Legislator
Legislator > Vin Gopal
State Senator
Vin Gopal
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 11
In Office - Started: 01/09/2018
contact info
Tinton Falls Office
766 Shrewsbury Ave.
Suite 100
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Suite 100
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Phone: 732-695-3371
General Capitol Building Address
P.O. Box 068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
Phone: 609-847-3905
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | This bill exempts certain contracts awarded for preschool education services from public advertising and bidding and permits the contracts to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education. The bill also extends the maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. Under current law, certain contracts under the Public School Contracts Law may be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded by a resolution of the board of education without public advertising and bidding. The Public School Contracts Law also limits awarded contracts to no more than 24 consecutive months unless otherwise authorized for a longer term. This bill permits contracts for preschool education services provided by a licensed childcare provider or Head Start program and supported by preschool education aid to be awarded for a period not to exceed three years. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5141 | Establishes historic distillery license; allows consumption of licensee's products on and off licensed premises under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes a historic distillery license to be issued for use in connection with a premises which is included in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Under the bill, the license holder would be allowed to manufacture any distilled alcoholic beverages and rectify, blend, treat and mix, and fortify, blend, and treat fermented alcoholic beverages. In addition, the license holder would be entitled to sell distilled alcoholic beverages at retail to consumers on the licensed premises of the distillery for consumption on the premises. The license holder also would be entitled to sell this product for consumption off the premises in a quantity of not more than five liters per person. The bill does not establish a limitation on the amount of distilled alcoholic beverages that the holder of this license would be entitled to manufacture. Under current law, the holder of a craft distillery license is limited to annually producing 20,000 gallons or less of distilled alcohol beverages. The license fee would be $1,000. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | This bill requires that enrollment for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents, be available on the first day of employment for new hires, and on the bill's effective date for such current employees. Delays in health care coverage and access to life-saving medicine can be dangerous and cause debilitating health care debt during emergencies. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor signed Executive Order 172 allowing public employees to immediately enroll in the SHBP. However, the ability to immediately enroll was eliminated when the Governor later signed Executive Order 244 in 2021, which ended the public health emergency. This bill provides for immediate enrollment for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4105 | 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. | This bill requires that enrollment for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents, be available on the first day of employment for new hires, and on the bill's effective date for such current employees. Delays in health care coverage and access to life-saving medicine can be dangerous and cause debilitating health care debt during emergencies. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor signed Executive Order 172 allowing public employees to immediately enroll in the SHBP. However, the ability to immediately enroll was eliminated when the Governor later signed Executive Order 244 in 2021, which ended the public health emergency. This bill provides for immediate enrollment for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents. | In Committee |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Passed |
| S4618 | Modifies certain requirements and award availability under film and digital media content production tax credit program. | Modifies certain requirements and award availability under film and digital media content production tax credit program. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4679 | Revises membership and duties of NJ Commission on Environmental Education. | This bill revises the membership and duties of the New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education. The NJ Commission on Environmental Education was established through statute in 1995. Prior to its establishment by statute, Governor Kean's Executive Order No. 205 convened the New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education in 1989, and Governor Florio reconvened it by Executive Order No. 111 in 1993. The purpose of the commission is to develop an environmentally responsible citizenry. This bill adds additional members to the commission. Under the bill, the commission is now to be composed of 32 members. The additional members added under the bill are to include: (1) a designee from the Board of Public Utilities; (2) a designee from the Department of Agriculture; (3) an additional public school teacher; (4) an additional representative from industry; (5) an additional representative from a cultural institution; and (6) a representative of an environmental justice organization. The bill stipulates that, to the greatest extent practicable, an effort is to be made to appoint public members who live in, work in, or represent overburdened communities subject to adverse cumulative stressors as defined by the Department of Environment Protection. The bill updates the duties of the commission to include advising on the implementation of climate, sustainability, and environmental literacy education throughout the State. Additionally, this bill updates the duties of the Inter-agency Work Group to provide that the solicitation of public and private partnerships is to be for the provision of professional development and technical assistance opportunities for school districts, community organizations, and other institutions to expand environmental education programming. | In Committee |
| SJR167 | Recognizes Sanskrit as one of world languages. | This joint resolution declares Sanskrit is one of the world languages. Sanskrit is an ancient proto-Indo-European language, similar to Latin and Greek, and has influenced 97 percent of world languages. The language has a unique origin, not created by man, but the language of Rigveda more than 3,500 years ago. Sanskrit is one of the most systematic, technical, highly versatile, and innovative languages with the largest vocabulary of approximately 102,000 words. Panini was a Sanskrit grammarian who gave a comprehensive and scientific theory of phonetics, phonology, and morphology. Hindus consider Panini as the founder of the Sanskrit grammar and literature. Panini's Ashtadhyayi, meaning eight chapters, provides Sanskrit's complex grammatical adherence, which removed the need for Sanskrit's evolution. The elegant and influential language uses Devanagari for writing and has a sophisticated structure comprising well-organized, structured letters. Sanskrit is perfect for expressing subtle philosophical teachings and is known in Hindu traditions as the language of the gods. Sanskrit has 2,500 years of literature of Vyasa, Vedas, poetry of Kalidasa Ramayana, writings of great philosophers like Adi Shankaracharya, and saints like Narada. NASA scientist, Rick Briggs, reported Sanskrit is one of the most suitable languages for computers because of its efficiency in developing algorithms. Learning the language can improve brain function and increase memory. | In Committee |
| S4678 | Includes retired teachers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher grant program; appropriates $3.5 million. | This bill amends the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher (STEM) grant program to include retired teachers under the program. The bill also authorizes the inclusion of active or retired teachers who may teach some other STEM subject or area, and the payment of grant funds directly to the eligible teacher. In 2019, the Legislature established a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher STEM grant program, P.L 2019, c.256 (C.18A:6-137 et seq.). Under the program, participating nonpublic schools form partnerships with eligible teachers and school districts, in which an eligible teacher employed by the district teaches STEM classes at the nonpublic school. The Commissioner of Education awards grants to participating school districts to provide compensation to participating teachers. This bill allows a STEM teacher who was previously employed by the school district to teach STEM, but is now retired and receiving a retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, to qualify as an eligible teacher under the program, and establishes a formula for the calculation of a retired teacher's remuneration. The bill also authorizes a currently employed or retired teacher who teaches or taught a STEM subject or area other than science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science to participate in the program. The bill provides that the grant funds for the payment of an eligible teacher's salary will be forwarded by the Department of Education directly to the eligible teacher rather than through the school district. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Education to contract with a third party to administer grant fund payments. Finally, the bill appropriates $3.5 million for the program. | In Committee |
| S4677 | Requires certain municipalities to include certain information concerning beach costs and revenues in municipality's public access plan. | This bill would require each municipality with a municipally owned beach for which it charges beach tag fees, to include the following information within its public access plan prepared pursuant to the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.): (1) an itemized budget of the actual costs for each municipally owned beach for the previous beach season; (2) the revenues generated by each municipally owned beach for the previous beach season; (3) an itemized projection of costs for the upcoming beach season; and (4) if the revenues provided exceed the costs provided, an explanation of how the municipality will expend the excess revenue. | In Committee |
| S4680 | Permits nursing services in nonpublic schools to be delivered by licensed medical professionals, including licensed practical nurses. | This bill provides that nursing services provided in nonpublic schools may be delivered by a licensed medical professional, to the extent permitted by the licensed medical professional's scope of practice, including a licensed practical nurse. Current State regulations specify that nursing services in nonpublic schools are to be provided by a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing. | In Committee |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Passed |
| S3713 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | In Committee |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Passed |
| S3486 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | In Committee |
| S3302 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | In Committee |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Passed |
| 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. | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Passed |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Crossed Over |
| S3816 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | In Committee |
| S1054 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Crossed Over |
| S1034 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | In Committee |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Crossed Over |
| S1297 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | In Committee |
| S1784 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | In Committee |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Passed |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | Passed |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Passed |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Crossed Over |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Passed |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Passed |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | "Travel Insurance Act." | Passed |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Passed |
| S2003 | Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse to claim credit with filing status of married filing separately. | This bill expands eligibility under the New Jersey earned income tax credit program for taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse, and cannot file a joint return. Under the federal program, if a taxpayer is married, the taxpayer is required to file a joint return with their spouse to be eligible for the federal earned income credit. However, victims of domestic abuse are typically required to file as married filing separately, losing their federal earned income credit and New Jersey earned income tax credit eligibility in the process. The bill exempts a married taxpayer from the joint filing requirement imposed by federal and State law if the taxpayer files as married filing separately and the taxpayer: (i) is living apart from the taxpayer's spouse at the time the taxpayer files the gross income tax return; (ii) is unable to file a joint return because the taxpayer is a victim of domestic abuse; and (iii) indicates on the taxpayer's gross income tax return that the taxpayer meets the criteria set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| S4048 | Prohibits approving authority from approving construction of certain warehouses on lot of land within 1,000 feet of historic district. | Prohibits approving authority from approving construction of certain warehouses on lot of land within 1,000 feet of historic district. | In Committee |
| S3401 | Establishes eligibility requirements for State small business set-aside program. | This bill establishes requirements for eligibility when the State implements a small business set-aside program. The State currently has a small business set-aside program. This bill clarifies that only businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard established by federal regulations are required to have a certain maximum number of employees. This bill also alters the definitions of gross revenue from a standard of three years in business to a standard of five years in business. The requirements established in this bill will be in addition to any and all rules or regulations, except that these requirements will supersede the rules and regulations adopted as N.J.A.C. 17:13-2.1(a). | In Committee |
| S2376 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Crossed Over |
| S699 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Crossed Over |
| S1989 | Enhances criminal penalties for persons invloved in certain human trafficking activities. | Enhances criminal penalties for persons involved in certain human trafficking activities. | Crossed Over |
| S1148 | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| S4030 | Requires health care professionals to report cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease. | Requires health care professionals to report cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease. | In Committee |
| S3941 | Concerns local unit budget processes and related operations. | This bill makes various changes to local unit budget processes and related operations. The bill extends statutory deadlines for: (1) the mayor or municipal manager, as applicable, to submit a recommended budget to the council of a municipality from January 15 to February 28 of the calendar fiscal year; (2) the governing body of a local unit to introduce and approve the annual budget from January 26 to March 31 for a county and February 10 to March 31 for a municipality operating on a calendar fiscal year. The bill also provides that a governing body of any municipality or county may introduce and approve the annual budget at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the governing body after the dates specified in the statute; (3) to adopt the annual budget from February 25 to April 30 for a county and March 20 to April 30 for a municipality operating on a calendar fiscal year. The bill also provides that a governing body of any municipality or county may introduce and approve the annual budget at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the governing body after the dates specified in the statute; (4) the annual audit of a municipality or county from six months to eight months after the close of the fiscal year; and (5) the annual statement on the financial condition of the local unit from February 10 to March 10 for municipalities operating on a calendar fiscal year. The bill also establishes a 90-day deadline and clarifies procedures to fill vacancies in the following roles with budget-related responsibilities: municipal chief financial officer, county chief financial officer, municipal tax collector, municipal clerk, and principal public works manager. In certain circumstances, the Director of the Division of Local Government Services (director) in the Department of Community Affairs would be permitted to extend the 90-day deadline. Additionally, under current law, members of a local unit governing body are subject to a personal penalty of $25 for failure or refusal to comply with certain statutory responsibilities related to local unit budget processes and operation of a local unit. The bill would increase the personal penalty to $100 for these violations and establish a personal penalty of $100 for failure or refusal to comply with additional existing requirements. For counties and municipalities operating on a calendar fiscal year, the bill also increases the permissible amount of a temporary budget, which is adopted in the first month of the fiscal year and in effect for approximately three months, from 26.25 percent to 35 percent of the previous year's total appropriations. Under current law, the governing body or chief executive officer of any municipality may request a review by the director of the behavior or practices of certain individuals serving the local unit in a professional capacity. The bill allows the director to initiate a review of the behavior or practices of the following: registered municipal clerk, certified tax collector, certified public works manager, and qualified purchasing agent. Finally, the bill allows the director to authorize an extension of the statutory deadlines for municipalities to mail estimated property tax bills upon good cause shown and upon terms or conditions the directors deems reasonable. The bill would be effective on the first day of the 13th month next following enactment and would apply to the next local fiscal year beginning after that date. | In Committee |
| S4004 | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| S4340 | Revises child labor laws concerning employment of minor in theatrical production. | Revises child labor laws concerning employment of minor in theatrical production. | In Committee |
| S4515 | Limits certain requirements for certification of career and technical education teachers. | This bill limits certain requirements for certification of career and technical education teachers. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring a candidate for a certificate of eligibility in a career and technical education endorsement to complete an educator preparation program which exceeds 200-hours of instruction or one academic year. Currently, an individual may become certified with a career and technical education endorsement by going through the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Alternate Route program. The program is designed for those who have not completed a formal teacher preparation program at an accredited institution of higher education, but wish to become a State certified teacher. Alternate route teachers earn a Certificate of Eligibility (CE). The individual is required to first complete a minimum of 50 hours of pre-professional experience in an approved educator preparation program. After completing the 50 hours of formal instruction, the individual is to enroll in a two-year, 350-hour CTE Certificate of Eligibility educator preparation program at Brookdale Community College or William Paterson University. There is currently a shortage of qualified CTE educators. The two-year, 350-hour program has been criticized as having a detrimental effect on the recruitment of CTE teachers as it is viewed as expensive, time-consuming, and lacking in the practical experience currently offered by county vocational-technical school districts. It is the sponsor's intent to address the shortage of CTE teachers by requiring the educator preparation programs to limit the approved CTE alternate route programs to 200-hours of instruction or one academic year. | In Committee |
| S1391 | Establishes New Jersey First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Program; provides gross income tax benefits for certain contributions to and earnings on assets maintained in accounts established under program. | Establishes New Jersey First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Program; provides gross income tax benefits for certain contributions to and earnings on assets maintained in accounts established under program. | In Committee |
| S3813 | Establishes historic distillery license; allows consumption of licensee's products on and off licensed premises under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes a historic distillery license to be issued for use in connection with a premises which is included in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Under the bill, the license holder would be allowed to manufacture any distilled alcoholic beverages and rectify, blend, treat and mix, and fortify, blend, and treat fermented alcoholic beverages. In addition, the license holder would be entitled to sell distilled alcoholic beverages at retail to consumers on the licensed premises of the distillery for consumption on the premises. The license holder also would be entitled to sell this product for consumption off the premises in a quantity of not more than five liters per person. The bill does not establish a limitation on the amount of distilled alcoholic beverages that the holder of this license would be entitled to manufacture. Under current law, the holder of a craft distillery license is limited to annually producing 20,000 gallons or less of distilled alcohol beverages. The license fee would be $1,000. | In Committee |
| S3535 | Permits court to admit evidence of prior offenses in certain criminal prosecutions. | This bill permits the admission of evidence of prior acts of domestic violence, child abuse, and sex offenses in prosecutions for those offenses. The bill permits this evidence to be introduced by the prosecution, but not to be offered to prove conduct on a specific occasion. The bill provides that the evidence may be admitted only after a determination by the trial judge that the evidence is admissible under Rule 403 of the New Jersey Rules of Evidence. Evidence of prior wrongs, crimes, or acts typically is inadmissible in criminal actions. There are exceptions to this rule and the bill would create additional exceptions in criminal prosecutions for domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual offenses. Prosecution of these offenses present unique challenges because offenders rarely commit the offenses in front of witnesses or with recording devices in use, so the availability of corroborating evidence tends to be limited. The rules of evidence in a number of jurisdictions in the United States allow the admission of prior acts of domestic violence including California, Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin, and sexual assault, including California, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Some jurisdictions allow the evidence for any relevant purpose, such as propensity, while other jurisdictions allow this evidence to provide context to the existing relationship. The proposed evidence rule changes would bring New Jersey in line with these other jurisdictions, provide relevant, probative evidence of an offender's guilt, and refute common defenses that historically have enabled offenders to evade accountability. Bolstering the amount of compelling and relevant evidence available in these cases will increase the likelihood of successful prosecution of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault offenders, diminishing the serious public safety threat they present. | In Committee |
| S2013 | Makes local government business administrators eligible for membership in PERS; provides for transfer from Defined Contribution Retirement Program to PERS. | This bill makes business administrators serving in local governments eligible for membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Business administrators currently participate in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). The bill defines "business administrator" as the executive and administrative officer of any political subdivision of the State or any agency, board, commission, authority, or instrumentality of the State or of a subdivision serving in a position with the title of business administrator, municipal or county administrator, municipal or county manager, city manager, town manager, village manager, borough manager, township manager, or any functional equivalent, as the case may be. The bill provides for the transfer to the PERS of a business administrator who is participating in the DCRP within 90 days following the effective date of the bill if the employee meets the eligibility requirements for membership in the PERS at the time of enrollment. The bill requires the PERS notify eligible business administrators of the required enrollment within 15 days after the effective date. The bill specifies that service credit transferred from a participant in the DCRP would be recognized as service credit in the PERS to determine eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits in retirement pursuant to current law. The bill also specifies that the membership tier will be determined by the member's participation date in the DCRP or their original enrollment date in the PERS, if applicable, whichever is earlier. Additionally, the actuary for the PERS is required to determine the unfunded accrued liability resulting from the transfer of the business administrators. This unfunded accrued liability will be amortized over a period of 20 years. The value of the account in the DCRP of the business administrator will be transferred to the PERS in accordance with relevant provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code and Internal Revenue Service guidance. The bill will take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S1406 | Prohibits surgical declawing of cats and other animals. | This bill prohibits a person from performing, or causing to be performed, an onychectomy (declawing) or flexor tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat or other animal, unless the procedure is deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed veterinarian. Any person who violates this provision would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to six months, or both. A violator would also be subject to a civil penalty of between $500 and $2,000. Under the bill, whenever a licensed veterinarian determines that an onychectomy or flexor tendonectomy is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, the veterinarian would be required to file a written statement with the Department of Health, and provide a copy of that statement to the owner of the animal. A veterinarian who fails to comply with this provision would be subject to disciplinary action by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. For purposes of the bill, the term "therapeutic purpose" means for purpose of necessity to address the medical condition of the animal, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in a claw that compromises the animal's health. "Therapeutic purpose" would not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the animal. | In Committee |
| S3914 | Prohibits aquaculture of any species of octopus for purpose of human consumption. | This bill prohibits the aquaculture of any species of octopus for the purpose of human consumption. In addition, this bill prohibits a business entity from selling, possessing, or transporting any species of octopus that is the result or product of aquaculture. Any violation of the bill's provisions would be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000, and each day during which the violation continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. The practice of octopus aquaculture has raised ethical and environmental concerns due to the highly advanced cognitive abilities and complex behaviors exhibited by these animals. Octopus farming practices and conditions, including inadequate living environments and confinement, may subject octopus to significant stress and suffering, compromise their well-being, and lead to adverse behavioral changes. As carnivores, octopuses require a high-protein diet sourced from wild fish and shellfish which could substantially increase demand on marine resources, further depleting fish stocks and disrupting marine ecosystems. Additionally, octopus aquaculture poses further risks to the marine ecosystems due to the heightened potential for the spread of infectious pathogens, which may impact other marine species and ecosystems. | In Committee |
| S4502 | Establishes telecommunication fee to support Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care. | The bill establishes a monthly Statewide 9-8-8 fee in the amount of $0.40 per line per month for each resident of New Jersey who is a subscriber of commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services. The fee will not be applied to mobile service users who receive benefits under the federal Lifeline program. The fee will be collected by the mobile telecommunications company or the telecommunications company providing the applicable service to its customers upon payment of any periodic bill for such service. The fees collected pursuant to this bill will be collected monthly and reported and paid to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury and the State Treasurer will credit the fee revenue to the "9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account" established pursuant to the bill. This bill establishes in the Department of the Treasury within the General Fund a special account to be known as the"9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account." Funds credited to the "9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund Account" will be annually appropriated to pay expenses, including enhancements as needed based upon increased demand that the State is expected to incur that are reasonably attributed to: (1) ensuring the efficient and effective routing and responding to all calls, chats, and texts made to 9-8-8 Lifeline Contact Centers and personnel; (2) the provision of acute mental health, Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Teams and crisis stabilization services, including those provided at Crisis Stabilization and Receiving Centers, Crisis Diversion Homes, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics by directly responding to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline contacts; and (3) public awareness and advertising campaigns to highlight the availability and accessibly of these 9-8-8 continuum services. Money in the fund will be obligated and expended in accordance with the requirements of the "National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020," and rules adopted pursuant thereto. | In Committee |
| S4490 | Prohibits persons from installing, planting, or placing nonfunctional turf or invasive plant species on certain types of property during certain construction projects. | This bill would prohibit, beginning on January 1, 2026, persons from installing, planting, or placing, or allowing another person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf or invasive plant species on certain types of property during certain types of construction projects. Specifically, the bill would apply to the following types of property: any commercial, institutional, or industrial property, including schools and businesses; a street, right-of-way, parking lot, median, or transportation corridor; or any property owned by the State or any county, municipal, or local government unit. The projects covered under the bill would be: (1) a new construction project that requires a building or landscaping permit; or (2) a redevelopment project that requires a building or landscaping permit and involves the disturbance of at least 50 percent of the landscaped area of the property on which the project occurs. "Non-functional turf" is defined by the bill to exclude, among other things, turf that is used for recreational purposes, including playgrounds, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters, parks, and the playing areas of golf courses, such as driving ranges, chipping and putting greens, tee boxes, greens, fairways, and roughs. The bill would establish a list of the invasive species that would be covered by the bill's provisions. The bill would also direct the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture to develop a list, which may be more expansive from the list in the bill. | In Committee |
| S4404 | 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 |
| S3538 | Establishes "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act." | This bill establishes the "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Accesses Act." The bill provides that the reimbursement rate for prescription drug services paid to a pharmacy providing prescription drug services to a beneficiary of the Medicaid program, whether such services are provided in the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or through the Medicaid managed care delivery system, will be no less than the national average drug acquisition cost of the drug plus a Medicaid fee-for-service professional dispensing fee of $10.92. The bill provides that each Medicaid managed care contract executed in this State will include pharmacy choice as a required benefit for any enrollee as outlined under the bill. To ensure that enrollees have access to a competitive selection of providers, each Medicaid managed care organization will permit the enrollee to choose any qualified pharmacy provided that the qualified pharmacy is a contracting provider and provide that no pharmacy will be denied the right to participate as a contracting provider, under the same terms and conditions currently applicable to all other contracting pharmacies, provided that the pharmacy accepts the terms and conditions of the Medicaid managed care contract. The bill requires the State Auditor to perform an audit of pharmacy pricing practices within the Medicaid program to determine the amount of savings the State should accrue from all pharmacies as a result of the provisions of the bill. In conducting this audit, the State Auditor will audit the flow of funds in the State's Medicaid program from managed care organizations to pharmacy benefit managers to pharmacies. In recent years, drug pricing has escalated at unprecedented rates. Restrictive practices that segregate certain drug types and disadvantage patients' choice and access are contributing factors, particularly in Medicaid programs. According to evaluation data found in the Governor's Budget Recommendations, total Medicaid prescription drug spending increased by approximately $700 million, or 3.3 percent, from $2.1 billion in FY 2019 to $2.8 billion in FY 2024. It is the sponsor's belief that ensuring that Medicaid establishes the Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act will provide greater transparency and cost management within the program to reduce waste and cost increases. | In Committee |
| S4317 | Excludes contributions made to certain retirement savings plans under gross income tax. | This bill provides taxpayers a gross income tax exclusion in the amount of contributions made to certain retirement plans that qualify for federal income tax benefits. The affected types of plans are: (1) a plan established under section 401(a) or section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (2) amounts paid for annuity contracts under section 403(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits; (3) a deferred compensation plan of a state or local government that meets the requirements of section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (4) a federal Thrift Savings Plan; or (5) a standard Individual Retirement Account pursuant to section 408 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The contributions to these plans are taxed upon distribution from the account. The bill applies to contributions made or premiums paid in taxable years beginning on or after the January 1 next following the bill's enactment. | In Committee |
| S4338 | Establishes licensure requirement for source plasma donation centers. | This bill would require source plasma donation centers to apply annually for a license from the Department of Health (department) in order to operate within the State. The Commissioner of Health (commissioner) would establish a process by which persons operating a source plasma donation center would apply for licensure. The commissioner would establish the initial licensure fee, as well as the fee for renewal, except that the initial licensure fee for a person who has been operating a source plasma donation center prior to the effective date of this bill would be set at $25. The income received from the licensure and renewal fees would be appropriated to the department. The commissioner, to promote the safety and best practices among source plasma donation centers, would promulgate rules and regulations governing the donations of source plasma. The commissioner would also have enforcement powers, including the power to enter and inspect any source plasma donation center to investigate the premises and the books and records. The commissioner would also have the power to suspend, revoke, and refuse to grant a license. Before any such action can be taken, the commissioner must provide notice and an opportunity to be heard to the applicant or licensee, at a time and place as specified in the notice. However, if the commissioner believes that a violation has occurred that is dangerous to the public health, the commissioner may suspend the donation center's license without notice until the correction is completed. If the licensee denies the existence or occurrence of the condition, the licensee would be able to request a hearing and a decision would be rendered within 48 hours of the receipt for the request for a hearing. If the commissioner rules against the licensee, the licensee could then apply for injunctive relief against the commissioner's order. Jurisdiction for the injunctive relief would be in the Superior Court of New Jersey. Any person who violates the provisions of this act or an order of the commissioner issued pursuant to this bill would be liable to a penalty of not less than $100 but not more than $1,000 for the first offense. For the second and each succeeding offense, a penalty of not less than $500 but not more than $5,000, to be established by the commissioner. The penalties are to be enforced pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S4309 | Requires health insurance coverage of diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (insurance companies, health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and State and School Employees' Health Benefits Program contracts) to provide coverage for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing. Under the bill, "diagnostic breast examination" means a medically necessary and appropriate, in accordance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines, examination of the breast (including, but not limited to, such an examination using contrast-enhanced mammography, diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, breast ultrasound, or molecular breast imaging) that is used to evaluate an abnormality: (1) seen or suspected from a screening examination for breast cancer; or (2) detected by another means of examination. Under the bill, "supplemental breast examination" means a medically necessary and appropriate, in accordance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines, examination of the breast (including, but not limited to, such an examination using contrast-enhanced mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, breast ultrasound, or molecular breast imaging) that is: (1) used to screen for breast cancer when there is no abnormality seen or suspected; and (2) based on personal or family medical history or additional factors that increase the individual's risk of breast cancer (including heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts). | In Committee |
| SCR130 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to establish casino gaming at Monmouth Park Racetrack and Meadowlands Racetrack; dedicates State's revenues. | This constitutional amendment would allow the Legislature to establish casino games at the Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands racetracks. Upon approval of this amendment, the Legislature may pass a law prescribing the specific kind, restrictions, and control of operations of such casino games. The State's share of revenues derived from casino games at these two locations would be dedicated to the following purposes: 45 percent of such revenues would be dedicated to provide funding for reductions in property taxes; 20 percent of such revenues would be dedicated to provide funding for extraordinary special education aid; 10 percent of such revenues would be dedicated to provide funding for the State pension systems; 10 percent of such revenues would be dedicated to provide funding for cost-of-living adjustments for retired State employees; 10 percent of such revenues would be dedicated to provide funding for the support of Atlantic City tourism; and five percent of such revenues would be dedicated to provide funding for the running and harness horse racing industry in this State, as the Legislature will provide by law. The types and number of casino games which may be conducted at these racetracks, and the taxes imposed these games, will be determined by the Legislature by passing a new law. | In Committee |
| S4339 | Provides accidental disability benefits to police who contract COVID-19 under certain circumstances. | This bill provides that certain public safety workers who contract coronavirus disease 2019 from June 5, 2021 until January 31, 2022 as a result of contracting the disease will be entitled to full accidental disability benefits under certain circumstances. Specifically, a worker will be entitled to those benefits if the worker: (1) contracts coronavirus disease 2019 during a time period in which the worker is working in a place of employment other than the worker's own residence; (2) is a member of the police; and (3) is permanently and totally disabled as a direct result of contracting coronavirus disease 2019. | In Committee |
| S4341 | Concerns local unit appropriations cap. | The bill makes certain changes to the statutory limitations on municipal appropriations. Current law, under section 3 of P.L.1976, c.68 (C.40A:4-45.3), requires that a municipality limit appropriation increases to 2.5 percent or the cost-of-living adjustment, whichever is less, over the previous year's final appropriations, but provides for certain exceptions. The bill would add increases in pension contributions and accrued liability for pension contributions in excess of 3.5 percent to an existing list of allowable exceptions That statute also currently allows municipalities that are experiencing fiscal distress to appropriate and expend an amount of surplus approved by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services (director) in the Department of Community Affairs and the Local Finance Board (board) as an exception to the spending limitation. Under certain circumstances, the bill would allow the board to authorize a municipality to permanently add to its appropriation cap base an amount of surplus as approved by the director. The bill also requires approval of the director for a municipality participating in an interlocal or shared services agreement to add the amount of projected annual savings to the amount of final appropriations upon which its permissible expenditures are calculated. Additionally, section 5 of P.L.1990, c.89 (C.40A:4-45.3d) currently allows the board to grant exceptions upon a finding of extraordinary circumstances that result in an unanticipated increase in expenditures for a service essential to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the State. The bill also allows such exceptions for goods essential to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the State. The bill also increases the total health care costs available for an exemption under current law, section 13 of P.L.2007, c.62 (C.40A:4-45.3e), for amounts in excess of 3.5 percent above, rather than four percent above, total health care costs in the prior year. Finally, the bill provides for adjustment of county and municipal cap bases to reflect transfers of financing responsibility for a service or function previously funded, in whole or in part, by a private entity or a non-profit entity. The bill would take effect immediately and apply to municipal budget years beginning after that date. | In Committee |
| S4337 | Permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives. | This bill permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives. Under the bill, an individual who is 18 years of age or older, an emancipated minor, or a patient's authorized representative, as this term is defined in the bill, may execute a voluntary nonopioid directive stating that an opioid may not be administered or prescribed to the individual. A voluntary nonopioid directive is to be made on a form that is to be developed by the Department of Health and published on the department's Internet website. Nothing in the bill is to prevent an opioid from being prescribed to a patient if deemed medically necessary. A health care professional, a health care facility, or an employee of a health care professional or health care facility is to be immune from disciplinary action by the Department of Health or a licensing agency or board for any act that was done to comply with the bill's provisions. Further, a health care professional, a health care facility, or an employee of a health care professional or health care facility is to be immune from any civil or criminal liability for failure to administer, prescribe, or dispense an opioid, and for inadvertent administration of an opioid, to an individual who has a voluntary nonopioid directive, if the act or the failure was reasonable and done in good faith. | In Committee |
| S2818 | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | In Committee |
| S3199 | Establishes New Jersey-Haiti Commission. | An Act establishing the New Jersey-Haiti Commission and supplementing chapter 18A of Title 52. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2606 | Requires Medicaid reimbursement of mental health rehabilitation services provided via clubhouse program. | Requires Medicaid reimbursement of mental health rehabilitation services provided via clubhouse program. | Crossed Over |
| A2813 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | An Act concerning the Social Work Licensure Compact and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3388 | Allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. | An Act concerning transference of prescriptions and amending P.L.2003, c.280. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4286 | Establishes certain protections for health care professionals who receive behavioral health care and apply for State licensure. | This bill establishes certain protections for health care professionals who receive behavioral health care and are seeking State licensure as health care professionals. This bill is intended to encourage healthcare professionals to seek behavioral health care without fear of licensing repercussions. The bill aims to strike a balance between ensuring patient safety and encouraging healthcare professionals to seek behavioral health treatment. Under the bill, no State board or agency that licenses health care professionals in the State is permitted to inquire into an applicant's history of receiving behavioral health care during the licensing or license renewal process, except when inquiring about a behavioral health condition that impairs the applicant's ability to practice health care safely. A State board or agency will limit any questions on any licensing or license renewal forms concerning the applicant's behavioral health to inquiries about current impairments affecting the applicant's ability to perform the essential functions of the professional role with reasonable skill and safety. A State board or agency may inquire whether an applicant has a current health condition, including a behavioral health condition that impairs the applicant's ability to practice health care safely. Such inquiry must include assurances that the applicant will not face board or agency action if the applicant is receiving treatment for a behavioral health care condition and not currently impaired. Any inquiry responses related to past or current behavioral health care provided to an applicant will remain confidential and, if there is no impairment to the applicant's ability to practice safely, such responses will not be used as the sole basis for denial of licensure or license renewal or imposition of a requirement by the board or agency that the applicant participate in a treatment program as a condition of licensure. The bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to provide training to each State licensing board and agency and the board and agency's staff on how to handle behavioral health disclosures in a non-stigmatizing manner. | In Committee |
| S4299 | Creates Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission, Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency, and hospital price transparency regulations; appropriates $5 million. | This bill creates the Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission (commission), the Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency (office), and hospital price transparency regulations. Under the bill, the purpose of the office is to provide support, staffing, infrastructure, and expertise to the commission, and to comprehensively address health care cost growth while also establishing data analytics and public reporting mechanisms to ensure healthcare affordability, informed policymaking, and access for future generations. The office is to establish guidelines for health care entities to submit necessary data for the yearly evaluation of total health care expenditures, their incremental growth, pricing information, pricing incremental growth, the formulation of the healthcare cost growth benchmark and the hospital price benchmark, and for publishing relevant data publicly. Under the bill, the purpose of the 18 member commission is to: monitor, analyze, and contain health care prices by identifying drivers of health care cost growth including hospital price growth; establishing and adopting a health care cost growth benchmark and a hospital price growth benchmark; identifying health care entities that exceed the benchmark or benchmarks; and addressing increases in excess of the benchmark or benchmarks through public transparency, opportunities for remediation, and other actions, including civil penalties. The commission is to set a cost growth benchmark for health care entities. The commission is to impose civil penalties, pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), on health care entities that either fail to respond to the commission's request to submit a corrective action plan or comply with the requirements of a corrective action plan. The bill provides that the Department of Health is to require hospitals to be in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements and provide a written warning notice to or request a corrective action plan from any hospital that is not in compliance with these federal requirements. A hospital is to be prohibited from attempting to collect a medical debt from a patient if the hospital is not, at the time of providing medical services to the patient, in compliance with the provisions of this bill. A hospital that fails to act in accordance with the provisions of this bill is to be liable to a civil penalty of $10 per day per hospital bed for each offense, pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The bill appropriates to the office such sums as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this bill, as determined by the Commissioner of Health, but in no case is this amount to exceed $5,000,000. | In Committee |
| S3098 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | In Committee |
| S2688 | Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. | This bill will enter New Jersey into the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact establishes a multistate license system in which an individual licensed at the clinical, master's or bachelor's level in social work needs only to obtain licensure in one state that is a party to the compact in order to practice as a social worker in another member state to the compact, so long as certain requirements established under the compact are met by the individual. Under the bill, provisions are established regarding, among other items, the authority of a member state's licensing authority; how an adverse action against a multistate licensee is managed; the set-up of the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission and its Executive Committee; the collection of data on member states; and how to withdraw from the compact, if sought by a member state. | In Committee |
| S2078 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | In Committee |
| S2034 | "Pet Insurance Act." | "Pet Insurance Act." | In Committee |
| S1192 | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | In Committee |
| S1991 | Establishes timeframe for adoption of, and requires public comment on, proposed annual economic benefits for certain solid waste facilities; authorizes residents to petition State to establish or adjust annual economic benefit. | Establishes timeframe for adoption of, and requires public comment on, proposed annual economic benefits for certain solid waste facilities; authorizes residents to petition State to establish or adjust annual economic benefit. | In Committee |
| S4157 | Requires DCA to enable certain construction subcode applicants to electronically submit certain materials for permit application review; limits requirements for physical seal on documents at worksite. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to accept electronic submissions from a licensed plumbing, electrical, or heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractor corresponding to the contractor's discipline. Submissions for which the bill requires DCA to accept electronic submissions include, but are not limited to, subcode application forms or documents supporting the applications, such as shop drawings or documents displaying the calculations necessary for compliance with the electrical, fire protection, or energy subcode. The bill prohibits DCA from requiring the physical seal or signature of these contractors to be affixed to the subcode application form. Additionally, this bill prohibits DCA from requiring physical copies of plans at the worksite of a licensed plumbing, electrical, or heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractor to have an affixed physical seal. This bill is to take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Community Affairs is permitted to take anticipatory actions necessary to comply with the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3506 | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | In Committee |
| S3695 | Requires cell phone and social media guidelines to be developed by DOE and policy to be adopted by each school district. | Requires cell phone and social media guidelines to be developed by DOE and policy to be adopted by each school district. | Crossed Over |
| S199 | Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. | Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. | Crossed Over |
| S2061 | Requires State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct study of utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in State procurement process. | This bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer to study disabled veteran-owned businesses to determine whether disparities exist between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process. The Chief Diversity Officer will prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report containing the study's findings and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to promote opportunities for disabled veteran-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for the State. After the disparity study is submitted, the Chief Diversity Officer may, in the officer's discretion, prepare and submit additional reports identifying the extent to which previous recommendations have been successfully implemented and any impact the implementation of such recommendations have had on State procurement in the preceding years. Studies which demonstrate the disparity between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based procurement programs. | In Committee |
