clarifies extension of driver's license, identification card, and motor vehicle registration expiration dates for certain military personnel. This bill clarifies that the driver's license, non-driver identification card, or motor vehicle registration certificate of any active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, and any person in the member's immediate family, is to remain valid beyond the expiration date until the earlier of the following dates: (1) 90 days after the date for which active duty service is scheduled to end, as provided on documentation issued by a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States; or (2) 90 days after the person's return to the State. The bill also permits the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to adopt temporary rules and regulations as the chief administrator determines to be necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill, and 180 days thereafter, amend, adopt, or readopt the rules and regulations in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act." In Committee
A2844 Provides tuition benefits at public institutions of higher education for dependents of certain veterans. This bill provides free undergraduate tuition and student fees at public institutions of higher education to the child, spouse, civil union partner or domestic partner of certain New Jersey veterans. The benefits will apply to a child, spouse, civil union partner or domestic partner of a New Jersey resident who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component, or the National Guard or a Reserve component, and who: (1) was killed in the line of duty during active military service; (2) has been declared to be a prisoner of war or a person missing in action by the United States Department of Defense; (3) has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service and has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected total or 100 percent permanent disability; or (4) has died from a service-connected disability after being honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service. The maximum tuition benefit under the bill for an eligible individual attending a public four-year institution of higher education will not exceed the total number of credits necessary to complete a baccalaureate degree program at the institution, as determined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The maximum tuition benefit for an eligible individual attending a county college will not exceed the total number of credits necessary to complete an associate degree program at the college, as determined by HESAA. In order for a child, spouse, or partner of a veteran to be eligible for benefits under the bill, the following conditions must be met: (1) the veteran was a resident of New Jersey at the time of entry into active duty; (2) the spouse, partner, or child is a resident of New Jersey; (3) the spouse, partner, or child has been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study at a public institution of higher education and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution; and (4) the spouse, partner, or child has applied for all available State and federal student grants and scholarships for which he is eligible. The child of a veteran must be between the ages of 17 and 26 to be eligible for benefits under the bill. In the case of a spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner of a veteran, eligibility for benefits is limited to a period of 10 years from the date of the death, determination of permanent and total disability, or determination of prisoner of war or missing in action status of the veteran. A veteran's spouse or partner is ineligible for benefits upon a remarriage or entry into a new civil union or domestic partnership. The bill provides that HESAA, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, will develop procedures to determine the eligibility of an applicant for benefits. The State will reimburse a public institution of higher education for the cost of tuition and student fees that have been waived for each eligible spouse, partner, or child of a veteran pursuant to the bill's provisions. In Committee
A2224 Establishes gross income tax credit for cost of certain postage for sending goods to members of United States Armed Forces and National Guard who are serving their country away from home. This bill establishes a gross income tax credit for the amount of postage taxpayers pay the United States Postal Service to send parcels as priority mail to individuals serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard at military installations in the United States or abroad. Homesickness frequently befalls members of the Armed Forces and the National Guard while serving their country afield. To boost their morale, many send military personnel packages with cherished items from back home. The cost of postage can strain the ability of the home front to take care of those stationed or deployed afield. In allowing a tax credit for certain postage expenses, this bill removes a cost-prohibitive deterrent to sending goods of appreciation and caring to loved ones serving away from home. In Committee
A1811 Requires DEP to adopt Statewide plan to reduce lead exposure from contaminated soils and drinking water. This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection to develop and adopt, within one year after the effective date of the bill, a Statewide plan to reduce public exposure to lead in the environment. The department would be required to use existing soil testing results from site remediations that have been submitted to the department, as well as public water supply and private well testing results and any other relevant information it may have, in preparing the plan and any updates thereto. The department would be required to designate those geographic areas where lead in soils or drinking water poses the greatest danger of exposure to the public. The bill would require the department to identify public moneys that may be used to address the risks of exposure to lead and prioritize the expenditure of public moneys to remediate soils or drinking water supplies to minimize those risks. The bill would also require the department to develop a public education program to ensure the widespread dissemination of information concerning the health risks posed by lead exposure and measures that may be taken to minimize the risks. In Committee
A2871 Increases amounts of property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, from $250 to $500. This bill would increase from $250 to $500 the annual property tax deductions provided to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. The bill would take effect immediately, but remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of the State of amendments to the State Constitution that increase the amount of the property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. In Committee
A2616 Requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to compile and annually update list of all unfunded State and federal mandates on municipalities and counties. This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs to prepare a list, and to annually update that list not later than July 1 of each calendar year, of all ongoing mandates required by the State and by the federal government on municipalities and counties for which funding to pay the entire cost thereof has not been provided by the State or by the federal government, as appropriate. The list must also contain a good faith estimate of the cost to counties or municipalities, as appropriate, of compliance with the mandate. The bill also requires that the list, and the annual update of the list, be posted on the department's web page. The cost of unfunded mandates imposed by the State and by the federal government on counties and municipalities are ultimately borne by local property taxpayers through the payment of their property tax bills. While the voters of the State approved an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution in November, 1995, that effectively rendered unenforceable any provision of a law enacted on and after January 17, 1996, and any rule or regulation issued pursuant to a law originally adopted after July 1, 1996, which does not authorize resources, other than the property tax, to offset the additional direct expenditures required for the implementation of the law or rule or regulation (subject to certain constitutional exceptions), that constitutional amendment does not affect mandates of the federal government, nor does it affect mandates imposed by the State prior to those constitutional dates. In order for the Legislature to determine the true financial effect of existing mandates on the State's property taxpayers, and how to mitigate those costs, a compilation of those mandates, both State- and federally-imposed, must be undertaken and produced for public inspection and discussion. In Committee
A561 Requires school districts to permit students five excused absences for mental or behavioral health reasons. This bill entitles each public school student in New Jersey to up to five absences from school for mental or behavioral health reasons which are to be considered State-recognized excused absences. After two mental or behavioral health absences, the student may be referred to the appropriate school support staff. The five mental or behavioral health absences would not count toward the 10 percent of days missed before a student is considered "chronically absent" and cannot be used to exclude a student from any awards or recognition on the basis of attendance. As an excused absence, students are required to be given the opportunity to make up any school work that was missed during the mental or behavioral health absence. In order to have the absence recognized as a mental or behavioral health absence the student may be required, by the school district, to provide any non-medical documentation which the superintendent or administrative principal of the school district deems necessary. This bill requires the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to develop guidelines which would define an excused absence related to the mental or behavioral health of the student. In Committee