| S4227 | Establishes "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month" in New Jersey. | Since January 2025, several federal executive orders have been signed aiming to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the federal government. Subsequently, several federal agencies have taken actions to comply with the executive orders, including the Defense Intelligence Agency, which has ordered a pause of all events related to several special observances. These special observances include Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, Juneteenth, Women's Equality Day, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month. These federal executive orders have also resulted in the removal of certain terms related to gender identity. The removal is evidenced through actions taken by the federal government, such as updated forms replacing the term "gender" with "sex," websites related to diversity, equity, and inclusion being shut down, and health resources for transgender individuals being taken down from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. In addition, since the Stonewall National Monument is funded by the National Park Service, the monument's website removed any references to transgender or queer individuals. Federally funded research projects have also been required to pause while staff at the National Science Foundation search the research projects for dozens of words that could violate the executive orders, including "women," "disability," "bias," "status," "trauma," "Black," "Hispanic," "socioeconomic," "ethnicity," and "systemic." The State of New Jersey currently celebrates commemorative days and months including, but not limited to, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Juneteenth, Women's Equality Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Disability Employment Awareness Month. It is appropriate for the State of New Jersey to acknowledge the importance of promoting the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion by additionally commemorating "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month." Therefore, this bill designates the month of June of each year as "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month" in New Jersey. LGBTQIA+ individuals have historically been persecuted by discriminatory laws and policies that denied access to rights, programs, benefits, and services otherwise guaranteed to the general population. Commemorating "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month" is imperative to acknowledge the contributions LGBTQIA+ individuals, including those who identify as transgender or queer, have made and continue to make to strengthen the fabric of American society, as well as to celebrate authenticity, acceptance, inclusion, and love. | In Committee |
| S4158 | Prohibits requirement for beach tag for access to beach below mean high tide line for recreational purposes. | This bill would prohibit a municipality from requiring a municipal beach tag or similar admission pass for access to the wet sandy beach below the mean high tide line, for an individual for the exclusive purpose of using the ocean for a recreational activity. | In Committee |
| S4159 | Concerns issuance of standard basic driver's licenses to individuals with certain disabilities after expiration of prior license. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to allow a person with an expired standard basic driver's license to renew the person's standard basic driver's license without being required to re-take the written examination or the road test in certain circumstances. To be eligible for license renewal without being required to re-take the written examination or the road test, the person is required to produce documentation from certain medical professionals that demonstrates that the person has either a mental or a psychological condition that interferes with the person's ability to renew the person's license in person at a commission agency location. Additionally, for the person to be eligible for this license renewal process, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is required to determine, based on the person's prior driving record, that the person can safely operate a motor vehicle. | In Committee |
| S4156 | Prohibits automobile insurance policies from disclaiming uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage based on use of motor vehicle owned by insured's employer. | This bill prohibits an automobile insurance policy from disclaiming uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage based on the insured's operation, maintenance, or use, for the business purposes of the insured's employer, of a motor vehicle that is owned by the insured's employer. The prohibition against disclaimer applies even if the insured regularly uses the employer's motor vehicle. This bill is a response to multiple case law decisions, including Venters v. Selected Risks Insurance Company, Edouard v. GEICO, and Siemietkoski v. Velasquez-Flores. Those cases allow insurers to deny coverage, preventing insureds from recovering against their uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage when injured in a motor vehicle accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver while using an employer's vehicle. | In Committee |
| S4155 | Requires Office of Homelessness Prevention to contract with county agencies or nonprofits to issue certain identification and birth certificates to individuals experiencing homelessness; appropriates $2 million. | This bill requires the Office of Homelessness Prevention (OHP) in the Department of Community Affairs to contract with a county agency or nonprofit in each county of the State that administers homelessness programs to issue personal identification, in a form and manner as determined by the director, and to coordinate provision of copies of birth certificates to individuals experiencing homelessness. A county agency or nonprofit is to be permitted to directly access and issue a birth certificate maintained by the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry and shall notify the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry of each issuance. This bill appropriates $2 million from General Fund, which shall be divided among the contracted county agencies or nonprofits pursuant to the bill, prorated based on the homeless population of each county, to the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs, to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3993 | Changes certain requirements for inspection of records of motor vehicle sales. | Changes certain requirements for inspection of records of motor vehicle sales. | Crossed Over |
| SR100 | Urges federal government to raise federal poverty line for public assistance programs. | This resolution urges the federal government to raise the federal poverty line for public assistance programs. The current federal poverty line was developed in the 1960s and was based on a household's ability to afford basic foodstuffs alone; it did not account for other living expenses such as housing, transportation, child care, and health care, which have all risen exponentially in price over the past sixty years. The federal government has not changed the original calculation for the poverty line since its inception, aside from adjusting for inflation. Consequently, nearly 53 million households cannot afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and health care, but only 37.9 million are officially recorded as living in poverty, as of 2022. The poverty threshold is used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs. As a result, the individuals and households who do not earn enough money to support their basic needs but do not meet the stringent limits of the current federal poverty line are without access to public assistance. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the rampant rate of inflation have only worsened the cost-of-living crisis, increasing the financial burden on many poor Americans who cannot access social welfare. In addition, recent policies to raise the minimum wage across the country have had unintended consequences for low-wage earners who have lost access to public assistance in exchange for a marginal, and often insufficient, increase in pay, resulting in a benefits cliff. By raising the federal poverty line, the federal government can more accurately report the number of impoverished Americans and, therefore, expand access to public assistance programs for the individuals and households who need it. [CM1]This number increased from 51 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. [CM2]This number decreased from 38.1 million when I first researched and drafted this assignment in July 2023. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2386 | Provides gross income tax credit to active members of volunteer emergency service organizations for use of personal motor vehicle in performance of active duty. | This bill establishes a refundable gross income tax credit to provide reimbursement to active members of volunteer fire departments and first aid squads for the use of their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The amount of the credit is determined by multiplying the business standard mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue Service for transportation or travel expenses by the number of miles the taxpayer actually and necessarily traveled by the taxpayer in the tax year using their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The maximum amount of the credit would be $500. If married individuals filing a joint return both qualify, they would be allowed a joint credit of up to $1,000. To be eligible for the credit, a taxpayer would, in the taxable year for which the credit was claimed, have to: (1) have been an unpaid member in good standing of the organization; and (2) have completed "qualifying service" with the organization. The bill defines "qualifying service" as: (a) for a volunteer who does not have duty hours, (i) active participation in at least 60 percent of the regular alarms or other calls to active duty to which the organization responds during the taxable year, (ii) recorded attendance at not less than 60 percent of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, (iii) participation in all of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, and (iv) performance during the year of not less than 60 percent of any other miscellaneous duty required by the organization; or (b) for a volunteer who does have duty hours, performance of at least 400 duty hours during the year, of which no more than 50 percent could be for drills or other training classes or exercises. The bill requires each volunteer emergency services organization to certify to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, on or before January 15 of each year, a list of the active members of the organization during the prior tax year. The certification will assist the Division of Taxation in verifying a taxpayer's eligibility for a gross income tax credit under the bill. | Crossed Over |
| S4008 | Imposes locational restriction on construction of a new crematory. | Imposes locational restriction on construction of a new crematory. | In Committee |
| S3536 | Concerns distribution of 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account. | This bill expands the purposes funded by the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account." Under this bill, funds credited to the account are to be annually appropriated to pay any costs associated with the recruitment and retention of first responders. The bill also allocates, annually, five percent of funds credited to the account to the New Jersey EMS Task Force, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides emergency medical services throughout New Jersey and regularly collaborates with the State. | In Committee |
| S4137 | Requires Director of Division of Local Government Services in DCA to establish grant program to enhance local government efficiency; appropriates $1.5 million. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Local Government Services (division) in the Department of Community Affairs to establish a local government unit management enhancement review grant program. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to local government units to contract with management enhancement review consultants, as defined in the bill, to conduct local government unit efficiency reviews and to make recommendations to streamline operations and reduce costs. Under the bill, to participate in the program, a local government is required to submit an application to the division detailing the local government unit's proposed plans for the grant funding, including, but not limited to:· the amount of grant funding being sought by the local government unit; · a description of how the grant funding will be used to conduct an efficiency review; and· the proposed sources of matching funding to be used by the local government unit to conduct the efficiency review. Under the bill, after reviewing the applications, the Director of the division is required to select local government units to receive a management enhancement review grant. In selecting grant recipients, the director is to consider factors specified in the bill. The maximum grant award under the program is $150,000 for a county-based local government unit and $100,000 for a municipal-based local government unit. The bill requires a local government unit that receives a grant under the program to contribute 25 percent of the grant award amount to the management enhancement review. Within one year of receiving a grant, each participating local government unit is required to submit a report to the director detailing:· the expenditures of the grant funds under the program; · the specific shared services, operating efficiencies, or improved delivery of services achieved as a result of the management enhancement review; and· the specific cost savings achieved as a result of the shared services, operating efficiencies, or improved delivery of services. The director is required to compile the reports submitted for inclusion in a comparative profile of the participating local government units and to post the profile for public inspection on the division's Internet website in an easily accessible location. The bill appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund to the division to provide grants to local government units to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3815 | Directs DEP to select consultant to perform Statewide needs assessment regarding recycling of packaging products; establishes "Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council" in DEP; appropriates $500,000. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to select a qualified consultant, though a competitive bidding process, to conduct a Statewide needs assessment to assess recycling, composting, and reuse conditions for packaging in the State. The bill would appropriate $500,000 to the DEP to finance the needs assessment. The final needs assessment would be required to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature no later than June 1, 2027. The bill would establish various requirements for what would be included in the needs assessment, as enumerated in subsection c. of section 2 of the bill, including the program costs and capital investments required to achieve optimal recycling rate goals by 2035 for each material type, including paper, plastic, glass, and metal, and including investment into existing and future reuse, recycling, and composting infrastructure for packaging. The bill would require the consultant contracted by the DEP to provide, no later than December 31, 2026, a draft needs assessment to the "Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council" (established by the bill). The advisory council would be required to provide written comments to the consultant no later than 90 days after receipt of the draft needs assessment. The consultant would then incorporate those comments into a final needs assessment, to be submitted to the DEP no later than May 1, 2027. The bill would establish a temporary "Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council" within the DEP. Members of the council would be appointed by the DEP commissioner, and the commissioner would determine the number of members on the council. However, the bill would establish certain minimum requirements for the council's membership, as enumerated in subsection c. of section 3 of the bill. The bill would establish certain duties for the council, including submitting a report to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations on the State's recycling laws and programs. The council would be dissolved 30 days after the final needs assessment is submitted by the DEP to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| S3814 | Establishes Dog Training Licensing Board to license and regulate dog trainers. | This bill provides oversight for dog trainers. Specifically, the bill establishes the Dog Training Licensing Board and provides authorization for the board to, among other items: 1) develop educational and experiential requirements for licensure as a dog trainer; and 2) adopt rules and regulations regarding dog training. Under the bill, the board is also to establish an evidence-based, humane training code of practice that aligns with current welfare principles and incorporates scientifically-endorsed methods that preclude the use of aversive training methods. The bill stipulates that licensees are to adopt and practice the Hippocratic "First, do no harm" ethic. The board is authorized to investigate all complaints relating to the proper practice of any licensee and complaints relating to any violation of the bill. The board may also impose disciplinary measures based on a finding of a violation under a preponderance of the evidence standard. The bill includes an exemption from the educational and experiential requirements for individuals who demonstrate the provision of services as a dog trainer continuously in the State for at least one year prior to the effective date of the bill. The bill does not apply to persons who train police dogs or who train dogs intended for use by federal or State agencies to protect the public. | In Committee |
| S3558 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for the treatment of stuttering. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) and the State Medicaid program to provide coverage for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy. Whether treatment is a medical necessity is to be determined by the covered person's medical doctor. The bill requires coverage to be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth, without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements, and without cost-sharing. Pursuant to the bill, "habilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living; and "rehabilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person restore or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired. | In Committee |
| S2385 | Increases tuition credit amount permitted under volunteer tuition credit program. | This bill increases the tuition credit amount permitted under the volunteer tuition credit program. Under current law, certain persons who are active members of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association in good standing and the person's dependent children and spouse are permitted to enroll in a postsecondary program on a tuition-free basis in a county college, county vocational school or county technical institution and be eligible to receive tuition credit in an amount not to exceed a maximum of $2,400 provided the person agrees to serve as a member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association for a minimum of four years of service. Current law provides for a tuition credit of up to $600 following each year of service not to exceed a maximum of $2,400 for the member, dependent, and spouse over a four-year service period. This bill increases the tuition credit amount from $600 to $1,250 per year of service, not to exceed a maximum of $5,000 for the member, dependent, and spouse over a four-year service period. | In Committee |
| S2038 | Requires public institution of higher education to post certain information on institution's website. | Requires public institution of higher education to post certain information on institution's website. | Crossed Over |
| S653 | Allows certain persons with developmental disabilities 21 years of age and older to simultaneously participate in adult day and employment programs. | Allows certain persons with developmental disabilities 21 years of age and older to simultaneously participate in adult day and employment programs. | In Committee |
| A3894 | Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee. | An Act concerning fire safety by making changes to certain licensure requirements, equipment requirements, advisory committee memberships, penalties, and fees and amending P.L.1991, c.92, P.L.2001, c.289, and P.L.1983, c.383. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4104 | Permits deputy clerks to perform marriages. | This bill expands the list of public officials that may perform marriages or civil union ceremonies to include deputy county clerks. Currently, the public officials that may perform ceremonies include: judges (the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, any federal district court, United States magistrate, municipal court, Superior Court, Tax Court, and administrative law); retired judges (Superior Court, Tax Court, and retired administrative law); former judges of courts that are no longer in existence, who resigned in good standing (the former County Court, the former County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, or the former County District Court); surrogates of any county; county clerks; and any mayor or former mayor not currently serving on the municipal governing body or the deputy mayor when authorized by the mayor; or chairman of any township committee or village president of this State. | In Committee |
| S4059 | Allows veteran service organizations to obtain license to serve members alcoholic beverages. | This bill establishes a veteran's service organization license that would allow certain veteran organizations to sell alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises and only to bona fide members of a veteran's service organization, guests of a bona fide member, affiliated bona fide members of other veteran service organizations, and members of auxiliary organizations that are allied with other veteran's service organizations. The bill defines veteran's service organization as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or other veterans' organizations chartered under federal law, or any service foundation of such an organization recognized in its bylaws. Under current law, these veteran organizations may obtain a club license to serve alcoholic beverages to members and guests but are prohibited from serving alcoholic beverages to auxiliary and affiliated members. Under the bill, a bona fide member of a veteran's service organization would be permitted to have not more than nine individuals as guests on any one occasion and host private events. The bill prohibits affiliated and auxiliary members from having guests and hosting private events on the premises of a veteran's service organization at which they are not a member. A bona fide member who hosts a private event would be required to provide all of the alcoholic beverages which are to be purchased off the licensed premises. The license holder would be prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages or charging a fee for the consumption of alcoholic beverages at a private event but would be allowed sell food and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises. | In Committee |
| S4056 | Prohibits health insurance carriers from placing time limit on coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. | This bill prohibits health insurance carriers from placing a time limit on the coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. Under the bill, a carrier (including an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in the State) will be prohibited from limiting coverage based on the amount of time in which anesthesia services are used before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. For the purpose of this bill, "anesthesia services" means the same as the prevailing medical coding standards found within the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology code for anesthesia, including anesthesia modifier codes. | In Committee |
| S4067 | Requires health insurance carriers to reimburse health care providers for vaccines at rate no less than CDC cost per dose rate. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (including insurance companies, health, hospital, and medical service corporations, and health maintenance organizations) to reimburse a health care provider that provides a vaccine at a rate that is no less than the vaccine's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cost per dose rate pursuant to the CDC vaccine price list. The CDC cost per dose rate is to be the rate in effect on the date the vaccine was provided. The CDC vaccine price list provides the CDC and private sector cost per dose contract prices for vaccines. | In Committee |
| SJR70 | Designates last weekend in October as "Honor Your Hometown Weekend." | This joint resolution designates the last weekend in October every year as "Honor Your Hometown Weekend" in New Jersey to recognize and appreciate the towns, cities, communities, and neighborhoods that have shaped the bonds between people, with the State, and with the nation. The resolution respectfully requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation and to call upon public officials and all citizens of the State to observe "Honor Your Hometown Weekend" with appropriate programs and activities. The resolution also respectfully requests the Governor to, until so designated, call upon Congress and the President of the United States to designate a national weekend of celebration to honor America's hometowns for the reasons set forth in this resolution. | Crossed Over |
| S1659 | Requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome and requires installation of signage in certain women's rooms to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. | This bill requires each school district to incorporate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome in grades four through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. This bill would also require the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. This requirement would only apply to restrooms that include two or more toilets. The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill would require the menstrual toxic shock syndrome signs to be installed in the necessary restrooms on or before the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations by the department. Under the bill, "group A or M occupancy" means an Assembly Group A occupancy or a Mercantile Group M occupancy, as defined in the most recently adopted New Jersey International Building Code. Under the bill, locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade five are excluded from the "group A or M occupancy" definition. This bill is intended to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome, a potentially serious illness that can develop quickly. Women that use tampons and similar devices have a higher risk of contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome. Early symptoms may include a low fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and headaches. As menstrual toxic shock syndrome progresses, symptoms may include a high fever, vomiting, rashes, redness of the eyes, lips and tongue, low blood pressure, and mental confusion. Menstrual toxic shock syndrome is generally treated with antibiotics. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. This bill is in honor of Madalyn "Maddy" Massabni, who tragically passed away on March 30, 2017, just days after contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome. Maddy was a 2016 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was just beginning her academic career at Lynn University in Florida. | In Committee |
| S715 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | An Act concerning sexual assault forensic evidence kits and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4029 | Makes FY2025 supplemental appropriation of $10 million for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program. | The bill supplements the FY2025 appropriations act by appropriating $10 million to the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to create a grant program for State and local officials to purchase equipment or training necessary to address sightings of unidentifiable Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones. The recent surge in mass sightings of UAS and unexplained usage of this technology in national airspace is disconcerting to the citizens of New Jersey and a potential threat to critical infrastructure. This supplemental appropriation provides needed funds to support State and local law enforcement in safeguarding vital assets and ensuring strict adherence to all regulations and requirements associated with UAS ownership and operation in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| SCR119 | Urges federal government to develop protocols for State and local law enforcement to respond to drones. | This resolution urges the President, Congress, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to develop protocols and mechanisms for State and local law enforcement to investigate and respond to threats posed by unidentified unmanned aircraft, also known as drones. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration is not authorized to delegate formal enforcement functions to State and local governments. This resolution requests that the federal government expand the powers of State and local law enforcement to mitigate aerial threats to public safety. New Jersey has recently experienced a surge in sightings of drones. The drones appear to be larger than any craft a hobbyist would be permitted to own. These sightings, which have occurred on the heels of similar sightings of drone activity on United States military bases in England, have occurred in several counties and usually happen between dusk and dawn. Troublingly, many have been spotted over sensitive locations such as military installations, the Round Valley Reservoir, and a residence of the President-elect. It is the sponsor's intent to provide the law enforcement professionals of New Jersey with the authority and means to investigate and mitigate threats posed by unidentified drones. | In Committee |
| S3998 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| S4045 | Requires controlled dangerous substances seized by law enforcement officers to be tested for presence of xylazine; requires reporting to DOH. | This bill requires controlled dangerous substances seized by law enforcement officers to be tested for the presence of xylazine in accordance with protocols established by the Division of State Police. The bill requires the Division of State Police to transfer the information pertaining to the presence of xylazine in controlled dangerous substances to the Department of Health for inclusion in the New Jersey State Assessment Data System and Overdose Data Dashboard maintained by the Center for Health Statistics and Informatics. Under current law, the Attorney General has established a program to monitor and analyze trends related to the presence and content of fentanyl in illegal substances seized by law enforcement throughout the State. The information is compiled in a database accessible to all law enforcement agencies. Under the bill, xylazine is required to be included as a dangerous substance to be monitored and analyzed by the State Police. The bill also requires the database to include any other information that the Attorney General determines to be relevant to fentanyl or xylazine use that is received by the forensic laboratory in the Division of State Police and Chief State Medical Examiner. Xylazine, which is also known by the street names "tranq," "tranq dope," and "zombie drug," has been approved for use as an animal sedative and is commonly used in veterinary practice, but has not been approved for use in humans. However, it has been reported that xylazine has been increasingly detected in illegal street drugs, and particularly in opioid drugs, as it can enhance and prolong the euphoric effects of opioids. | In Committee |
| S3997 | Provides PERS members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and transfers all current non-retired members of PERS to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of PERS. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to PERS, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to PERS. Any years of service credit transferred to PERS from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with PERS, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into PERS and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to PERS within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to PERS. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of PERS who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of PERS will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A3853 | Extends certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth until July 1, 2026. | An Act regarding telemedicine and telehealth and amending P.L.2021, c.310. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2580 | Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee. | Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee. | In Committee |
| S2988 | Extends certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth until July 1, 2026. | Extends certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth until July 1, 2026. | In Committee |
| S765 | Revises law prohibiting feeding of bears; establishes program in DEP for distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. | Revises law prohibiting feeding of bears; establishes program in DEP for distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. | In Committee |
| S3965 | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | In Committee |
| S3989 | Expands list of animals prohibited from use in traveling animal acts; limits certain exceptions to apply only at educational institutions. | This bill would amend section 1 of P.L.2018, c.141 (C.23:2A-16), known as "Nosey's Law," by expanding the list of animals covered under the law. Nosey's law prohibits the use of "wild or exotic animals" in a traveling animal act. Currently, domestic species such as cattle, bison, domestic dogs, domestic cats, domestic horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules are excluded from the definition of "wild or exotic animals" under the law. This bill would remove the exclusions from the definition. Additionally, two new animal classifications would be added to the definition of "wild or exotic animals," lagomorpha (rabbits and hares) and rodentia (rodents). This bill would make it illegal to use these animals in a traveling animal act. Finally, the bill would limit the exceptions provided in the current law to provide that the prohibition on the use of certain animals in a traveling exhibition would not apply only when outreach programs for bona fide educational or conservation purposes are conducted at an educational institution. | In Committee |
| S305 | Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS. | This bill requires the enrollment in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law, as a condition of employment for service as an administrative law judge for each judge enrolled after the effective date of the bill. Currently, administrative law judges are enrolled in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Administrative law judges will be subject to and governed by the laws and regulations of the Workers' Compensation Judges Part which was established in 2001 and reopened in 2021. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in the DCRP will be transferred out of the program to the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in PERS will be transferred into the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. The account in the DCRP for each judge will be transferred and each judge will be given service credit for service during participation in the program of administrative law judges. The unfunded liability for the benefits provided by the transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| S2002 | Permits issuance of motorcycle endorsement to certain out-of-State military personnel. | This bill allows out-of-State members of the military, spouses of those members, and their dependents, to receive a motorcycle endorsement for their valid New Jersey driver's license while serving in another state without returning to New Jersey to retake a written or road test, or to complete another motorcycle safety course. The bill requires the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission to issue the endorsement by mail if the person pays the fee, and provides documentation of the completion of an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Rider Education Course. The person is also required to provide documentation of the person's assignment outside of the State. | In Committee |
| S1630 | Requires DMVA to provide mortgage loan counseling under certain circumstances. | This bill requires the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) to provide counseling and assistance to applicants for a mortgage loan for a property in New Jersey that is to be guaranteed by the federal "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944," commonly known as the G.I. Bill. Under the bill, loan counseling and assistance is required to include a review of the terms and restrictions of the loan, information determined by the NJHMFA to be appropriate for a veteran seeking a housing loan under the G.I. Bill, and any other information that may be required under federal law, rule, or regulation. This bill requires residential mortgage lenders in New Jersey to provide a separate disclosure form with each application stating that a veteran seeking a housing loan under the G.I. Bill has been offered loan counseling services pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1430 | Provides for expanded use of affordable housing voucher program funding. | An Act concerning use of affordable housing vouchers for homeownership expenses, amending P.L.2004, c.140, and supplementing P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3545 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| S3940 | Clarifies consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not include or imply consent to disclosure of image. | This bill amends the invasion of privacy statute, N.J.S.A.2C:14-9, to clarify that a person's consent to being photographed, filmed, videotaped, recorded, observed, or otherwise having their nude, sexual, or sexually suggestive image reproduced is not be construed to include or imply the person's consent to the disclosure of such image. The bill also requires that a person's consent to disclosure is strictly construed to be limited only to the express purpose for which consent was obtained. Under current law, a person's consent to the taking of the image could be construed to also waive any restriction on the subsequent disclosure of the image. Under the bill, taking an image and disclosing an image are two separate acts that require two separate instances of consent. | In Committee |
| S3942 | Establishes Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools. | This bill establishes the Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools. The commission is to consist of 25 members, including: (1) the Commissioners of Education, Children and Families, Health, and Human Services, ex officio, or their designees; (2) the Attorney General, ex officio, or a designee; (3) the former chairperson of the Anti-Bullying Task Force; (4) four public members appointed by the President of the Senate and four public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, all of whom are to have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the commission; and (5) 11 public members of the education community appointed by the Governor. The bill stipulates that, to the greatest extent practicable, at the time of appointment, the initial members are to be members of the Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools established pursuant to Executive Order No. 361 of 2024. The commission is to:· review State and local educational policies and practices that impact LGBTQIA+ students;· identify best practices for ensuring inclusive and supportive school environments for LGBTQIA+ students;· recommend strategies to address and prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students; · recommend ways to support districts in implementing statutory and regulatory requirements to include instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions of LGBTQIA+ figures in an appropriate place in the curriculum;· recommend ways to support the mental health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ students; · advise on professional development and training best practices for educators and school administrators regarding LGBTQIA+ issues; and · advise the Governor and the Legislature on other issues relating to ensuring safe and supportive school climates for LGBTQIA+ students. The commission is to submit its initial report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 180 days after the commission organizes. The commission is to prepare and submit annual reports thereafter containing its findings, activities, and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislative action that it deems appropriate to the Governor and the Legislature. LGBTQIA+ students face unique challenges at school, including bullying, discrimination, and lack of access to supportive resources. Over the years, the State has implemented various initiatives to create inclusive school environments. On June 17, 2024, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 361 establishing an executive branch Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools. This commission is to provide advice to the executive branch to support Department of Education's efforts to advance LGBTQIA+ equity in schools. The Legislature strongly supports the executive branch's commitment to ensuring inclusive school environments for LGBTQIA+ students. It is the sponsor's intent to establish a permanent commission to study these issues and recommend legislation to ensure LGBTQIA+ students are shielded from discrimination in New Jersey's schools. | In Committee |
| SJR49 | Designates March 30th of each year "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Awareness Day." | Designates March 30th of each year "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Awareness Day." | In Committee |
| S2057 | Revises certain requirements for applicants to become certified municipal finance officers. | Revises certain requirements for applicants to become certified municipal finance officers. | In Committee |
| S1394 | Increases amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property taxes for purposes of deduction from gross income for property tax payments; increases property tax credit option for certain individuals. | Increases amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property taxes for purposes of deduction from gross income for property tax payments; increases property tax credit option for certain individuals. | In Committee |
| S3497 | Requires high school students to receive financial literacy instruction. | Requires high school students to receive financial literacy instruction. | In Committee |
| S3537 | Requires State to bear partial cost of transportation of certain homeless students to school. | This bill requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school. Under current law, when a homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence is required to provide for transportation to and from school. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district of residence. Current law also permits any student who moves from one school district to another as a result of being homeless due to an act of terrorism or a natural disaster to remain in the original district for two years, provided that the student's parent or guardian remains homeless for that period. In this circumstance, the original district is required to provide transportation to the student. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district in which the parent or guardian last resided prior to becoming homeless. | In Committee |
| S3884 | Establishes "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" and occupational heat stress standard in DOLWD. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to establish by rule a heat stress standard that contains the following: (1) a standard that establishes heat stress levels for employees that, if exceeded, trigger actions by employers to protect employees from heat-related illness and injury; and (2) a requirement that each employer develop, implement, and maintain an effective heat-related illness and injury prevention plan for employees. The Commissioner is required to develop a model heat-related illness and injury prevention plan, consistent with the provisions of the bill, that employers may adopt. Employers may develop their own heat-related illness and injury prevention plan consistent with the provisions of the bill. The heat-related illness and injury prevention plan is required, to the extent permitted by federal law, to be developed and implemented with the meaningful participation of employees and employee representatives, including collective bargaining representatives; will be tailored and specific to the hazards in the place of employment; will be in writing in both English and in the language that each employee understands, if that language is not English; and will be made available at a time and in a manner set forth by the commissioner in rule, to employees, employee representatives, including collective bargaining representatives, and to the commissioner. The bill provides that the commissioner may issue a stop-work order against the employer requiring cessation of all business operations of the employer at one or more worksites or across all of the employer's worksites and places of business if the commissioner determines, after either an initial determination as a result of an audit of a business or an investigation pursuant to the bill, that an employer is in violation of the bill's provisions. Under the bill, after initially creating a heat-related illness and injury prevention plan, employers will be required to conduct an annual review to determine whether revisions to their plans are necessary. The bill requires that State law align with federal law should a federal law or regulation establish a heat stress standard that is more favorable to employees than State law. The bill exempts amusement parks and certain operations that are directly involved in the protection of life or property, such as evacuation, rescue, medical, structural firefighting, law enforcement, lifeguarding, or the emergency restoration of essential services, such as roads, bridges, utilities, and communications, when employees are engaged in those operations, from the bill's provisions. The bill addresses its application to collective bargaining agreements, including, but not limited to, circumstances in which the heat standards do not apply to certain collective bargaining agreements. The bill provides the Department of Agriculture with the power to develop a heat standard for commercial farm operators in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and Department of Health and with advice and input from the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University, and the bill otherwise excludes commercial farms from its requirements. Finally, the bill imposes monetary penalties for violations of its provisions. | 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 |
| S507 | Concerns installation, modification, and sale of certain mufflers and exhaust systems; requires inspection of mufflers and exhaust systems. | Concerns installation, modification, and sale of certain mufflers and exhaust systems; requires inspection of mufflers and exhaust systems. | In Committee |
| SR116 | Requests that federal government offer legal remedies to victims exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and incentivize research into effects of those substances. | This resolution respectfully requests that the United States Congress pass legislation to support and incentivize research into the effects of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and offer legal remedies for victims of PFAS exposure against manufacturers. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemical compounds that persist and bioaccumulate in the environment. PFAS have been identified in countless consumer products, including clothing, wall paint, personal care products, cookware, and insulation. The chemicals have also been traced to drinking water supplies. Residues are absorbed through human skin and tear ducts, and often ingested. These "forever chemicals" then persist in the body and environment without breaking down. Research has associated PFAS exposure with multiple types of cancer, liver damage, reproductive issues, suppressed vaccine response, childhood developmental delays, and other health challenges. Nearly all individuals carry some trace of PFAS in their bodies. Some occupations experience long-term exposure that makes employees especially vulnerable to the associated health risks. Police officers, transit workers, firefighters, and manual laborers often work with materials containing the chemicals. The workplace is not the only site of potential PFAS exposure. Over twenty drinking water systems across New Jersey exceeded State PFAS limits in 2022, placing a wider network of New Jersey residents and workers at risk of health effects. In February 2024, the "PFAS Accountability Act of 2024" was introduced in the United States Senate. Under this bill, PFAS damages would be classified as a lawful injury and the bill would shift the costs of medical monitoring from those individuals to the parties responsible for exposure. The bill would also express Congress's desire to incentivize funding for PFAS safety research. By expressing support of this bill, New Jersey could catalyze congressional action to address PFAS harms. The fragmented state-level response to PFAS exposure warrants and necessitates a unified federal cause of action to address the concerns that the chemical presents. In this light, it is necessary that New Jersey requests that the federal government offer legal avenues to protect victims of PFAS manufacturing and incentivize research into the prevention of harm from those substances, through the "PFAS Accountability Act of 2024" or corresponding legislation. | In Committee |
| S3832 | 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 |
| S3823 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | This bill amends and updates the law prohibiting child pornography in two important respects. First, under the bill, the statute concerning child pornography is separated from its current placement within the statute concerning child endangerment, so as to create a separate and distinct crime. This is intended to provide clarity in law enforcement and court documents, and the analysis and tracking of crime statistics, when referring to child pornography rather than the broader crime of child endangerment. Because of this recodification of the statute, it is necessary to also update the cross references in other sections of law that refer to either child pornography or child endangerment. Second, under the bill, the crime of child pornography is expanded to include manipulated depictions, also known as "deepfakes," that by means of image manipulation, creation, or modification, appear to show an identifiable child or a purported child engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act. The bill also amends the statutes concerning obscenity to include manipulated depictions, also known as "deepfakes," that by means of image manipulation, creation, or modification, appear to show a purported child engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act. Under current jurisprudence, the distinction between child pornography and obscenity is that child pornography involves the depiction of an actual victim (i.e., an identifiable child), while obscenity does not require the depiction of an actual victim. The bill also amends the statute concerning leaders of child pornography networks to bring that statute into conformity with the provision of the child pornography statute concerning possession with intent to distribute. Under current law, leader of a child pornography network is a crime of the first degree if the offense involves 100,000 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, a crime of the second degree if the offense involves at least 1,000 but less than 100,000 items, and a crime of the third degree if the offense involves less than 1,000 items. Under the bill, leader of a child pornography network is a crime of the first degree if the offense involves 1,000 or more items; otherwise it is a crime of the second degree. These are the same thresholds as the crime of possession with intent to distribute child pornography. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Finally, the bill also amends the invasion of privacy statute in two important respects. First, the statute is amended to include manipulated depictions, also known as "deepfakes," that by means of image manipulation, creation, or modification, appear to show an intimate or sexually explicit image of a person who did not in fact consent to such depiction or engage in the depicted conduct. Second, the statute is amended to clarify that a person's consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in an intimate or sexual manner does not imply consent to the distribution of such images. | In Committee |
| SJR142 | Designates last full week of September of each year as "Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week" in NJ. | This resolution designates the last full week of September of each year as "Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week" in New Jersey. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), or frontotemporal degeneration, refers to a group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the brain's frontal lobes or temporal lobes. FTD is a terminal and incurable neurodegenerative disease that causes impairments to speech, personality, behavior, and motor skills. Approximately 40 percent of individuals living with FTD have a family history of the disease or a related condition like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Due to its broad range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms, FTD is often misdiagnosed as a psychiatric condition or another neurodegenerative disease. An individual living with FTD may lose their sense of social propriety and experience significant changes in their personality. They might also struggle with understanding grammar, lose the meaning of words, become hesitant in their speech, and may eventually become mute. A person living with FTD may also experience physical changes such as muscle weakness which can lead to loss of balance and increased falls. Research at both the national and global level is needed to enhance our understanding of FTD and ultimately discover a cure. In New Jersey there are an estimated 185,000 people living with Alzheimer's dementia. It is unknown how many New Jerseyans are living with FTD. Increasing FTD awareness through public events focused on the impact that FTD has on communities is key to informing New Jerseyans of this often overlooked and incurable terminal neurodegenerative medical condition. Designating the last full week of September as "Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week" would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the effects that FTD has on New Jerseyans diagnosed with FTD. | In Committee |
| S3817 | Requires DEP to implement Advanced Clean Trucks regulations no earlier than January 1, 2027. | This bill would delay the implementation of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP's) Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations to January 1, 2027. Under current law, N.J.A.C. 7:27-31.3, the regulations would become operative on January 1, 2025. The DEP adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations in 2021. Pursuant to P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the DEP is authorized to implement California's Low Emission Vehicle Program in New Jersey. The ACT regulations would require, among other things, that manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty motor vehicles sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions vehicles, capping at 40 percent to 75 percent of annual sales in 2035, depending on the type of vehicle sold. | In Committee |