A2264 The "New Jobs for New Jersey Act." This bill establishes a New Jobs for New Jersey tax credit program to be administered by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. The purpose of the program is to provide incentives to small private sector employers who increase their workforce by hiring unemployed workers. The bill makes an employer of 100 or fewer full-time employees eligible for a refundable New Jobs for New Jersey tax credit against the corporation business tax or the gross income tax, whichever applies to the employer, for each eligible individual employed by the employer on a full-time basis during a tax year, if the following requirements are met: 1. The eligible individual is hired by the employer after April 1, 2021, is employed full-time during the tax year for which the tax credit is provided, was not previously employed by the employer, and did not have full-time employment for 30 or more days prior to being hired by the employer; 2. The employer employs an average total number of full-time employees during the tax year for which the tax credit is provided which exceeds the average total number of full-time employees employed by the employer during the 12-month period immediately prior to April 1, 2021; and 3. The employer submits an application for the tax credit in the manner required by the commissioner, the commissioner approves the application, and the employer provides, or makes available as requested by the commissioner, all information regarding the number, wages, and employer payroll taxes or any other information required by the commissioner. The bill sets the amount of the refundable tax credit provided to an approved employer for each eligible individual employed during a tax year as the total amount of the employer payroll taxes paid during that tax year by the employer with respect to that individual, subject to the requirements of the bill. Employer payroll taxes include the portion paid by employers of State unemployment, temporary disability, and workforce development and basic skills assessments, and federal Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes. The bill provides that the employer receives the tax credit only for the number of eligible individuals employed full-time during the tax year which does not exceed the net increase in the number of full-time employees employed full-time during the tax year compared with the average total number of full-time employees employed by the employer during the 12-month period immediately preceding April 1, 2021. An employer may apply for and qualify for a tax credit under the bill with respect to tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023. If the employer's application is approved for any of those three years, the employer may continue to receive the tax credit for any of the four tax years following that tax year during which the employer meets the requirements of the bill. Upon a finding by the commissioner of employer compliance with the bill's requirements, the commissioner is required to certify to the Director of the Division of Taxation that the employer is eligible for a tax credit under this bill, the amount of the tax credit, and provide a copy of the certification to the employer. In Committee
AJR49 Recognizes 75th anniversary of establishment of State of Israel. April 25, 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. New Jersey commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East and reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between New Jersey and Israel for more than seven decades. New Jersey recommits to working with Israel in its quest for peace with its neighbors and the countries in the region. Dead
A1618 Requires school district to report to DOE on various aspects of computer science courses. Tracking data specific to the demographic make-up, availability, and content of computer science courses in New Jersey schools will provide insight needed to address gaps in populations that are underrepresented in computer science fields. This information will help New Jersey in its commitment to increasing the participation of female and other underrepresented students in computer science fields. This bill will require each school district to issue a report to the Commissioner of Education by April 30 of each school year on the computer science courses offered in the district. The report will include, but not be limited to, (1) the total number of computer science courses offered in each school in the district, including any advanced placement computer science courses; (2) the subject matter covered in each computer science course offered; (3) the total number of computer science teachers in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, terminal degree, and instructional certificate endorsement; and (4) the total number and percentage of students enrolled in computer science courses in each school in the district disaggregated by gender, race and ethnicity, special education status, English language learner status, eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program, and grade level. This bill also requires the commissioner to compile the information reported by the school districts and post the information on the department's website no later than October 1 of each school year. In Committee
A2188 Establishes New Jersey Veteran Gravesite Maintenance Grant Program in DMVA. This bill would establish a grant program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for qualified veterans' organizations to maintain veteran gravesites across the State. DMVA would be required to develop guidelines, procedures, and criteria for applications and awards. The grant recipients would be required to report grant fund use to DMVA. Implementation of the grant program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature. The bill defines "qualified veterans' organization" as a nonprofit veterans' organization that is a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. In Committee
A2591 "Behavioral Health Crisis Mobile Response Act." This bill, to be known as the "Behavioral Health Crisis Mobile Response Act," requires the Commissioner of Human Services (the commissioner), in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, and the Directors of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS), to establish a Statewide mobile crisis response system to provide immediate crisis response services, and ongoing stabilization management services, upon request, to adults with disabilities (i.e., with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or mental illness) who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, and their families and attendant caregivers or other staff. The mobile crisis response system would be designed to prevent the hospitalization of adults in crisis to provide for the stabilization of adults in crisis in the least restrictive environment, and to allow the mobile crisis response system to access to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline in order to refer an eligible adult for crisis response services and stabilization management services in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The system would be implemented on a Statewide basis, with at least one mobile crisis response agency available to provide crisis response services and stabilization management services, and at least one temporary stabilization unit available to provide temporary crisis beds, in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Any person, group, or entity wishing to provide initial crisis response services or stabilization management services, pursuant to this bill's provisions, would need to be approved by the New Jersey Medicaid and FamilyCare programs, and by the DHS, as a mobile response agency. Each mobile crisis response agency approved under the bill would be required to employ one or more mobile crisis response teams, composed of mental health professionals, to: 1) provide mobile crisis response services in the home of a person in crisis, or at another community location where a person in crisis is located; 2) when deemed to be appropriate, transport the adult in crisis to a temporary stabilization unit established and licensed pursuant to the bill; and 3) provide ongoing stabilization management services to the adult in crisis, in the adult's home, when authorized to do so by the DHS. Mobile crisis response services and stabilization management services, which are provided by a mobile crisis response team under this bill's provisions, are to be delivered directly by, or under the supervision of, a licensed and experienced psychiatrist. Mobile crisis response services are to be provided to an eligible adult in crisis for a period of up to 72 hours per crisis episode, over the course of up to a four-day period, immediately following the initial referral or dispatch, and are to be designed to stabilize the presenting behaviors and crisis situation, with the goal of preventing a disruption of the current living arrangement, and avoiding inappropriate psychiatric hospitalization or residential placement, of the adult in crisis. Each referral to, or dispatch of, a mobile crisis response team will be registered with the DHS within 24 hours after the team receives notice thereof. Mobile crisis response services provided by a mobile crisis response team are to include, but need not be limited to: 1) mobile outreach and face-to-face contact with the adult in crisis, which face-to-face contact is to occur within 24 hours following the initial referral or dispatch, except in situations requiring an immediate response, in which case, face-to-face contact is to occur within one hour after the initial referral or dispatch, unless a delay is requested by the family of the adult in crisis, in order to meet the family's needs; 2) the immediate assessment and evaluation of the presenting crisis, including an assessment of the safety of, or danger to, the adult in crisis, other residents of the home, and members of the community, as well as an assessment of caregiver culpability and clinical and environmental factors that contributed to the crisis; 3) the immediate use of clinical and therapeutic interventions to stabilize the presenting crisis; 4) the development of an individualized crisis stabilization plan (ICSP), as provided by the bill, which plan is to include, among other things, an indication of appropriate clinical and therapeutic interventions to be used in addressing and stabilizing the presenting crisis; and a plan to ensure the stabilization and treatment of the adult in crisis in the least restrictive environment; and 5) the provision of relevant information, crisis training, and program and service referrals to the family members or caregivers of the adult in crisis. If, at any time during the initial 72-hour mobile response period, the mobile crisis response team determines that the presenting crisis can only be stabilized through the temporary placement of the adult in a temporary stabilization unit, the crisis response team will be required to transport the adult in crisis to a temporary stabilization unit, and the adult will be admitted to the unit, for a period not exceeding seven days, as necessary to facilitate the initial stabilization of the crisis. A temporary stabilization unit is to be approved and licensed by the Department of Health, and is to: 1) provide a calming, non-clinical, and non-punitive environment for the stabilization of adults in crisis; 2) be staffed by properly credentialed mental health professionals who are capable of, and have expertise in, calming and stabilizing crisis situations in adults with disabilities; 3) have a sufficient number of crisis beds to meet the behavioral health crisis needs of citizens in the region in which the unit is situated; and 4) be situated separately and apart from any other clinical or mental health care unit or facility. If the temporary stabilization unit is a part of a separately licensed health care facility or hospital, the temporary stabilization unit is to be unconnected to, and located separately from, any emergency department or other department or unit of medicine, and is to utilize an entrance that is separate from the entrance that is used by patients of, and visitors to, such other departments or units. Whenever an adult is placed in a crisis bed in a temporary stabilization unit, the need for such placement is to be reviewed and documented by the mobile crisis response team on a daily basis during such placement, and the adult is to be immediately discharged from such placement upon a determination by the team that continued placement is no longer necessary. If a crisis is not sufficiently stabilized during the initial 72-hour mobile response period, or during a related stay at a temporary stabilization unit, the mobile crisis response team will be required to provide the adult in crisis with ongoing stabilization management services, in the adult's home, following the completion of the initial crisis response period. Stabilization management services may not be provided, unless the DHS grants prior approval authorizing the provision of such services to the adult in crisis. The DHS may authorize the mobile crisis response team to provide stabilization management services for a period of up to eight weeks, as deemed by the department to be appropriate. Stabilization management services may include: 1) necessary mental or behavioral health intervention services to maintain the stabilization of the crisis and minimize or eliminate the factors that contributed to the crisis, including, but not limited to, psychiatric or psychological services, medication management services, community-based mental health rehabilitation services, such as behavioral assistance services and intensive in-community services, and any other formal or informal community-based mental health or behavioral health rehabilitation services; and 2) continued advocacy, networking, and support by the mobile crisis response team, as may be necessary to provide linkages and referrals to appropriate community-based services, and to assist the adult in crisis, and the family members or caregivers thereof, in accessing other benefits or assistance programs for which they may be eligible. During the stabilization management period, the mobile crisis response team will be required to review the ICSP on a weekly basis, in order to ensure that the services included therein are effectively addressing the presenting crisis and any factors that contributed to the crisis. Any necessary amendments to the ICSP are to be registered with the division within 24 hours after each review is concluded. Each mobile crisis response agency will be required, under the bill, to maintain an individual service record for each adult who is served thereby. Each mobile crisis response agency and temporary stabilization unit will be eligible for reimbursement, as described in the bill, for the services provided thereby under the bill's provisions. Any person seeking to deliver crisis response services or stabilization management services as a member of a mobile crisis response team, or as a staff member at a temporary stabilization unit, will be required to comply with the criminal history record background check requirements established by P.L.1999, c.358 (C.30:6D-63 et seq.), which are applicable to "community agency employees," as a condition of the person's employment. The bill also requires all direct care staff members providing services at group homes for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to successfully complete a course of training on: 1) the de-escalation and stabilization of crisis episodes in adults with disabilities; 2) behavioral analysis and management; and 3) behavioral health crisis recognition and identification. The training would also be required to inform direct care staff members of the mobile crisis response system established under the bill, and the procedures that may be used to obtain assistance from a mobile crisis response team whenever a group home resident is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The bill also requires the commissioner to, on or before July 16, 2022, designate a crisis hotline center or centers to provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline from anywhere within the State 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A designated hotline center is to have an active agreement with the administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) for participation within the network. To ensure cohesive and coordinated crisis care, a designated hotline center is to utilize technology that is interoperable between and across crisis and emergency response systems used throughout the State and with the Administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill provides that a designated hotline center is to have the authority to deploy crisis and outgoing services, including mobile crisis teams, and coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services as appropriate and according to guidelines and best practices established by the NSPL. A designated hotline center is to coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services for individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline through appropriate information sharing regarding availability of services. A designated hotline center is to be utilized by the mobile crisis response system to refer an eligible adult for mobile crisis response services and stabilization management services pursuant to the bill. The commissioner is to have primary oversight of suicide prevention and crisis service activities and essential coordination with a designated 9-8-8 hotline center. A designated hotline center is to meet the requirements set forth by NSPL for serving high risk and specialized populations as identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including training requirements and policies for transferring such callers to an appropriate specialized center or subnetworks within or outside the NSPL network and for providing linguistically and culturally competent care. A designated hotline center is to provide follow-up services to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline consistent with guidance and policies established by the NSPL. Under the bill, the commissioner is to provide onsite response services for crisis calls utilizing State or local mobile crisis teams. A mobile crisis team is to include a behavioral health team, licensed behavioral health professionals, and peers, or a behavioral health team and peers embedded within an emergency medical services entity. A mobile crisis team is to collaborate on data and crisis response protocols with local law enforcement agencies and include police as co-responders in behavioral health teams, and licensed behavioral health professionals and peers, only as needed to respond to high-risk situations that are unmanageable without law enforcement. A mobile crisis team is to be designed in partnership with community members, including people with experience utilizing crisis services. The commissioner is to establish and maintain a 9-8-8 trust fund for the purposes of creating and maintaining a Statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis system pursuant to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 and the Federal Communication Commission's rules adopted July 16, 2020, and national guidelines for crisis care. The fund is to consist of: monies from a Statewide 9-8-8 fee assessed on users pursuant to the bill's provisions; appropriations, if any; grants and gifts intended for deposit in the fund; interest, premiums, gains, or other earnings on the fund; and any other monies that are deposited in or transferred to the fund. Under the bill, monies in the fund: do not revert at the end of any fiscal year and remain available for the purposes of the fund in subsequent fiscal years; are not subject to transfer to any other fund or to transfer, assignment, or reassignment for any other use or purpose outside of those specified in the bill; and are continuously dedicated for the purposes of the fund. The bill provides that the commissioner, consistent with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, is to establish a monthly Statewide 9-8-8 fee on each resident that is a subscriber of commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services at a fixed rate that provides for the creation, operation, and maintenance of a Statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis system and the continuum of services provided pursuant to federal guidelines for crisis services. Under the bill, the 9-8-8 fee is not to be applied to mobile service users who receive benefits under the federal Lifeline program as defined in 47 CFR 54.401. In Committee