| S3831 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | This bill requires the State Medicaid program and the Plan First program to cover standard fertility preservation services in cases in which a medically necessary medical treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility. The State's Plan First program provides a benefit package of family planning and family planning-related services and supplies for individuals whose annual incomes are below 205 percent of the federal poverty level and who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid or the NJ FamilyCare program. The bill defines "iatrogenic infertility" as an impairment of fertility caused by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other medical treatment affecting reproductive organs or processes. The bill further defines "standard fertility preservation services" as procedures which are consistent with established medical practices and professional guidelines published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or as defined by the New Jersey Department of Health, including the storage of sperm, oocytes, embryos, and cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Subsequent to enactment of P.L.2019, c.306, State-regulated health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), and the School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) cover standard fertility preservation services if a medically necessary treatment may, directly or indirectly, cause iatrogenic infertility. This statute, however, specifies that standard fertility preservation services for individuals insured by the SHBP, the SEHBP, and State-regulated health insurers does not include storage of sperm or oocytes. The bill will provide Medicaid and Plan First participants who face iatrogenic infertility with access to fertility preservation services that are frequently cost-prohibitive for low-to-moderate income patients. | In Committee |
| S3089 | Concerns sexual assault forensic evidence kits. | Concerns sexual assault forensic evidence kits. | In Committee |
| S3006 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | An Act concerning burglary of residential dwellings, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3789 | Makes FY2025 supplemental appropriation of $8,000,000 to Monmouth County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to assist in the purchase of the Stein property in Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey. | This bill would appropriate $8,000,000 from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Monmouth County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to meet the $25,000,000 needed to purchase the Stein property in Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey. Preservation of the property would prevent construction of an obstructive warehouse on the property. The Stein property is a historic Revolutionary War site, providing a campground for 10,000 British soldiers as they retreated from Philadelphia before the Battle of Monmouth. The proposed development would split the farm into two properties, each to contain a 50 foot warehouse with loading docks. The Upper Freehold Planning Board members estimated that, during a 24 hour period on an average weekday, a total of 790 vehicles (including trucks) might enter and leave the site. Residents most affected would be those living along the property's neighboring border with Allentown Borough, where the construction would allow for 100 feet of space between warehouse properties and adjacent Allentown Borough residents. Local property owners express concern that the warehouse plans will threaten local open space, generate air pollution, disrupt the natural ecosystem, and contaminate water sources with industrial runoff. Stormwater flooding already presents an issue at sewage plants and in private basements in Allentown Borough. The proposed construction would necessitate a water mitigation and sewer system to support the warehouse's infrastructure. The New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution has also urged Upper Freehold Township to preserve the land. | In Committee |
| S3723 | Prohibits public institutions of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate tuition by more than two percent over prior academic year. | This bill prohibits a public institution of higher education from increasing the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for any academic year by more than two percent over the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for the prior academic year. | In Committee |
| S2015 | Concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | Concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| A2180 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | An Act concerning school transportation, amending P.L.2015, c.268 (C.18A:39-20.1). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3699 | Prohibits facilitation of agreements among rental property owners who restrict competition with respect to residential dwelling units. | This bill prohibits the facilitation of agreements among rental property owners who restrict competition with respect to residential dwelling units. Under the bill, it is unlawful and a violation of the "New Jersey Antitrust Act" for (1) a rental property owner, or any agent, representative, or subcontractor thereof, to subscribe to, contract with, or otherwise exchange any form of consideration in return for the use of services of a coordinator; (2) a coordinator to facilitate an agreement among rental property owners that restricts competition with respect to residential dwelling units, including by performing a coordinating function; and (3) two or more rental property owners to engage in consciously parallel pricing coordination. A "coordinator" is defined in the bill to mean any person who operates a software or data analytics service that performs a coordinating function for any rental property owner, including a rental property owner performing a coordinating function for their own benefit. "Coordinating function" is defined to mean (1) collecting historical or contemporaneous prices, supply levels, or lease or rental contract termination and renewal dates of residential dwelling units from two or more rental property owners; (2) analyzing or processing of the information described in paragraph (1) through use of a system, software, or process that uses computation, including by using the information to train an algorithm; and (3) recommending rental prices, lease renewal terms, or ideal occupancy levels to a rental property owner. "Consciously parallel pricing coordination" means a tacit agreement between two or more rental property owners to raise, lower, change, maintain, or manipulate pricing for the purchase or sale of reasonably interchangeable products or services. The bill further stipulates that current enforcement provisions of the New Jersey Antitrust Act will apply to violations committed pursuant to this bill. Additionally, in a civil action filed pursuant to the bill, a complaint is considered to plausibly plead a violation of the New Jersey Antitrust Act if the complaint (1) contains factual allegations demonstrating that the existence of a contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce is among the realm of plausible possibilities; and (2) need not allege facts tending to exclude the possibility of independent action. Lastly, the Department of Law and Public Safety, in conjunction with the Department of Community Affairs, is required to develop and undertake a public education program designed to inform the citizens of this State of the provisions of the bill. A component of this program is to include information posted on the website of each department dedicated to the provisions of the bill and the steps a consumer is to take if the consumer suspects a violation. | In Committee |
| S3698 | Permits surviving spouse of retired member of PFRS to be enrolled in SHBP and to continue to receive pension benefit after remarriage in certain circumstances. | Under this bill, certain surviving spouses of retired members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) will receive State-paid health care benefits through the State Health Benefits Program and a continuation of pension benefits after remarriage. The surviving spouse of a retired member of the PFRS who died prior to, on, or after the effective date of this bill and who was receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance at the time of death will be eligible to enroll for health care benefits coverage in the State Health Benefits Program after the effective date of this bill and the annual premiums for such coverage for the surviving spouse and any dependent children will be paid in full by the State. Such a surviving spouse will also be eligible to continue to receive upon remarriage the pension benefit provided by current law to surviving spouses of deceased retired members. The State will be responsible for any increase in contributions to the retirement system required of employers other than the State due to the continuation of the payment of the pension benefit after remarriage. This bill will only apply if the surviving spouse provides documentation, approved by the Board of Trustees of the PFRS, demonstrating that the injury that caused the disability, the complications from that disability, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused by the disability was a significant contributing factor in the retired member's death. An eligible surviving spouse whose pension was terminated due to remarriage prior to the effective date of this bill may apply to the board to have the pension benefit reinstated and payable again commencing from the date of application. | In Committee |
| S3664 | Clarifies authorization for any person or entity to distribute opioid antidotes. | The bill clarifies that the standing order authorizing any person or entity to distribute opioid antidotes under current law is to authorize the distribution of any opioid antidote approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The bill provides that any program approved by the State for the distribution of opioid antidotes will be authorized to distribute any opioid antidote approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. | In Committee |
| SJR132 | Designates May of each year as Haitian Heritage Month. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as Haitian Heritage Month. Haitian Heritage Month, recognized globally during the month of May, celebrates the rich culture of Haiti and its people, including their history, language, distinctive art, and cuisine. The purpose of Haitian Heritage Month is to raise awareness and understanding about Haitian culture, history, and traditions by educating the public about the historical global contributions Haitian people have made and to celebrate these Haitian achievements worldwide. Haiti's history is of vital significance and pride for its people and has crucial global importance, representing a new concept of human rights, universal citizenship, and participation in government through the Haitian Revolution, which occurred from 1791 to 1804. The Haitian Revolution is one of the largest and the first successful slave rebellions in the Western Hemisphere. Haitian Heritage Month is an expansion of Haitian Flag Day, a national Haitian Holiday celebrated annually on May 18th, serving as a major patriotic celebration in Haiti and the Diaspora to encourage patriotism. Haitian Flag Day serves as a reminder of the struggle to freedom and the Haitian Flag symbolizes the unity that borne the Haitian nation through the alliance of the Blacks and mulattoes during the Revolutionary war. Haitian American immigrants have come to the United States bringing their own influences and cultural traditions to a variety of spheres including the arts, business, sports, literature, science, and law. Today, New Jersey has the fourth largest Haitian-American population in the United States, with nearly 69,000 Haitian-American residents. For decades, Haiti has faced significant challenges, including natural disasters that have devastated the land and disrupted the lives of millions. However, the Haitian people have demonstrated resilience throughout history. It is time to officially recognize the Haitian people and all of their achievements. | In Committee |
| S3156 | Permits boards of education to lease certain school property to federally qualified health centers without bidding. | Permits boards of education to lease certain school property to federally qualified health centers without bidding. | Crossed Over |
| A2610 | Extends annual horse racing purse subsidies through State fiscal year 2029. | An Act concerning horse racing purse subsidies and amending P.L.2019, c.36. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3539 | Establishes temporary grant program for pharmacies; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes a temporary grant program for pharmacies and appropriates $10 million for this purpose. Under the bill, the Department of Human Services is to establish a temporary grant program to aid pharmacies, which are experiencing financial difficulties, due to federal rules that increase direct and indirect remuneration fees, in a manner to be determined by the Commissioner of Human Services. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Human Services is to establish and publish application procedures and eligibility requirements for the grant program. Finally, the bill appropriates $10 million to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3540 | Grants discretion to court in expungement of records related to domestic violence arrests not resulting in conviction. | This bill broadens the discretion of the court in deciding whether an automatic expungement is appropriate in criminal cases involving domestic violence where proceedings against the person are dismissed, the person was acquitted, or the person was discharged without a conviction or finding of guilt. Currently, under N.J.S.A.2C:52-6, when a person has been arrested or held to answer for a crime, disorderly persons offense, petty disorderly persons offense, or municipal ordinance violation under the laws of this State or of any governmental entity thereof and proceedings against the person are dismissed, the person is acquitted, or the person is discharged without a conviction or finding of guilt, the Superior Court is directed to order the expungement of all records and information relating to the arrest. If proceedings took place in municipal court, the municipal court is directed to follow procedures developed by the Administrative Director of the Courts. Those procedures, found in Supplement to Directive #02-16 require Criminal, Family and Municipal Courts to order an expungement of all related records and information at the time of dismissal, acquittal, or discharge without a conviction or adjudication of delinquency (including juvenile diversion). The bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:52-6 to provide that, in cases involving domestic violence, the court is granted discretion, at the time of the dismissal, acquittal or discharge, following an objection by the county prosecutor, to bar the relief until six months after the entry of the order of dismissal This discretion would extend to proceedings in the municipal court. It is the sponsor's view that victims of domestic violence can be intimidated or coerced into withdrawing charges against an abuser, or refusing to cooperate in the prosecution of criminal charges, resulting in the dismissal of charges or acquittal and eligibility for the immediate expungement of the arrest that did not result in a conviction. The automatic expungement of all records and information relating to an arrest involving domestic violence permitted under this law can result in the same defendant appearing before the court multiple times on new domestic violence charges with no prior arrest record for the court to consider. | 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 |
| S2644 | Requires DOE to establish working group on student literacy; mandates universal literacy screenings for kindergarten through grade three students; requires professional development for certain school district employees. | An Act concerning student literacy and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3772 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | An Act revising the process for a property tax lien holder to foreclose the right to redeem a property tax lien, amending various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes and P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2825 | Removes time limitation on issuance of additional alcoholic beverage licenses within boundaries of former federal military installations. | An Act concerning alcoholic beverage licensing and amending P.L.2018, c.101 and P.L.2023, c.290. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3275 | Revises various provisions of film and digital media content production tax credit program. | This bill revises certain provisions of the film and digital media content production tax credit program to include eligibility for wages and salaries paid to persons who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Under the film and digital media content production tax credit program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority awards corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to eligible taxpayers based on the qualified film production expenses or qualified digital media content production expenses incurred for use within certain parts of the State. In addition to certain other eligibility requirements, at least 50 percent of the qualified digital media content production expenses incurred by a taxpayer are required to be for wages and salaries paid to full-time or full-time equivalent employees in New Jersey in order to qualify for the digital media content production tax credit. Under current law, the terms "qualified film production expenses" and "qualified digital media content production expenses" are defined to include, among other expenses, the wages and salaries paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are subject to the tax imposed by the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Current law also defines the term "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include persons working not less than 35 hours per week, or other standard of service accepted by custom or practice as full-time or full-time equivalent employment, and whose wages and salaries are subject to withholding as provided in the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." This bill expands the scope of qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses to include wages and salaries that are paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. The bill also provides that these expenses would include any payments made by the taxpayer to a loan out company for services performed in New Jersey by individuals who are employed by the loan out company and whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Additionally, the bill amends the definition "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include otherwise eligible persons whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Currently, the State has entered into a reciprocal income tax agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the terms of this agreement, compensation paid to Pennsylvania residents who are employed in New Jersey is not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Accordingly, the bill provides that wages and salaries paid to certain Pennsylvania residents may be included as qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses, provided that these persons are employed in the New Jersey for the purposes of the film or digital media content production. The provisions of this bill would take effect immediately and apply retroactively beginning on January 1, 2024 to any taxpayer who has not received a tax credit certificate or tax credit transfer certificate from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority before this date. However, any taxpayer that has previously received a tax credit certificate, but has not used such tax credit certificate before January 1, 2024, would be allowed to surrender the tax credit certificate to the authority and receive a new tax credit certificate in accordance with the provisions of this bill. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4425 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2025. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance a portion of the cost of construction of environmental infrastructure projects, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3452 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected health care services. | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected health care services. | Crossed Over |
| S3383 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2025. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend up to $2.73 billion to provide loans to local governments and privately-owned water companies (project sponsors) for a portion of the costs of water infrastructure projects, for the purpose of implementing the State fiscal year 2025 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (NJEIFP). A companion bill, Senate Bill No. 3384 of this session, would appropriate certain federal and State moneys to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the purpose of partially funding the costs of the clean water and drinking water projects enumerated by the bill. The bill would authorize the NJIB to provide loans to fund the following projects: (1) in subsection a. of section 2 of the bill, a list of six projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $77.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; (2) in subsection b. of section 2 of the bill, a list of two projects to improve drinking water systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $26.5 million in estimated total loan amounts; (3) in subsection c. of section 3 of the bill, a list of four projects in the Pinelands area that are receiving funding under the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302 to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $15.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; (4) in subsection a. of section 4 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Clean Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 156 projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $1.9 billion in estimated total loan amounts; and (5) in subsection b. of section 4 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 72 projects to improve drinking water systems, representing $714.9 million in estimated total loan amounts. The bill would also appropriate to the NJIB an amount up to $1.5 billion, as necessary, to make short-term or temporary loans to project sponsors on the "Interim Environmental Financing Program Project Priority List," which is required to be submitted to the Legislature by the DEP Commissioner. The bill would also appropriate to the NJIB the amount needed to fund project sponsors on the "Environmental Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Project Priority List," which is also required to be submitted to the Legislature by the DEP Commissioner. In addition, the bill would appropriate available funds from the "Economic Development and Infrastructure Improvement Revolving Fund" created pursuant to the annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2021, P.L.2020, c.97, to provide debt service reserves or guarantees to certain local government units for the purpose of making them eligible to receive a loan from the NJIB to finance the environmental infrastructure component of a redevelopment project. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to transfer moneys between various State funds, for the purpose of funding the NJEIFP and providing the State match for federal funding provided under the federal laws, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, as detailed in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill. The bill would establish certain requirements on loans to project sponsors made by the NJIB pursuant to the bill, as enumerated in section 6 of the bill. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to decrease or increase the loan amounts it provides, subject to certain conditions enumerated in sections 7 and 8 of the bill. Finally, the bill would authorize the NJIB to utilize certain moneys to fund its annual operating expenses. | In Committee |
| S3203 | Extends annual horse racing purse subsidies through State fiscal year 2029. | This bill provides $20 million annually to the New Jersey Racing Commission to be used for horse racing purse subsidies until State fiscal year 2029. Current law required these subsidies to be appropriated until State fiscal year 2023, and the fiscal year 2024 budget also provided $20 million for purse subsidies. This bill therefore requires the appropriation of funds for the purse subsidies in an additional five fiscal years, through fiscal year 2029. As under the current law, these amounts will be allocated by the New Jersey Racing Commission equally between the thoroughbred industry and the standardbred industry. Of the funds allocated to the thoroughbred industry, 100 percent will be allocated to Monmouth Park overnight purses. Of the funds allocated to the standardbred industry, 60 percent will be allocated to Meadowlands overnight purses; 16 percent to Freehold overnight purses; 12 percent to the New Jersey Sire Stakes purses; 6 percent to purse bonuses for New Jersey sired horses; and 6 percent for breeders awards purses. As a condition of receiving continued purse subsidies, the recipients of the funds must report to the Legislature, the Governor, and the New Jersey Racing Commission on the uses of funds appropriated in the preceding year. | In Committee |
| S2334 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | In Committee |
| S2070 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| S3204 | Creates second degree crime of home invasion burglary as No Early Release Act offense; creates third degree crime of residential burglary; permits waiver of juvenile with firearm during burglary of residence. | This bill creates This bill creates the second degree crime of home invasion burglary, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), and the third degree crime of residential burglary, which would not be subject to the NERA. Additionally, it allows for the waiver of juveniles to adult criminal court for crimes related to the burglary of residential dwellings and clarifies statutory definitions. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a person commits the crime of home invasion burglary if the person enters or remains surreptitiously in a residential dwelling without license or permission to do so and: 1) purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts bodily injury on anyone; 2) attempts to inflict or threatens to inflict bodily injury on anyone; or 3) is armed with or displays what appear to be explosives or a deadly weapon. As a second degree crime, home invasion burglary would be penalized by a mandatory term of imprisonment between five to 10 years. Additionally, the convicted offender would be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed, without the possibility of parole since the bill includes the crime of home invasion burglary under the NERA. A convicted offender could also be subject to a fine of up to $150,000 (the ordinary fine amount applicable to second degree crimes). Under the provisions of this bill, a person commits the crime of residential burglary if the person enters or remains surreptitiously in a residential dwelling without a license or permission to do so. As a third degree crime, the term of imprisonment for a residential burglary is between three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. In addition, this bill provides for the waiver of a juvenile to adult criminal court if a home invasion burglary or residential burglary is committed while the juvenile is in possession of a firearm. The bill also clarifies the definition of residential dwelling and the statutory definition of burglary. The provisions of this bill provide that a person who is at least 18 years old and has a prior conviction for a home invasion burglary in which the person used or possessed a firearm during the commission of the crime would be subject to an extended term of imprisonment. Additionally, under the provisions of this bill, a person convicted of a home invasion burglary or a residential burglary who, in the course of committing or attempting to commit the crime, used or was in possession of a stolen vehicle, would be subject to an extended term of imprisonment. Finally, this bill would require a person applying for certain employment opportunities to file a disclosure statement stating whether or not the applicant has been convicted of home invasion burglary or residential burglary. | In Committee |
| S3491 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| S2645 | Requires school districts to screen certain students for reading deficiencies. | This bill requires school districts to screen certain students for reading deficiencies. Under the bill, a school district is required to screen each student enrolled in kindergarten through grade three using a reading assessment approved by the Department of Education. The screening is to occur three times per school year. Additionally, a school district is required to screen newly-enrolled students in grades four through 12 using an approved reading assessment. The bill requires a school district to screen any enrolled student at the request of the parent or guardian of the student. Under the bill, the reading assessment is required to: (1) measure phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and (2) identify students who have a reading deficiency. The department is required to enter into a contract with at least two screening providers that have a valid and reliable reading assessment with the ability to screen students pursuant to the provisions of this bill. Within the limits of available funds, the department is required to make these reading assessments available for use by school districts. Additionally, the department is required to establish and distribute a list of providers of reliable and valid reading assessments approved for school district use for the screening and monitoring of student progress toward grade level reading. The bill permits a school district to be granted a waiver of the requirement to use one of the department-approved reading assessments if it demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that it has selected a comparable reading assessment. Under the bill, a school district is required to notify a parent or guardian of a student who exhibits a reading deficiency no later than 15 days after the deficiency is identified. The school district is also required to provide appropriate evidence-based intervention strategies to any student that exhibits a reading deficiency. A school district is also required to annually report to the department the number of students screened and the number of students who were identified through the screening as exhibiting a reading deficiency. The bill defines a "reading deficiency" as scoring below grade level or being determined to be at risk of scoring below grade level based on a screening assessment. | In Committee |
| S1292 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; and appropriates $100,000. | In Committee |
| SCR81 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2025, $1,500 in tax year 2026, $2,000 in tax year 2027, and $2,500 in tax year 2028, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| S2050 | "Stephanie's Law"; Requires AOC to establish publicly-accessible domestic violence registry; requires law enforcement officer to search State's domestic violence registries when conducting arrest. | This bill establishes "Stephanie's Law," to require the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in conjunction with the Attorney General, to develop and maintain a publicly-accessible domestic violence Internet registry, and require law enforcement officers to search the State's domestic violence registries upon arresting a person. This registry established under the bill is to be separate from the domestic violence central registry maintained by the AOC pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, which is not accessible to the public. Under the bill, the public is to be able to access the registry to obtain all available information concerning any person who has been convicted of a crime or offense involving domestic violence; has had a final domestic violence restraining order issued against them; or has committed contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order. The Internet registry is to contain the following information for any person to be included in the registry: (1) the person's name and any aliases the person has used or under which the person may be or may have been known; (2) a brief description of any crime or offense involving domestic violence for which the person was convicted; the date and location of each disposition; and a general description of the person's modus operandi, if applicable; (3) the person's age, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, hair, eye color, and any distinguishing scars or tattoos; (4) a photograph of the person and the date on which the photograph was entered into the registry; (5) the make, model, color, year, and license plate number of any vehicle operated by the person; (6) and the person's last known address. A person whose name is erroneously included in the registry established under the bill may petition the AOC for removal of the person's name. The AOC is required to remove the person's name from the registry if the person has not had a final domestic violence restraining order entered against them, has not been found guilty of contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order, or has not been found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence. Within five days of a change of address, a person whose name is included in the registry is required provide the AOC with the new address. On the website through which a person may search the registry established under the bill, the AOC is required to include information regarding: the manner in which a person may petition the AOC to remove their name; the circumstances under which the AOC would grant a petition to remove their name; and the manner in which a person may provide an updated address to the AOC. In addition, the provisions of the bill require a law enforcement officer to determine, upon an arrest, if there is a domestic violence restraining order entered against the person. This determination is to include a search of the central domestic violence registry maintained by the AOC established pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, as well as the publicly-accessible central registry established under the bill. This bill, designated "Stephanie's Law," is named after a domestic violence victim, Stephanie Nicole Parze, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation was created in her memory to provide support to victims of domestic violence. This bill, which is intended to provide additional protections for victims of domestic violence, is named in her honor. | In Committee |
| S301 | Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants. | Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants. | In Committee |
| S3035 | "New Jersey Student Support Act"; establishes program to Department of Treasury to provide tax credits to taxpayers contributing to organization which awards scholarships to certain nonpublic school students. | This bill directs the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, to establish a program to provide tax credits to taxpayers that make contributions to a selected student support organization that awards scholarships for eligible students to attend participating nonpublic schools. The program established by the director would allow a taxpayer to claim a tax credit against the corporate business tax or personal gross income tax equal to 75 percent of any contribution made to a student support organization; in the case of the gross income tax credit, a taxpayer is required to contribute a minimum of $100 to a student support organization in order to claim a tax credit. The value of a credit for an individual taxpayer in a given year or privilege period is not permitted to exceed the lesser of 50 percent of the taxpayer's total tax liability or $1,000,000 for a tax credit against the corporate business tax or $100,000 for a credit against the personal gross income tax. The maximum amount of tax credits allowable in each State fiscal year may not exceed $37.5 million. The Director of the Division of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is responsible for the administration of the program. The Director of the Division of Taxation is to select one student support organization, draft regulations to implement the program, and submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation and results of the program. The regulations are to include a requirement that tax credits issued under the provision of the bill will be issued equitably among the counties. The Director of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is also required to establish a five-person oversight committee to oversee the operation of the student support organization. The student support organization would receive contributions made to the program, spending no more than five percent of contributions on administrative costs, and distributing the remaining 95 percent as scholarships for eligible families. The student support organization is required to verify student eligibility prior to awarding a scholarship, not limit scholarships to students in a certain school or region, award scholarships equally to all eligible students who apply in a given school year, and provide a student with a scholarship that is not less than the amount the student received in the prior school year. The student support organization is to publicize the program, carry forward no more than 20 percent of funds each year, and submit an annual report to the State Treasurer and the Commissioner of Education. The student support organization is required to contract annually for an independent financial audit of the program and transmit a copy of the financial audit to the Division of Taxation, the State Treasurer, and the Commissioner of Education no later than December 1 of each year. To be eligible for a scholarship from the student support organization, a student is to reside in New Jersey and intend to enroll in grades kindergarten through 12 in the next school year. A student is required to have a household income that does not exceed the federal income guidelines for reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program multiplied by 2.6. To participate in the program, a school is to: be located in New Jersey; be a nonpublic school that is eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program; comply with all federal and State anti-discrimination statutes; and comply with the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act," P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18:A37-13 et seq.). The bill also includes language requiring that the provisions of the bill not supersede, impact, or interfere with the full funding in each State fiscal year necessary to satisfy the requirement of the New Jersey Constitution that the Legislature provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between 5 and 18 years of age; the full funding of the veterans' $250 property tax deduction, required to be provided to eligible veterans pursuant to the State Constitution; the senior citizens' and disabled persons' $250 property tax deduction authorized by the State Constitution; the full payment of contributions required by law to be made to the State-administered retirement systems; and the full funding of the Stay NJ property tax credit program established in P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75a et seq.). No later than six months after the conclusion of the fourth school year in which scholarships are awarded under the program, the Department of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Department of Education, any relevant governmental organization, and stakeholders from the nonpublic school community, is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature that will include: information on the number of scholarships and the amount of tax credits awarded under the program; recommendations on improvements to the program; and the number of nonpublic school closures five years prior to awarding any scholarships under the program compared to closures after the implementation of the program. The Department of Education is required to establish a Student Support Grant Program to provide grants to school districts in which at least 50 percent of the student population is eligible for free or reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program. The grant funding is for student support services, including tutoring programs or opportunities, teacher retention bonuses, or the provision of mental health or counseling services. The department will establish an application process for the grants. As part of that process, the eligible school districts are required to demonstrate how the funding will assist the district in providing needed support to its students. The bill provides that the Legislature will annually appropriate from the General Fund to the Department of Education $37.5 million to fund the grant program. | Dead |
| S3422 | "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act," provides certain protections for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer patients. The bill: 1. Requires health insurance carriers (including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, and health maintenance organizations), entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program to provide coverage for individuals diagnosed with cancer and with a prognosis that is deemed Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal (1) parenteral treatment of the cancer; (2) survivorship care plan, including follow-up appointments; and (3) any other service or item as determined by the regulators of each type of carrier or contract. Under the bill, "parenteral treatment" means the intravenous, intra-arterial, intraperitoneal, or intrathecal administration of nutrition or medication bypassing the gastrointestinal system and "survivorship care plan" means a plan for an individual with cancer from diagnosis through the end of life that focuses on the health and well-being of the individual. This includes, but is not limited to, side effects from treatment, cancer recurrence, and quality of life. Any cost-sharing or copayment or coinsurance that may be required for coverage will not apply. 2. Prohibits residential mortgage lenders from providing a notice of intention to a residential mortgage debtor undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. Under the bill, a residential mortgage lender shall ensure, before sending a notice of intention to cure a default on a mortgage debtor's residential mortgage obligation, that the residential mortgage debtor is not undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. If a mortgage debtor is undergoing treatment, the mortgage lender will be prohibited from providing a notice of intention to the mortgage debtor until the mortgage lender receives notice from the physician of the mortgage debtor that the debtor is no longer undergoing treatment. Additionally, the bill provides that any foreclosure action to take possession of a residential property will be dismissed upon submission by the residential mortgage debtor to the residential mortgage lender of a letter from the physician of the debtor certifying that the debtor is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 3. Prohibits a creditor from initiating a collection proceeding for a default on any debt against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer and who submits to the creditor a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. The bill also provides that any collection proceeding against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer is required to be dismissed upon submission by the individual of a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 4. Requires that for eviction actions based on nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or for failure to pay a rent increase, the Superior Court will authorize a stay of eviction for up to 45 days if the tenant is actively undergoing Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer treatment. To qualify for this stay, the tenant must provide a confidential certification from their treating physician, submitted under seal. Additionally, during the stay period, the tenant has the right to renew their lease upon its expiration, subject to reasonable changes proposed by the landlord. The bill also provides the right to reinstatement to equivalent employment after a period of leave applies to all periods in which TDI or FLI benefits are provided, including extending that right to FLI leave takers employed by employers with less than 30 employees, as is presently the case for TDI leave takers. Under the bill, an employee who is eligible for both earned sick leave and either TDI or FLI benefits, may use either the earned sick leave or whichever is applicable of the TDI or FLI benefits, and may select the order in which they are taken, but may not receive more than one kind of paid leave benefits during any period of time. | In Committee |
| S3400 | Removes exclusion of affectional or sexual orientation and gender identity or expression from affirmative action programs under public works contracts. | This bill revises various sections of law to remove the exclusion of affectional or sexual orientation and gender identity or expression from affirmative action programs under public works contracts. | In Committee |
| S1032 | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | In Committee |
| S2010 | Requires minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding. | This bill supplements the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977" and requires a minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding, thereby reinstating New Jersey's only State appropriated, unrestricted fund for local health departments. Such appropriation will be expended in accordance to the provisions of the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977." From 1966 to 2010, under the "State Health Aid Act" and later amended as the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977," the State provided local health departments with flexibility to address local needs, emerging threats, and other priorities via the appropriation of dedicated funds. The State eliminated Public Health Priority Funding in the FY 2011 Appropriations Act. For context, in FY 2010, Public Health Priority Funding amounted to approximately 15 percent of the total funding for local health departments. Currently, local health departments in New Jersey are funded via local property taxes and State and federal funding that is designated for specific purposes, such as vaccines or environmental health services. | In Committee |
| S3375 | Requires school districts to maintain supply of nasal rescue medication and oxygen for seizure emergencies; provides for training of designees to administer nasal rescue medication and oxygen when school nurse is not physical present. | This bill requires a school district, as part of the implementation of a seizure action plan, to maintain a supply of diazepam nasal spray, midazolam nasal spray, and any other similar nasal rescue medication approved for seizures and identified in a seizure action plan submitted to the school district, as prescribed under a standing protocol from a licensed physician or an advanced practice nurse and portable oxygen delivery devices in secure but unlocked locations easily accessible by the school nurse and trained designees throughout each school building to ensure prompt availability in the event of a seizure emergency during school hours and at any other time when a school-sponsored event is taking place on the premises of a school building. The school nurse of each school building would be responsible for designating locations where such nasal rescue medication and oxygen delivery devices would be placed. Nothing in this bill would be construed to prohibit the use of portable oxygen delivery devices to respond to other medical emergencies that may occur during school hours or when a school-sponsored function is taking place on the premises of a school building. The school nurse would have the primary responsibility for administering nasal rescue medication and oxygen but would be able to designate, in consultation with the board of education, additional employees to administer nasal rescue medication to a student when the nurse is not physically present at the scene of a seizure emergency. The school nurse would also be responsible for determining that:· the designees have been properly trained in the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen using standardized training protocols established by the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health;· the parents or guardians of the student consent in writing to the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen by the designees;· the board of education informs the parents or guardians of the student in writing that the district and its employees or agents will have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student;· the parents or guardians of the student sign a statement acknowledging their understanding that the district will have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student and that the parents or guardians will indemnify and hold harmless the district and its employees or agents against any claims arising out of the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student; and· the permission is effective for the school year for which it is granted and is renewed for each subsequent school year upon fulfillment of the above requirements. In developing the training protocols under the bill, the Department of Education and the Department of Health would be required to: consult with the New Jersey School Nurses Association; distribute the protocols to school districts at the beginning of each school year; and update the protocols as needed. The Department of Education would be responsible for reimbursing the costs incurred by school districts implementing certain provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3301 | Establishes Council for Community Recovery and Family Success; appropriates $4.0 million. | This bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs, which will develop strategies to promote the well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and encourage family success. The council will consist of 25 members, including the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or their designees, who will serve ex officio, and 17 public members, who will be representatives of certain entities that provide services to children and families, or have certain experience with receiving family services in New Jersey. The council will manage the development and implementation of a Statewide initiative concerning the social and economic well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and the provision of holistic, age and developmentally appropriate services that support a child's development from birth to young adulthood. In order to implement the Statewide initiative, the council will: (1) advocate for a State Bill of Rights for Infants, Children, Youth, and Families, which will provide a framework for the initiative; (2) identify and develop policies, strategies, and financial priorities that promote family success; (3) recommend policies to improve the efficacy of existing State and community-based services and programs; (4) explore strategies to leverage public and private funding to provide preventive services; and (5) establish community recovery and family success councils in each county. The goal of the Statewide initiative will be to: promote positive family relationships, community connections, and preventive services to ensure financial security, quality education, health, safety, and permanency for infants, children, youth, and families through an integrated service planning and delivery system. The bill defines "distress services" to mean services to remediate circumstances that endanger the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of infants, children, and youth; and "preventative services" as those services that promote the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of the target populations and divert the need for distress services. The council will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature that will include recommendations for legislative and administrative actions on the use of public and private resources to support family success initiatives and preventive services for all families. The bill appropriates $4.0 million from the General Fund to the council to implement the provisions of the bill, and provides that the council may use any unexpended appropriations in the succeeding fiscal year. | In Committee |
| S3289 | Removes certain part-time elected public officials from eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits coverage; makes elected public officials ineligible for payments for waiving health care benefits coverage; codifies Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit. | This bill limits eligibility for health care benefits coverage for elected public officials of a municipality or county to those elected public officials whose hours of work are fixed at 35 or more per week. This limitations applies to counties and municipality that do not participate in the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). The limitation is the same as the current eligibility requirement for health care benefits coverage in the SHBP. Elected public officials currently receiving health care benefits coverage may continue to receive such coverage as long as they remain eligible prior to the effective date of the bill and continuously thereafter. The bill also makes elected public officials who choose to waive health care benefits coverage ineligible for payments for such a waiver. Such payments are currently permitted for certain public employees by public employers that participate and that do not participate in the SHBP. This bill codifies the Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit (PFAU) within the Department of the Treasury, which was established by executive order in 2013 to prevent and investigate cases of intentional deception or misrepresentation that result in an unauthorized benefit to a member or to some other person from the State-administered retirement systems and benefits programs. This includes, but is not limited to, disability pension claims and improper participation in the retirement systems and other benefit programs. This bill also provides subpoena power to the PFAU to assist the unit during investigations. According to an investigative report issued by the State Comptroller, the PFAU has inadequate statutory authority to compel public employers to comply with requests for information during investigations. Codifying the unit will result in more effective investigations. | In Committee |
| S3000 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | In Committee |
| S2082 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force," and amending and supplementing P.L.2012, c.26. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2083 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption. | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption. | In Committee |
| S2210 | Requires racial and gender diversity in membership to be considered for appointments to certain boards and commissions established by statute. | This bill provides that, when the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, or any other person is authorized by law to appoint a member to a board, commission, task force, or any other multi-member body or entity established by law, the Governor, President, Speaker, or other authorized person, as appropriate, must make the goal of attaining a membership for such a board, commission, task force, or multi-member body or entity that reflects the racial and gender diversity of the residents of the State a primary consideration when selecting a person for appointment on or after the effective date of the bill. The goal of attaining a membership that reflects the racial and gender diversity of the residents of the State will be a primary consideration by the appointing authority unless that consideration conflicts with the particular circumstances of the appointment to be made or conflicts with the requirements of the statute that established the board, commission, task force, or multi-member body or entity. | In Committee |
| S1458 | Requires DMVA to develop mobile application to provide guidance on available resources to veterans and their families. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to develop a mobile application for veterans and their families. The mobile application will be a resource guide and will provide veterans and their families with information related to veterans' legal rights, medical and insurance issues, education, housing, the transition from active to civilian life. The guide should have substantially the same information as available on the DMVA website, A Resource Guide for New Jersey's Military, Veterans and Families, and New Jersey Veterans Benefits Guide. Making these resources available through a mobile application will provide veterans with an additional avenue to access DMVA resources. The content on mobile applications generally loads faster than websites, and mobile applications are easier to use than websites and will provide veterans with a better user experience. | In Committee |