A453 Creates certain protections for insurers and insurance producers engaging in business of insurance in connection with cannabis-related businesses. This bill creates certain protections for insurers and insurance producers engaging in the business of insurance in connection with cannabis-related businesses. Specifically, the bill provides that, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no State or local government agency may: (1) prohibit, penalize, or otherwise discourage an insurer or insurance producer from engaging in the business of insurance in connection with a cannabis-related business; (2) terminate, cancel, or otherwise limit the policies of an insurer solely because the insurer or insurance producer has engaged in the business of insurance in connection with a cannabis-related business; (3) recommend, incentivize, or encourage an insurer or insurance producer not to engage in the business of insurance in connection with a policyholder, or downgrade or cancel the insurance and insurance services offered to a policyholder solely because the policyholder is or becomes the owner, operator, or employee of a cannabis-related business; or (4) take any adverse or corrective supervisory action on an insurance policy against a cannabis-related business or a person that does business with or is employed by a cannabis-related business, solely because the business or person owns or operates or does business with or is employed by a cannabis-related business, as applicable. The bill provides that insurers and insurance producers, and the officers, directors, and employees of insurers and insurance producers, that engage in the business of insurance with a cannabis-related business or who otherwise engage with a person in a transaction permissible under State law related to cannabis, may not be held liable pursuant to any State law or regulation solely for engaging in the business of insurance, or for further investing any income derived from that business of insurance. The bill also provides that nothing in the bill requires an insurer or insurance producer to engage in the business of insurance in connection with a cannabis-related business and that it does not interfere with the regulation of the business of insurance pursuant to current law, except as expressly provided in the bill. In Committee
A887 Requires Cannabis Regulatory Commission to annually report number of cannabis applications submitted and permits or licenses issued to certain persons. This bill requires the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to annually report the number of applications submitted by and number of licenses or permits granted to persons who are minorities, Veterans, and women for standard medical cannabis alternative treatment center (ATC) permits; conditional or microbusiness medical cannabis ATC permits; clinical registrant permits; standard adult use cannabis licenses; and conditional or microbusiness adult use cannabis licenses. The CRC issues the licenses and permits for medical cannabis and adult use cannabis in NJ. Pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1986, c.195 (C.52:27H-21.18), "minority" means a person who is Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, or American Indian or Alaskan native. In Committee
A397 Provides that amounts remaining in inactive Internet gaming accounts will be abandoned property after three years under unclaimed property law. This bill provides that amounts remaining in Internet gaming accounts that are inactive or dormant for three years will be unclaimed property under the "Uniform Unclaimed Property Act," N.J.S.A.46:30B-1 et seq. Under existing law, amounts in these inactive or dormant accounts for a period determined by the Division of Gaming Enforcement are paid 50% to the casino licensee and 50% to the casino control fund. In Committee
A1169 Establishes task force to examine public school programs and services designed to address student mental health. This bill establishes the Task Force on Student Mental Health. Under the bill, the task force will consist of 16 members including: the Commissioner of Education; the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services; one public member appointed by the President of the Senate and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and 10 members appointed by the Governor, including: a school board member, a school principal, a school administrator, an elementary school teacher, a high school teacher, a school counselor, a school social worker, and a school psychologist, all of whom are currently employed in public schools in the State; and two parents of students enrolled in a public school. The task force will study and make recommendations regarding the following:· the identification of public school students who experience depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder;· the evaluation and expansion of counseling programs and services available to students experiencing mental health difficulties, and other programs designed to address issues related to student mental health; · the relationship of student mental health to school safety and security; · the amount of funding that may be necessary for public schools to employ the appropriate staff and to establish new programs or expand existing programs necessary to address student mental health; and· an examination of other states which have implemented programs that have successfully addressed depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder among public school students and reduced the number of students experiencing such difficulties. The bill directs the task force to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after its organizational meeting. The task force will expire 30 days after the submission of the final report. In Committee
AR33 Urges President and Congress of US to enact legislation requiring certain delivery vehicles to have air-conditioning unit. This resolution respectfully urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation which requires, within three years of the date of the bill's enactment, that every existing delivery van or truck registered in the United States with a box-style, walk-in cargo area up to 18-feet long used in the commercial delivery of goods or services, be modified to have an air-conditioning unit and that, on or after the date of enactment of the bill, every such delivery van or truck manufactured for operation within the United States have an air-conditioning unit. In Committee
A2340 Requires long-term care facilities to meet with residents and residents' families to review emergency contact information and to offer residents opportunity to update information. This bill requires long-term care facilities to offer residents the opportunity to update emergency contact information. Under the bill, consistent with federal and State privacy laws, a long-term care facility is to meet, at a minimum, once annually with each resident and the resident's family to discuss and review the emergency contact information for the resident on file with the long-term care facility. Moreover, in addition to the meeting required with the resident's family, a long-term care facility is to offer each resident the opportunity to update the resident's emergency contact information with the long-term care facility, at a minimum, twice annually. Under the bill, emergency contact information is to include a primary and a secondary contact Finally, the bill provides that its provisions are not to be construed to prohibit a long-term care facility from sharing information regarding a resident to an individual not on file as an emergency contact. In Committee
A2183 Authorizes MVC to enter into contract with private vendor for marketing and sale of certain license plates. This bill authorizes the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to enter into a contract with an experienced private vendor for the marketing and sale of personalized, courtesy, or special license plates, including plates that the public may compete to obtain by auction, for a period of not less than five years with the initial contract term commencing upon the public advertisement of the license plate program but may be renewed for up to two additional contract terms for a period of not less than five years each in duration. Any contract that MVC enters into with a private vendor is required to provide for the recovery of all costs incurred by MVC in implementing the provisions of this bill but may also require that the private vendor reimburse MVC in advance for: not more than one-half of MVC's anticipated costs in connection with the contract; and MVC's anticipated costs in connection with the introduction of a new personalized, courtesy, or specialty license plate. Under the bill, instead of the fees and the license plate year terms for the registration of motor vehicles established for personalized, courtesy, and special license plates authorized by statute, including plates that the public may compete to obtain by auction, the MVC may, by rule, establish fees and license plate year terms for the registration of motor vehicles for the issuance or renewal of personalized, courtesy, or special license plates, including plates that the public may compete to obtain by auction, that are marketed and sold by the private vendor. The fees are to be reasonable and not less than the amounts necessary to allow the MVC to recover all reasonable costs associated with the implementation and enforcement of the contract, including direct, indirect, and administrative costs. License plate year terms for the registration of motor vehicles are to be offered at annual and various multi-year term lengths as approved by the MVC. The fee is to be in addition to the registration fee prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle; and any renewal fee established for a special license plate by the provision of law that authorizes the issuance of the special license plate. The bill provides that any contract with a private vendor for the marketing and sale of personalized, courtesy, or special license plates, including plates that the public may compete to obtain by auction, is payable only from amounts derived from the collection of the fees established by the bill. Any fees collected in excess of the minimum fees established by MVC are to be deposited as a credit to the General Fund. The bill also provides that the MVC may approve a new design and color combinations for personalized, courtesy, or special license plates, including plates that the public may compete to obtain by auction, that are marketed and sold by a private vendor under a contract entered into with the private vendor. Each approved license plate design and color combination remains the property of the MVC and is to be in accordance with the provisions of law and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto concerning the style and form of license plates in this State. Nothing in the bill, however, is to be construed to authorize or permit: (1) the MVC to approve a design or color combination for a special license plate that is inconsistent with the design or color combination specified for the special license plate by the provision of law that authorizes the issuance of the special license plate; or (2) the private vendor to market and sell a special license plate with a design or color combination that is inconsistent with the design or color combination specified by the provision of law that authorizes the issuance of the special license plate. The bill permits the MVC to cancel a license plate or require the discontinuation of an approved license plate design or color combination that is marketed and sold by a private vendor under contract at any time if the MVC determines that the cancellation or discontinuation is in the best interest of this State or the motoring public. In Committee
A2472 Requires DHS to make list of drugs with "black box" warnings accessible through its website. This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to post on its website a list of all drugs that are required by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry a "black box" warning on their label. The bill provides that if the FDA makes this information available to the public on its own website on or after the effective date of the bill, the DOH website may provide a hypertext link to that information as an alternative to posting the list of those drugs. A "black box" warning, which the FDA requires a pharmaceutical company to place on a drug label if medical studies indicate that the drug carries a significant risk of serious or life-threatening adverse effects, is the most serious warning that the FDA requires to be placed on the label of a prescription medication. In Committee
A466 Requires membership of boards of trustees of State colleges and universities and county colleges to include two college employees. This bill provides that the board of trustees of any State college or university and the board of trustees of any county college is required to have two members who are employees of the college or university, to be appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates recommended by the labor organizations that represent the employees. An employee member would serve a term of two years, except that the initial terms would be staggered. In the event that the employees of the State college or university or county college are represented by more than two labor organizations, the employee members will be recommended to the Governor based on an agreement among the labor organizations. An employee member would have full voting rights, but could not participate in any matter affecting the employment or terms or conditions of employment of an employee of the college. Current law prohibits county college employees from serving as members of the college's board of trustees. This bill amends the law to eliminate that prohibition. In Committee
A476 Provides standards for election and recall of officers for associations of planned real estate developments and restricts certain expenditures. This bill establishes fair standards for the election and recall of executive board members of common interest communities and requires association member approval for certain expenditures. The bill would require associations to hold elections at two-year intervals under the administration of an independent election committee of association members who are neither current executive board members nor candidates for the executive board and would restrict the maximum terms of executive board members to two years. The bill would also limit the size of executive boards to three members for communities comprised of less than 11 homes, provide a default size of five members for the executive boards of all other communities unless the bylaws provide otherwise, and extend the election provisions of the "Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act," P.L.1977, c.419 (C.45:22A-21 et seq.) to include associations with less than 50 units. Further, the bill would clarify an association's election notice obligations by requiring two written notices of an election: the first, to notify members of the election, election rules, and to allow for nominations and interested candidate applications; the second, to provide association members with the official list of candidates, election information, and absentee and proxy ballots. An association would be required to be send the first notice no later than 60 days prior to the election and the second no more than 30 nor less than 14 days prior to the election. The bill would require associations to permit owners to vote anonymously for executive board members and to cast a ballot by mail, in person, or by electronic means. The election committee would have the exclusive authority to investigate election challenges and to report substantiated allegations of vote tampering or fraud to the Division of Housing and Development in the Department of Community Affairs (agency), unless the allegations involve the election committee or its members directly. In such case, any aggrieved association member could report only those allegations directly concerning the election committee to the agency, which would have discretion to conduct its own investigation. If the agency determines that the association's management, legal team, candidates, or the election committee are guilty of vote tampering or fraud, the election would be considered void, violations constitute a disorderly persons offense, and the election committee would be required to report the determination to the county prosecutor's office. The bill also establishes standard procedures for the recall and removal of executive board officers or trustees, and provides that any member of the executive board may be recalled and removed from office, with or without cause, by a majority of the association members at a special meeting called for that purpose. Further, under the bill, any expenditures in excess of $100,000 or maintenance fee increases exceeding the Consumer Price Index (qualifying expenditures) require 30 days' notice to be provided to all association members prior to a formal vote on the expenditures, which require approval by a majority of association members in good standing, or greater if required by the governing documents. The bill contains an exception that allows an association to make qualifying expenditures to respond to an emergency. The bill contains an additional exception allowing the association to make qualifying expenditures that are necessary to comply with statutory and regulatory obligations, on condition that: (1) there are no other less expensive alternatives that receive approval by a majority of association members, or greater if required by the governing documents, and (2) the association provides a written report to all association members of the qualifying expenditures and votes at which the qualifying expenditures and less expensive alternatives, failed to receive approval by a majority of association members, or greater if required by the governing documents. This bill would take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment, and apply to any vote or election conducted on or after the date of enactment, and any actions in relation to the vote or election taken in anticipation of the vote or election. In Committee
A2231 Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for certain children, youth and family services organizations. This bill stipulates that on or after the effective date of the bill, the terms of a contract entered into between the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and a children, youth, and family organization include an annual increase in the cost of living adjustment received by the organization. The cost of living adjustment would be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor, and DCF would be required to announce the rate of the increase on October 1 of each year. As used in the bill, a "children, youth, and family organization" means an organization that provides programs and services to children, youth, and families through contracts entered into with DCF including, but not limited to, programs partially or fully funded by the State Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.). DCF contracts with children, youth, and family organizations to provide child protective and treatment services through a competitive bidding process whereby a fixed rate is established for the provision of services. The fixed rate includes all the costs associated with the delivery of services including, but not limited to, salary, wages, and compensation for the staff of the organizations who provide the direct services to children, youth, and families. Such staff members continually face increases in their living expenses, but the rates provided to children, youth, and family organizations contracted with DCF are not adjusted for cost of living increases. One-time cost of living adjustments provided to the organizations by the Legislature do not keep pace with rising costs and inflation. This bill would establish a statutory mechanism for providing annual cost of living adjustments to children, youth, and family organizations contracted with DCF to ensure that the provision of essential services are fully funded and sustainable, and the staff providing such services are appropriately compensated. In Committee
A446 Requires annual inspections of certain veterinary facilities. This bill requires animal and veterinary facilities to register with the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and to be inspected by the board on an annual basis. The annual inspection would be in addition to, and would not be deemed to be satisfied by, an inspection conducted to investigate a complaint against the facility or a suspected violation by the facility involving an unlawful act or practice. The registration and inspection requirements would apply to any fixed or mobile establishment, veterinary hospital, animal hospital, or premises wherein or whereon the practice of veterinary medicine or any part thereof is conducted. The bill will take effect 180 days after the date of enactment. In Committee