| S2079 | Clarifies procedures for revocation of pretrial release for certain defendants. | This bill concerns the temporary detention of a defendant who violates a condition of pretrial release, and clarifies the procedures for revocation of pretrial release for certain defendants. Under current law criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. A court may revoke a defendant's pretrial release and order the defendant to be detained pending trial if the defendant violates a condition of release or commits a new crime while on release if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that no monetary bail or conditions of release would reasonably assure the defendant's appearance in court and the public's safety, or reasonably prevent the defendant from the obstruction or attempted obstruction of the criminal justice process. Under the bill, a court may, upon motion of a prosecutor, temporarily detain a defendant who has been arrested or otherwise taken into custody if the defendant violates a condition of pretrial release or commits a crime while on pretrial release. The bill further provides that the procedures under current law for determining whether an eligible defendant is to be detained pending trial would apply to defendants who are temporarily detained for violating a condition of pretrial release. This bill encompasses Recommendation #22 of the Report of Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice Reform, issued on June 7, 2023. | In Committee |
| S1354 | Concerns removal of abandoned vessels; appropriates $25 million. | Concerns removal of abandoned vessels; appropriates $25 million. | In Committee |
| S3243 | 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 |
| S3245 | Requires certain boards of education to select minimum number of financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide tax sheltered annuity plans. | This bill requires the board of education of a school district, which offers a 403(b) plan to eligible school district employees, to select a minimum of six financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide investment services to the 403(b) plan. Under the bill, the board of education of a school district with a student enrollment of less than 1,000 students may select fewer than six financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide investment services to the 403(b) plan. A 403(b) plan, also referred to as a tax-sheltered annuity plan, is a type of defined contribution plan sponsored by public educational organizations. Under a 403(b) plan, employees may defer some of their salary, either on a pre-tax or after-tax basis, for deposit into individual accounts that can provide a source of income in retirement. In selecting financial institutions or pension management organizations under the bill, a board of education is to ensure that eligible school district employees are provided sufficient opportunities to invest in annuity contracts, which are generally investment options provided by an insurance company, or custodial accounts, in which moneys are invested in mutual funds. The board is also required to ensure that employees are offered self-directed investment options. The selection of financial institutions or pension management organizations under the bill is required to be a mandatory subject of collective negotiations between a board of education and an applicable collective bargaining unit. A financial institution or pension management organization that provides services to the 403(b) plan under the bill is required to provide certain data related to the investment of 403(b) plan funds and the fees, charges, expenses, commissions, compensation, and payments to third parties related to investments offered under the plan. The bill provides that a board of education and the majority representative of an applicable collective bargaining unit is not responsible for any investment loss or failure of an investment to earn any specific return for the services provided by the selected financial institutions or pension management organizations providing investment services to the 403(b) plan. Lastly, the bill stipulates that the ability of an eligible school district employee to deposit supplemental compensation for accumulated unused sick leave into a 403(b) plan account is to be a mandatory subject of collective negotiations. | In Committee |
| S3241 | Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for enrollment of student in recovery high school alternative education program. | This bill requires hospital, medical and health service corporations, commercial insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, to provide coverage for benefits for the enrollment of a student in a recovery high school alternative education program established pursuant to State law. The bill requires health insurance coverage only if placement in the recovery high school alternative education program is determined to be clinically appropriate by a certified alcohol and drug counselor, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, treating physician, treatment facility, or district student assistance counselor using the criteria for substance use disorder or dependency as defined by the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Under current law, a "recovery high school alternative education program" means an alternative education program that serves students diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency as defined by the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and that provides a comprehensive four-year high school education in an alternative public school setting and a structured plan of recovery that is aligned with the national framework of evidence-based practices for recovery high schools. | In Committee |
| S3274 | Requires hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine as part of urine drug screenings. | This bill requires hospitals that conduct a urine drug screening in the course of treating a patient to include in the screening testing for fentanyl and xylazine. If the urine drug screening detects fentanyl, xylazine, or both, the hospital will be required to report the test results in a form and manner as prescribed by the Commissioner of Health. Both fentanyl, which is a powerful synthetic opioid, and xylazine, which is a potent animal tranquilizer, have been associated with sharp increases in overdose deaths, exacerbating mortality rates in the already-deadly opioid epidemic. Both fentanyl and xylazine have been found in other street drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, with increasing frequency, and both drugs can increase the risk of a fatal overdose. Although some users of street drugs may specifically seek out fentanyl, xylazine, or both, others may be at increased risk of overdose because they are not aware these drugs may be present in the substances they are consuming. Currently, hospital urine drug screenings do not routinely test for fentanyl or xylazine, which may result in delays in the patient receiving the level or type of treatment needed to reverse an overdose. It is the sponsor's intent to ensure that health care workers have the information they need to properly treat patients experiencing an overdose, as well as to ensure the State has the data it needs to evaluate and properly respond to the increasing prevalence of fentanyl and xylazine in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| SCR82 | 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 |
| S2438 | Requires Pretrial Services to recommend pretrial detention of certain repeat offenders. | Requires Pretrial Services to recommend pretrial detention of certain repeat offenders. | In Committee |
| S2005 | Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state. | Under current law, United States military personnel and their dependents who are living in New Jersey and are attending public institutions of higher education in New Jersey are regarded as residents of the State for the purpose of determining tuition. This bill amends that law to provide that:? the in-State tuition classification also applies to the military service member's spouse; and? in the event that the military service member is relocated out of the State due to the service member's continued military service, the service member's spouse or dependent will not lose their in-State tuition classification provided that: (1) the spouse or dependent was enrolled in a public institution of higher education in New Jersey prior to the service member's relocation; and (2) the spouse or dependent maintains continuous enrollment at the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| A4161 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | An Act concerning school district finances and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3072 | Provides additional State school aid to certain school districts; appropriates $105,886,559. | This bill provides that a school district that is subject to a reduction in total State school aid for the 2024-2025 school year will receive Supplemental Stabilization Aid. The aid provided under the bill would ensure that the district's total State school aid in the 2024-2025 school year is equal to the amount of total State school aid received in the 2023-2024 school year. The bill defines total State school aid to include: equalization aid, special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, transportation aid, adjustment aid, educational adequacy aid, school choice aid, and military impact aid. To receive the aid provided under the bill, a school district is required to submit to the Commissioner of Education, in a manner and form to be prescribed by the commissioner, a written plan explaining how the district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the district does not receive Stabilization Aid or similar supplemental State school aid. A county vocational school district that receives vocational expansion stabilization aid in the 2024-2025 school year is not eligible to receive Supplemental Stabilization Aid under the bill. The bill appropriates a sum from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education and provides a list of school districts eligible to receive additional aid under the bill, as well as the amount of additional aid to be provided to each district. A total of 140 districts are eligible under the bill to receive a share of approximately $105.9 million in additional aid. | Dead |
| S3081 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | In Committee |
| S876 | Makes FY2024 supplemental appropriation of $17 million for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2024 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the General Fund. The bill directs the DEP to establish a program to use these funds for grants to assist qualified entities to pay certain costs associated with the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects submitted by qualified entities responsible for a lake with public access; and projects to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill defines "qualified entity" to mean: the Greenwood Lake Commission; the Lake Hopatcong Commission; a local government unit; an entity established pursuant to law or an entity established pursuant to ordinance by the municipalities surrounding a publicly-accessible lake for the management of the lake, including, but not limited to, the Deal Lake Commission or the Lake Topanemus Park Commission; or a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3) and whose mission is the management or maintenance of a publicly-accessible lake. In the 2020-2021 legislative session $10 million was appropriated to the DEP for the same purpose. | In Committee |
| S3200 | Revises infection control regulation in long-term care facilities. | This bill amends current law to revise infection control regulations in long-term care facilities. The bill's amendments to N.J.S.A.26:2H-12.87: 1) remove the requirement for a long-term care facility to assign to the facility's infection prevention and control committee a physician who has completed an infectious disease fellowship; 2) revise infection preventionist qualifications to include certification under the American Health Care Association Infection Preventionist Specialized Training program, or under the Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training course; 3) restrict the infection preventionist to membership in no more than five infection prevention and control committees; 4) require the infection preventionist to perform other duties within his or her scope of practice when infection preventionist duties are not required; 5) remove the requirement for the infection preventionist to be a managerial employee; 6) provide that in the case of a long-term care facility with a licensed bed capacity equal to more than 100 beds or that provides on-site hemodialysis services, an infection preventionist is to be employed on a part-time basis, or on a full-time basis if it is determined to be necessary based on the facility's risk assessment that is required pursuant to federal law; 7) require that in addition to the infection preventionist, the infection prevention and control committee is also to be responsible for: contributing to the development of policies, procedures, and a training curriculum for long-term care facility staff based on best practices and clinical expertise; monitoring the implementation of infection prevention and control policies and recommending disciplinary measures for staff who routinely violate those policies; assessing the facility's infection prevention and control program by conducting internal quality improvement audits; and ensuring that all employees are trained in infection prevention at such intervals as determined by the Department of Health; and 8) remove a provision that was dated to February 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| S3205 | Makes FY2024 supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to Judiciary to support expansion of Pretrial Services Program. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations act to provide $500,000 in supplemental funding to the Judiciary's Statewide Pretrial Services Program. The Pretrial Services Program was established in New Jersey in 2017 pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act. A 2023 Report of the Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice made a recommendation to provide addition funding to enable the Judiciary to increase Pretrial Services Program staffing in order to ensure adequate oversight of the large number of defendants on pretrial release. During a March 7, 2024 Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, a similar concern about the lack of adequate resources for pretrial services was raised during oral and written testimonies. The Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts reiterated the recommendation for increased funding and staffing for pretrial services. Furthermore, during oral testimonies, multiple county prosecutors also underscored the need for additional funding for pretrial services, particularly with regard to staff and equipment for electronic monitoring of defendants. The FY 2025 Governor's Budget recommends a $24.2 million for Statewide Pretrial Services Program, which is unchanged from the FY 2024 appropriation of the same amount. | In Committee |
| SCR104 | Condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance. | This resolution condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance, and declares the State of New Jersey as a place that welcomes the diversity brought by Hindu Americans. This resolution recognizes that Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries and which encompasses an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The United States has always been a beacon of hope, progress, and innovation, attracting people from around the world to create and live a better and fulfilling life, and has welcomed more than four million Hindus from all corners of the world and given them better opportunities and the freedom to practice Hinduism, also known as "Sanatana Dharma". The American Hindu community has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, retail trade, and so much more. Hindu contributions of Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and enriched the lives of millions. Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is "a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred". There have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country. | In Committee |
| S3202 | Establishes municipal water infrastructure planning and design project grant program in DEP; appropriates $100 million. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a program to provide grants to municipalities that undertake planning and design projects related to prospective water infrastructure projects. In order to be eligible for a grant, a planning and design project would be required to be in support of a water infrastructure project that would be eligible for financing under the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program, carried out jointly by the DEP and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The maximum grant award per project would be $2 million. Municipalities would not be required to provide matching funds in order to be eligible for a grant. The bill would also require the DEP to provide priority to applications for projects located in overburdened communities. Under the bill, the DEP would determine the application procedures and criteria for evaluating applications. The bill would require the DEP to report to Governor and the Legislature on the progress of the program in achieving its goals. Finally, the bill would appropriate $100 million from the General Fund to the DEP for the purposes of the grant program established by the bill. | In Committee |
| S3206 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | This bill modifies and clarifies provisions of law governing municipal tourist development commissions which concern their expenditures for advertising outside of the municipality to attract tourists into the municipality. Under the bill, a tourist development commission would be required to disburse at least 20 percent of its revenues for such advertising. Current law requires a tourist development commission to disburse at least 50 percent of its revenues for such advertising. Additionally, the bill defines the term "advertising outside of the municipality" to clarify that the term applies to advertisements targeted to people who work or reside outside of the municipality, encouraging them to patronize tourist opportunities within the municipality, regardless of whether the advertisement also reaches people working or residing inside the municipality. | In Committee |
| SJR114 | Urges Congress and President to enact "Do Not Disturb Act." | This joint resolution urges Congress to pass, and for the President to sign, the "Do Not Disturb Act." American citizens receive over 2 billion spam and scam calls per month. This inundation of spam and scam calls led to over 195 million hours of wasted time answering these calls in 2023. These spam and scam calls are dangerous and abusive fraud tactics that affect every American citizen with a phone, particularly senior citizens. The United States Supreme Court's decision in Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid, 141 S. Ct. 1163 (2021) held that the definition of "automatic telephone dialing system" as defined in the Telephone consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) only includes devices that have the capacity to either store a telephone number using a random or sequential generator or to produce a telephone number using a random or sequential generator, which definition excludes a bulk of robocalls taking place today. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. introduced a bill package known collectively as the "Do Not Disturb Act," to protect consumers from the bombardment of dangerous and unwanted calls and texts by expanding anti-robocall protections, combatting the use of artificial intelligence for scams, and alleviating the cost of robocall blocking technology for consumers. | In Committee |
| S3154 | Concerns venue for juveniles charged with certain acts of delinquency. | This bill concerns venue for juveniles who are charged with certain acts of delinquency. Under current New Jersey Court Rules, juvenile delinquency complaints are filed in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred. However, when the juvenile charged is domiciled in a county other than the county of the alleged occurrence, venue is to be laid in the county of the juvenile's domicile unless the court finds good cause for venue to be retained in the county where the incident occurred. Venue is the county in which an action or prosecution is brought for trial. Under the provisions of this bill, when a juvenile is charged with a delinquent act which if committed by an adult would constitute theft of a motor vehicle, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, carjacking, or burglary with the intent to commit theft of a motor vehicle and the juvenile has previously been adjudicated delinquent for one of the offenses set forth above, there is a presumption that venue is laid in the county where the complaint was filed. | In Committee |
| S2422 | 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 |
| S3070 | Provides additional State school aid to certain school districts; makes an appropriation. | This bill provides that certain school districts that are subject to a reduction in State school aid under P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to as "S2") for the 2024-2025 school year will receive Supplemental Stabilization Aid. A district would receive Supplemental Stabilization Aid if the district's reduction in State school aid for the 2024-2025 school year under S2 is greater than one percent of the district's total operating budget in the 2023-2024 school year. The aid provided under the bill would ensure that no district receives a reduction in aid from the 2023-2024 school year that is greater than one percent of the district's total operating budget in the 2023-2024 school year. To receive the aid provided under the bill, a school district is required to submit to the Commissioner of Education, in a manner and form to be prescribed by the commissioner, a written plan explaining how the district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the district does not receive Supplemental Stabilization Aid or similar supplemental State school aid. A county vocational school district that receives vocational expansion stabilization aid in the 2024-2025 school year is not eligible to receive Supplemental Stabilization Aid under the bill. The bill appropriates such amounts as are required from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education. | In Committee |
| S3036 | Exempts bars in municipally designated redevelopment areas from provisions of "Noise Control Act of 1971" under certain conditions. | This bill would exempt bars operating from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in a redevelopment area designated by a municipality from the provisions of the "Noise Control Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.418 (C.13:1G-1 et seq.). As used in the bill, "redevelopment area" means an area determined to be in need of redevelopment pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-5 and 40A:12A-6) or determined to be a "blighted area" pursuant to P.L.1949, c.187 (C.40:55-21.1 et seq.) prior to that law's repeal in 1992, as made pursuant to the authority of Article VIII, Section III, paragraph 1 of the Constitution. The Department of Environmental Protection has adopted rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Noise Control Act of 1971," which establish sound level standards of 50 decibels during nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and 65 decibels during daytime for commercial and industrial stationary sources. | In Committee |
| S3060 | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | As amended, this bill requires health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and commercial group health insurers to provide coverage for an annual prostate cancer screening without cost sharing for men who are between 40 and 75 years of age. Under current law, these health insurance carriers are required only to provide coverage for an annual medically recognized diagnostic examination including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen test for men age 50 and over who are asymptomatic and for men age 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer or other prostate cancer risk factors. The bill expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to mean medically viable methods for the detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer, which includes a digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen test and associated laboratory work. "Prostate cancer screening" shall also include subsequent follow up testing as direct by a physician, including, but not limited to: (1) urinary analysis; (2) serum biomarkers; (3) medical imaging, including, but not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging. The bill also extends the prostate cancer screening requirements to commercial individual health insurers, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, which are not required to provide this coverage under current law. | In Committee |
| S3017 | Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions. | This bill requires a social media company to provide a 24-hour toll-free telephone number by which an account holder may contact a live customer service representative of the social media company for the purpose of reporting fraudulent activity, including, but not limited to, unauthorized access to a social media account. A social media company is also required to publish the toll-free telephone number and an explanation of the purpose of the toll-free telephone number on any email notifications of account security sent to a New Jersey account holder and in a prominent location on the social media platform's homepage or help page. It is an unlawful practice and a violation of the consumer fraud act for a social media company to fail to comply with any provision of this bill. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, 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. Currently, many account holders face difficulty receiving assistance with reporting fraudulent activities on their social media accounts. This bill is intended to provide account holders with a means by which to report fraudulent activity to a live customer service representative. | In Committee |
| S3054 | Revises law requiring school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers to review employment history of prospective employee for allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. | This bill makes changes to the current law requiring school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers to review the employment history of certain applicants and any allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct made against those applicants. Current law requires the Department of Education to develop forms for applicants and employers that may be used to comply with requirements concerning the review of an applicant's employment history. This bill requires the department's Office of Student Protection to develop the forms and requires that the forms be used in complying with the employment history requirements. Current law also requires applicants to positions involving regular contact with students at school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers to provide a list of certain former employers of the applicant within the last 20 years. The bill removes the 20-year limit. Under current law, an applicant who gives false information or willfully fails to disclose information required to be provided under the law may be subject to certain civil penalties up to $500. The bill increases the maximum civil penalty amount to $10,000. The bill further requires the Commissioner of Education to create and maintain a secure and centralized school employee identification database. The purpose of the database is to provide school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers with ready access to any information that may disqualify an individual from being hired by, or continuing employment with, a school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider. The bill requires specific categories of information to be included in the database. The bill directs the commissioner to establish policies and procedures to provide secure access to the database. The commissioner is directed to establish policies and procedures to ensure the accuracy of the information in the database. The bill also directs each school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider to request that the Department of Children and Families conduct a child abuse record information check of its child abuse records to determine if an incident of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated against any applicant to a position involving regular contact with students at the school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider and includes provisions pertaining to how those records are to be secured and used. The bill requires the State Board of Examiners to submit to the commissioner notice of any pending review that may result in the revocation or suspension of an administrative or instructional certificate. This bill also requires the commissioner to audit the hiring records of a school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider holding a contract with a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school to ensure compliance with the provisions of law. The audit is to occur every five years, pursuant to a schedule established by the commissioner. The bill authorizes the commissioner to conduct random audits. Additionally, the bill permits the commissioner to contract with a qualified third party to conduct the audits. Under the bill, if the commissioner determines the hiring practices do not comply with the law, but the noncompliance does not pose an immediate threat to the safety or wellbeing of students or staff of the school, then the commissioner is to issue recommendations for compliance with the law to the school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or contracted service provider holding a contract with a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school. The commissioner is also authorized under the bill to provide direct oversight of the hiring practices of a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school if the commissioner determines through an audit that the hiring practices fail to comply with the provisions of the law, and the noncompliance is determined by the commissioner to: (1) be the result of willful misconduct or gross negligence; (2) pose an immediate threat to the safety or wellbeing of students or staff of the school; or (3) constitute a failure to implement the recommendations issued by the commissioner as a result of a previous audit. This bill requires the department to establish procedures for the prompt investigation of allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct by a school employee. The procedures are to require certain components as specified in the bill. The bill requires school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools to utilize the procedures established by the bill for any investigation regarding an allegation by a school employee. The bill further prohibits school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools from entering into contracts with contracted services providers unless the provider attests that it utilizes comparable investigation procedures as established by the bill. The department is also required to establish guidelines to assist school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools in implementing the investigation procedures and for determining when to refer an allegation of child abuse or sexual misconduct to law enforcement. The bill permits a board of education, board of trustees of a charter school, or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school to enter into a memorandum of agreement with law enforcement regarding allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct by school employees and the procedures and responsibilities of designated employees in conducting investigations. Finally, the bill requires the commissioner to issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature every five years on implementation the law. This bill implements certain recommendations of the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation's March 2024 report, "Safeguarding New Jersey Students from Sexual Predators and Child Abuse at School - Examining the State's 'Pass the Trash' Law." | In Committee |
| S2986 | Includes certain employees of the DLPS as members of the Prosecutors Part of PERS. | This bill includes the directors, assistant directors, deputy directors, assistant attorneys general, and deputy attorneys general in the Divisions of Law and Alcoholic Beverage Control, within the Department of Law and Public Safety, as members in the Prosecutors Part of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Under current law, the only Department of Law and Public Safety employees included in the Prosecutor's Part of PERS are employees of the Division of Criminal Justice. | In Committee |
| S2990 | Provides for immediate issuance of marriage and civil union licenses. | This bill requires a marriage or civil union license to be issued immediately upon application. Under current law, after a couple applies for a marriage or civil union license there is a 72-hour waiting period before the license can be issued by the licensing officer. The Superior Court may, by order, waive all or any part of the 72-hour period in cases of emergency, upon satisfactory proof being shown. This bill would provide that a marriage or civil union license would be issued by the licensing officer immediately upon filing of the application. | In Committee |
| S2989 | Requires DHS and DOH to submit federal waivers to cover menstrual products under NJ FamilyCare, SNAP, WIC and establishes State funded benefit if federal waiver is denied; appropriates $2 million for State benefit. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Health to submit an application for a waiver or a state plan amendment to provide menstrual hygiene products among the covered benefits available for eligible recipients through the NJ FamilyCare program, the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The bill stipulates that, if the federal government denies the State's waiver application or state plan amendment, the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, is to establish a program to provide menstrual hygiene products to eligible beneficiaries, in a quantity and through a process determined to be equitable. Under the program, the Commissioner of Human Services would establish a process through which an eligible beneficiary would certify the number of menstruators in the beneficiary's household who are minors and who qualify for the menstrual hygiene products benefit. The bill additionally requires the Commissioner of Human Services to consult and coordinate with the Commissioner of Health on the establishment of an educational and public awareness campaign to inform the public about the provisions of bill and to ensure that eligible recipients of the public assistance programs covered under the bill are aware of the new benefits made available to them, and to post the information provided through the campaign on each of the departments' Internet sites. The bill appropriates $2 million to the Department of Health for the menstrual hygiene products benefit. The provisions of the bill will take effect upon any federal determination regarding the waiver application or state plan amendment submitted by the State, and the acceptance of any federal approval by the Departments of Human Services and Health; however, the departments are authorized to take any anticipatory action in advance of the federal determination as may be necessary to implement the requirements under the bill. As defined in the bill, "menstrual hygiene products" means tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and other similar products designed for a person's hygiene in connection with the human menstrual cycle. | In Committee |
| S2987 | Directs DOE and DOH to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education concerning student vaping awareness campaigns. | This bill directs the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Health (DOH), to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education that will help facilitate the implementation of on-campus anti-vaping awareness campaigns that target student populations. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist school districts, colleges, and universities in equipping adolescents and young adults with research backed material on the dangers of vaping in effort to combat the increased use of e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults. The DOE and DOH are to review and update the guidelines annually. The guidelines, at a minimum, are to include recommendations for: (1) implementing an in-school and on-campus multi-tiered anti-vaping campaign that focuses on theories that promote age-appropriate positive behavior change among adolescents and young adults; (2) disseminating research backed materials on the dangers of vaping, as it relates to: its effects on the users' lungs, effects on mental health, how it compares to cigarette smoking, dangers to pregnant women, and its impact on people in the workplace and small children; (3) using decision-making models and decision-making aids to help students make healthy decisions and overcome peer pressure that encourages vaping; and (4) incorporating marketing materials, such as pamphlets, to promote on-campus age-appropriate anti-vaping information to middle school students, high school students, and college age adults. Under this bill, the DOE and DOH are to post the guidelines on the respective website of each department. | In Committee |
| S2985 | Allows social worker to acquire four hours of continuing education credit for volunteering as poll worker. | This bill allows each person licensed or certified by the State Board of Social Work Examiners to earn up to four credits of continuing education by volunteering as a poll worker on the day of a State primary and general election. Under the bill, a person may volunteer for either a primary or a general election, or both, and is to receive two credits for each time the person served as a volunteer, as appropriate. A person licensed or certified by the board cannot earn more than four credits per renewal period for volunteering as a poll worker. For purposes of recordkeeping, a person is to maintain proof of the time as a poll worker by obtaining a certified letter issued by the municipality, county or other local government charged with managing an election or in another manner and form as determined by the board. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed as requiring a person to volunteer as a poll worker. The credits are an option for a person to fulfill continuing education requirements that are required pursuant to current law. | In Committee |
| S2991 | Requires school districts to include instruction on bullying awareness and prevention as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill directs each school district to incorporate age-appropriate bullying awareness and prevention education in grades preschool through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The education is to include, but not be limited to, information on the: (1) definitions of bullying; (2) various types of bullying; (3) permanence of social media posts and the harm that may be caused through online harassment or bullying; (4) ways to seek help for yourself or others who may be affected by bullying; and (5) potential consequences of bullying on the perpetrator. Under the bill, the education is to be designed to develop an awareness and sensitivity to the ways in which bullying may be exacerbated by intolerance of persons of different races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, genders or gender identities, abilities, or who have other distinguishing characteristics. Finally, the Commissioner of Education is required to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources. | In Committee |
| S1423 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain ambulance transportation services. | This bill establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services, an increase of $142 from the State's existing rate of $58 per transport. In doing so, the sponsor aims to ensure that emergency ambulance transportation providers, which deliver integral medical services for those with unplanned urgent and life-threatening health conditions, are given the financial support necessary to serve the community. Currently, New Jersey has the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rate for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services in the region. Surrounding states' rates range from $65.27 in Delaware to $293.90 in Connecticut. Moreover, pending legislation in Pennsylvania would increase that state's rate to $325 per transport, which would be the highest rate in the region. | In Committee |
| SCR43 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | In Committee |
| S2914 | Permits virtual or remote instruction for public schools used as polling places on election days. | This bill permits boards of education to offer classroom instruction through virtual or remote means to students that attend a public school that is used as a polling place on the day of any election. The bill defines "any election" to include all primary, general, municipal, school and special elections. Under the bill, a board of education is required to ensure that all students have access to the technology required prior to permitting the public school to offer virtual instruction to the students. A public school is not required to offer hybrid instruction on election days. Additionally, this bill requires the Commissioner of Education to allow a board of education to apply the day of virtual or remote instruction to the 180-day school year requirement. This bill only applies to public schools that are used as polling places on election days. A public school that is not serving as a polling place is not permitted to provide virtual or remote instruction to students. | In Committee |
| S198 | Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies. | This bill, would prohibit the Director of the Division of Investment (director) from investing any assets of the State retirement funds in any of the top 200 companies that hold the largest carbon content fossil fuel reserves. Under the bill, divestment from coal companies would be required to be completed within two years, and from all other fossil fuel companies within one year. The director would be authorized to cease divestment or reinvest in previously divested companies if the director demonstrates that, as a direct result of the divestment, the State retirement funds have or will become equal to or less than 99.5 percent of their hypothetical value had no divestment occurred. Finally, the bill would require the State Investment Council and the director to report on the divestment efforts required by the bill within 120 days of the bill's effective date, and annually thereafter. | In Committee |
| S972 | Establishes matching grant program in DCA to support community-based nonprofit organizations that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts. | This bill establishes the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program in the Department of Community Affairs (department) to provide matching grants to nonprofit community-based nonprofit organizations that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts. To be eligible for a matching grant award a community-based nonprofit organization is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner), in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner. A grant application is required to relate to an underlying grant from a county or municipality received by the community-based nonprofit organization not more than 12 months prior to the date of application, and include information determined necessary by the commissioner, and at a minimum include information related to: (1) the identity, finances, and operations of the community based organization; (2) the amount and distribution date of the grant to the community based organization; and (3) plans for the proposed uses for the grant and the matching grant. The department is required to award matching grants based on review and analytical criteria adopted by the department. The department is further required to award matching grants to community-based nonprofit organizations in the order in which qualifying applications are received. The department is required to maintain a record of underlying grants provided by each county and municipality, and is prohibited from providing a matching grant for an application if an award of the amount requested would result in the department awarding matching grants in an amount exceeding $50,000, in that calendar year, for applications related to underlying grants provided by a particular county or municipality. The bill also authorizes the department to require a community-based nonprofit organization to verify award or receipt of an underlying grant from a county or municipality in an amount equal to the requested matching grant amount. The bill also specifically prohibits the department from establishing or enforcing a cap on the total number of matching grants or the total amount that any individual community-based nonprofit organization may receive from the department as matching grants. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the effectiveness of the matching grant program in addressing the needs of individual communities, homeless persons, and at-risk persons, and any recommendations concerning continuing or expanding the matching grant program. | In Committee |
| S2434 | Provides tax levy cap adjustment for certain school districts experiencing reductions in State school aid. | This bill provides a tax levy cap adjustment for certain school districts that are experiencing State school aid reductions. Under current law, a school district is generally prohibited from increasing its property tax levy by more than two percent compared to the previous school year. This limited increase is often referred to as a "tax levy growth limitation" or a "property tax cap." However, State law authorizes certain allowable adjustments to the general two percent limitation, thereby permitting a district to account for certain increases in items such as enrollment, health care costs, and certain normal and accrued liability pension contributions. This bill would provide for an allowable adjustment to the tax levy growth limitation for a school district that experiences a reduction in State school aid in the 2023-2024 school year or the 2024-2025 school year pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2018, c.67, which is commonly referred to as "S2." The amount of the allowable adjustment equals the difference between the amount of State aid received by the school district in the previous school year and the amount of State aid received by the school district in the 2023-2024 school year or the 2024-2025 school year. The bill would provide for another allowable adjustment for a school district that is experiencing a reduction in State school aid and is spending below adequacy in any school year after the 2024-2025 school year. Under current law, a school district is considered to be spending below adequacy if its prebudget year spending (defined as the sum from the prior school year of equalization aid, special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, and the school district's tax levy) is below its projected adequacy spending (defined as the sum for the school year in which the budget will be implemented of its adequacy budget, special education categorical aid, and security categorical aid). For these districts, the allowable adjustment to the tax levy would be the amount necessary for the district to be spending at adequacy. Finally, the bill prohibits any school district that increases its tax levy using the allowable adjustments established by the bill from reducing its teacher workforce or decreasing appropriations for instruction or support services. However, a district may reduce either its total number of teachers or the total amount of general fund appropriations for instruction or support services if the Commissioner of Education approves the applicable reductions in the district's proposed budget. | In Committee |
| S2333 | Requires board of education to directly employ certain professionals; permits board of education to contract for certain personnel; permits use of virtual or remote instruction for public school students in certain circumstances. | This bill requires a board of education to directly employ certain professionals; permits a board of education to contract for certain personnel; and permits the use of virtual or remote instruction for public school students in certain circumstances. Under the bill, a board of education, generally defined as the board of education of any local school district, consolidated school district, regional school district, county vocational school, and any other board of education or other similar body, the board of directors of an educational services commission, and the administrative board of a renaissance school project or any other local education agency, is required to directly employ all persons performing any duty, function, service, assignment, or job requiring an appropriate certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners for, or on behalf of, a board of education. Additionally, the bill permits a board of education to contract with personnel to ensure required programs and services are provided and are not required to directly employ the personnel, provided that the personnel hold an applicable certificate. Under the bill, the personnel include: (1) a substitute teacher; (2) personnel providing instruction in financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy to satisfy graduation requirements; (3) personnel providing educational services to a student who is enrolled in a school other than a public school; (4) personnel employed by other boards of education and providing services under a shared services or joint agreement; (5) personnel providing individualized student learning opportunities; (6) personnel providing special education and related services to a student who is enrolled in an out-of-district placement; (7) faculty of a public institution of higher education providing instruction under a dual enrollment agreement; (8) a business administrator who oversees the fiscal operations of a charter school or a renaissance school project and is employed by the board of trustees of the charter school or the administrative board of the renaissance school project; (9) personnel providing instruction during a summer school session of a charter school or a renaissance school project; and (10) personnel employed by a charter management organization who provide operation, management, or curriculum services to a charter school in this State including, but not limited to, instructional directors and school administrators. Additionally, the bill permits a board of education to contract for additional services provided that the personnel holds an applicable certificate on a non-emergency basis and the board contracts with specific entities. Under the bill, these services include (1) independent child study team evaluations; (2) child study team services to supplement existing district services; (3) home instruction; (4) speech-language services in certain circumstances; and (5) related services, provided that certified occupational therapy assistants, others employed in a supportive role to licensed certified providers of related services, physical therapy assistants, and specialists in behavior modification meet additional requirements, as specified in the bill. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education is required to establish a process for case-by-case exemptions to the provisions of the bill that require a school district to directly employ certain professionals. The bill also requires instructional services provided by a school district, including a charter school or a renaissance school project, to be delivered through in-person methods unless otherwise permitted by State law. Additionally, the bill permits a school district to utilize virtual or remote instruction for a student or a class of students when equivalent instruction cannot be provided through in-person instruction, subject to the approval of the commissioner and establishes an application process for a school district to apply for individualized virtual or remote instruction for a student or a class of students. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to establish a process for notifying an individual currently providing the instructional services which are being sought to be implemented virtually or remotely, and the majority representative of the district's employees of the submission of an application and provide them with a copy of the application and notice of the right to object to, or comment on, the application prior to the commissioner's determination. Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner to establish a process to notify a school district, any individual currently providing the instructional services which are being sought to be implemented virtually or remotely, and the majority representative of the district's employees regarding a determination on the request for virtual or remote instruction and a procedure for a school district to them to appeal the determination. The bill permits a school district that has applied to utilize virtual or remote instruction pursuant to the provisions of the bill to utilize virtual or remote instruction on a temporary basis without the approval of the Commissioner of Education when equivalent instruction cannot be provided through in-person instruction during the period between the district's submission of the application and the district's receipt of the commissioner's determination on the application. The bill also permits a board of education, as part of the district's implementation of school graduation requirements for a State-endorsed diploma to provide instruction in financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy by virtual or remote instruction, either in whole or in part. Additionally, the bill permits charter schools and renaissance school projects to provide virtual or remote instruction, either in whole or in part, for summer school sessions. Finally, the bill specifies that individualized student learning opportunities that meet or exceed the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for students in grades nine through 12 include (1) independent study, (2) study abroad programs, (3) student exchange programs, (4) credit recovery programs; and (5) structured learning experiences, including, but not limited to, work-based programs, internships, apprenticeships, and service-learning experiences. Under the bill, the board is to determine if an individualized student learning opportunity may be completed by virtual or remote instruction, either in whole or in part. Pursuant to the bill, individualized student learning opportunities are required to apply toward the credit requirement for a State-endorsed diploma established under State Board of Education regulations. | In Committee |
| S2183 | Requires installation of diaper changing station in certain public restrooms. | Requires installation of diaper changing station in certain public restrooms. | In Committee |
| S2292 | Requires low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters to be registered with MVC and to be insured. | This bill requires low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters to be registered with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and to be insured. The bill prohibits the operation of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter unless the low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter is registered by the owner thereof. The bill authorizes the MVC to grant a registration certificate to the owner of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter, provided that the application for registration has been properly submitted, the registration fee has been paid, and the low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter is of a type approved by the MVC. The bill provides that the registration expires on the last day of the 11th calendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate was issued. The bill requires the owner or registered owner of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter registered or principally garaged in this State to maintain liability insurance coverage, personal injury protection coverage for pedestrians, and uninsured motorist coverage. | In Committee |
| S2700 | Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act." | This bill establishes the "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act," which provides certain staffing standards in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and unlicensed assistive personnel-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce the bill's requirements by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. A registered professional nurse or other staff member, a collective bargaining agent of a staff member, or a member of the public, who believes that the hospital or facility in which the nurse or staff member is employed is in violation of the requirements established by the bill, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation. Following the completion of an investigation, in which investigation the department determines a hospital or facility to be in violation of the requirements established by the bill, the hospital or facility may be issued a civil penalty in increasing amounts for repeat violations. Any money collected by the court in payment of a civil penalty imposed will be conveyed to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Patient Protection and Staffing Fund (fund) established by the bill. Moneys in the fund will be dedicated and used only for the purposes of increasing the number of inspectors employed by the Department of Health to enforce the provisions of the bill, advancing nursing recruitment and retentions programs, supporting student loan forgiveness for nursing students, and increasing pay for nursing teaching staff. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| S1431 | Establishes foreclosure protection and mortgage relief for certain homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. | This bill would establish foreclosure protection and mortgage relief for certain homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida initially approached the Gulf Coast as a category 4 hurricane, and caused severe damage to a large area of the south and northeast regions of the country. In New Jersey, thousands of families have been displaced and unable to return to their homes as a result of this storm. This bill would offer certain homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida temporary protections against foreclosure, and would require mortgage servicers to provide a temporary pause in the mortgage payment obligations of the storm-impacted homeowners. The bill defines a "storm-impacted homeowner" as a homeowner who, as of August 31, 2021, occupied a residential property as the homeowner's primary residence, and who obtained federal disaster assistance for disaster-related needs as a result of damage sustained to the home due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The bill directs a mortgage servicer to grant a mortgage forbearance to a storm-impacted homeowner if the homeowner submits a written request prior to the first day of the sixth month following the enactment of the bill, affirming that the homeowner:· suffered a negative financial impact resulting from damage to the homeowner's primary residence due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida, and obtained federal disaster assistance as a result;· has a gross household income for 2022, that does not exceed 150 percent of the most recent area median income by zip code; and · does not possess bank accounts that collectively contain more than six months' reserves of the homeowner's gross household income for 2021, although the mortgage servicer may require the homeowner to provide a cash asset certification to demonstrate compliance with this provision. Upon receipt of a written request or verbal authorization for a mortgage forbearance from a storm-impacted homeowner, the bill would require a mortgage servicer to provide to the homeowner with a mortgage forbearance and confirmation of this action in writing. The minimum initial mortgage forbearance period of a storm-impacted homeowner would be one year. If requested, the bill requires the mortgage servicer to provide a subsequent forbearance period of at minimum 180 days, for a total of at minimum 545 days. Fees, penalties, or interest, including attorney's fees beyond the amounts scheduled and calculated as if the storm-impacted homeowner made all contractual payments on time and in full under the terms of the mortgage contract, would not be assessed or accrue during or as a result of a mortgage forbearance. A forbearance would not impact property tax and insurance obligations. A mortgage servicer that grants a forbearance pursuant to the bill would be required to encourage owners to seek out certified housing counseling and provide confirmation of the approval of the forbearance, information concerning the process for forbearance, and information on how to request a subsequent forbearance. The bill prohibits a mortgage servicer from furnishing negative mortgage payment information to a debt collector or credit reporting agency related to mortgage payments subject to a mortgage forbearance under the bill. In response to a complaint to the Attorney General from an impacted homeowner, the Attorney General may bring an action alleging a mortgage servicer has violated this prohibition. Under the bill, the repayment period of any mortgage subject to the forbearance would be extended by the number of months the forbearance is in effect. The payments not made during the months of the forbearance would instead be due on a monthly basis during the period constituting an extension of the mortgage, unless the property owner chooses to make these payments earlier. A storm-impacted homeowner denied a forbearance under the bill by a mortgage servicer licensed by the Department of Banking and Insurance ("DOBI"), and not a State- or nationally-chartered financial institution, may file a complaint with DOBI. DOBI would be required to investigate the complaint and, if appropriate, would order the mortgage servicer to grant a forbearance to the impacted homeowner. To the extent required by the Administrative Director of the Courts and DOBI, the bill would require a mortgage servicer to provide information on the provision of forbearances to those entities. Under the bill, a storm-impacted homeowner who is the subject of a foreclosure proceeding would be awarded, by the court and upon application by the property owner, a stay in the foreclosure proceedings if the conditions necessary to obtain a mortgage forbearance are satisfied. An application to the court by a storm-impacted homeowner would be required to be made prior to the first day of the sixth month following the effective date of the bill, unless the courts in their discretion permit application submission for a longer period. The award of a stay pursuant to the bill would conclude upon the earlier of:· the conclusion of one year following the initial award of a stay of foreclosure proceedings; or · July 1, 2024. The bill would take effect immediately, and apply retroactively to mortgage payments missed subsequent to September 1, 2021. | Dead |
| S2604 | Establishes program to incentivize hiring and continued employment of individuals with developmental disabilities. | This bill establishes a program to incentivize the hiring and continued employment of individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill authorizes the Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services to allocate up to $2,000,000 of tax credits for the program for each calendar year beginning on the January 1 next following the bill's date of enactment. Under the bill, the director would be required to administer the program, which would provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to certified employers for hiring and employing individuals with developmental disabilities in the State. The bill defines "developmental disability" as a severe, chronic disability that: (1) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental or physical impairments; (2) is manifest before age 22; (3) is likely to continue indefinitely; (4) results in substantial functional limitations in an area of major life activity; and (5) reflects the need for a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment, or other services that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated. Developmental disability includes, but is not limited to, severe disabilities attributable to an intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida, or other neurological impairments where the above criteria are met. To participate in the program, an employer is required to apply annually to the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services to claim a tax credit based on the number of hours worked by eligible individuals hired and employed by the employer during the preceding calendar year. The director is required to issue a tax credit certificate to certified employers by March 31 of each year. Under the bill, a certified employer would be entitled to a tax credit equal to the product of $1 multiplied by the number of hours worked by each eligible individual hired and employed by the certified employer during that individual's period of employment, provided that a credit is not allowed unless the individual has worked in the State for a minimum of 500 hours for the employer. To satisfy this requirement, an employer may elect to either: (1) compute and claim the credit for the calendar year based on an eligible individual's hours worked by December 31 of that year, provided that the individual has worked in excess of 500 hours between the date of hire and December 31; or (2) include those hours worked by the eligible individual in the computation of the credit in the year immediately succeeding the year in which the individual was hired, in which case the credit would be computed on the basis of all hours worked by the individual from the date of hire to the earlier of the last day of employment or December 31 of the year immediately succeeding the individual's date of hire. However, to the extent that the total amount claimed by all certified employers exceeds the amount allocated for the program in a calendar year, the director would be required to issue credits on a pro rata basis corresponding to each certified employer's share of the total claimed amount. The bill prohibits certified employers from claiming a tax credit for hours worked by an eligible individual in excess of 2,000 hours, and caps the amount of the credit at $2,000 per eligible individual. In addition, the bill prohibits employers from claiming a tax credit more than once with respect to any eligible individual, and prohibits employers from aggregating the hours worked by two or more eligible individuals to reach the minimum number of hours required under the program. | In Committee |
| S2549 | Establishes "Student Mental Health Task Force." | This bill establishes the "Student Mental Health Task Force," the purpose of which is to examine issues related to the mental health of students, including depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder; study and survey the resources that are available to schools and parents to address student mental health needs; and develop recommendations to ensure that students have access to mental health care programs and services in order to allow students to meet their educational goals. The task force will consist of the following 17 members: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee, ex officio; the Commissioner of Health, or a designee, ex officio; the Commissioner of Children and Families, or a designee, ex officio; the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, or a designee, ex officio; the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, or a designee, ex officio; one public member appointed by the Senate President, 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, all four of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force; and the following eight public members appointed by the Governor: one representative of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, one representative of the New Jersey School Boards Association, one representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one representative of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, one representative of the New Jersey Association of Counties, one representative of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, one member representing school district leaders, and one school mental health professional who holds a valid educational services certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners that may include, but is not limited to, a school counselor, a school social worker, or a school psychologist. The task force is responsible for examining issues related to the mental health of students, including depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder; study and survey all resources that are currently available to the schools and parents within each county in the State, and within the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, for helping a student or child who experiences mental health issues; and develop recommendations to ensure that students have access to mental health care programs and services in order to allow students to meet their educational goals. The task force is required to survey the availability of certain mental health treatment services, mental health care provider networks that offer mental health treatment, government agencies that offer funding and mental health treatment services, and partnership opportunities with institutions of higher education to address mental health needs of students. The task force is also required to study and make recommendations regarding the identification of public school students who experience mental health difficulties, the evaluation and expansion of counseling programs and services available to students experiencing mental health difficulties, 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, an examination of mental health programs successfully implemented by other states, and any other proposals the task force determines would provide for increased access to high-quality mental health programs. The task force, in performing the above duties, is required to consult with parents of general education students, parents of students who receive special education and related services, and teaching staff members. The task force will issue a final report to the Governor and Legislature no later than one year after the organization of the task force that contains the results of the above survey and recommendations. The task force is required to forward a copy of the report to every school district in the State. The task force will expire 30 days after issuing its final report. | In Committee |
| S2605 | Establishes lifeguard recruitment campaign; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes a lifeguard recruitment campaign in the Department of Health and appropriates $1 million. Under the bill, the Department of Health is to develop a public campaign to encourage lifeguard recruitment. The purpose of the public campaign is to increase the number of lifeguards in this State in order to reduce the number of drowning deaths. The public campaign is to, at a minimum: (1) utilize social media platforms, indoor and outdoor signs on public transportation platforms and vehicles and other state property, radio and television commercials, and other electronic and print media to encourage individuals to become lifeguards; and (2) develop an informational pamphlet containing information on the requirements to become a lifeguard, recommended preparation and training for becoming a lifeguard, and the benefits of working as a lifeguard, which informational pamphlet is to be distributed to beach areas, entertainment and sports facilities, health clubs, movie theaters, places of worship, schools, and other facilities and locations which are likely to attract potential lifeguard recruits. The bill appropriates $1,000,000 to the Department of Health to implement the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S2597 | Permits individual holding a nursing multistate license to be eligible for school nurse certification. | This bill permits registered nurses holding a nursing multistate license to be eligible for an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement, a school nurse/non-instructional endorsement, and a substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential. P.L.2019, c.172 (C.45:11A-9 et seq.) entered the State into the enhanced multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (eNCL). The eNLC provides for a mutual recognition model of nurse licensure in which a nurse needs to obtain one license from the nurse's state of residence in order to be permitted to practice nursing in any other state that is a party to the compact, as long as the nurse complies with the state practice laws of the state in which the patient is located at the time that care is rendered. This bill amends current law to permit a nurse holding a multistate license through the eNCL to be eligible for an educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement, a school nurse/non-instructional endorsement, and a substitute school nurse/non-instructional credential. | In Committee |
| S2511 | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | This bill repeals the "Pet Purchase Protection Act," P.L.1999, c.336 (C.56:8-92 et seq.) and replaces it with a prohibition on the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits by pet shops. The bill also imposes several other requirements concerning the sale and adoption of animals. The bill provides that, without limiting the prosecution of any other practices which may be unlawful pursuant to State consumer fraud laws, it would be an unlawful practice and a violation of State consumer fraud law, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for any breeder or broker to knowingly sell a cat or dog that is unfit for purchase. The bill defines "unfit for purchase" as having any disease, deformity, injury, physical condition, illness, or defect which is congenital or hereditary and severely affects the health of the animal, and which was manifest, capable of diagnosis or likely contracted on or before the sale and delivery of the animal to the consumer. The bill specifies that the death of an animal within 14 days of its delivery to the consumer, except by death by accident or as a result of injuries sustained during that period, would be construed to mean the animal was unfit for purchase. The bill establishes a prohibition on the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops and establishes a $500 fine for each violation of this prohibition to be collected in a civil action under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999. The bill authorizes a pet shop to: 1) sell or offer for sale any other type of animal as may be otherwise permitted pursuant to State law or regulation, or sell or offer for sale pet supplies for any type of animal, including a cat, dog, or rabbit, if it is licensed by its municipality to do so; and 2) offer, in collaboration with an animal rescue organization, shelter, or pound, space in the pet shop to showcase cats, dogs, and rabbits that are available for adoption, provided that no payment or compensation, monetary or otherwise, is exchanged between the pet shop and animal rescue organization, shelter, or pound, for the use of the pet shop or for the adoption of any cat, dog, rabbit, or any other animal. The bill prohibits animal rescue organizations, animal rescue organization facilities, pet shops, shelters, or pounds from obtaining a cat, dog, or rabbit from a breeder or broker in exchange for any type of compensation. The bill specifies that: 1) no provision of the bill may be construed to alter, diminish, replace, or revoke the requirements for pet dealers that are not pet shops or the rights of a consumer purchasing an animal from a pet dealer that is not a pet shop, as may be provided elsewhere in law or any rule or regulation; 2) any provision of law or regulation pertaining to pet shops that does not pertain to the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits would continue to apply to pet shops; and 3) no provision of the bill may be construed to alter, diminish, replace, or revoke any recourse or remedy that is otherwise available to a consumer purchasing a cat, dog, rabbit, or any other type of animal and provided under any other law. The bill specifies that the bill's provisions may not be construed to interfere with the implementation of, or otherwise invalidate, or limit or restrict any municipality, county, local health agency, or municipal or county board of health from enacting or enforcing, any law, ordinance, rule, or regulation that places additional obligations or restrictions on pet shops, pet shop sales, pet dealers, breeders, brokers, or breeder or broker sales. | In Committee |
| S1392 | Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program. | Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program. | In Committee |
| S2419 | Permits wagering by business entities with horse racing and sports pool operators. | This bill would permit wagering by business entities with horse racing or sports pool operators. Business entity wagering functions similar to a mutual fund whereby funds pooled together from different investors are then used by fund managers to wager on various sporting events in an attempt to produce a profit for investors. The business entity's gains or losses would be shared by each investor in proportion to his or her equity share. Business entities would not be permitted to wager on casino games. Business entities that choose to establish a wagering account with a horse racing or sports pool operator would be required to provide certain documentation to the operator showing that all those associated with the business entity are over 21 years of age and that the business entity has been properly formed, along with any other documents required by the Casino Control Commission, the Division of Gaming Enforcement, the Racing Commission, or a horse racing or sports pool operator. A business entity would also be required to maintain originals or copies of records received from the operator for all wagers placed, maintain an account with a bank or other financial institution in the State, and make the above records available for review by the Casino Control Commission, the Division of Gaming Enforcement, and the Racing Commission. It would be unlawful for any person solely, or in conjunction with others, to knowingly distribute funds to a designated individual or equity owner who is not disclosed to the horse racing or sports pool operator, distribute revenue from a business entity's wagering activities to an individual that has not been disclosed to the horse racing or sports pool operator, wager money on behalf of an individual who has not been disclosed to the horse racing or sports pool operator, or submit false information required by the bill. Under the bill, violations would be a second degree crime punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both. | In Committee |
| S2336 | Concerns hospitality franchise agreements. | This bill creates provisions regarding hospitality franchises in the State of New Jersey, supplementing P.L.1971, c.356, the "Franchise Practices Act" (C.56:10-1 et seq.). These provisions apply to hospitality franchises where the franchisee is required to maintain a place of business within the State, or where the franchise owner, partner, member, investor, or guarantor is a resident of New Jersey and where over 20 percent of the franchisee's gross sales are derived from their New Jersey franchise. The bill also ensures that franchises, as defined in 16 CFR 436 and 437, if they are hospitality franchises, will be considered "merchandise" under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). The bill defines "hospitality franchise" as a written arrangement for a definite or indefinite period, in which a person grants to another person a license to use a trade name, trade mark, service mark, or related characteristic, and in which there is a community of interest in the marketing of goods or services at wholesale, retail, by lease, agreement, or otherwise, where the goods include any hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, tourist cabin, tourist home, rooming house or similar establishment where sleeping accommodations are supplied for pay to transient or permanent guests. The bill contains a list of hospitality franchisor activities that will be considered a violation of the "Franchise Practices Act" (C.56:10-1 et seq.). The bill makes it a violation for a hospitality franchisor to impose a restriction on the owner, officers, or employees of a franchise that limits their employment, ownership, or participation in any business activity for more than six months following their termination, cancellation, or non-renewal at the franchise in a county other than that in which the franchise was located. The bill makes it a violation for a hospitality franchisor to require a franchisee to relocate or make any capital investment in excess of $25,000 more than once every five years, unless the franchisor can demonstrate that the franchisee will be able to recover the value of the investment over the remaining term of the franchise. The bill prohibits franchisors from receiving kickbacks, rebates, or other consideration from vendors that franchisees must patronize, unless the benefit is first disclosed to the franchisee and unless the benefit is turned over to the franchisee. The bill ensures that if the franchisee gives the hospitality franchisor a general release of claims upon renewal or transfer of the franchise, then the franchisee will receive a reciprocal release from the franchisor. The bill makes it a violation for the hospitality franchisor to require a franchisee to purchase goods or services from suppliers designated by the franchisor if goods or services meeting the franchisor's reasonable specifications and standards are available from other sources. The bill also calls for the franchisor to license a third-party supplier to use its trademarks for franchisee supplies in the case of supplies that carry the mark. The bill ensures that the hospitality franchisor will not compete with the franchisee in an exclusive or protected territory under a different name or mark. The bill prohibits the practice of unilaterally changing the material terms of the franchise agreement by implementing changes in the operations manual. This provision makes it clear that the hospitality franchisor may not materially change the contract with the franchisee by altering the manual. The bill prohibits the franchisor from imposing any new fees on the franchisee unless the fees were disclosed in a franchise disclosure document. The bill makes it a violation for a hospitality franchisor to impose a fee or charge on the franchisee as the result of a guest's published criticism of the franchisee, a franchisor's resolution of complaints related to the franchisee, or the franchisee's failure to enroll a minimum number of guests. The bill prohibits a hospitality franchisor from selling points in a loyalty program to guests to use at a franchisee's facility without compensating the franchisee for lost revenue. The bill would restrict the hospitality franchisor's ability to deny a franchisee access to necessary franchisor programs, including but not limited to property management systems, online listings, phone sales or use of approved marks. The bill prohibits a hospitality franchisor from imposing fees based on a franchisee's alleged failure to perform, including but not limited to re-inspection fees, inspection failure fees, loyalty sign-up fees, loyalty program fees, and others. Finally, the bill specifies that a violation of any of these provisions, or any of the provisions of section 7 of P.L.1971, c.356 (C.56:10-7), shall not constitute good cause for a franchisee's termination. | In Committee |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | In Committee |
| S1410 | Eliminates use of census-based funding of special education aid in school funding law. | Under the provisions of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), the State provides special education aid to school districts using the census-based method. Under this method, districts receive funding for special education based on the assumption that a fixed percent of the total student population requires special education services, rather than using the actual number of special education students to determine the amount of State aid that school districts will receive. This bill eliminates the use of the census-based methodology, and calculates State aid for special education based on the actual number of special education students included in the district's resident enrollment. | In Committee |
| S2008 | Establishes Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The purpose of the program is to encourage students who graduated high school from a school district, or lived in a school district, with a shortage of teachers to teach in that school district. Under the bill, HESAA will offer loan redemption up to $10,000 of principal and interest of eligible student loan expenses for each full year of employment by the program participant. The total loan redemption amount for a program participant, for five years of employment, will not exceed $50,000. HESAA will not spend more than $500,000 for program implementation in any State fiscal year. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State and maintain domicile in the State during participation in the program; have previously graduated high school in a school district designated by the Department of Education as having a shortage of teachers during the year in which the applicant submits a program application to HESAA or have resided in the jurisdiction in which the school district is located for more than five years; be hired as a certified teacher by the school district from which the applicant graduated high school or a school district located in a jurisdiction in which the applicant has resided for more than five years, provided that the district is experiencing a shortage of teachers as determined by the department; and have an outstanding balance on a State or federal student loan and not be in default on any loan. A program participant will enter into a written contract with HESAA to participate in the program. The contract will specify the duration of the applicant's required employment, which will be no less than five years, and the total amount of eligible student loan expenses to be redeemed by the State in return for employment as a teacher in the school district. | In Committee |
| S1812 | Establishes requirements concerning methods for determining whether student has specific learning disability under federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. | Establishes requirements concerning methods for determining whether student has specific learning disability under federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. | In Committee |
| SCR37 | Commemorates 127th anniversary of Jewish War Veterans of United States of America. | Commemorates 127th anniversary of Jewish War Veterans of United States of America. | In Committee |
| S1993 | Concerns certain sales of alcoholic beverages at farm markets. | This bill concerns certain sales of alcoholic beverages at farm markets. Currently, the provisions of section 9 of P.L.2021, c.15, applies to seasonal markets. This bill amends the current law in order for the law's provisions to apply to all farm markets, regardless of a farm markets seasonal status. Additionally, the bill requires that a licensee or the licensee's employee in a farm market would be responsible for checking valid forms of identification to properly verify that consumers are of legal age to sample, consume, or purchase the licensee's products at a farm market. | In Committee |
| S2065 | Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to certain chambers of commerce; appropriates $1.5 million. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) to establish and maintain the "New Jersey Business Recovery Grant Program" (program) to provide grants to qualified chambers of commerce for programming and regular operations. Following the COVID-19 public health emergency, many businesses based in New Jersey need assistance in their financial recovery. This bill requires the authority to establish the program and establishes the "New Jersey Business Recovery Fund" (fund) to provide grant funding for the program, alongside any other funds which may be appropriated or available to the authority for this purpose. The bill appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund to the authority for the program. To qualify for grant funding under the bill, a chamber of commerce is required to serve a business community in this State, in an area larger than a singular municipality. Such a grant may not exceed $25,000. The authority is required to establish application criteria and procedures; reporting requirements for a qualified chamber of commerce; and any other policy necessary to implement the program and fund. | In Committee |
| S671 | Requires students to complete free application for federal student aid as part of high school graduation requirements or request an exemption. | This bill requires that local graduation requirements adopted by boards of education will include a requirement that students complete and submit the free application for federal student aid, generally referred to as the FAFSA, beginning with the grade eleven class of the first full school year following the date of enactment of the bill. Students will be exempted from the requirement if a parent or guardian, or the student if the student is at least 18 years of age, signs and submits a form requesting the exemption. The bill also requires that the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, publish a list of resources for school districts, parents and students, including instructions on how to complete and submit the FAFSA. | In Committee |
| S2072 | Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish Legislative Youth Council and select institution of higher education in this State as host; makes changes to council's structure to provide flexibility in activities and operations. | This bill makes changes to the Legislative Youth Council to create flexibility and provide long-term support. The bill: Directs the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to establish a Legislative Youth Council in collaboration with a college or university located in this State, for the engagement of youth in this State in the democratic process. Directs the college or university selected by the Secretary to provide support to council members so they can more effectively undertake their responsibilities and provide input to policymakers. Directs the college or university to designate a coordinator for the council to manage the day to day functions, including arranging for guest speakers and for opportunities to observe policymakers. Establishes a stipend, in an amount to be determined by the Secretary, for the coordinator. Removes the requirement that the members study particular subject areas, allowing the council to adapt over time and research issues of greatest concern to them as representatives of the youth in this State. Removes the requirement that the council provide regular reports to the Legislature on particular subjects but instead only requires that the coordinator report to the Legislature and the Secretary of Higher Education on the activities of the council once every two years. Aligns the term of the members with the two-year legislative term for overlap with the schedule of legislative activity in this State. Removes legislators from formal positions with the council, allowing for them and other policymakers to engage in a more advisory capacity. Requires the coordinator to develop the application for appointment to the council and removes the ability of the council to revise that application. Raises the minimum age for eligible applicants from 15 to 18 and the maximum age from 23 to 25 to create a cohort of council members who are closer in experience and college level of education to inform their activities. Lowers the number of years that a member has to have been a resident of this State to broaden the eligible pool of applicants. Requires the members of the Senate and General Assembly to appoint the members within 60 days after the start of a two-year legislative term. Removes the ability of the members of the Legislature to appoint members after that initial 60 days to ensure that there is no delay in participation for some of the members who are appointed later. Establishes a stipend for council members in an amount to be determined by the coordinator. Provides that all members who have been appointed prior to the enactment of the bill will constitute the inaugural council members, as long as they would also be eligible under the terms of this bill, and will begin their service with the new legislative term commencing on January 9, 2024. This bill also repeals several provisions of law that require the council to maintain an executive board, that require a certain schedule of meetings for the council, and that limit the payments received by members to reimbursements for expenses already incurred. | In Committee |
| S2012 | Requires certain public schools that receive State aid to begin regular instruction for high school students no earlier than 8:30 AM. | This bill provides that, in order to receive any State aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" or any other law, a school district, charter school, renaissance school project, county vocational school district, or county special services school district that includes grades 9 through 12 will be required to begin regular instruction for high school students no earlier than 8:30 AM. | In Committee |
| S2170 | Requires DOE to maintain list of textbook vendors that use inclusive material and school districts to use textbooks from those vendors. | This bill requires the Department of Education to develop and maintain a list of textbook vendors that incorporate inclusive material in their textbooks and to distribute the list to school districts and make the list publicly available on the department's website. "Inclusive material" as defined in the bill means content in a textbook that accurately portrays the diversity of our society, in such areas as gender, race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation. Under the bill, when a school district determines to acquire a new textbook, the district will be required to select the textbook from a vendor that is included on the department's list. Notwithstanding, the bill allows a school district to propose to the Commissioner of Education a textbook vendor that is not currently on the department's list and to acquire and use textbooks from that vendor upon the approval of the commissioner. The requirements of the bill would not apply to textbooks acquired by a school district using the Statewide textbook bank created pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2002, c.98 (C.18A:34-3) or to textbooks that require replacement due to damage or loss. | In Committee |
| S2048 | Modifies provisions of grant program that reimburses eligible costs for school district regionalization feasibility studies. | This bill revises various portions of law establishing the School Regionalization Efficiency Program (SREP), which was enacted as P.L.2021, c.402. The grant program supports public school districts and governing bodies across New Jersey who wish to study the feasibility of school district regionalization and consolidation. Regarding the administering of the grant program, the bill does the following:· provides that the board of education or governing body of a single school district seeking to form a limited purpose or all purpose regional school district would be eligible for grant funding under the SREP; · expands eligibility for funding under the SREP to the boards of education or governing bodies of two or more school districts that conducted a school district regionalization feasibility study within two years prior to the enactment of P.L.2021, c.402, for which the amount of a prior grant award disbursed by the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) in the Department of Community Affairs is less than the total cost of the study;· removes a provision of law that permits boards of education or governing bodies whose applications are denied approval for grant funding under the SREP to be afforded an opportunity to contest the decision; and· provides that the DLGS would, prior to considering the approval of a grant application, either notify each non-participating district that is proposed to be included in a regionalization feasibility study or require the applicant to notify each non-participating district, to ensure that the district is afforded an opportunity to provide comment on the proposed regionalization. The bill requires the DLGS to submit quarterly reports to the Legislature that would include information identifying each applicant seeking a grant award under the SREP. P.L.2021, c.402 extends the timeline by which a school district receiving approval or preliminary approval under the SREP would experience State aid reductions pursuant to current law, by a period of four additional years beyond what is provided for under the current State aid reduction timeline. The bill expands eligibility for this modified State aid schedule to a school district that is a participating district under an application for which a lead district has successfully completed a prior grant agreement with the DLGS for the purposes of completing a feasibility study for school district regionalization. The bill also provides various restrictions under which a district would not be eligible for this modified schedule: Finally, the bill provides that a vote on a proposal to enlarge a regional school district may be held at the November school election. | In Committee |
| S1448 | Prohibits leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor under age of 18; requires law enforcement officers who observe unsecured firearms to conduct follow-up. | Under section 1 of P.L.1991, c.397 (C.2C:58-15), a firearm owner is prohibited from leaving a loaded firearm within easy access of a minor under the age of 16. This bill increases the age of a minor to under the age of 18. The bill also requires a law enforcement officer who observes that a firearm owner has not properly stored or secured his or her firearm to return to the firearm owner's premises to ensure that the firearms are properly secured. Under section 1 of P.L.1991, c.397 (C.2C:58-15), unless a firearm owner takes certain precautions, the owner is guilty of a disorderly persons offense if he or she knows, or reasonably should know, that a minor is likely to gain access to a loaded firearm at a premises under the owner's control and the minor gains access to the firearm. The precautions required under the law include storing the firearm in a securely locked box, secure location, or with a trigger lock. A disorderly person's offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S2063 | Adds migraine to list of medical conditions permitting person to install motor vehicle window tinting. | This bill adds migraine to the list of medical conditions that would permit a person to install motor vehicle window tinting. Current law prohibits add-on tinting on windshields and front side windows of motor vehicles, with certain exceptions. Individuals who have a medical condition involving ophthalmic or dermatological photosensitivity may apply to the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to have supplemental sun-screening materials or products applied to the windshield and front windows of their motor vehicles to protect them from the sun. This bill adds migraine to the list of medical conditions involving ophthalmic or dermatologic photosensitivity for which individuals may apply to the Chief Administrator of the MVC to have supplemental sun-screening materials or products applied to the windshield and front windows of their motor vehicles to protect them from the sun. | In Committee |
| S1985 | Legalizes growing or possessing up to six marijuana plants for personal recreational use, and up to 10 plants for personal medical use, by persons aged 21 or older. | This bill would make it legal for a person aged 21 or over to grow and possess certain amounts of marijuana for personal use. P.L.2021, c.16, which legalized the personal use of cannabis, provides that possession of six ounces or less of marijuana, including any adulterants or dilutants, is not subject to any punishment, as this possession is not a crime, offense, act of delinquency, or civil violation of law. Under the enactment, possession of more than six ounces of marijuana, including any adulterants or dilutants, constitutes a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine of up to $10,000 or both. P.L.2021, c.16 does not make it legal for a person to grow their own marijuana for personal use. Under the bill, growing or possessing marijuana plants for personal recreational use or personal medical use by a person aged 21 or older would also not be a crime, offense, act of delinquency, or civil violation of law. The bill would apply under the following circumstances: (1) A person aged 21 or older may grow or possess up to six marijuana plants for personal recreational use, with a maximum of 12 plants per household; and (2) A qualifying patient as defined in section 3 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-3), aged 21 or older, or a designated caregiver, as defined in section 3 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-3), aged 21 or older, on behalf of the qualifying patient, may grow or possess up to 10 marijuana plants for personal medical use, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. | In Committee |
| SCR20 | Urges President and Congress to enact legislation forgiving community disaster loans issued after Superstorm Sandy. | This resolution urges the United States President and Congress to enact legislation forgiving community disaster loans issued after Superstorm Sandy. New Jersey has faced several economic upheavals in recent years, from Superstorm Sandy in 2012 to the current COVID-19 pandemic. These natural disasters have had a profound and devastating impact on the economy of the State and its residents, with many still struggling financially as a result of Superstorm Sandy to this day. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused, and will continue to cause, increasing uncertainty and economic disruptions throughout the State, which is the second highest impact area in the United States for the novel coronavirus. Recently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has begun to press New Jersey municipalities to start repaying the loans passed out to help the State recover post-Superstorm Sandy. This mandatory repayment would have a devastating effect throughout the State, as these demands come at a time when the State, like many across the United States, is struggling to fight COVID-19. The payments on the community disaster loans were originally assured to be allowed to be paid back over time and slowly, with the possibility of forgiveness. Furthermore, New Jersey residents who were granted loans under the "Small Business Act," which was passed to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses through the creation of small business loans, now face the possibility that they may be precluded from receiving further disaster relief aid during the COVID-19 pandemic since any new grant issuances may be counted as a duplicate benefit. The duplication of benefit policy was partially abolished by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in February 2018 under the "Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018" and should be extended to funds received following disasters dating to 2011, including Superstorm Sandy. Rep. Chris Smith reintroduced H.R. 6454 on April 3, 2020, which mandated forgiveness of certain community disaster loans secured by New Jersey municipalities from FEMA to help with Superstorm Sandy recovery. The bill also addressed the lingering duplication of benefit problem by removing the receipt of small business loans as a disqualifier for people who sought or received federal money to help them recover in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. The passage of legislation like H.R. 6454 would have a profound impact throughout the State in helping stabilize the economy and would provide much needed support to the citizens of the State in the fight against COVID-19. | In Committee |
| S2054 | Establishes "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission;" appropriates $2.5 million. | This bill establishes a "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission" and appropriates $2.5 million. Under the bill, there is established in, but not of, the Department of Law and Public Safety a commission to be known as the "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission." The purpose of the commission is to design and oversee the construction of a Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial in Monmouth County that honors and recognizes law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The commission is to consist of the following seven members: 1) a representative of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, appointed by the Governor; 2) a representative of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, appointed by the Governor; 3) a representative of the State Troopers Fraternal Association, appointed by the Governor; and 4) four public members, one of whom shall be a retired law enforcement officer, appointed by the Governor. The bill requires the appointments to be made within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The commission is to organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of the majority of the members. A majority of all of the authorized members constitutes a quorum. Under the bill, the Department of Law and Public Safety is to provide staff and related support services as the commission requires to carry out its work. The bill requires the commission to select a suitable design and location in Monmouth County for the construction of the Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial and to oversee the construction of the memorial. Within 18 months of the bill's effective date, the commission is required to submit a final report to the Governor and the Legislature which is to include the final design and location in Monmouth County selected for the memorial. In addition, the bill establishes, in the Department of Law and Public Safety, a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund." The fund is to be administered by the Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission and dedicated for the costs associated with designing and constructing the memorial. Finally, the bill appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety for the provision of that amount to the "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund." | In Committee |
| S2020 | Requires health insurance carriers to categorize mental health treatment and therapy received by victim of domestic violence as medically necessary treatment and provide full benefits coverage therefor. | This bill would require all health insurance carriers in the State, including hospital service corporations, group or individual medical service corporations, group or individual health service corporations, group or individual health insurance policies, health maintenance organizations, individual health benefits plans, small employer health benefits plans, the State Health Benefits Commission, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission, to categorize mental health treatment and therapy received by an insured victim of domestic violence as medically necessary treatment and to provide full benefits coverage therefor. Although current law requires several types of health insurance carriers to provide coverage for medically necessary health care services that are provided in association with the treatment of a physical injury resulting from domestic violence, no insurance carrier is similarly required to provide coverage for mental health care that is received by victims of domestic violence. This bill would fill this gap in the law by recognizing the medical necessity of all mental health treatment and therapy received by a victim of domestic violence and requiring all carriers to provide full benefits coverage therefor. | In Committee |
| SCR21 | Urges Congress to investigate claims that insurance companies have used revised engineering reports to deny flood claims from Superstorm Sandy. | This resolution urges Congress to conduct immediate investigations and hearings to determine the extent to which insurance companies providing flood insurance policies in New Jersey and similarly situated states have used revised engineering reports to deny legitimate claims from homeowners for damage to their properties from Superstorm Sandy. | In Committee |
| S1039 | Establishes and codifies certain privileges for limited and restricted brewery license holders. | This bill grants certain privileges to the holders of limited and restricted brewery licenses. In addition, privileges currently held by limited brewery licensees are clarified and codified by the provisions of the bill. Under current law, the holder of a limited brewery license is entitled to brew and distribute beer to retailers and manufacturers, but is limited in the amount of beer that he or she may brew in one year. The holder of a restricted brewery license is entitled to brew beer and operate a restaurant provided the licensee also holds a Class C consumption license generally issued to bars and restaurants. Under the bill, the holder of a limited brewery license would be entitled to serve customers tableside utilizing servers or wait staff employed by the holder of this license. The limited brewery license holder also would be entitled to serve malt alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption in outdoor spaces that are a part of an approved outdoor space utilizing a permanent or portable tap system located in the approved outdoor space. Pourers and servers employed by the restricted brewery are to be certified by an industry-recognized server training program. The bill also removes from current law the requirement that limited breweries provide a tour. Under current law, limited breweries are authorized to sell their product at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for on-site consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the brewery or distillery. Under this bill, consumers would not be required to take a tour of the brewery to purchase beverages for on-site consumption. The bill also allows the limited brewery license holder to offer for sale or make the gratuitous offering of de minimis food items such as, but not limited to, packaged crackers, chips, nuts, and similar snacks to consumers. The license holder would be entitled to sell non-alcoholic beverages regardless of whether the non-alcoholic beverages are manufactured on the license premises. Under the bill, the license holder would be entitled to coordinate with a food vendor for the provision of food on the licensed premises and provide menus to consumers for the sale of food. The bill also clarifies that limited breweries are entitled to offer for sale suitable gift items and novelty wearing apparel identified with the name of the licensed limited brewery. This bill also allows limited breweries to hold an unlimited number of on-premises special events for which the license holder may advertise and charge a cover fee. A license holder would not be required to obtain a permit or provide electronic notification to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) prior to holding on-premises special events or private parties. In addition, the bill allows limited breweries to hold an unlimited number of off-premises special events by obtaining a permit from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. An off-premises special event permit may be issued for an event that is held for up to three consecutive days. The licensee would be entitled to coordinate with food vendors for the provision of food at off-premises events. If an off-premises special event is held on a publicly-owned or controlled property, the holder of the limited brewery license would be required to obtain the consent of the political subdivision that owns or controls the property or the chief law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the property. Under the bill, a limited brewery also would be entitled to hold an unlimited number of private parties per year to occur on the licensed premise including, but not limited to, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, civic and political functions, professional and trade association events, or class reunions and alumni events. The host of a private party, subject to the brewery's consent, may provide wine or malt alcoholic beverages purchased off the licensed premises to be served at the private party. A private party host may hire the employee of a limited brewery to pour the alcoholic beverages served at the party. The limited brewery would not be required to obtain a permit or provide electronic notification to the division of a private event. The bill also allows organizations operating for civic, religious, educational, charitable, fraternal, social, or recreational purposes, and not for private gain, to obtain a social affair permit to hold an event on the licensed premises of a limited brewery. Under the bill, the holder of a limited brewery license would be entitled to host not more than 25 social affair events on a limited brewery premises. The social affair permit holder may, at the brewery's consent, sell and serve wine and malt alcoholic beverages manufactured off the licensed premises for on-premises consumption only, provided the wine and malt alcoholic beverages. A host of a social affair permitted event may hire the employees or agents of a limited brewery licensee to pour the alcoholic beverages served at the event. The bill allows limited breweries to sell their products for consumption off the licensed premises during a social affair permitted event. Finally, the bill increases annual production limits placed on restricted breweries from 10,000 barrels to 300,000 barrels of 31 gallons capacity per year. In addition, restricted breweries would be entitled to sell their products directly to a retailer, rather than through a wholesaler. The bill further allows restricted breweries to maintain a warehouse. This bill is in response, in part, to a recent special ruling issued by the Director of ABC to limit the number of special events and private parties held by limited breweries. It is the sponsor's intent to foster and encourage New Jersey's flourishing craft beer industry and its contribution to the local economy by granting additional privileges and codifying existing privileges for both limited and restricted breweries. | In Committee |