A3171 Requires converting portion of Paramus and Menlo Park veterans' memorial homes into single occupancy rooms; requires upgrades to ventilation systems; provides Adjutant General discretion for additional room considerations. Under this bill and subject to the availability of federal funds provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and federal funds provided or made accessible to the State from the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will convert at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park and at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus to single occupancy rooms. The rooms will be equipped with negative pressure ventilation to support infectious disease control measures, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems will be upgraded throughout the two homes to infection control system standards. If the federal funds are not sufficient to accomplish the conversions and upgrades, there will be appropriated such sums from the General Fund as necessary, in amounts subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, for use by the department to accomplish the changes outlined in the bill. In Committee
A1714 Requires child care centers to be equipped with epinephrine. This bill requires child care centers to be equipped with epinephrine. Under the bill, each child care center is to be equipped with an appropriate supply of epinephrine auto-injector devices, and is to be staffed by at least individual who is trained to administer an epinephrine auto-injector device during the child care center's hours of operation. The bill defines "child care center" to mean a child care center licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.). In Committee
A3117 Establishes Capital Project Development Loan Program to support certain large-scale redevelopment projects; appropriates $300 million. This bill establishes the "Capital Project Development Loan Program" (loan program) within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide low-interest loans to support the completion of transformative capital projects. The bill appropriates $300 million from the General Fund to support the loan program. To qualify for the loan program, an applicant would be required to: (1) be a public institution of higher education, a State-owned hospital, a public agency, or a non-profit organization; (2) undertake a transformative capital project, which is defined to include large-scale redevelopment projects that support research and development, health care infrastructure, green infrastructure, or transformational real estate and infrastructure; and (3) meet any other eligibility requirements that the EDA deems appropriate. However, if the applicant is a non-public entity, the applicant would also be required to demonstrate that the project would be operated under a public-private partnership agreement, as approved by the EDA. Under the loan program, the EDA may approve applications on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds. When reviewing applications, the bill permits the EDA to prioritize applications based on any considerations that the EDA deems appropriate, including the intent of the project, the economic feasibility of the project, and the degree to which the project advances Statewide and regional planning goals. Upon approval of an application, the EDA would provide low-interest loans to each selected applicant. Under the bill, each loan may mature no later than 30 years after the date of issuance. The bill also provides that if a borrower fails to repay all or part of a program loan, the EDA may disqualify the borrower from future program loans. The bill also requires the EDA to establish and maintain a non-lapsing revolving fund, which would be known as the "Capital Project Development Loan Fund." The revolving fund would serve as the repository of all monies used to support the loan program. Specifically, the $300 million that is appropriated from General Fund under the bill would be deposited into the revolving loan fund. In Committee
A459 Provides remedy for prevailing party in construction code appeal and other incentives for efficient, appropriate administration of State Uniform Construction Code. This bill provides for greater efficiency and accountability in the administration of the State Uniform Construction Code (UCC), and its various subcodes, which are promulgated by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act." This bill provides redress to those aggrieved in the inspection, review, and permitting process set forth by the UCC. Specifically, this bill would allow for the prevailing party in a construction board appeal to recoup the costs associated with bringing a successful appeal. The bill further provides that a construction code official who fails to act professionally in carrying out the enforcing agency's responsibilities under the UCC or applicable subcode may incur financial consequences. Under this bill, a construction code official who attempts to carry out inspection, review or permitting responsibilities in an abusive or malicious manner may be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to the payment of a fine established by rule. Finally, this bill would improve efficiency in the administration of the UCC and its subcodes by requiring that certain fees collected by an enforcing agency in conjunction with plan review and permitting under the UCC be forfeited if the agency does not perform these duties in a timely manner. In Committee
A2249 "Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act." This bill, the "Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act," regulates digital asset business activity. The bill defines "digital asset" to mean a representation of economic, proprietary, or access rights that is stored in a machine-readable format and has a transaction history that is recorded in a distributed, digital ledger or digital data structure in which consensus is achieved through a mechanism consistent with the underlying protocol. Examples of digital assets include digital consumer assets, digital securities, and virtual currency. "Digital asset" does not include securities, whether in digital form or otherwise, as defined pursuant to law. The bill provides that a person is not to engage in a digital asset business activity, or hold themselves out as being able to engage in a digital asset business activity, with or on behalf of a resident, unless the person is licensed in this State by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities (bureau) in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or has filed a pending license with the bureau. The bill provides the bureau may license a person to carry on one or more digital asset business activities described in the bill. The bureau is given the authority to exempt persons from the provisions of the bill concerning engaging in digital asset business activity without a license and to determine whether a person is subject to a license pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that a person who violates the provisions requiring licensure is liable for a penalty of $500 per day, from the first day the bureau issues a notice of failure to apply a license until a license application is filed with the bureau. The bill provides that an application for a license is to be submitted in a form and manner as determined by the bureau. The bill requires applicants for licensure pursuant to the bill to provide a list of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings to which the applicant, or certain other individuals have been a party for the 10 years prior to submission of the application. The bill permits the bureau to use the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System or a similar system to conduct criminal history records checks of applicants and certain other individuals and provides the bureau with the authority to conduct examinations to determine a licensee's compliance with the provisions of the bill. Each application is to be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee. Certain application information is to be protected from public disclosure. Applicants are to provide certain information relevant to the applicant's proposed digital asset business activity. The bill requires the bureau to grant or deny any digital asset business license application or license reciprocity application within 180 days of the receipt of the completed application. The bureau may refuse an application for a digital asset business license or license reciprocity application if a licensee or applicant fails to meet certain standards specified in the bill. Licensees are required to submit a renewal report that contains an update of all information required at initial licensing and a description of certain information described in the bill. The bureau is authorized to determine whether a person is required to be licensed. Certain digital assets do not require a license under the bill. The bill provides that the bureau may audit any digital asset business licensee. The bill stipulates that each licensee is to maintain and enforce confidential, written compliance policies which are to be reviewed and approved by the licensee's board of directors or an equivalent governing body. The bureau may suspend or revoke a digital asset business license upon certain findings that are provided in the bill. The bill provides the bureau chief with the authority to, for good cause shown, deny, suspend, or revoke a license pending final determination of a proceeding. Notice of any suspension or revocation issued by the bureau is to prominently indicate the right to a hearing. A licensee, under the bill, is to provide the bureau with any document relating to the operations of the licensee upon receiving written notice from the bureau. The licensee is to maintain records of all client transactions and any accounts, correspondences, memoranda, and other records as the bureau may require, for no less than six years from the date of a transaction's occurrence, unless the bureau by rule prescribes another timeframe. The bill requires the terms and conditions of a digital asset business involving a consumer's account, including at a minimum, certain information outlined in the bill, to be disclosed at the time the consumer contracts for a digital asset business service. The disclosure