| S1347 | Permits certain businesses to complete business registration certificate and annual report together. | This bill permits certain businesses, including limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, for-profit corporations, and non-profit corporations, with an annual reporting requirement, to have the option to electronically file an annual report in conjunction with a business registration certificate or a renewal of a business registration certificate. Under current law, businesses may only file an annual report and business registration certificate separately. | In Committee |
| S2062 | Requires DCA to conduct investigation into nurse staffing agencies and exorbitant pricing. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to conduct an investigation into nurse staffing agencies and exorbitant pricing. Under the bill, the commissioner is to conduct an investigation into exorbitant pricing and health care agencies that provide clients nurse staffing services, otherwise known as nurse staffing agencies. The bill provides that the purpose of this investigation is to: (1) in consideration of the current economic recession and inflationary period, the current shortage of nurses, and other economic factors that force price increases, set objective parameters to determine what constitutes a nurse staffing agency engaged in exorbitant pricing, as opposed to a nurse staffing agency that is forced to charge higher prices due to economic factors that are beyond the agency's control; (2) determine whether certain nurse staffing agencies in this State are engaged in exorbitant pricing; (3) determine to what extent nurse staffing agencies are engaged in exorbitant pricing if the commissioner determines that certain nurse staffing agencies are engaged in exorbitant pricing; (4) develop recommendations on how to prevent nurse staffing agencies from engaging in exorbitant pricing if the commissioner determines that certain nurse staffing agencies are engaged in exorbitant pricing; (5) determine the difference between the amount nurse staffing agencies are compensated by health care institutions and the amount nurse staffing agencies pay to contracted nurses, and examine the extent to which nurse staffing agencies could provide more transparency regarding such payments; (6) examine how federal funds were used to pay nurse staffing agencies during periods workforce shortages related to COVID-19 related, and (7) study the market effects in states that imposed limits on travel nurse pay. Within six months after the bill's date of enactment, the commissioner is to prepare and submit to the Governor and Legislature, a report containing any findings and recommendations produced by the investigation. | In Committee |
| S2055 | Concerns New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. | This bill revises provisions of State law concerning the operations of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. When the consortium was the first established in 2018, it was the first of its kind. The lessons learned in the years since its inauguration have led to amendments in 2021, and further changes proposed in this bill. Primarily, the bill staggers the terms of service for the consortium's board of directors. The bill also removes the provisions of law concerning hiring program officers and administrative staff. This bill broadens the categories of university representatives that can serve as grantee partners and permits unspent funds to be used in subsequent years, allowing the flexibility to provide multi-year grants. | Dead |
| S2028 | Establishes teacher certification route for candidates with Montessori teaching credentials. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize a route to teacher certification for candidates who possess a Montessori teaching credential. The provisions of the bill apply to candidates seeking a certificate of eligibility with preschool through grade three endorsement or an elementary school (kindergarten through grade six) endorsement. To be eligible for this route to teacher certification, a candidate is required to:? hold a Montessori teaching credential issued by the American Montessori Society, the Association Montessori Internationale, or an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education;? hold a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution of higher education; and? meet the applicable test requirements for a certificate of eligibility. The Montessori certification supplants the 50 pre-service hours required through the alternative route, in addition to the educational requirements of the provisional teacher program. In order to obtain a provisional or standard instructional certificate, a candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility with a preschool through grade three endorsement or an elementary school (kindergarten through six) endorsement who meets the criteria established under this bill is not required to complete:? 50 hours of pre-professional experience or credits of preschool through grade three pedagogy;? 350 hours of credits of coursework after employment if the candidate is seeking an elementary school (kindergarten through grade six) endorsement; or? 24 credits after employment if the candidate is seeking a preschool through grade three endorsement. Under the bill, the State Board of Examiners will issue a certificate of eligibility to a candidate who meets the criteria established under the bill. A candidate eligible for a certificate of eligibility will not be required to complete a State-approved education preparation program, but will be required to complete a Montessori teacher preparation program that:? is affiliated with the American Montessori Society, the Association Montessori Internationale, or is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education; and? requires a minimum of 200 academic hours and 400 practicum hours. The bill defines "certificate of eligibility" as a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet the degree, academic, and applicable test requirements for teacher certification. | In Committee |
| S1990 | Requires transportation network company drivers to complete anti-human trafficking training course. | This bill requires transportation network company (TNC) drivers and applicants to complete an anti-human trafficking training course, which is to be approved by the Attorney General. A TNC is required to provide the anti-human trafficking course prior to the approval of an applicant and to current TNC drivers within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The anti-human trafficking training course may be provided via web based video or digital format and is required to include: (1) an overview of human trafficking, including how human trafficking is defined; (2) guidance on the role TNC drivers play in reporting and responding to human trafficking; and (3) information on how to report suspected human trafficking. Upon completion of the anti-human trafficking training course, a TNC driver is required to certify to any TNC whose digital network the driver uses that the driver completed an anti-human trafficking training course. If a driver fails to provide a TNC with the required certification, the TNC is required to prohibit the driver from utilizing the TNC's digital network to provide rides until the driver submits the required certification. The bill also requires each TNC to create a list of drivers who did not provide the required certification. Completion or failure to complete the anti-human trafficking training course will be noted in the individual record of each TNC driver and maintained by the TNC. | In Committee |
| S1479 | Authorizes health care providers to negotiate with carriers regarding fee- and non-fee-related matters. | This bill authorizes health care providers to be involved with joint negotiations on the terms and conditions of contracts with health and dental insurance carriers. Under the bill, two or more health care providers authorized by the State to provide services in a health care profession are allowed to participate in a joint negotiation. The negotiations would be carried out through a joint negotiation representative selected by a health care provider to act on their behalf. In the bill, two or more health care providers practicing in a service area of a carrier can jointly negotiate, and engage in related joint activity, regarding non-fee-related matters which may affect patient care, including (1) the definition of medical necessity and other conditions of coverage; (2) clinical practice guidelines; and (3) any provider rating program and the ability to appeal a carrier's rating of a provider. In addition, the bill establishes that if the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, finds that a carrier has substantial market power in its service area and that any of the terms or conditions of the contract with the carrier pose an actual or potential threat to the quality and availability of patient care among covered persons, two or more independent health care providers may jointly negotiate with the carrier, and engage in related joint activity, on fees and fee-related matters. This includes such items as (1) the amount of payment or the methodology for determining the payment for a health care or dental service, including, but not limited to, cost of living increases; (2) the amount of any discount on the price of a health care or dental service; and (3) the procedure code or other description of a health care or dental service covered by a payment and the appropriate grouping of the procedure codes. The bill also establishes that, before entering into negotiations, a person or entity which proposes to act as a joint negotiation representative is to submit a petition to enter into negotiations to the Attorney General for approval. The petition is to identify, among other items, the representative, the health care providers who the representative will represent, and the intended subject matter of the proposed negotiations. Under the bill, a process is established regarding the steps necessary for when the joint negotiation representative and the carrier have reached an agreement on the contractual terms or conditions that were the subject matter of negotiations. The bill also stipulates that if a party to the negotiations decides to decline or terminate negotiations, within 14 days of this decision, the joint negotiation representative is to report to the Attorney General that negotiations have ended. The Attorney General may, within 30 days of a termination, make a binding determination as to the merits of the joint negotiation request. The bill also establishes the process by which the Attorney General is to provide written approval or disapproval of a petition or proposed contract furnished by a joint negotiation representative. A decision by the Attorney General to approve or disapprove is to be rendered within 30 days after receipt of the petition or proposed contract. If that timeline passes with no decision rendered, the joint negotiation representative may petition a court for an order to require a decision from the Attorney General. The petition or proposed contract is to be approved by the Attorney General shall approve a petition or a proposed contract if a determination is made that the petition or proposed contract demonstrates that the benefits which are likely to result from the proposed joint negotiations or contract outweigh the disadvantages attributable to a reduction in competition that may result from the proposed joint negotiations. If a decision is made to disapprove of a petition or proposed contract, a petitioner has 45 days to submit a written request to the Attorney General for a hearing. Lastly, the bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation of the bill. The report is to include, among other items, an assessment of the impact that the bill has had on health insurance premiums in the State. The report is to also include the recommendations of the Attorney General as to whether the provisions of the substitute should be expanded to include other types of health care facilities. | In Committee |
| S1469 | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | This bill authorizes the use of a school bus monitoring system to enforce section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), the State law governing passing a school bus. A school bus monitoring system is defined as a system meeting certain requirements set forth in the bill and having at least one camera and computer that captures and records a digital video or image of any motor vehicle operating near a school bus. Under current law, school buses are required to exhibit flashing red lights when the bus has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any person with a developmental disability or a child. Drivers of vehicles approaching or overtaking the school bus are required to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus that has activated its flashing lights. The penalty for violating this law, for a first offense, is: 1) a fine of no less than $100; 2) imprisonment for no more than 15 days or community service; or 3) both. For subsequent offenses, the penalty is: 1) a fine of no less than $250; 2) imprisonment for no less than 15 days; or 3) both. This bill provides that the penalty for violating the law, when the violation is not evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system, would be: 1) a fine of $250; 2) 15 days of community service; or 3) both, in the case of a first offense. For each subsequent offense, the penalty would be a fine of $500 and no less than 15 days of community service. Under the bill, a civil penalty of $250 would be imposed on a person who passes a school bus in violation of current law if the violation is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system. Under these circumstances, any civil penalty imposed and collected for this violation is to be forwarded to the financial officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred and used for general municipal and school district purposes, including efforts to improve the monitoring and enforcement of this law through the utilization of a school bus monitoring system and other public education safety programs. A violation that is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system would not result in penalty points or automobile insurance eligibility points being assessed on the violator. The bill authorizes a municipality or school district operating or providing Type I or Type II school buses that transport students to contract with a private vendor to provide for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a school bus monitoring system for enforcement purposes. The bill provides that a school bus monitoring system must be capable of capturing and producing a record of any occurrence that may be considered illegal passing of a school bus, and include in that recorded image: -- if the school bus is exhibiting its flashing light; -- if a motor vehicle passes a school bus; -- the license plate, make, and model of the violating vehicle; and -- the date, time, and location of the violation. The bill requires any suspected violation captured in a recorded image produced by a school bus monitoring system to be made available to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred. A law enforcement officer is to issue a summons within 90 days of determining that a suspected violation occurred. A summons may not be issued for a violation occurring more than 90 days from date of the violation. The bill provides that any recorded image or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system is not a public record under New Jersey's "Open Public Records Act," is not discoverable as a public record except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter, and is not to be offered into evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding unless directly related to illegally passing a school bus. The bill provides that recorded images or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system pertaining to a specific violation are not to be retained for more than 60 days after the collection of any civil penalty imposed, and are then to be purged. All recorded images and information collected but not resulting in the issuance of a summons are to be purged within 95 days of the recording. The bill provides that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable for a summons for illegally passing a school bus as evidenced by a recorded image captured by a school bus monitoring system. However, a lessor or owner of a motor vehicle is not liable for a summons if: -- the lessor demonstrates that the vehicle was used without the lessor's express or implied consent, and provides the name and address of the vehicle operator or registrant; -- the lessee was operating or in possession of the vehicle at the time of the violation and the lessor provides the name and address of the lessee; or -- the owner, lessor, or lessee demonstrates that the vehicle was stolen at the time the violation occurred and provides a copy of the police report regarding the vehicle theft. The bill permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including specifications and certification procedures for the school bus monitoring systems and devices that may be installed. The bill also permits the Supreme Court of New Jersey to adopt Rules of Court as appropriate or necessary to effectuate the purposes of the substitute. The bill will take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment, but permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to take anticipatory administrative actions in advance of the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S2250 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services; appropriates $20 million. | This bill appropriates $20 million in order to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to determine the amount of the increases as follows: The primary care services reimbursement rates associated with the most frequently used medical billing codes under Medicaid in calendar year 2022 are to be increased so that each rate is no less than 100 percent of the payment rate that applies to the same service under part B of Medicare. The commissioner is to determine the number of primary care services rates increased under this subsection such that the annual aggregate amount of the rate increases is equal to $20 million, as appropriated under the bill, combined with the anticipated receipt of increased federal Medicaid matching funds. Under the bill, primary care services means the same as defined under section 1202 of the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," and includes evaluation and management services, which cover the non-procedural services patients receive from a provider, and services related to immunization administration. Mental health services means procedures or services rendered by a health care provider, in a traditional setting as well in an integrated behavioral health setting or via a collaborative care program, for the treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders, or drug or alcohol abuse. Primary care and mental health services include those services furnished by: (1) a physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; (2) a health care professional, including but not limited to an advance practice nurse or a physician assistant, who is working in the area of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology; or (3) a midwife. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require any decrease in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for a primary care service from the previous fiscal year's reimbursement level for the same service. Moreover, the requirements established under the bill apply whether the services are reimbursed under the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the Medicaid managed care delivery system, and only to services delivered by approved Medicaid providers. The bill directs the commissioner, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature providing information on the implementation of the bill, including data indicating any changes regarding access to primary care services, as well as the quality of care of these services, for Medicaid beneficiaries following any rate increases associated with the bill. The report is also to include any recommendations for further enhancements to the Medicaid rates for these services to improve provider access and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved areas of the State. | In Committee |
| S1350 | Repeals $100,000 cap on sales and use tax exemption for certain capital improvements made by businesses participating in Urban Enterprise Zone program. | This bill retroactively repeals the $100,000 cap on the sales tax exemption for retail sales of materials, supplies, and services for the exclusive use of erecting structures or buildings on, or improving, altering or repairing the real property of a qualified business, or a contractor hired by the qualified business to make such improvements, alterations, or repairs. This sales tax exemption is currently available to qualified businesses participating in the State Urban Enterprise Zone program. The sales tax exemption was enacted in August of 2021 with a cap of $100,000, and applies to sales and uses on or after January 1, 2022. This bill keeps the exemption in place but eliminates the cap retroactively to January 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| S702 | Adopts Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. | This bill would adopt the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact in New Jersey, which is an interstate compact that will authorize dentists and dental hygienists licensed in a compact state to practice in any other compact state without being individually licensed in that other state. Licensees in a compact state seeking to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in another compact state will be required to apply for a compact privilege to practice in the other state, including paying any applicable fees. States participating in the compact are required to meet certain requirements related to the licensure of dentists and dental hygienists, require criminal background checks of licensees and applicants for licensure, and participate in a data system that is used to track adverse actions taken against licensees in states participating in the compact. An adverse action against a licensee in a compact state will suspend the licensee's authorization to practice in all other compact states. Licensees are subject to the practice laws and jurisdiction of the state in which the licensee is practicing. The compact will be overseen by a commission comprising one commissioner appointed from each member state. An executive board made up of the chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer of the commission, as well as up to three additional commissioners, will be charged with the day-to-day administration of the compact. The bill sets forth specific requirements concerning the operations and authorities of the commission and the executive board, as well as procedures for enforcing compliance with the compact. The compact takes effect when it is adopted in at least seven states. As of May 2023, Iowa and Washington have enacted legislation adopting the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. | In Committee |
| S727 | Authorizes EDA to provide grants from "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to finance replacement of certain agricultural equipment. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide grants to farmers, using moneys from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-50), to finance the replacement of inefficient or polluting agricultural equipment with more efficient, less polluting equipment. Under current law, the EDA is authorized to use moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to commercial, institutional, and industrial entities to: (1) support end-use energy efficiency projects and new, efficient electric generation facilities that are state of the art; (2) develop combined heat and power production and other high efficiency electric generation facilities; (3) stimulate or reward investment in the development of innovative carbon emissions abatement technologies with significant carbon emissions reduction or avoidance potential (4) develop qualified offshore wind projects; and (5) provide financial assistance to manufacturers of equipment associated with qualified offshore wind projects. This bill would add agricultural entities to the types of entities eligible to receive funding, and would add the replacement of inefficient or polluting agricultural equipment with more efficient, less polluting equipment to the list of the types of projects authorized to receive funding. As provided under current law, the EDA, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), would be authorized to determine the process by which the grants would be applied for and awarded. However, the bill would require the application process for a grant to finance the replacement of agricultural equipment to require the applicant to demonstrate that the old equipment has been dismantled or otherwise permanently decommissioned. The "Global Warming Solutions Fund" serves as the repository for funds generated from the sale of greenhouse gas emissions allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The EDA receives 60 percent of moneys appropriated by the Legislature from the fund each year, while the BPU and the DEP each receive 20 percent. | In Committee |
| S2074 | Establishes State holiday on September 11 of each year. | This bill designates September 11 of each year a State holiday, which will be known as 9/11 Remembrance Day. On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by the terrorist group, al-Qaeda, with four hijacked commercial airplanes. Nearly 3,000 people were killed and thousands more were injured where planes crashed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania. Approximately 750 New Jerseyans lost their lives that day and the death toll is still rising 20 years later, as some of those who selflessly worked at Ground Zero after the attacks are dying from illnesses caused by exposure to the variety of poisonous materials at the site. Many lives are owed to the first responders who courageously sacrificed their lives and health in order to bring others to safety. Over 150 memorials in the form of gardens, statues, plaques, and monuments have been installed all over the State of New Jersey in the years since the attacks, but establishing a State holiday would allow for a day of reflection for New Jerseyans. On this holiday, the State will recognize the victims of the terror attacks and the bravery and selflessness of the first responders and volunteers who responded in the wake of those attacks. | In Committee |
| S2007 | Establishes "Recovery Tax Credit Program"; incentivizes hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. | This bill establishes the "Recovery Tax Credit Program" (program) to incentivize the hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. Under the bill, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services is required to administer the program to provide tax incentives to certified employers for hiring and employing eligible individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder in part-time or full-time employment in the State. For an employer to be certified under the bill, the employer is required to provide employer sponsored insurance coverage that meets certain minimum essential coverage requirements, and meet certain other requirements. The bill authorizes the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (director) to allocate up to $2,000,000 of tax credits for the program for each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2023, to be credited against the Corporation Business Tax or the Gross Income Tax. To participate in the program, an employer is required to apply annually to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (division) to claim credit based on the number of hours worked by eligible individuals employed during the preceding calendar year. The director is required to issue a tax credit certificate to employers by March 31 each year. The bill specifies that a certified employer is generally entitled to a tax credit equal to the product of $1 multiplied by the number of hours worked by each eligible individual hired and employed by the certified employer during that eligible individual's period of employment, provided that a credit is not to be allowed unless an eligible individual has worked in the State for a minimum of 500 hours for the employer and that the credit per eligible individual is prohibited from exceeding $2,000. The bill further specifies, however, that in determining the amount of credit that any employer may claim, the director is required to review all claims submitted for credit by employers and, to the extent that the total amount claimed by employers exceeds the amount allocated for the program in that calendar year, is required to issue credits on a pro rata basis corresponding to each employer's share of the total claimed amount. Under the bill, a certified employer is permitted to claim a credit for the period starting on the day the employee is hired and ending on December 31 of the immediately succeeding calendar year or the last day of the employee's employment by the certified employer, whichever comes first. If, however, an eligible individual has worked in excess of 500 hours between the date of hiring and December 31 of that year, an employer may elect to compute and claim a credit for such employee for that year based on the hours worked by December 31, or may elect to include the hours worked by the eligible individual in the computation of the credit in the year immediately succeeding the year in which the eligible individual was hired. Under the bill, certified employers are prohibited from claiming a tax credit for hours worked by an eligible individual in excess of 2,000 hours, from claiming credit more than once with respect to any eligible individual, and from aggregating hours worked by two or more employees to reach the minimum number of hours. The bill requires the director to annually provide certain program information to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The director is also required, in consultation with Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the program. Under the bill, the amount of the credits allowed against the taxes imposed are prohibited from exceeding 50 percent of the taxpayer's liability for tax, and may be carried over, if necessary, to the seven privilege periods or taxable years. The bill also provides for the allocation of tax credits under the program to certain certified employers. | In Committee |
| S1676 | Requires certain doctors and nurses to ask patients questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock syndrome. | This bill establishes the "Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Medical Questions Act." The bill requires nurse practitioners who practices nursing in emergency medicine, family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology and physicians who practice emergency medicine, family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology to ask patients questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock syndrome. Under the bill, a nurse practitioner or physician is to ask each female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis if the patient has an active menstrual cycle or the date of the last menstrual cycle if the female patient does not have an active menstrual cycle at the time of the medical visit. A nurse practitioner or physician is to ask a female patient with an active menstrual cycle or a recently active menstrual cycle, when the patient most recently used a tampon and if the patient experienced symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while using the tampon or soon thereafter. A nurse practitioner or physician is to inform a female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis about signs and symptoms of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. In addition, a nurse practitioner or physician is to offer to test a female patient for toxic shock syndrome if: (1) the patient is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis; (2) the patient has an active or recently active menstrual cycle; and (3) the patient began experiencing symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while using a tampon or soon thereafter. | In Committee |
| S1449 | Requires hospitals to provide breast cancer patients with information concerning reconstructive surgery; prohibits certain provisions in managed care plan contracts. | This bill requires general hospitals that provide surgical services for the treatment of breast cancer, the breast cancer gene, or other breast abnormality, including, but not limited to, mastectomy surgery, lymph node dissection, or lumpectomy, to ensure that breast cancer patients are provided written notice of the patient's right to seek a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon of the patient's choosing who provides reconstructive services concerning the patient's treatment options during and after the provision of surgical services, including the use of a prosthesis and the option of undergoing reconstructive surgery either during, or after receiving, surgical treatment for breast cancer, the breast cancer gene, or other breast abnormality, as well as the patient's right to obtain such services, regardless of the plastic surgeon's hospital affiliation or network participation. Patients are also to be provided with written notice concerning the availability of coverage under a health benefits plan for reconstructive surgery pursuant to State and federal law. The written information is to be provided to the patient when the hospital is notified of the patient's breast cancer diagnosis and in advance of obtaining consent to the surgical procedure. The bill also supplements the "Health Care Quality Act" to provide that a contract between a carrier and a health care provider for network participation will not contain any provision that prohibits or limits a health care provider in making recommendations or referrals for a covered person to a board-certified plastic surgeon, regardless of network affiliation, who provides the full scope of breast reconstructive services necessary and appropriate to the patient's treatment needs, as determined by the patient's treating physician based on the plastic surgeon's training, experience, and location in relation to the patient's primary residence, provided that the primary consideration in making such recommendations and referrals is the patient's treatment needs. Carriers will not be permitted to deny authorization for reconstructive surgery and related services based on the plastic surgeon's network status or hospital affiliation. The provision applies to reconstructive breast surgery or surgery to restore and achieve symmetry between two breasts following treatment or surgery for breast cancer, the breast cancer gene, or other breast abnormality, including, but not limited to, mastectomy surgery, lumpectomy, or radiation. For purposes of the bill, the term "carrier" means a carrier as used in the "Health Care Quality Act," P.L.1997, c.192 (C.26:2S-1 et seq.), as well as the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program. | In Committee |
| S2001 | Allows individuals on active duty to participate remotely in certain governmental meetings. | This bill allows individuals who are on active duty in a branch of the United States Armed Forces to participate remotely in certain governmental meetings. The bill provides that the governing body of a municipality may, by resolution, allow a member of the governing body who is serving on active duty to participate remotely in meetings of the governing body. Furthermore, a governing body member who is serving on active duty who participates remotely is required to be included in the quorum of that governing body meeting. Under the bill, the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) would be permitted to develop guidelines and provide advice, as may be requested, to allow active duty service members to participate in meetings of these governing bodies. DCA would be required to publish any guidelines on DCA's Internet website. Under the bill, a board of county commissioners may, by resolution, allow a county commissioner who is serving on active duty to participate remotely in meetings of the board of county commissioners. Furthermore, a county commissioner who is serving on active duty who participates remotely is required to be included in the quorum of the meeting of the board of county commissioners. The Director of the Division of Local Government Services in DCA would be permitted to develop guidelines and provide advice, as may be requested, to allow active duty service members to participate in meetings of the board of county commissioners. DCA would be required to publish any guidelines on DCA's Internet website. The bill provides that a board of education may, by resolution, allow a school board member who is serving on active duty to participate remotely in meetings of the board of education. Furthermore, a school board member who is serving on active duty who participates remotely is required to be included in the quorum of that school board meeting. The Office of School Ethics and Compliance in the Department of Education (DOE) would be permitted to develop guidelines and provide advice, as may be requested, to allow active duty service members to participate in meetings of the board of education. DOE would be required to publish any guidelines on DOE's Internet website. Under the bill, a member of a State board, commission, committee, task force, or similar multi-member entity, created by law and allocated within a principal department of the Executive Branch of the State government or within any other State entity, who is serving on active duty in a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, may be allowed to participate remotely in meetings of that State entity. Additionally, a member of a board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity who attends a meeting remotely would be included in the quorum for that meeting. Furthermore, either the chair or staff member of a board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity for whom the State already provides by law or otherwise may make arrangements to allow for the participation of a member serving on active duty. | In Committee |
| S2044 | 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 |
| S1997 | Establishes task force to study and make recommendations concerning health care service needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer or questioning individuals, and persons with intersex conditions in the State. | This bill establishes the nine-member New Jersey Task Force on Health Care Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Intersex Persons in the Department of Health (DOH). The purpose of the task force would be to develop and issue recommendations concerning the health care service needs of the State's LGBTQI community. Specifically, the task force would: review current State and federal policies and laws as they relate to LGBTQI-related health care services; determine what existing resources are currently being utilized Statewide for the provision of health care services to members of the LGBTQI community, examine the quality and accessibility of those services, and investigate whether there is a need for improving the quality and accessibility of such services; evaluate research and literature concerning the removal of barriers faced by members of the LGBTQI community when accessing health care services and obtaining health insurance coverage; examine the current curricula of the State's medical schools and schools of public health to determine whether they provide instruction on how to address the specific health care needs of the LGBTQI community; and develop and issue recommendations to improve the quality and accessibility of LGBTQI-related health care services in the State and to remove current and emerging barriers faced by members of the LGBTQI community when accessing health care services and obtaining health insurance coverage. The membership of the task force would include: the Commissioner of Health or a designee; four members of the public appointed by the Governor representing Garden State Equality, the New Jersey Hospital Association, a federally qualified health center, and the LGBTQI community; and four members of the public, one each appointed by the Senate President, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly. Under the provisions of the bill: DOH would provide professional and clerical staff to the task force as necessary to carry out its duties; the task force would report to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings, recommendations, and activities no later than one year after its organization of the task force; and the task force would expire upon the issuance of its report. | In Committee |
| S2081 | Requires board of education to directly employ certain professionals; permits board of education to contract for certain personnel; permits use of virtual or remote instruction for public school students in certain circumstances. | This bill requires a board of education to directly employ certain professionals and permits a board of education to contract for certain personnel. This bill also permits the use of virtual or remote instruction for public school students in certain circumstances. Under the bill, a board of education, generally defined as the board of education of any local school district, consolidated school district, regional school district, county vocational school, and any other board of education or other similar body, the board of directors of an educational services commission, and the administrative board of a renaissance school project or any other local education agency, is required to directly employ all persons performing any duty, function, service, assignment, or job requiring an appropriate certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners for, or on behalf of, a board of education. Additionally, the bill permits a board of education to contract with personnel to ensure required programs and services are provided and are not required to directly employ the personnel, provided that the personnel hold an applicable certificate. Under the bill, the personnel include: (1) a substitute teacher; (2) personnel providing instruction in financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy to satisfy graduation requirements; (3) personnel providing educational services to a student who is enrolled in a school other than a public school; (4) personnel employed by other boards of education and providing services under a shared services or joint agreement; (5) personnel providing individualized student learning opportunities; and (6) personnel providing special education and related services to a student who is enrolled in an out-of-district placement. Additionally, the bill permits a board of education to contract for additional services provided that the personnel holds an applicable certificate on a non-emergency basis and the board contracts with specific entities. Under the bill, these services include (1) independent child study team evaluations; (2) child study team services to supplement existing district services; (3) home instruction; (4) speech-language services in certain circumstances; and (5) related services, provided that certified occupational therapy assistants, others employed in a supportive role to licensed certified providers of related services, physical therapy assistants, and specialists in behavior modification meet additional requirements, as specified in the bill. The bill also permits an approved private school for students with disabilities to contract for certain services, provided that the personnel holds an applicable certificate on a non-emergency basis and the approved private school for students with disabilities contracts with specific entities. Under the bill, these services include speech-language services and related services, provided that certified occupational therapy assistants, others employed in a supportive role to licensed certified providers of related services, physical therapy assistants, and specialists in behavior modification meet additional requirements, as specified in the bill. The bill also requires instructional services provided by a school district, including a charter school or a renaissance school project, to be delivered through in-person methods unless otherwise permitted by State law. Additionally, the bill permits a school district to utilize individualized virtual or remote instruction for a student when equivalent instruction cannot be provided through in-person instruction, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Education and establishes an application process for a school district to apply for individualized virtual or remote instruction for a student. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to establish a process for notifying an individual currently providing the instructional services which are being sought to be implemented virtually or remotely, and the majority representative of the district's employees of the submission of an application and provide them with a copy of the application and notice of the right to object to, or comment on, the application prior to the commissioner's determination. Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner to establish a process to notify a school district, any individual currently providing the instructional services which are being sought to be implemented virtually or remotely, and the majority representative of the district's employees regarding a determination on the request for virtual or remote instruction and a procedure for a school district to them to appeal the determination. The bill also permits a board of education, as part of the district's implementation of school graduation requirements for a State-endorsed diploma to provide instruction in financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy by virtual or remote instruction, either in whole or in part. Finally, the bill specifies that individualized student learning opportunities that meet or exceed the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for students in grades nine through 12 include (1) independent study, (2) study abroad programs, (3) student exchange programs, (4) credit recovery programs; and (5) structured learning experiences, including, but not limited to, work-based programs, internships, apprenticeships, and service-learning experiences. Under the bill, the board is to determine if an individualized student learning opportunity may be completed by virtual or remote instruction, either in whole or in part. Pursuant to the bill, individualized student learning opportunities are required to apply toward the credit requirement for a State-endorsed diploma established under State Board of Education regulations. | In Committee |
| S687 | Designates portion of State Highway Route 71 as "John Tarantino Highway." | This bill designates a portion of State Highway Route 71 in the Borough of Spring Lake Heights as the "John Tarantino Highway" to honor patriotism of World War II veteran Angelo John Tarantino. The Legislature honors Mr. Tarantino for his service to the people of the United States and the State of New Jersey both during World War II and in the years after. Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the "John Tarantino Highway." The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation. | Dead |
| S2011 | Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million. | This bill increases from $25 million to $50 million the amount that is annually credited to the Shore Protection Fund from the collection of realty transfer fees. The realty transfer fee is imposed on the recording of deeds transferring real property and is calculated on the basis of the amount paid in the deed. The basic rate is $1.75 for each $500 of consideration, of which $0.50 is retained by the county and $1.25 is the State share. Currently, the first $25 million of the State share collected annually is credited to the Shore Protection Fund. | In Committee |
| S1648 | Expands categories of individuals who may bring a claim under wrongful imprisonment statute. | This bill expands the categories of individuals who may bring a claim under the wrongful imprisonment statute, P.L.1997, c.227 (C.52:4C-1 et. seq.). The bill also provides a two-year window during which persons who were ineligible to bring a civil action for wrongful imprisonment may bring an action for damages. Currently, any person who has been convicted and subsequently imprisoned for a crime which he did not commit and for which he did not plead guilty may bring a civil action for damages against the Department of Treasury. This bill would allow a person who was wrongfully convicted of a crime and subsequently wrongfully civilly committed as a "sexually violent predator" in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1998, c.71 (C.30:4-27.24 et al.) to also bring an action for wrongful imprisonment. In addition, any person who entered a guilty plea and was subsequently imprisoned could also bring an action. Statute of Limitations The bill also clarifies the time frame within which an action may be brought. The bill provides that a person may bring a civil action within two years after his conviction is vacated or dismissed, or his release from prison, State supervision including parole, probation, civil commitment, sexual offender registration, or after he has been pardoned, whichever is later. In addition, it provides that any person who has had his conviction vacated, dismissed, or is released from imprisonment, State supervision including parole, probation, civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator" in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1998, c.71 (C.30:4-27.24 et al.), sex offender registration or pardoned on or after December 27, 2013 would have two years from the effective date of this bill to file a suit. Damages In 2013 the Legislature increased the statutory damages amounts awarded in wrongful imprisonment civil actions pursuant to P.L.2013, c.171. Currently, damages cannot exceed twice the amount of the claimant's income in the year prior to the claimant's incarceration or $50,000 for each year of incarceration, whichever is greater. (The 2013 amendment increased the amount from $20,000 to $50,000). The bill does not change this measurement between the greater of income in the year prior to the claimant's incarceration or the total per year amount for each year of incarceration. Instead it adds time spent in civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator." The bill also expands the provisions of the statute to allow for an additional recovery of $25,000 for each year served on State supervision, including parole, probation or as a registered sex offender. Therefore, under the bill damages include (1) twice the amount of the claimant's income in the year prior to his incarceration or civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator"; or (2) $50,000 for each year of incarceration or civil commitment, whichever is greater, and (3) $25,000 for each year served on parole, on probation, or as a registered sex offender after a period of incarceration. In the event that damages exceed $1 million the court could order that the award be paid in an annuity with a payout over a maximum period of 20 years. Applicability Provision Since the amount of recovery was increased in 2013 by section 6 of P.L.2013, c.171 and applied to a claimant released from imprisonment or granted a pardon on or after the effective date of the 2013 enactment, the bill provides a tiered applicability provision to clarify the damages provision. The provisions of P.L.1997, c.227 (C.52:4C-1 et al.) and P.L.2013, c.171 would apply to any claimant released from imprisonment, or granted a pardon on or after the effective date of P.L.2013, c.171 which is December 27, 2013. The provisions of this bill would apply to any claimant whose conviction was vacated or dismissed, or who was released from imprisonment, parole, probation, civil commitment as a "sexually violent predator" or removed from the sex offender registry, or granted a pardon on or after December 27, 2013, the effective date of P.L.2013, c.171, and who has not previously been awarded damages. Such a claimant would have two years from the effective date of this bill to bring an action for damages. And finally, a person who was previously ineligible to bring a civil action for damages under section 3 of P.L.1997, c.227 (C.52:4C-3) or section 6 of P.L.2013, c.171 on grounds that the person pled guilty to the crime for which he was convicted would have two years from the effective date of the bill to bring a civil action for damages.Public Defender- Lien on Property of Defendant The bill would also amend section 17 of P.L.1967, c.43 (C.2A:158A-17) to add the cross reference to section 6 of P.L.2013, c.171 (C.52:4C-7). This section was amended by the 2013 enactment to clarify that the public defender would discharge any lien for services rendered concerning a crime where the defendant is awarded damages pursuant to the wrong imprisonment statute. | In Committee |
| S1995 | Provides that persons between 18 and 21 years of age with disabilities are eligible to receive direct support professional services from DHS. | This bill would provide that any person with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability who is between 18 and 21 years of age or older is eligible to receive direct support professional services from the Department of Human Services. A direct support professional provides direct, non-medical supportive assistance, on a daily basis, to a person who has a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability, with the aim of helping the person to: become better integrated into the community or the least restrictive environment; more effectively understand, communicate, and advocate for, the person's individual needs and desires; identify and participate in positive employment, job coaching, and training opportunities; make informed choices, and better understand the options and possible consequences of choices relating to physical health, safety, and emotional well-being; address challenging behaviors through a person-centered approach; successfully engage in the basic activities of daily living; identify and participate in activities that promote a healthy lifestyle; and otherwise lead a self-directed and autonomous life. Currently, individuals are not eligible for benefits from the Department of Human Services, including services from direct support professionals, until they reach the age of 21. Before the age of 21, it is assumed that individuals will receive necessary services at school, through the Department of Education. This bill would ensure that individuals who graduate high school earlier than age 21 are eligible for direct support professional services. The bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families and the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S2056 | Provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of books at school book fairs. | This bill provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of books at school book fairs. The bill defines "school book fair" as a fair held at an elementary or secondary school, at which the sale of books is offered exclusively to the students at that school and to the parents and guardians of those students. | In Committee |
| S2037 | Mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters. | This bill mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters. The bill specifies that there should be no out-of-pocket cost to the volunteer firefighter. The bill also specifies that the State is to reimburse a volunteer firefighter for the full examination up to $1,250 per three-year period, which is to be annually adjusted according to inflation. The bill establishes an occupational existing condition that makes being a volunteer firefighter a condition for reimbursement of costs associated with cancer screening examinations. | In Committee |
| S2058 | Prohibits county clerks, sheriffs, and surrogates from serving as chairperson, co-chairperson, or vice-chairperson of county political party committee. | This bill prohibits county clerks, sheriffs, and surrogates from serving as a chairperson, co-chairperson, and vice-chairperson, or its functional equivalent, of a county committee of a political party. The prohibition against serving as a chairperson, co-chairperson, or vice-chairperson, or its functional equivalent, of a county committee of a political party shall require a county clerk, sheriff, or surrogate, if any, serving in such a position on the effective date of this bill to resign within 120 days after the effective date of this bill, unless the expiration of the term for that position as that term was specified when the county clerk, sheriff, or surrogate commenced serving in that position is sooner. | In Committee |
| S2069 | Requires notification to appropriate departments if drug court participant tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. | This bill requires notification to appropriate departments if a drug court participant tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. Under current law a drug or alcohol-dependent person may be admitted into drug court if the person was convicted of a crime that has a presumption of incarceration or a minimum period of parole ineligibility, and also meets certain eligibility criteria. The probation department or other appropriate agency designated by the court to monitor or supervise the person's special probation is required to periodically report to the court the person's progress in treatment and compliance with court-imposed terms and conditions. The treatment provider is required to promptly report to the probation department or other appropriate agency if a person fails to comply with any court-imposed term or condition of special probation or required treatment, including but not limited to, a positive drug or alcohol test, the unexcused failure to attend any session or activity, or any act that would constitute an escape. Under the bill, in notifying the probation department or other appropriate agency of a person's positive drug test, the treatment provider is required to specify if the person tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. Under the bill, if a person tests positive for marijuana or cannabis, the probation department or other appropriate agency is also required to promptly notify the appropriate division within the Department of Law and Public Safety. | In Committee |
| SCR78 | Declares Division of State Lottery's new rule concerning online lottery sales inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the final rule adopted by the Division of State Lottery on August 17, 2023 at N.J.A.C. 17:20-1.5, permitting the direct internet sale of lottery tickets by the Division of State Lottery, is not consistent with the legislative intent of the "State Lottery Act". The Division of State Lottery shall have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the rule or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rule in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| S1622 | Allows ranked-choice voting options for municipal and school board elections under certain circumstances. | This bill, the "Municipal and School Board Voting Options Act," allows municipalities and school boards in this State to adopt ranked choice voting for conducting their local elections under certain circumstances. Under the bill, "ranked-choice voting" means a method of voting in which each voter gets one vote, where voters rank multiple candidates in order of their preference, the ballots are counted in rounds, and the votes are counted and transferred to candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot. Under the bill, for conducting and counting ranked-choice voting elections, the instant runoff method would be used for single winner races like mayor elected at-large or council or school board member elected from wards or districts, and the single transferable vote method would be used for multiple-winner races. The bill defines the terms necessary for implementing these two ranked-choice voting methods and the manner of counting the votes and declaring elected candidates. The bill provides that all municipal governing bodies and all school boards in this State would be permitted to adopt ranked-choice voting by adopting an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to be submitted to the voters for approval through a referendum on the ballot. The bill also allows the voters to place a direct petition on the ballot to adopt ranked choice voting, using the petition process currently established under current law for "Faulkner Act" municipalities. The direct petition would be submitted to the municipal clerk or clerks, as the case may be, and would be required to be signed by the legal voters equal in number to at least 10 percent of the total votes cast in the municipality or municipalities, as the case may be, at the last election at which members of the General Assembly were elected. The petition would include the proposed public question and a clear and concise interpretative statement explaining ranked-choice voting. If approved by the voters of the municipality or school district, all elections for the offices of mayor or a member of a municipal governing body, or a member of an elected school board, as appropriate, other than any primary election, would be conducted using ranked-choice voting. Finally, the bill directs the Division of Elections in the Department of State to adopt the rules and regulations necessary to effectuate its provisions and provide guidelines and technical rules to assist local election officials in implementing and counting a ranked choice voting election. | In Committee |
| S1226 | Expands school breakfast program to all schools with five percent or more of students eligible for free or reduced price meals. | This bill requires a public school operated by a local or regional school district of the State in which five percent or more of the students enrolled in the school on or before the last school day before October 16 of the preceding school year were eligible for free or reduced price meals under the federal School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program to establish a school breakfast program in the school. Under existing State statutes, a school with five percent or more of such eligible students must have a school lunch program; however a school is only required to have a school breakfast program if it has 20 percent or more of such eligible students. The new requirements established by the bill are modeled on the State's existing breakfast program planning and implementation requirements. Specifically, the bill would provide for a school breakfast program to be implemented, by September 1, 2023, in covered schools that provide instruction in Kindergarten through sixth grades, and by September 1, 2024, in covered schools that provide instruction in other grades. An initial program plan for each school is to be submitted to the Department of Agriculture for approval. If a school district fails to submit a plan by the date specified in the bill, the school district will be required to establish a school breakfast program, in each covered school, based on a model plan provided by the department. The bill would authorize a school district to seek and obtain, from the Department of Agriculture, a one-year waiver of the bill's requirements in certain cases. The bill would additionally provide for the State to annually appropriate necessary funds, to the Department of Agriculture, to finance the State's share of costs for the school breakfast programs being established under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2064 | Establishes New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to reduce financial barriers to teacher certification. Under the bill, the program is to provide scholarships to students completing required clinical practice through a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing educator preparation program at an institution of higher education in the State. A student is eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $7,200 for each semester of full-time clinical practice completed in a school in the State. To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State; be enrolled full-time in an approved program of study; and complete any steps required by the approved program of study to be eligible to apply for clinical practice. The bill requires the authority to establish an application process for the program. The authority, in coordination with the Department of Education, may establish additional eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program. Additionally, the authority, in coordination with the department, is to annually collect data on the program. Finally, the bill details reasons for which a student's scholarship may be terminated. The bill also stipulates that the scholarship is to be terminated if the student is dismissed from the institution of education preparation program for academic or disciplinary reasons or withdraws due to illness. Under the amended bill, the student would not be required to repay the scholarship in either situation. | In Committee |
| S2018 | Provides service credit for PERS member for former membership in transit retirement program. | Under this bill, a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who was a member, on or before July 30, 2006, of the Transit Employees' Retirement Program (TERP) of the New Jersey Transit Corporation would be credited with one year of service, or part thereof, in the PERS for each 3.5 years, or part thereof, of service credit in the TERP if the member and employer contributions are transferred from that program into the retirement system for those years of credited service. | In Committee |
| S1585 | Establishes ranked-choice voting procedure for elections for Governor, State Senate, State General Assembly, United States Senate and House of Representatives, and presidential primaries and general elections for electors for United States President and Vice-President. | This bill establishes a ranked-choice voting procedure for primary and general elections to elect candidates to the offices of Governor, New Jersey Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives, and for presidential primary elections and general elections for electors of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States. Ranked-choice voting is an election method in which voters rank candidates in order of their preference, the ballots are counted in rounds, and the votes or fractions of votes are distributed to candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot. The bill requires the ballot to be designed to allow voters to assign a ranking order to each qualified candidate on the ballot for such offices, including write-in candidates. In the event that the voting equipment cannot feasibly accommodate a ballot containing a number of rankings equal to the number of qualified candidates, the ballot is permitted to be designed to allow a voter to rank the maximum number allowed by the voting equipment, but not less than six candidates. Under the bill, single-winner elections to the offices of Governor, New Jersey Senate, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives, and presidential primaries and general elections for electors of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, would be tabulated in rounds. Each ballot counts as one vote for the highest-ranked candidate on that ballot. If a candidate reaches the election threshold of 50 percent of the votes plus one, that candidate is elected and the tabulation is complete. If two or fewer continuing candidates remain, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is defeated, the candidate with the greatest number of votes is elected, and the tabulation is complete. However, if more than two continuing candidates remain, the continuing candidate with the fewest number of votes is defeated, and a new round of counting begins until a candidate reaches the election threshold. For multi-winner elections to the office of member of the New Jersey General Assembly, which include two members elected from each election district, the bill establishes a tabulation procedure that involves the transfer of vote fractions. Under the bill, if in the initial tabulation the number of continuing candidates is less than or equal to two (which is the number of offices to be filled for the New Jersey General Assembly in the legislative district), then all continuing candidates are elected and the tabulation is complete. If not, a series of tabulation rounds would proceed sequentially until candidates are elected by reaching the election threshold of 33 percent of the votes plus one. If the sum of the number of elected candidates and the number of continuing candidates is equal to three (the sum of one and the number of offices to be elected), then the candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, all other continuing candidates are elected, and the tabulation is complete. However, if at least one continuing candidate has more votes than the election threshold, then each such candidate is elected, and each ballot counting for an elected candidate is assigned a "transfer value" so that the candidate's surplus votes (beyond the election threshold) are distributed to the next ranked continuing candidate on those ballots. If, after these steps, no candidate is elected, then the continuing candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, and a new round of counting begins until the positions are filled as the remaining candidates reach the election threshold. The bill directs the Secretary of State to issue guidelines and promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the ranked-choice voting procedures established by the bill. The bill would take effect immediately, but would remain inoperative until the January 1st following 12 months after the Secretary of State officially certifies that all voting machines used in this State have the capability to support ranked-choice voting. However, the bill's provisions concerning elections to the office of Governor would be implemented if the voters approve an amendment to the State Constitution authorizing ranked-choice for that office. | In Committee |
| S666 | "Virtual Currency and Blockchain Regulation Act." | This bill, the "Virtual Currency and Blockchain Regulation Act," establishes a regulatory framework for virtual currency businesses to operate in New Jersey, creates provisions governing the use of blockchain with certain business entities, and creates certain incentives for virtual currency businesses to locate in the State. Provisions on open blockchain tokens This bill provides that certain open blockchain tokens are intangible personal property rather than securities. An open blockchain token is to be considered intangible personal property under the bill if it meets the following characteristics: (1) the predominant purpose of the token is consumptive; (2) the developer or seller did not market the token to the initial buyer as a financial investment; and (3) at least one of the following subparagraphs is satisfied: (a) the developer or seller reasonably believed that it sold the token to the initial buyer for a consumptive purpose; (b) the token has a consumptive purpose that is available at or near the time of sale and can be used at or near the time of sale for a consumptive purpose; (c) the initial buyer of the token is prohibited by the developer or seller of the token from reselling the token until the token is available to be used for a consumptive purpose; or (d) the developer or seller takes other reasonable precautions to prevent an initial buyer from purchasing the token as a financial investment. The bill requires that, before making an open blockchain token available for sale, the developer or seller of a token, or the registered agent of the developer or seller, is to electronically file a notice of intent with the Department of Banking and Insurance and pay a filing fee of $1,000. The notice of intent is to contain the name of the person acting as a developer or seller, the contact information of the person, or the registered agent of the person and comprehensive details, to be determined by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on the open blockchain token made available for sale. A form is to be made available by the department for this purpose, and is to include a secure electronic form conspicuously posted on the department's Internet website. A developer, seller and the registered agent of these persons, if applicable, is to have a continuing duty to update the contact information provided on a notice of intent as long as the open blockchain token associated with the notice is actively being sold. The bill makes a willful failure by a developer, seller or facilitator to comply with the duties imposed by the bill an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act. An unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, 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. Provisions on digital assets as property This bill establishes digital assets as property and allows banks to provide custodial services for digital assets. A digital asset is a representation of an economic, proprietary, or access right that is stored in a computer readable format, and includes digital consumer assets, digital securities, and virtual currency. Under the bill, all digital assets will be classified as property, with digital consumer assets classified as a general intangible property, digital securities classified as a security, and virtual currency classified as money. A digital asset will also be treated as a financial asset under the bill, if a written agreement is entered with the owner of the digital asset classifying the asset as such. If the digital asset is treated as a financial asset, then the digital asset will remain as intangible personal property. Under the bill, a secured party or an agent, custodian, fiduciary or trustee of the party with a security interest in a digital asset will be able to perfect their security interest through control. A secured party holding a security interest in a digital asset through control will have priority over a secured party that has a security interest in the asset but does not have control. Perfection by control will create a possessory security interest in a digital asset and will not require physical possession. Additionally, the bill will allow a bank to provide custodial services of digital assets upon providing 60 days written notice to the Commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance. A bank that elects serve as a qualified custodian must follow federal Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding custodial services and must ensure the following: (1) the implementation of all accounting, account statement, internal control, notice and other standards specified by applicable State or federal laws and regulations for custodial services; (2) maintenance of information technology best practices relating to digital assets held in custody; (3) full compliance with applicable federal anti-money laundering, customer identification and beneficial ownership requirements; and (4) other actions necessary to carry out the aforementioned requirements, which may include exercising fiduciary powers similar to those permitted to national banks and ensuring compliance with federal law governing digital assets classified as commodities. Apart from the requirements above, a bank providing custodial services will also be required to enter into an agreement with an independent public accountant to conduct an examination that conforms to federal regulations concerning custodial services, at the cost of the bank, pursuant to certain rules and requirements. The bill also provides that digital assets held in custody are not depository liabilities or assets of the bank. A bank, or its subsidiary, that holds digital assets in custody will be able to register as an investment adviser, investment company or broker dealer as necessary. Banks holding digital assets in custody must maintain control over a digital asset, with the customer electing, pursuant to a written agreement with the bank, one of the following relationships for each digital asset held in custody: (1) custody under a bailment as a nonfungible or fungible asset. Assets held under this bill will be strictly segregated from other assets; or (2) custody under a bailment that allows the bank, based on the customer's instructions, to undertake transactions with the digital asset. A bank that holds a digital asset in custody under a bailment that allows the bank to undertake transactions with the digital asset will not be liable for any loss suffered with respect to any transactions made, except for liability consistent with fiduciary and trust powers as a custodian. The bill provides that a bank and a customer must agree in writing with regard to the source code that the bank will use for each digital asset, and the treatment of each asset. Any ambiguity within the agreement will be resolved in favor of the customer. A bank will be required to provide clear, written notice to each customer, and require written acknowledgement, of the following: (1) prior to the implementation of any updates, material source code updates relating to digital assets held in custody, except in emergencies which may include security vulnerabilities; (2) the heightened risk of loss from transactions with the digital asset, if the bank is given the instruction from the customer to undertake transactions with the digital asset; (3) that some risk of loss as a pro rata creditor exists as the result of custody as a fungible asset; (4) that custody may not result in the digital assets of the customer being strictly segregated from other customer assets if the bank is allowed to undertake transactions with the asset; and (5) that the bank is not liable for any losses suffered if the bank does transact with the asset, with exception for liability consistent with fiduciary and trust powers as a custodian. A bank and a customer must agree in writing to a time period within which the bank must return a digital asset held in custody. If a customer elects to allow the bank to make transactions with the asset, then the bank and the customer may also agree in writing to the form in which the digital asset will be returned. The bill provides that all ancillary or subsidiary proceeds relating to digital assets held in custody will accrue to the benefit of the customer, except as specified by a written agreement with the customer. The bank may elect not to collect certain ancillary or subsidiary proceeds, as long as the election is disclosed in writing. A customer who elects to custody under a bailment that treats a digital asset as either fungible or nonfungible may withdraw the digital asset in a form that permits the collection of ancillary or subsidiary proceeds. Finally, the bill provides that a bank will be prohibited from authorizing rehypothecation of digital assets. The bank will not engage in any activity to use or exercise discretionary authority relating to a digital asset unless it has the customer's instructions to do so. A bank will also be prohibited from taking any action which would likely impair the solvency or the safety and soundness of the bank, as determined by the commissioner after considering the nature of custodial services customary in the banking industry. Provisions on decentralized autonomous organizations This bill allows the formation of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) under the State's limited liability company law. A DAO is an organization controlled by its members with no central authority. Instead, the organization is governed by a set of smart contracts built on distributed ledger technology or blockchain. The smart contracts automate many of the decision-making processes typically reserved for upper-tier management in a traditional company. The bill permits DAOs to incorporate as limited liability companies, and affords DAOs similar protections as are afforded to limited liability companies under current law. The bill provides a DAO is a limited liability company whose articles of organization contain a statement that the company is a decentralized autonomous organization. The bill requires DAOs to maintain a presence in the State through a registered agent and to include in its name a designation such as "DAO", "DAO LLC" or "LAO". The bill permits limited liability companies in the State currently to convert to DAOs by amending their articles of organization. Under the bill, a DAO may be member managed or algorithmically managed, as set forth in its articles of organization. If algorithmically managed, the underlying smart contract must be able to be updated, modified or otherwise upgraded. The bill provides that the articles of organization or the smart contracts of the DAO will govern aspects or the organization such as relations among the members, rights and duties of each member, voting rights, transferability, distributions and amendments. In addition, unless provided for in the articles of organization or operating agreement, no member has any fiduciary duty to the DAO or any member other than the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Provisions on blockchain filing system This bill gives the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the New Jersey Department of the Treasury the authority to develop filing system using blockchain through which all required filings may be submitted. The division is to try to use blockchain technology and include an application programming interface as components of the filing system, as well as robust security measures and other components determined by the division to be best practices or which are likely to increase the effective and efficient administration of the laws of this State. The division may create a blockchain or contract for the use of a privately created blockchain. The division may consult with all interested parties, including businesses, registered agents, attorneys, law enforcement and other interested persons, before developing the filing system and if possible, partner with technology innovators and private companies to develop necessary components of the system. The division may also promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill. Exemption for virtual currency from money transmitter law This bill also exempts virtual currency from current law governing money transmitters. "Virtual currency" is added to the law to mean any type of digital representation that: (1) is used as a medium of exchange, unit of account or store of value; and (2) is not recognized as legal tender by the United States government. Authorization for business entity to issue stock as certificate token This bill authorizes a business entity, such as a corporation or limited liability company, to issue stock certificates in the form of electronic certificate tokens. "Certificate token" is defined as an electronic representation of a share of stock which contains certain information required under existing law for stock certificates and which is entered into a blockchain or other secure, auditable database. Business incentives for virtual currency businesses The bill also provides certain incentives for virtual currency businesses to locate in New Jersey. The bill exempts receipts from retail sales of energy and utility service to a virtual currency servicer or registrant for use or consumption directly and primarily in the creation of virtual currency, including mining, from the tax imposed under New Jersey's "Sales and Use Tax Act." The bill provides that a virtual currency servicer or registrant may file an application for a sales and use tax exemption with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The "Grow New Jersey Assistance Act," N.J.S.A.34:1B-242, provides certain business and insurance premiums tax credits for job creation and retention in New Jersey. For the purposes of the "Grow New Jersey Assistance Act," the bill designates virtual currency servicers and registrants registered pursuant to this bill's provisions to be in a "targeted industry" and a "technology startup company." Therefore, in order for a virtual currency servicer to be eligible for that program, the minimum number of new or retained full-time jobs would be a minimum of 10 new or 25 retained full-time jobs, which is less than is required for certain other types of business. Virtual currency servicers and registrants would also be eligible for, in addition to the base amount of the tax credit, an additional $5,000 for each new or retained full-time job each year. Allowance for virtual currency in payment of State taxes Current law, N.J.S.A.54:48-4.3, allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish an electronic funds transfer system for payments of State taxes. The bill amends the definition of "electronic funds transfer" to include any transfer of virtual currency. This change would allow the director to accept virtual currency in the payment of State taxes. | In Committee |
| S180 | Requires cost of living increase to be granted in each of two calendar years for certain retired members and beneficiaries of PFRS; makes appropriation. | This bill would provide for cost of living increases for certain retired members, surviving spouses, children, or beneficiaries who are receiving monthly payments from the Police and Firemen's Retirement System. The increases would be provided on January 1 of the calendar year following enactment of this bill and on January 1 of the next following calendar year. The increase would be provided only when the amount of a retirement allowance, pension, or benefit originally granted was at or below 450 percent of the federal poverty level for a household of one. The federal poverty level for 2022 for a household of one is an annual amount of $13,590, and 450 percent of the federal poverty level for a household of one is an annual amount of $61,155. In addition, the adjustment would be provided to retired members who are receiving a retirement allowance or pension, other than for accidental or ordinary disability, only if the retired member has attained the age of 62 years as of January 1 of the calendar year following the enactment of this bill. The adjustment would be provided to all other retired members, surviving spouses, children, or beneficiaries regardless of their age. For the purposes of calculating an adjustment, the maximum consumer price index used would be three percent and the minimum would be one percent. The bill defines the consumer price index as the annual average over a 12-month period beginning September 1 and ending August 31 of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), All Items Series A, of the United States Department of Labor, for the NY-Northeastern New Jersey region. The bill requires the State to fund the cost of these increases and makes an appropriation for that purpose. The adjustment would be calculated using the chart as follows:Annual retirement allowance, pension, or survivorship benefit as a percentage of federal poverty level for household of one.Percentage of CPI-W to calculate adjustment. 0.000%150.000%150.0% of CPI-W150.001%175.000% 120.0% of CPI-W175.001%200.000%100.0% of CPI-W200.001%225.000% 85.0% of CPI-W225.001%250.000% 75.0% of CPI-W250.001%275.000% 67.5% of CPI-W275.001%300.000% 60.0% of CPI-W300.001%325.000% 50.0% of CPI-W325.001%350.000% 40.0% of CPI-W350.001%375.000% 30.0% of CPI-W375.001%400.000% 27.5% of CPI-W400.001%425.000% 23.0% of CPI-W425.001%450.000% 20.0% of CPI-W | In Committee |
| S2080 | Revises certain provisions of film and digital media content production tax credit program. | The bill revises certain provisions of the Garden State Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for expenses incurred for the production of certain films and digital media content. The total annual amount of tax credits authorized by the program is portioned among three categories of qualifying taxpayers: New Jersey studio partners, New Jersey film-lease production companies, and taxpayers other than New Jersey studio partners and New Jersey film-lease production companies. For each fiscal year, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) is required to certify the amount of tax credits that were previously approved for qualifying taxpayers, but that the taxpayers were not able to redeem or transfer to other taxpayers in that fiscal year. The authority is also required to certify the amount of tax credits that were not approved for qualifying taxpayers in that fiscal year. The bill clarifies that the EDA is permitted to reallocate some or all of those remaining tax credits in the subsequent fiscal year across the three categories of qualifying taxpayer, in the authority's discretion. | In Committee |
| S58 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| S635 | Requires State Board of Education meetings to be accessible virtually and in person. | This bill requires all public meetings of the State Board of Education to be accessible to the public both in person and virtually. The bill also requires that a link providing virtual access to meetings be publicly available on the State Board of Education's website. Finally, for any meeting in which the State Board of Education accepts public comment, the bill stipulates that members of the public will be able to provide comments by means of remote communication. | In Committee |
| S1996 | "Penny's Law"; requires DEP to develop beach accessibility guidelines for persons with disabilities. | This bill, designated as "Penny's Law," would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop guidelines for specific facilities and accommodations necessary to provide accessibility to beaches for persons with disabilities. The guidelines would be required to include recommendations for ramps, restrooms, showers, boardwalks, surf chairs, parking, and any other facilities deemed appropriate. The bill requires the DEP, when developing the guidelines, to consult with any persons or organizations with knowledge and experience in assisting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to establish a process by which such persons and organizations will be informed of their ability to provide input and recommendations in association with the development of beach accessibility guidelines. The DEP is also required to consider, as appropriate, the guidelines for beach access routes and facilities on federal lands that have been adopted by the United States Access Board. The bill requires the DEP to publish the guidelines on its Internet website and to distribute the guidelines to every county and municipality with publicly-owned beach or waterfront property. This bill also requires the DEP to design a uniform label or sign that may be displayed by a State or local government at any beach that complies with the accessibility guidelines developed under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2042 | Establishes spotted lanternfly control grant program in Dept. of Agriculture; appropriates $5 million. | This bill would require the Division of Plant Industry in the Department of Agriculture, under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, to establish a program to provide grants to municipalities in the State for spotted lanternfly control. Under the program, the Division of Plant Industry would: (1) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of applications by municipalities to receive a program grant; (2) establish criteria for a municipality to qualify for a program grant; (3) establish a system to prioritize the issuance of grants to municipalities, in greatest need, that: are located in spotted lanternfly quarantine zones as designated by the Department of Agriculture; have incurred damages caused by spotted lanternflies; have demonstrated widespread infestations among buildings located within the municipality; or have native vegetation that is threatened by spotted lanternflies; and (4) designate acceptable uses for the grants, including, but not limited to: the inspection of buildings located within a municipality for infestations; the use of extermination services; and the engagement in remediation activities. The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to be used for the grant program established pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| S2068 | Establishes Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program; appropriates $30 million. | This bill establishes the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program in the Division of Workers' Compensation. The bill provides supplemental benefits to health care workers determined to be eligible for workers' compensation because they have contracted COVID-19 in the course of employment. The supplemental benefits are provided for the time in which an eligible healthcare worker qualifies for regular workers' compensation equal to 70 percent of the weekly wages received at the time of injury subject to the stated minimum and maximum compensation levels. The supplemental benefits do not commence until all benefits which are equal to the health care worker's full salary have ended. The supplemental benefits are provided as long as the health care worker is unable to work due to COVID-19 but not more than 180 weeks. The amount of the supplemental benefit is such that the sum of the weekly regular workers' compensation plus the weekly supplemental benefit equals 100 percent of the health care worker's weekly wage, except that that sum shall not exceed $1,800, with similar adjustments made to compensation paid to volunteer health care workers. The bill directs the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to issue annual reports of available information regarding the number of claims by health care workers entitled to the supplemental benefits, the total amount of benefits awarded, the total anticipated and the accrued costs of the benefits, and an estimate of what portion of the funds appropriated for the program will be needed to pay all of the benefits, and a request to the Governor and the Legislature for any additional appropriation which may be required to make the payments. The supplemental benefits are not to be considered in determining the annual surcharge levied on policyholders and self-insured employers for the Second Injury Fund or the experience ratings of individual employers. The bill establishes the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program Advisory Council in the Division of Workers' Compensation to advise the division and provide recommendations concerning the administration of the program. The advisory council will be dissolved, and the annual reports by both the council and the commissioner will cease, upon a determination that that all eligible health care workers have received all supplemental benefits to which they are entitled. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Second Injury Fund $30,000,000 from the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program, to be used for the provision of the supplemental benefits and any necessary expenses of the advisory council. The purpose of this legislation is to assist health care workers, whose public service has rendered them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, by alleviating long-term economic hardships due to COVID-19. The support provided by the bill is especially important in cases where health care workers become unable to work for long periods of time because of persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19, colloquially known as "long COVID." | In Committee |
| S2206 | Requires NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to prepare report regarding suicide prevention instruction in public schools. | This bill requires the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to prepare a report regarding suicide prevention instruction in public schools. In preparing the report, the council may consult with the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the Department of Children and Families. The council may also request administrative and technical support from the Department of Children and Families. In preparing the report, the council is to develop a survey to collect data from local education agencies, approved private schools for students with disabilities, and charter and renaissance school projects in the 2023-24 school year to be delivered by the Department of Education. The department is to aggregate the data and ensure any student-identifying or confidential information has been removed prior to transmitting to the council for use in the report. The report is required to include the following: (1) identifying the suicide prevention instruction already provided to public school teaching staff members and students; (2) reviewing the effectiveness and sufficiency of instruction in suicide prevention currently provided to public school teaching staff members and students; (3) identifying any methods public schools may use to identify students who may be at risk for suicide or self-injury; (4) identifying evidence-based and best practice programs in public schools for the prevention of youth suicide and self-injury, including a survey of programs being implemented in surrounding states; (5) identifying opportunities to enhance access to mental health treatment in public schools; and (6) findings and recommendations, including legislative and regulatory proposals, to improve suicide prevention instruction. The council is required to submit the report to the Governor and Legislature no later than 12 months after the effective date of the act. | Dead |
| S2257 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures and prescription drugs covered under health benefits or prescription drug benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, pharmacy benefits managers, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures or prescription drugs covered under a health benefits or prescription drug benefits plan. This bill will ensure that patients who are ill are not burdened with technical requirements by health benefits providers which employ utilization management review systems that slow down medical care. The sponsor is concerned that complaints from people who need medical treatment are on the rise, and feels that it is time to end the nightmare of the insurance company bureaucracy that is frustrating patients who need care and medicine. The so-called "pre-approval" process, now required by insurance companies, is a nightmare for patients across New Jersey. Historically, doctors would order a test or medicine and patients received it. Now, a myriad of bureaucratic obstacles makes patients and doctors pawns in a sad game of insurance-company chess. There are examples of cancer patients waiting for long periods of time to receive medicine because of a cumbersome and slow approval policy. The sponsor is convinced that it is time for the doctors to make decisions, not insurance companies; it is time for patients who are ill to not be burdened with technical requirements by insurance companies that employ systems that slow down medical care and are incredibly frustrating. It is the sponsor's goal that insurance companies pay for what the doctor orders. | In Committee |
| S2021 | Provides $1 million in funding to NJ Racing Commission for five-year grant program for purpose of supporting certain organizations that care for retired horses. | This bill requires the NJ Racing Commission to establish a five-year grant program for the purpose of providing funds to assist with the care of retired horses. Under the bill, to be considered for the grants, an applicant must be a nonprofit organization operating under 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and be fully accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA), Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF), or Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement (Second Call). The requirements for the evaluation of each applicant must include, but need not be limited to: a statement of need; a demonstration of financial stability and operational transparency; evidence of qualified and experienced horsepersons attending to each horse's needs; and documentation of well-developed screening policies to ensure proper placement of horses; evidence that the applicant maintains national standards of best practices for the industry, which may include the Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities promulgated by the American Association of Equine Practitioners; and a written commitment to ensure funds provided through this program will only be used for the care of New Jersey-bred horses, or horses with a parent being a New Jersey-bred broodmare or New Jersey-bred stallion, or both. The bill also requires the NJ Racing Commission to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program, including notifying the STA, SRF, and Second Call of the program, and make the application available on the commission's website. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the NJ Racing Commission the sum of $1,000,000 to establish and implement the grant program. The NJ Racing Commission would provide $100,000 to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of retired Standardbred horses and $100,000 to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of retired Thoroughbred horses each year for the next five years, which totals $1,000,000 over a five-year period. Under the bill, after considering the applicants, if the New Jersey Racing Commission determines that the applicants in a given year do not meet the requirements under the bill, the available funding for that year may be distributed in equal shares as determined by the commission to promote the care of retired Standardbred horses and the care of Thoroughbred horses. Following the expiration of the five-year grant program established by the bill, any unexpended funds would be returned to the General Fund. | In Committee |
| S1011 | Excludes veteran disability compensation from income qualification limits under homestead property tax reimbursement program. | This bill would allow more disabled veterans to qualify for the homestead property tax reimbursement program. The homestead property tax reimbursement program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax increases. The amount of the reimbursement is the difference between the amount of property taxes that were due and paid for the "base year" (the first year that an individual meets all the eligibility requirements) and the amount due and paid for the year that the individual is applying for the reimbursement, provided the amount paid for the current year is greater. The bill would exclude disability compensation paid by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to a veteran from the calculation of that person's income for the purpose of determining whether the person is eligible to participate in the homestead property tax reimbursement program. | In Committee |
| S2009 | Requires certain boards of education to select minimum of three financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide tax sheltered annuity plans. | This bill requires a board of education of a school district with a student enrollment of at least 1,000 students that offers a 403(b) plan to school district employees to select a minimum of three financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide services to the 403(b) plan. If fewer than three such financial institutions or pension management organizations are available, the board of education must select the number of financial institutions or pension management organizations available to meet the requirements of the bill. A financial institution or pension management organization that provides services to the 403(b) plan under the bill must: (1) enter into an agreement with the board of education that requires the financial institution or pension management organization to provide in an electronic format all data necessary for the administration of the 403(b) plan as determined by the board of education; and (2) provide all data required by the board of education to facilitate disclosure of all fees, charges, expenses, commissions, compensation, and payments to third parties related to investments offered under the 403(b) plan. A board of education would not be responsible for any investment loss or failure of an investment to earn any specific return for the services provided by the selected financial institutions or pension management organizations providing services to the 403(b) plan. | In Committee |
| S1988 | Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecution of human trafficking crimes. | This bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecution for the crime of human trafficking. Currently, under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-6 there is no statute of limitations for prosecutions for the following crimes: murder; manslaughter; sexual assault; and criminal offenses arising from violations of certain environmental statutes concerning widespread injury or damage. Prosecution for other crimes, such as human trafficking, must be commenced within five years, except for certain crimes enumerated in the statute such as: (1) bribery and official misconduct offenses which must be commenced within seven years; (2) criminal sexual contact or endangering the welfare of a minor which must be commenced within five years after the victim attains the age of 18 or two years after discovery, whichever is later. Prosecutions for disorderly persons offenses must be commenced within one year after they are committed. By eliminating the statute of limitations for human trafficking crimes, the prosecution for these crimes may be commenced at any time rather than within five years after it is committed. | In Committee |
| S304 | Expands Medicare health care coverage to all New Jersey residents. | This bill would expand the federal Medicare health care coverage program to every New Jersey resident, regardless of age, health, or disability status. Currently, Medicare is generally available only to people who are age 65 years or older, who have a disability, or who have certain specified health conditions. The bill defines a resident as a person domiciled in the State for a period of 30 days immediately preceding the date of application for inclusion in the Medicare program. The bill requires the State to apply to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for any waiver of federal statute or regulation necessary to effectuate this expansion of Medicare. The application would allow New Jersey to replace federal, State, and local health care programs with universal coverage through New Jersey Medicare. CMS would estimate the cost of providing Medicare for all New Jersey residents, and will deduct the estimated revenue from Medicare and Medicaid payments that New Jersey residents, the State of New Jersey, and the federal government pay to offset those costs. CMS will establish Medicare premiums for New Jersey residents accordingly. Upon the enactment of universal Medicare coverage in New Jersey, the bill would prohibit any health insurance carrier from offering a health benefits plan that includes coverage for health care services covered by Medicare. This provision would ensure full participation in the Medicare program, which would increase enrollment and thus spread the risk of insurance over a larger population to achieve greater cost efficiency in the health care sector. The purpose of this bill is to establish a universal health care coverage program in New Jersey that builds upon the long, successful history of the federal Medicare program. In contrast with most common private insurance plans, Medicare is affordable for nearly everyone, offers greater patient choice in their health care providers, and has much lower out-of-pocket costs. Medicare is more efficient than private insurance, having much lower administrative costs. As an established federal program, expanding Medicare would require no new State bureaucracy and no difficult adjustment for health care providers to a new system. Medicare could provide low-cost health care coverage with to hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents who currently lack health coverage or who may lose coverage as a result of increasingly complex, costly, and restrictive private health insurance. | In Committee |
| S1762 | Requires availability of accessible mail-in ballot for voters with disabilities. | This bill requires the availability of an accessible mail-in ballot for voters with disabilities. Under current law, registered voters may apply to vote by mail and may receive a mail-in ballot to be completed by hand. Although the law prohibits any person other than the voter to complete the ballot, the law allows persons who need assistance in completing the mail-in ballot to have a family member provide them that assistance. Under this bill, the county clerk would be required to provide an accessible mail-in ballot for any voter with a disability that requests one, provided the voter is registered to vote and is entitled to vote in that county in this State. The bill requires the accessible mail-ballot to contain features to enable a voter with a disability to understand the contents of the ballot, mark-up voting choices, make changes, verify the final voting choices made on the ballot, complete the ballot, and print the completed ballot and related materials such as certificates and envelopes. The bill specifies key features of the accessible mail-in ballot. These would include, but would not be limited to, electronic delivery and access; readability with guided audible prompts; ability to mark the ballot reflecting the voter's selections; confirmation of the voter's selections prior to final completion; ability to print the ballot and related materials or to generate an electronic file for printing and submitting to the county board of elections at a later date; ability to return the ballot by electronic means if the voter is eligible to do so; clear and comprehensive instructions; and any additional features deemed necessary. Upon completion, the voter would then submit their ballot and necessary materials by mail, in person, or using a ballot drop box in the manner provided under current law. If the voter is "electronic return eligible," the voter would be permitted to return the mail-in ballot by electronic means. Under the bill, "electronic return eligible" means a voter who, regardless of any other disability: is blind; has a visual impairment or perceptual or reading disability that cannot be improved to give visual function substantially equivalent to that of a person who has no such impairment or disability and therefore is unable to read or mark a ballot to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability; or is otherwise unable, through physical disability, to hold, mark, or manipulate a ballot or to focus or move the eyes to the extent that would be normally acceptable for reading or marking a ballot. Finally, the Secretary of State, in consultation with county clerks and county boards of elections, is directed to issue uniform guidelines for election officials to follow for implementing the accessible ballot provisions. | In Committee |
| S2075 | Requires employers to post information concerning veterans' benefits and services. | The bill requires employers to display a poster containing information on veterans' benefits and services. Under the bill, employers with more than 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees are required to display the poster in a conspicuous place accessible to employees in the workplace. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall consult with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop the poster. At a minimum, the poster will include: (1) contact and website information for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the department's veterans' program; (2) substance abuse and mental health treatment; (3) educational, workforce, and training resources; (4) tax benefits; (5) New Jersey State veteran drivers' licenses and non-driver identification cards; (6) eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits under State and federal law; (7) legal services; and (8) contact information for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Crisis Line. | In Committee |
| S2071 | Requires five-year average of equalized property valuation be used in calculation of local share under State school funding formula. | This bill makes changes to the calculation of a school district's local share in determining the district's State school aid. Under current law, a district's local share is calculated by multiplying the district's prebudget year equalized valuation by the Statewide property value rate, divided by two, and adding this to the product of the district's income and the Statewide income rate, divided by two. This bill amends the calculation to use the district's average equalized valuation over the preceding five school years instead of the district's prebudget year equalized valuation. | In Committee |
| S2004 | Prohibits four-year public institution of higher education from charging tuition and fees to student who is spouse or dependent child of disabled veteran. | This bill prohibits four-year public institutions of higher education from charging tuition or fees to the spouse or dependent child of a disabled veteran. Under the bill, the spouse or dependent child of a disabled veteran is eligible to attend a four-year public institution of higher education tuition-free and fee-free provided that: (1) the spouse or child has been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution; (2) the spouse or child has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the spouse or child is eligible; and (3) the spouse or child has applied for tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the spouse or child is eligible under the "Post-9/11 Veterans educational Assistance Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.). The bill directs the State to reimburse each institution of higher education for the costs of waiving tuition and fees pursuant to the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S2027 | Requires Commissioner of Education to receive approval from State Board of Education prior to imposing new standardized assessment requirement on public schools. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to receive approval from the State Board of Education for administration of a new standardized assessment that is not otherwise required by State or federal law, prior to imposing the requirement on public schools. As used in the bill, "standardized assessment" means an assessment administered to all students in a specific grade level or subject area and whose results are aggregated for analysis at the district, school, or student subgroup level. Standardized assessment requirements that are in effect prior to the bill's effective date, but which are updated or revised to use a new version or form of an assessment, shall not be considered a new standardized assessment for purposes of this section. | In Committee |