is to be full and complete, contain no material misrepresentations, be in readily understandable language and may include, as appropriate and to the extent applicable, certain information concerning fees and charges, risks to the consumer, and any protections or securities that are in place. The disclosures required by the bill are to be displayed and individually agreed to by a consumer before any digital asset transaction at an electronic kiosk. Any fee to be charged is required to be displayed and individually agreed to by a consumer before any digital asset transaction or digital asset balance inquiry at an electronic kiosk. Under the bill, it is a violation for any person to make or cause to be made in any document filed with the bureau or in any proceeding, investigation or examination conducted under the bill, any statement which is, at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, false or misleading in any material respect. The bill makes it unlawful for any officer or employee of the bureau to use for personal benefit information filed with the bureau that is not public. In addition, the bill provides the bureau chief with certain investigatory authority to determine whether any person has violated or is about to violate any provisions of the bill, or to otherwise aid in the enforcement of the bill. Lastly, the bill establishes the "Digital Asset Enforcement Fund" in the Division of Consumer Affairs (division) of the Department of Law and Public Safety is to continue as a dedicated, nonlapsing, revolving fund. All fees, penalties, costs, fines, and other collected moneys are to be deposited in the fund and used by the director of the division to administer and enforce the provisions of the bill, and to conduct investigations related to the bill. In Committee
A462 Requires application for homestead property tax reimbursement to be filed with NJ gross income tax return. This bill amends current law to make it easier for eligible claimants to file an application for the homestead property tax reimbursement program. This program is more commonly known as the "senior freeze." In pertinent part, P.L.1997, c.348 limited eligibility for the homestead property tax reimbursement to senior citizens and disabled persons who were eligible for the program of pharmaceutical assistance to the aged and disabled (PAAD). A claimant's eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement was based, in part, on whether their income was within the limit used to determine eligibility for PAAD. This method of calculating income requires a claimant to file a separate application for the homestead property tax reimbursement which reports all source of income, including income they do not report on their New Jersey gross income tax return. This application process is often cumbersome and confusing for senior freeze applicants. This bill provides that an applicant's gross income, as reported pursuant to the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," would be used to determine their eligibility for a homestead property tax reimbursement. Using gross income to determine a claimant's eligibility for a homestead property tax reimbursement is intended to make the homestead property tax reimbursement process less stressful because claimants will not have to file a separate application to report their income and the Division of Taxation will be able to determine a claimant's eligibility by reviewing their New Jersey gross income tax return. The bill also requires an eligible claimant to file a property tax reimbursement application with their New Jersey gross income tax return. The bill permits the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish alternate methods of submitting a property tax reimbursement application if an eligible claimant is not required to file a gross income tax return or if an eligible claimant is has filed an extension to file their gross income tax return. The bill also allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to require the submittal of additional information necessary to determine a claimant's eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement. This bill takes effect immediately but would not be operative until January 1, 2023 in order provide the Division of Taxation time to update its processes for administering the homestead property tax reimbursement program. In Committee
A1919 Allows voters to submit application to vote by mail using electronic mail-in ballot application form through website maintained by Secretary of State up to seven days before election. The bill allows voters to submit an application to vote by mail using an electronic mail-in ballot application form through a website maintained by the Secretary of State up to seven days before election. Under the bill, in addition to offering paper mail-in ballot applications, the Secretary of State must provide mail-in ballot applications electronically through a secure website maintained by the secretary. The bill provides that if an applicant submits an electronic mail-in ballot application, the application would be signed by the applicant using the applicant's electronic signature in the Statewide Voter Registration System and electronically submitted to the appropriate county clerk. The bill provides that the electronic mail-in ballot application form must contain substantively the same information that is contained on a paper mail-in ballot application. The bill also provides that if a voter opted to receive mail-in ballots in all future elections, a voter may stop receiving such mail-in ballots if the voter submits a mail-in ballot application form without selecting the option to vote by mail in all future elections. In Committee
A1859 Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to develop pathway to nursing scholarship for health care workers who want to become nurses; appropriates $1 million. This bill requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in consultation with the New Jersey Board of Nursing, to develop a pathway to nursing scholarship program. The purpose of the scholarship program is to address the current and projected critical shortage of nurses in the State by providing an incentive for persons who currently work in the field of healthcare to enter an approved course of study in a nursing education program to ensure that sufficient numbers of trained nursing staff are available to provide quality health care services to the residents of this State. Under the bill, HESAA will award 100 scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each to qualified recipients enrolled in an approved course of study in a nursing education program in the State. To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must: be a resident of the State and maintain domicile in the State during participation in the program; currently work in, or have previously worked in, the healthcare industry; be enrolled in an approved course of study concerning nursing instruction at an institution of higher education or at a school of professional nursing; and submit a written statement to the authority detailing the applicant's ongoing commitment to working as a nurse upon completion of an approved course of study concerning nursing instruction at an institution of higher education or at a school of professional nursing. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to HESAA to effectuate the purposes of this act. In Committee
A486 Requires testing for infectious disease for certain persons who have been administered opioid antidote by first responder. This bill would supplement the "Overdose Prevention Act," P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-1 et al.) to provide for the court-ordered testing of certain persons who have been administered an opioid antidote by a first responder. The bill provides that a professional or an emergency medical responder (as those terms are defined in the "Overdose Prevention Act," which include emergency medical technicians, sterile syringe access program workers, and law enforcement officers) who administers an opioid antidote to a person may notify the local public health officer within 24 hours if the contact with the person or an object involved or was likely to involve the transmission of the person's bodily fluid to the professional or emergency medical responder. Upon the emergency medical responder's request, the public health officer is required to seek consent from the person who was administered the opioid antidote to voluntarily submit to serological tests or other medically appropriate tests, including repeat or confirmatory tests, for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, and any other infectious diseases that can be transmitted by contact with bodily fluids. If the person does not consent and submit to testing within 24 hours of the public health officer's request, the public health officer is required to file an emergency application for a court order requiring the person to submit to testing. The court is to grant the order for testing if the court finds, by a preponderance of evidence, that there is a risk that an infectious disease was transmitted as a result of the contact. The court order would require testing to be performed as soon as practicable by a health care provider or at a health care facility licensed or authorized to administer the ordered testing. The results of any testing would be disclosed to the person tested and the professional or emergency medical responder who requested the testing, but are not to be disclosed to any other individual except as authorized by law or court order. A consent order for testing and any test results would be confidential and could not be used for any law enforcement purposes or as evidence in any civil proceeding. A person who knowingly discloses or uses such confidential information in violation of the bill would be guilty of a fourth degree crime. The bill authorizes the court to order the person who was administered the opioid antidote to reimburse the State for the costs of the tests. A person who performs a test ordered in accordance with accepted medical standards for the performance of such tests would be immune from civil and criminal liability arising from their conduct. The bill is not to be construed to preclude or limit any other testing for HIV, hepatitis, or any other infectious disease that is otherwise permitted by statute, court rule, or common law. In Committee
A1535 Appropriates $2.5 million to NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for purpose of expanding memorial and museum. This bill appropriates $500,000 to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for the purpose of providing financial assistance for the expansion of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and Vietnam Era Museum. The bill also appropriates an additional $2 million to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Fund for the same purposes; provided, however, the Legislature would be required to appropriate those funds, in $500,000 increments, to the foundation starting in the State Fiscal Year next following enactment. The expansion would position the museum to become a major tourism destination, solidifying its foothold as the only museum in the country dedicated to the study and preservation of the Vietnam Era. With this expansion, the foundations aims to have the museum recognized as the National Vietnam Museum, the first national museum located in New Jersey. In Committee
A1584 Allows termination of motor vehicle lease in event of death; prohibits imposition of fee for early termination. This bill allows a motor vehicle lease to be terminated upon the death of the lessee and the return of the vehicle to the dealer or lessor. The bill prohibits a dealer or lessor from imposing or assessing any fee for the early termination of a vehicle lease in the event of a lessee's death. However, the dealer or lessor would be permitted to assess a reasonable fee for a vehicle returned with excess wear, use, or mileage, if specified in the lease agreement. The bill also prohibits a lease from requiring, in the event of a lessee's death, that the decedent's surviving spouse, family member, guardian, or estate administrator or executor: 1) purchase the leased vehicle; 2) buy out the remainder of the lease; or 3) continue to lease the vehicle under the original terms of the lease. A surviving spouse, family member, guardian, or estate administrator or executor would need to provide a death certificate, or other satisfactory proof of the lessee's death, to the dealer or lessor within 60 days after the death of the decedent. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as applying to a surviving co-lessee who executed the motor vehicle lease agreement with the lessee. Further, the bill requires that dealers and lessors provide information about early termination in the event of death in the lease contract or financing agreement. A dealer or lessor in violation of this requirement would be subject to a $500 penalty. In Committee
A473 Authorizes municipalities to adopt ordinances concerning consumption of alcoholic beverages by pedicab passengers. This bill permits municipalities to determine whether operators of pedicabs are authorized to allow pedicab passengers to consume alcoholic beverages. Under current law, a municipality has the authority to enact an ordinance to permit the operation of pedicabs within its boundaries and may establish requirements for the operation of pedicabs. However, a municipality that has enacted an ordinance to permit the operation of pedicabs may not prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages by passengers as long as the consumption otherwise meets statutory requirements, such as minimum passenger age for consumption and type of alcoholic beverages to be consumed. This bill provides municipalities with the discretion to authorize passenger consumption of alcoholic beverages by ordinance adopted by the governing body of the municipality. In Committee
AJR142 Expresses support for end to hostilities between Israel and Palestine, and hopes for peace and respect between Israel and Palestine. Expresses support for end to hostilities between Israel and Palestine, and hopes for peace and respect between Israel and Palestine. Introduced
Bill Bill Name Motion Vote Date Vote
S2167 Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S317 Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S1403 Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S1320 Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations 06/30/2025 Yea
A775 "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." Assembly Floor: Table Motion 06/30/2025 Yea
A2929 Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A2090 Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A3099 Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A3361 Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. Assembly Floor: Suspend Rule 22:5b 06/30/2025 Yea
A3361 Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations 06/30/2025 Yea
A3007 Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A3128 Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A3035 Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A1682 Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A1675 Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A2998 Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A2390 Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. Assembly Floor: Table Motion 06/30/2025 Yea
A2390 Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A551 Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S2335 Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A3518 Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
AJR128 Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A3742 Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S2783 "Travel Insurance Act." Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S2788 Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations 06/30/2025 Yea
A3802 Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A3974 Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A3979 Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A3973 Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
S2961 Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4085 Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
S3052 Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3041 Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4182 Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3132 Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4215 Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4248 Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. Assembly Floor: Table Motion 06/30/2025 Yea
A4295 Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4302 Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3189 Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4429 Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
S3309 Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4455 Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4479 Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4521 Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4544 Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
S3418 Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations 06/30/2025 Yea
A4577 Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4636 Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4643 Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4651 Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4712 Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4714 Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. Assembly Floor: Table Motion 06/30/2025 Yea
A4765 Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A4818 Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3618 Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3663 Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3711 Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3776 Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3773 Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4937 Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A4937 Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A4971 Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5000 Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5004 Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5049 Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5077 Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
S3910 Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3933 Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3944 Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5146 Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3982 Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S3992 Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5213 Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5199 Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5195 Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5267 Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5267 Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A5260 Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S4122 Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5277 Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5278 Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5309 Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
SJR154 Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5362 Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5378 Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
A5383 Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5381 Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5420 Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5421 Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5422 Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
S4263 Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
AR180 Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5447 Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5462 Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5463 Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments 06/30/2025 Yea
S4293 Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5517 Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5533 Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
A5563 Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage 06/30/2025 Yea
  Committee Position Rank
Detail New Jersey General Assembly Labor Committee 5
Detail New Jersey General Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee Chair 1
Detail New Jersey General Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Vice Chair 2
State District Chamber Party Status Start Date End Date
NJ New Jersey Assembly District 17 Assembly Democrat In Office 10/16/2014