| S184 | Requires DOLWD to undertake study on effects of temporary employment on work force. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to undertake a study on the effects of temporary employment on the work force of the State of New Jersey. The study is to consider the comprehensive effects of temporary employment, and shall include, but not be limited to, the effects of temporary employment on wages, businesses, and workers throughout the State. The bill requires the department, in conducting the study, to: (1) consider federal and State laws relating directly or indirectly to temporary help service firms and employment agencies; (2) consult with relevant persons in the public and private sectors, and with members of the academic community and of relevant branches of the legal profession; (3) examine the experience of temporary workers in this State; and (4) make other investigations as it may deem necessary. The bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to report the findings and conclusions of the study to the Legislature within 12 months of the bill's effective date and to include in the report any recommendations for legislation which the commissioner deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| S1941 | Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities. | This bill establishes staffing standards for registered professional nurses in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. As specified in the bill, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios will vary depending on the type of unit, and will range from one registered professional nurse for every five patients in a behavioral health or psychiatric or a medical/surgical unit, to one registered professional nurse for every patient under anesthesia in an operating room. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any nurse-to-patient staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing direct care registered professional nurse staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The acuity and staffing system will be based on: patient classification or acuity; professional nurse staffing standards adopted by nurse specialty organizations; skill mix; and the staffing levels of other health care personnel and the use of agency or temporary staff. The system is to be established in the facility by the facility's department of nursing, with the approval of a majority of the unit staff nurses or their bargaining agent. The bill requires the acuity and staffing system to allow for the forecasting of staffing levels, and to provide a method to adjust staffing levels for each patient care unit based on objective criteria currently set forth at N.J.A.C.8:43G-17.1(a)3, including, but not limited to: (1) the documented skills, training, and competency of staff to plan and provide nursing services in the nursing areas where they function; (2) a patient database incorporating objective factors such as the case mix index, specific or aggregate patient diagnostic classifications or acuity levels, patient profiles, critical pathways or care progression plans, length of stay, and discharge plans; (3) operational factors, such as unit size, design, and capacity, the admission/discharge/transfer index, and support service availability; (4) contingency plans to address critical departures from the staffing plan, including policies and procedures to regulate the closure of available beds if staffing levels fall below specified levels; and (5) policies and procedures for the reassignment of staff, including float and agency staff. The acuity and staffing system will additionally be required to permit waiver of minimum staffing level requirements in the event of an unforeseen emergent circumstance which causes significant changes in the patient census for a regular shift. Waiver will not be permitted unless the facility has made reasonable efforts to provide sufficient additional staff to meet the required minimum staffing levels, including seeking volunteers and making use of on-call staff, per-diem staff, agency staff, and float pools. The bill defines "unforeseeable emergent circumstance" to mean an unpredictable or unavoidable occurrence requiring immediate action. The Commissioner of Health will also be permitted to waive the minimum staffing level requirements for any hospital or facility that the commissioner determines is in financial distress. A waiver may be revoked upon a determination that the facility is no longer in financial distress. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce minimum staffing ratios by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. The bill provides a system, pursuant to which a registered professional nurse, other staff member, or member of the public, believing that a facility is in violation of the staffing requirements or the staffing and acuity system, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation, and to take such other action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| S2073 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish matching grant program for certain school districts and schools using federal funds to increase instructional time and accelerate learning. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a matching grant program to support school districts that use a portion of their eligible funds to increase student instructional time and accelerate student learning. Eligible funds as defined in the bill are moneys under a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project's local educational agency subgrant from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act ESSER Fund, excluding any amount required by the provisions of the ARP Act to be spent on evidence-based learning loss interventions. A district or school would be eligible to apply for funds under the grant program only if the percentage of students in the district or school who are not meeting or partially meeting grade-level expectation increased compared to the 2018-2019 school year. The aggregate amount of funds provided to school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects under the bill would not exceed $200 million. Under the bill, the program would be funded from the monies received by the State under the federal ARP Act. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project seeking funds under the program is required to submit an application to the commissioner that is to include certain information enumerated in the bill. If the commissioner approves the application, the school district will receive a matching grant equal to 50 percent of the amount of the district's local educational agency federal allotment under the ARP Act that is dedicated to the intervention or program to increase student instructional time and accelerate student learning which has been specified in its application. | In Committee |
| S1300 | Establishes loan program in Department of Treasury for certain entities offering health benefits plans; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes a loan program in the Department of Treasury for certain entities offering health benefits plans. Specifically, the bill requires the State Treasurer to establish a program providing loans to entities offering health benefits plans in the State that are faced with insolvency as a result of providing coverage for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic due to circumstances such as a large number of catastrophic claims or premium threshold issues. The bill requires the State Treasurer to evaluate applications from any entity offering a health benefits plan in this State. The loans are only to be made available to an applicant the State Treasurer determines would likely face insolvency without receiving the loan, and are limited to the amount needed by the entity to avoid becoming insolvent. The bill provides that no loan is to be awarded after the end of the ninth month following the effective date of the bill. An entity receiving a loan pursuant to the bill may not be charged interest or fees associated with the loan. The State Treasurer may extend the term or forgive repayment of the loan if the State Treasurer determines an extension or loan forgiveness is necessary for the continued solvency of the entity. The bill provides that the State Treasurer is to appropriate the funds from the General Fund that are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S2049 | Revises "Paratransit Services Improvement Act"; transfers $6 million from NJT to DHS. | The bill revises certain provisions of the paratransit best practices pilot program. The pilot program was established with the goal of better integrating the paratransit services within the State. Under the first phase of the pilot program, a paratransit best practices training module is to be developed. Under the second phase of the pilot program, certain paratransit providers are to receive training in paratransit best practices. Depending upon the success of phase two of the pilot program, phase three will involve either developing the training module into a best practices training package that other paratransit providers can adopt or a determination of some other method of integrating paratransit service so that paratransit providers meeting certain standards can compete for regular and routine paratransit trips. The bill changes the entity bearing responsibility for developing and implementing phase one of the pilot program from the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to the Division of Developmental Disabilities within the Department of Human Services (division). The bill authorizes qualified community organizations (organizations) to submit proposals for the development of the best practices training module to the division. The bill further requires the division, in consultation with the NJT, to select the organization best suited to develop the training module within 90 days from the date of the bill's enactment. Thereafter, the organization would be required to establish the completed training module on or before the 180th day after being selected by the division, thereby completing phase one of the pilot program. Following completion of phase one, NJT would be required to assume primary responsibility for the administration of the pilot program. Under phase two, six paratransit providers would be selected by the organization, in consultation with NJT, with three chosen from the southern region of the State and three from the northern region of the State. The organization is required to begin accepting applications no more than 30 days after the completion of phase one and is required to select the paratransit providers that are to receive training no more than 90 days after the end of the application period. Finally, the bill transfers $6 million, from the amounts appropriated to NJT under the FY2023 appropriations act, to the division for the purposes of developing and implementing the pilot program. | In Committee |
| S2016 | Appropriates $70 million in federal funds to EDA to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill appropriates $70 million in federal funds to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations, including for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill, the EDA, in consultation with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (council), would be required to award $50 million in grants to support the financial recovery, resiliency, and growth of qualifying arts and culture organizations. However, of this total, $10 million in grants would be dedicated to arts education organizations that provide programs and services for public schools or afterschool programs. Specifically, these grants may be used to offset any revenue losses that occurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic or provide the cash reserves necessary to ensure continued operations in the event of future pandemic-related shutdowns. Additionally, the bill requires the EDA, in consultation with the council, to award $20 million in grants to qualifying arts and culture organizations to support the completion of placemaking projects in public spaces. Under the bill, placemaking projects would include any creative or artistic project intended to beautify or enrich public spaces, such as artistic paintings on roadways or sidewalks, landscape plantings in public areas, educational signage, and other artistic, cultural, or educational installations. The monies appropriated under the bill would be provided from the State's allocation of funds from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021". | In Committee |
| S2066 | Establishes Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement in DLPS. | This bill establishes a Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement in the Department of Law and Public Safety. Pursuant to the bill, the purpose of the division would be to compile information, raise public awareness, and act as a centralized resource for law enforcement agencies concerning crimes and offenses related to marijuana and cannabis. The bill provides that the division would be responsible for establishing and maintaining a database of the following information: (1) the number of arrests made annually for driving while intoxicated or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs in which alleged marijuana or cannabis possession or use was involved in the arrest; (2) the number of arrests, dismissals of charges, convictions, and adjudications of delinquency made annually related to marijuana and cannabis; and (3) information concerning any marijuana or cannabis seized pursuant to the State's forfeiture law. The bill also requires the division to establish a public awareness campaign concerning marijuana and cannabis use and driving a motor vehicle or operating a vessel. The public awareness campaign would be required to include, but not be limited to, information concerning the risk of motor vehicle and vessel crashes associated with driving under the influence of marijuana or cannabis and the risks of the combined use of marijuana or cannabis and alcohol. Under the bill, the division would be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature, which includes the information required to be compiled and maintained in the database and the division's activities related to the public awareness campaign. The report also would include any recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate by the division. | In Committee |
| S2047 | Establishes First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program; appropriates $20 million. | This bill establishes the First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program in the in the Division of Workers' Compensation. The bill provides supplemental benefits to first responders determined to be eligible for workers' compensation because they have contracted COVID-19 in the course of employment. The supplemental benefits are provided for the time in which an eligible first responder qualifies for regular workers' compensation equal to 70 percent of the weekly wages received at the time of injury subject to the stated minimum and maximum compensation levels. The supplemental benefits do not commence until all benefits which are equal to the responder's full salary have ended. The supplemental benefits are provided as long as the responder is unable to work due to COVID-19 but not more than 180 weeks. The amount of the supplemental benefit is such that the sum of the weekly regular workers' compensation plus the weekly supplemental benefit equals 100 percent of the responder's weekly wage, except that that sum shall not exceed $1,800. If the responder is a volunteer paid the maximum weekly workers' compensation rate, the supplemental benefits shall also be such that the sum of the weekly regular compensation plus the weekly supplemental benefit equals 100 percent of the responder's weekly wage up to the maximum of $1,800, except that for the volunteers the maximum workers' compensation rate shall continue to apply, even if it exceeds 100 percent of the weekly wage. The bill directs the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to issue annual reports of available information regarding the number of claims by first responders entitled to the supplemental benefits, the total amount of benefits awarded, the total anticipated and the accrued costs of the benefits, and an estimate of what portion of the funds appropriated for the program will be needed to pay all of the benefits, and a request to the Governor and the Legislature for any additional appropriation which may be required to make the payments. The supplemental benefits are not to be considered in determining the annual surcharge levied on policyholders and self-insured employers for the Second Injury Fund or the experience ratings of individual employers. The bill establishes the First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program Advisory Council in the Division of Workers' Compensation to advise the division and provide recommendations concerning the administration of the program. The council is comprised of the following 12 members: the Commissioners of Labor and Workforce Development, Human Services, and Health; one representative each selected by the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association, Inc., the Fraternal Order of Police, the Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, the EMS Council of New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Firemen's Association; and three public members appointed by the Governor with experience as first responders. The advisory council will be dissolved, and the annual reports by both the council and the commissioner will cease, upon a determination that that all eligible first responders have received all supplemental benefits to which they are entitled. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Second Injury Fund $20,000,000 for the First Responders COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program, to be used for the provision of the supplemental benefits and any necessary expenses of the advisory council. The purpose of this legislation is to assist first responders, whose public service has rendered them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, by alleviating long-term economic hardships due to COVID-19. The support provided by the bill is especially important in cases where first responders become unable to work for long periods of time because of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19, colloquially known as "long COVID." | In Committee |
| S207 | Revises "Franchise Practices Act." | This bill revises the "Franchise Practices Act" (the "Act") to increase protections for franchisees. Specifically, the bill removes a provision from the act that limits the act's application to a franchise where gross sales of products or services between the franchisor and franchisee covered by the franchise exceed $35,000 in the 12 months preceding a suit instituted under the act. Therefore, under the bill, the act would now apply to more franchise arrangements including "business format" or "package" franchises where the franchisor provides the franchisee with the business system, trade names, trademarks and advertising, but no sales occur between the franchisor and franchisee. Additionally, the bill provides certain rights and protections to franchisees that terminate or do not renew a franchise. Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of the act for any franchisor to restrict or prohibit a franchisee from terminating, cancelling, or not renewing a franchise provided the franchisee provides the franchisor with at least 60 days notice of such termination, cancellation, or failure to renew. In addition, the bill provides that it is a violation of the act for a franchisor, after termination, cancellation or non-renewal of a franchise, to: (1) require a franchisee to pay excessive damages; (2) require the franchisee to personally guarantee the debts of the franchise to the franchisor; and (3) impose any employment restriction on the owner or employees of the franchisee that exceeds six months duration and restricts employment outside the county in which the franchise is located. The bill also places a restriction on the ability of a franchisor to impose unreasonable facilities, financial, operating or other requirements upon a franchisee. A franchisor is also prohibited from requiring a franchisee to relocate his franchise or to implement any facility or operational modification more than once every five years, unless the franchisor can demonstrate that the franchisee will be able, in the ordinary course of business as conducted by such franchisee, to earn a reasonable return on the total investment in such facility or from such operational modification, and the full return of the total investment in such facility or from such operational modifications within 10 years. In some cases franchisors create relationships with third-party vendors that benefit the franchisor at the expense of the franchisee. The bill addresses this by restricting a franchisor from: (1) receiving a commission or any other payment from any vendor that sells goods or services to franchisees of the franchisor; and (2) requiring any franchisee to purchase goods or services from a vendor if the franchisor has not taken reasonable steps to secure the best possible price for the goods and services from the vendor. The bill also prohibits a franchisor from requiring a franchisee, as a condition for the approval of a renewal or transfer of a franchise, to assent to a general release from liability for the franchisor. In addition, the bill provides that if the franchise agreement provides that the franchisee has an exclusive territory, the franchisor is prohibited from competing with the franchisee in the exclusive territory or granting competitive franchises in the exclusive territory area previously granted to another franchisee. With respect to court claims regarding disputes arising with respect to the franchise, the bill prohibits a franchisor from requiring a franchisee to agree to a term or condition in a franchise, or in any lease or agreement ancillary or collateral to a franchise, which specifies the court in which a claim may be brought or otherwise prohibits a franchisee from bringing an action in a particular court otherwise available under the law of this State. Finally, the bill places a fiduciary duty on a franchisor to their franchisees concerning any funds collected by the franchisor from the franchisee to be used for advertising. The bill also requires franchisors to provide a report to the franchisee annually detailing how the advertising funds were used. | In Committee |
| S1008 | "New Jersey Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights;" establishes procedures by which entities are required to conduct audits of pharmacies. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights" including certain procedures and processes by which entities auditing a pharmacy are to follow. The bill defines "entity" as a hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or other managed care company, or an insurance company, third-party payor, pharmacy benefits manager, any entity licensed by the Department of Banking and Insurance, or any entity that represents such companies, groups, or departments. Under the bill, the audits are to be conducted in accordance with certain requirements concerning the scope of an audit, procedures to properly perform an audit, record-keeping, and recoupment. Additionally, the entity conducting an audit shall not use the accounting practice of extrapolation in calculating recoupments or penalties for audits. Under the bill, recoupments of any disputed funds are to only occur after final internal disposition of the audit, including the appeals process as set forth in the bill. Each entity conducting an audit shall establish an internal appeals process under which a pharmacy shall have at least 30 days from the delivery of the preliminary audit report to appeal an unfavorable preliminary audit report to the entity. If, following the appeal, the entity finds that an unfavorable audit report or any portion thereof is unsubstantiated, the entity is to dismiss the audit report or portion thereof without the necessity of any further proceedings. Each entity conducting an audit is to provide a copy of the final audit report, after completion of any review process, to the plan sponsor at its request or in an alternate format. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any investigative audit commenced based upon an articulable suspicion of fraud, willful misrepresentation, or abuse, including without limitation investigative audits under the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Act;" the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act;" the New Jersey criminal statute establishing insurance fraud as a crime; or any other statutory provision which authorizes investigations relating to insurance fraud. Additionally the Department of Human Services is exempt from the bill's provisions when conducting audits under the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Act," so long as the regulations establishing an appeals process for Medicaid providers apply to the parties under audit by the Department of Human Services pursuant to the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Act." Under the bill, an entity conducting the audit may not pay the agent or employee who is conducting the audit based on percentage of the amount recovered. Lastly, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance is assigned the enforcement of the bill's provisions and is to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate its provisions. The Commissioner has the authority to investigate complaints of alleged violations of this section; to prohibit recoupment; to order reimbursement of any wrongful recoupment; to institute fines for violations of the law, rules, or regulations; and to take any other actions pursuant to any authority granted pursuant to current law relating to the regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefit managers. | In Committee |
| S2014 | Prohibits adoption of any State rule or regulation mandating electric heating or water heating systems in buildings prior to issuance of DCA report. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), or any other State agency from adopting rules and regulations that mandate the use of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems as the sole or primary means of heating buildings or providing hot water to buildings, including, but not limited to, residences or commercial buildings. The prohibition would remain in effect until the DCA issues a report on the costs and benefits of electric heating, as required by the bill. The bill would not prohibit a State agency from offering incentives for the voluntary installation or use of an electric heating or electric water heating system. In addition, the bill would not prohibit a person from installing or using an electric heating system as the sole or primary means of heating a building or an electric water heating system as the sole or primary means of providing hot water to a building. The bill would require the DCA, in cooperation with the DEP and the BPU, to hold at least six public hearings throughout the State, within 18 months after the bill's enactment, to solicit information on topics related to the costs and benefits of electric heating systems and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in the State. The bill would then require the DCA, in consultation with the DEP and the BPU, to publish, within 24 months after the bill's enactment, a report that summarizes the information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to the bill, and recommends legislative and regulatory actions. After the report is published, the bill's prohibition on regulatory actions to mandate the installation of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems would expire. | In Committee |
| S1387 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| S322 | "Improved Suicide Prevention, Response, and Treatment Act." | This bill would amend and supplement the law to improve the suicide assessment, response, and treatment system in the State and strengthen the obligations of health care providers, law enforcement officers, and insurers with respect to suicide prevention, response, and care. The bill would provide, in particular, for each psychiatric facility, each outpatient mental health treatment provider, and each suicide or crisis hotline operating in the State to have specially trained suicide prevention counselors on staff, during all hours of operation, to assess patients' suicide risk and provide suicide prevention counseling to patients who are deemed to be at risk of suicide. The bill would further require the attending physician at a hospital emergency department to have an on-site suicide prevention counselor assess and provide assistance to any emergency room patient who is or may be suicidal, and it would additionally provide for the governing body of each county to appoint a local suicide prevention response coordinator, who will be responsible for deploying at least one qualified and locally available suicide prevention counselor to assist law enforcement at any emergency scene involving a person who is or may be suicidal. Finally, the bill would require all health insurance carriers to provide coverage for the costs that are associated with the suicide prevention assessments performed and counseling services rendered pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill provides for suicide prevention counselors to perform a formal suicide risk assessment of a patient at the following times: 1) immediately upon a patient's initial admission to a psychiatric facility or upon a patient's first clinical encounter with an outpatient treatment provider; 2) whenever there is reason for attending staff at a psychiatric facility or outpatient treatment provider to believe that a patient is developing new suicidal ideations, behaviors, or tendencies while under the care of the facility or provider; 3) within three days prior to the discharge of an apparently non-suicidal patient from inpatient care; and 4) whenever a suicide prevention counselor is called to assess a patient in a hospital emergency department or at the scene of an emergency, as provided by the bill. Each suicide risk assessment conducted under the bill is to be performed using a standardized tool, methodology, or framework, and is to be based on data obtained from the patient, as well as pertinent observations made by the attending clinician, assigned suicide prevention counselors, and other staff members having direct contact with the patient, and, to the extent practicable, any other information about the patient's history, the patient's past, recent, and present suicidal ideation and behavior, and the factors contributing thereto that is available from all other relevant sources, including outside treatment professionals, caseworkers, caregivers, family members, guardians, and any other persons who are significant in the patient's life. The suicide risk assessment is to include an evaluation of the patient's current living situation, housing status, existing support systems, and close relationships, and is to indicate whether there is any evidence that the patient is being subjected to abuse, neglect, exploitation, or undue influence by family members, caregivers, or other persons. The results of a patient's suicide risk assessment and notes regarding the progress of suicide prevention counseling provided to an at-risk patient are to be documented in the patient's health record. The bill further specifies that any counseling and treatment provided to address an at-risk patient's suicidal ideations, behaviors, or tendencies is to be supplemental to any other treatment that is received by the patient for the patient's other mental health issues. If a suicide prevention counselor, when assessing a patient outside of an inpatient psychiatric setting, determines that inpatient treatment may be necessary to address an at-risk patient's suicidal ideations, behaviors, or tendencies, the counselor will be required to either effectuate the voluntary admission and warm hand-off of the at-risk patient to an inpatient psychiatric facility or, if the patient refuses voluntary inpatient admission, effectuate a warm hand-off of the patient to a screening service or mental health screener to determine whether involuntary commitment to treatment is warranted. In cases where the counselor is providing on-site assistance at an emergency scene or in a hospital's emergency department, the on-scene law enforcement officers or attending physician may assist in the warm hand-off of the patient for these purposes. For any at-risk patient remaining in outpatient care, suicide prevention counselors at the outpatient treatment provider will be required to reengage and provide individualized, one-on-one counseling to each such patient, commensurate with the results of the patient's suicide risk assessment, whenever the patient has a subsequent clinical encounter with the outpatient treatment provider. The bill provides that, whenever a law enforcement officer is dispatched in response to a request for emergency services that involves a person who is or may be suicidal, the police dispatcher will be responsible for notifying the local suicide prevention response coordinator, appointed by the county's governing body under the bill, and the suicide prevention response coordinator will be responsible for ensuring the contemporaneous deployment of a suicide prevention counselor to the scene of the emergency. A 9-1-1 call-taker is to determine whether each request for emergency services involves a person who is or may be suicidal, and the bill provides for call-takers to undergo training to enable them to make this determination. Upon deployment to an emergency scene, a suicide prevention counselor will be required to: 1) provide assistance to law enforcement on the scene, as may be necessary to facilitate the non-violent de-escalation of the emergency situation; 2) perform an on-site suicide risk assessment of the person in crisis; and 3) immediately use warm hand-offs and the assistance of law enforcement, as needed, to link the at-risk person to appropriate treatment facilities, programs, and services, including voluntary or involuntary inpatient treatment, where warranted. Under the bill's provisions, each county and municipal law enforcement officer in the State will be required to complete at least two hours of in-service training in identifying the signs of mental illness and appropriate response techniques to be followed when interacting with a person who is or may be suicidal. The training is required to include: (1) the importance of approaching a suicidal person in a calm, gentle, and respectful manner; (2) the importance of avoiding the use of unnecessary force and the importance of using verbal methods of communication and other non-violent means to de-escalate an emergency situation involving a person who is or may be suicidal; and (3) specific techniques, means, and methods, consistent with the principles identified in the bill, that are to be employed by law enforcement officers when approaching, communicating with, engaging in physical contact or the use of force with, and de-escalating a situation involving, a person who is or may be suicidal. The in-service training is also to include simulated role-playing scenarios, which will allow trainees to demonstrate their ability to effectively interact with, and de-escalate emergency situations involving, a person who is or may be suicidal. The bill would require each inpatient psychiatric facility and each outpatient mental health treatment provider to establish policies and protocols to provide for the effective, compassionate, and responsible discharge of at-risk patients from care and the smooth transition of at-risk patients through the continuum of care using warm hand-offs, rapid referrals, and supportive contacts. Each outpatient provider will additionally be required to adopt policies and protocols providing for the warm hand-off of an at-risk patient to an inpatient psychiatric facility or to a screening service or mental health screener, as appropriate, in any case where the patient's suicide prevention counselor or attending clinician has reason to believe that the patient may require voluntary or involuntary commitment to inpatient treatment to address the patient's suicidal ideations, behaviors, and tendencies or associated mental health issues. The bill authorizes a facility or provider to enter into contracts or memoranda of understanding with outside organizations, including local crisis centers and other psychiatric facilities and providers, in order to facilitate the smooth and effective care transition of at-risk patients as provided by the bill. The bill also requires a psychiatric facility or outpatient treatment provider to facilitate the biennial training of all staff on the following issues: 1) the fundamentals of the facility's suicide prevention policies and protocols; 2) the particular suicide care policies and protocols that are relevant to each staff member's role and responsibilities; 3) the signs and symptoms that can be used by both clinical and non-clinical staff to identify existing patients who may be developing new suicidal ideations, behaviors, or tendencies; 4) the importance of, and methods and principles to be used in, ensuring the safe and responsible discharge and care transition of at-risk patients; and 5) the respectful treatment of, effective communication with, and de-stigmatization of, at-risk patients. The bill would prohibit a staff member of a psychiatric facility or outpatient treatment provider from: 1) discharging an at-risk patient into a homeless situation; or 2) having an at-risk patient arrested or incarcerated in a jail or prison, unless the at-risk patient poses an otherwise uncontrollable risk to others. The bill would additionally require a suicide prevention counselor and any other staff member employed by a psychiatric facility, by an outpatient treatment provider, or by a suicide or crisis hotline, as well as any other health care professional, when interacting with an at-risk patient, to: 1) treat the at-risk patient with the same dignity and respect that is shown to other patients; 2) adopt a stance that reflects empathy, compassion, and an understanding of the ambivalence the at-risk patient may feel in relation to the patient's desire to die; 3) treat the at-risk patient in an age-appropriate manner and using methods of communication that the patient can understand; 4) attempt to engender confidence in the at-risk patient that there is an alternative to suicide, and encourage the patient to use all available services and resources to empower the patient to choose such an alternative; 5) not engage in activities or communication methods that may result in the increased traumatization or re-traumatization of the at-risk patient; 6) not engage in the psychological testing of an at-risk patient who is in crisis or who has recently been lifted out of a crisis situation (except in the case of a suicide risk assessment performed pursuant to the bill); and 7) not engage in behavior that discriminates against or stigmatizes the patient. Any person who violates these minimum standards of compassionate care will be personally liable to pay a civil penalty of not more than $500 for a first offense, not more than $1,000 for a second offense, and not more than $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding. Such person will also be subject to: 1) potential criminal liability and civil lawsuits, including lawsuits for punitive damages, for any injury that is proximately caused thereby; 2) the suspension or revocation of the person's professional license or certification; 3) the revocation of the person's mental health accreditation; and 4) the termination of the person's employment. | In Committee |
| S2033 | Permits youth-serving patriotic societies to speak with public school students during regular school hours. | This bill requires the principal of a public school to permit a representative of a patriotic society that is intended to serve young people under the age of 21 to speak to students during regular school hours in the first quarter of the school year. A patriotic society interested in speaking with students must provide the school principal with verbal or written notice of the society's intent to speak to the students to inform the students about the civic involvement of the society, and to explain how students may participate in or join the patriotic society. The bill provides that a patriotic society cannot solicit personal information from students during the visit. Under the bill, a school principal has discretion over the time, place, and manner of the representative's visit. As used in this bill, "patriotic society" means an organization listed in Title 36 of the United States Code. | In Committee |
| S668 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services, and associated transportation services, for adults. | this bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for partial care and intensive outpatient services by 35 percent. Rates increased under the bill include, but are not limited to: per diem and hourly reimbursement rates for partial care and intensive outpatient services, as well as services provided during partial care and intensive outpatient treatment, such as intake evaluation, psychiatric evaluation, family counseling, individual counseling, and group counseling. The bill also provides that the aggregate Medicaid reimbursement rate for transportation services and mileage to or from a partial care or intensive outpatient services provider is to be no less than $10 for each one-way trip. As defined under the bill, "partial care services" means comprehensive, individualized, structured, non-residential intensive treatment services, including access to psychiatric, medical, and laboratory services, for an adult with severe mental illness or substance use disorder provided at a licensed outpatient facility for a minimum of 20 hours per week. "Intensive Outpatient Services" means comprehensive, individualized, structured, non-residential treatment sessions for an adult with severe mental illness or substance use disorder provided at a licensed outpatient facility for a minimum of nine hours per week. | In Committee |
| S1994 | Modifies definition of "impact zones" in "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act." | This bill would modify the definition of "impact zones" in P.L.2021, c.16 (C.24:6I-31 et al.), the "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act." Under the bill, in addition to the definition of the term set out in the enactment, an "impact zone" would also include a municipality located in a county of the fifth class with a population of over 600,000 based upon the county's population according to the most recently compiled federal decennial census, in which municipalities received State urban aid. Under the enactment, "impact zones" are one of the factors taken into consideration by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission in considering applications for licenses for cannabis businesses. As defined in P.L.2021, c.16, "impact zones" are certain municipalities negatively impacted by past marijuana enterprises that contributed to higher concentrations of law enforcement activity, unemployment, and poverty, or any combination thereof. | In Committee |
| S1158 | Prohibits certain steering and marketing practices involving dispensing of prescription drugs and drug samples. | This bill prohibits certain steering and other marketing practices involving devices, kiosks, machines, and other systems for the dispensing of prescription drugs to patients, including drug samples. This bill prohibits drug manufacturers, pharmacies, wholesalers, or other medication supply intermediaries from entering into agreements with health care practitioners to dispense prescription drugs and drug samples using a device, kiosk, machine, or other system which directs or diverts patients to a specified pharmacy or pharmacist for the filling of prescriptions, or which restrains in any way a patient's choice when selecting a pharmacy or pharmacist. This practice, which is sometimes referred to as "steering," improperly restricts patient choice. If a drug manufacturer, pharmacy, wholesaler, or other medication supply intermediary violates this provision, the drug manufacturer, pharmacy, wholesaler, or other medication supply intermediary would be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $100,000 for the first violation, not less than $200,000 for the second violation, and not less than $400,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. A practitioner or designee would not be permitted to dispense prescription drugs and drug samples using a device, kiosk, machine, or other system which transmits a patient's information to a particular pharmacy or pharmacist, unless either: (1) the patient has, voluntarily and without any prompting from the practitioner, requested the information be transmitted to that pharmacy or pharmacist; or (2) the practitioner or designee provides the patient with full disclosure that the patient's information will be transmitted to the pharmacy or pharmacist, and informs the patient of the patient's right to have the patient's information transmitted to the pharmacy or pharmacist of the patient's own choosing and of the right not to have the patient's information transmitted to any pharmacy or pharmacist in connection with the dispensing of the drug. If a practitioner or designee violates the provisions of the bill, the practitioner would be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation, and not less than $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation, which would be recovered by and in the name of the State by the local health agency and be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality. Nothing in the bill would be construed to expand or revise the authority of a health care practitioner to dispense prescription drugs under current law. In addition, the bill incorporates into State law certain requirements of the federal health information privacy rule authorized under the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996" (HIPAA), as applicable to devices, kiosks, machines, and other systems for the dispensing of prescription drugs to patients, including drug samples. The bill would prohibit such a device, kiosk, machine, or other system from utilizing a patient's individually identifiable medical information as a marketing tool, or selling or otherwise providing a patient's individually identifiable medical information to any other entity, in an effort to promote a particular pharmacy, preferred pharmacy plan, or a particular medication whether in the form of a sample or prescription without first obtaining authorization pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s.164.508. A device, kiosk, machine, or other system would be prohibited from limiting a patient's ability to access drugs through the device, kiosk, machine, or other system based on the patient's choice not to provide authorization to use the patient's medical information. The bill also requires a device, kiosk, machine, or other system for the dispensing of prescription drugs to patients, including drug samples, to notify a patient of any charges to the patient's insurance provider that is related to the transmittal of the patient's individually identifiable medical information, or any benefits, services, or products the patient may receive by using the device, kiosk, machine, or other system. The operator of the device, kiosk, machine, or other system that is in violation of the bill would be subject to such penalties as may be applicable under State or federal law. | In Committee |
| S776 | Requires carriers to offer health care providers more than one method of payment for reimbursement. | This bill provides that any network agreement between a carrier, or the carrier's contracted vendor, and a health care provider for the provision of health or dental care services is prohibited from mandating only one form of payment to the health care provider. A carrier, or the carrier's vendor, is also prohibited from restricting the method of payment to an out-of-network health care provider providing out-of-network covered services to only one form of payment. The bill also requires a carrier, or the carrier's contracted vendor, to provide certain information to a health care provider, prior to initiating its first payment to the health care provider, where one of the available payment methods includes a fee and before changing the available payment methods. The bill prohibits a carrier from using a health care provider's preferred method of payment as a factor when deciding whether to provide credentials to a health care provider. | Dead |
| SCR54 | Condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. | This resolution condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. Throughout the last decade, there has been clear evidence of increasing incidents and expressions of anti-Semitism throughout the world. More recently, in a 2018 report, the Anti-Defamation League noted that in 2018 there were 1,879 anti-Semitic incidents against Jews and Jewish institutions, which included the deadliest attack on Jewish persons in American history on October 27, 2018 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where 11 worshippers were killed. In 2018, a report showed New Jersey ranked third in the nation in anti-Semitic incidents with 200 anti-Semitic incidents reported. In 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported an increase in hate crimes against Jews or Jewish institutions and found that attacks against Jews or Jewish institutions made up 60.3 percent of all religious-based hate crimes. There is an urgent need to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities, and synagogues, schools, cemeteries, and other institutions. Anti-Semitism is the centuries-old bigotry and form of racism faced by Jewish people simply because they are Jews. Anti-Semitism is a challenge to the basic principles of tolerance, pluralism, and democracy and the shared values that bind Americans together. The First Amendment to the Constitution established the United States as a country committed to the principles of tolerance and religious freedom, and the Fourteenth Amendment established equal protection of the laws as the heart of justice in the United States. Adherence to these principles is vital to the progress of the American people and the diverse communities and religious groups of the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey Legislature unequivocally condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts in this State, the United States, and throughout the world to justify anti-Jewish hatred. In 2021, anti-Semitic incidents were the highest in the past 10 years, reaching an all-time high of 2,717 incidents in the United States. In New Jersey, anti-Semitic incidents in 2021 were the second highest in the nation for the third straight year, and comprised 14 percent of the total number of incidents in the United States. There were 370 anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey in 2021, representing an increase from 345 in 2019 and 295 in 2020. Of these incidents in New Jersey, 123 took place in public areas, 82 took place in non-Jewish K-12 schools, 44 took place at Jewish institutions, 40 occurred at private residences, 35 took place at business establishments, and 29 took place online. The 44 incidents that took place at Jewish institutions in New Jersey in 2021 occurred across 13 different counties, represented a significant 76 percent increase compared to the 25 such incidents recorded in 2020, and included 39 incidents of harassment, four incidents of vandalism, and one incident of assault. Incidents related to Israel or Zionism in New Jersey increased by 35 percent in 2021, reaching a total of 27 incidents. The Anti-Defamation League recorded the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents of 2021 during the month of May, which directly coincided with the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. There were 56 incidents documented in New Jersey in May 2021, which is 86 percent higher than the State's average monthly total of 30 incidents. In New Jersey's schools, there were 82 anti-Semitic incidents in 2021, representing a 110 percent increase relative to 2020, of which 40 were incidents of harassment and 42 were incidents of vandalism. In New Jersey's institutions of higher education, there were 16 anti-Semitic incidents recorded in 2021, which represents a 45 percent increase relative to the 11 incidents recorded in 2020. | In Committee |
| S1333 | Increases from $750 to $3,000 annual State payment made to certain veterans and their surviving spouses. | This bill increases the annual payment made by the State to a veteran with certain specified service-connected injuries and the surviving spouse of that veteran. The payment will increase from $750 to $3,000 annually. The amount is paid to a veteran who has sustained a total loss of sight, or who has paraplegia and permanent paralysis of both legs and lower parts of the body, or who has osteochondritis and permanent loss of the use of both legs, or who has hemiplegia and permanent paralysis of one leg and one arm or either side of the body, resulting from injury to the spinal cord, skeletal structure, or brain, or who has had hands or feet amputated, or who has lost the use of both feet or both legs, due to multiple sclerosis, sustained through enemy action, or accident, or resulting from disease contracted while in active military service. The surviving spouse of the veteran continues to receive the payment. There are currently 207 persons receiving the benefit. | In Committee |
| S1605 | Modifies private landowner consent requirements for certain local deer management plans. | This bill would require a community based deer management plan, adopted by a county board of agriculture, a county governing body, a municipal governing body, or the owner or operator of an airport, to document the written consent of any owner of private property where persons, facilities, or equipment for an alternative deer control method will be placed, stationed, or stored, if access to the private property is necessary to implement the plan. The bill would further provide that such a deer management plan would not be required to document the written consent of owners of private property where deer could potentially disperse after being shot or darted. Current law, section 2 of P.L.2000, c.46 (C.23:4-42.4), requires a community based deer management plan, adopted by a county board of agriculture, a county governing body, a municipal governing body, or the owner or operator of an airport, to document the written consent of each affected landowner for access to that person's land if access to private property is necessary to implement the plan. However, current law does not provide a definition of "affected landowner." This bill would add a definition of "affected landowner" to section 2 of P.L.2000, c.46 (C.23:4-42.4). | In Committee |
| S1638 | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY 2024. | This bill would make changes to the authorization given to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for State fiscal year 2024. In July 2023, P.L.2023, c.119 was enacted into law, which authorized the NJIB to expend up to $1.78 billion, and any unexpended balances from previous authorizations, to provide low-interest and market-rate loans to project sponsors (primarily local governments, public authorities, and public water utilities) for a portion of the total costs of 164 eligible environmental infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2024. This bill would amend the lists of environmental infrastructure projects for which the NJIB is authorized to make loans pursuant to P.L.2023, c.119 to include new projects, remove projects, modify the priority of certain projects, and modify the trust loan amounts for certain projects, as enumerated in subsections a. and b. of section 4 of the bill. The bill would authorize the NJIB to expend up to $3.08 billion, and any unexpended balances from previous authorizations, to provide loans to project sponsors for a total of 223 eligible environmental infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2024. This would include 137 projects on the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Clean Water Project Eligibility List" and 70 projects on the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List." The bill would also give the NJIB the explicit authority to use funds in the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 14 of the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302, for drinking water projects. The bill would require such drinking water projects to be funded in accordance with the regulations applicable to the financing of wastewater projects by the Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund, unless and until regulations specific to the financing of drinking water projects are promulgated. | Dead |
| S2017 | Establishes Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator position; appropriates funds. | This bill establishes the Office of the Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator in the Department of Human Services and makes an appropriation. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services will appoint a Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator, who will serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. The Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator will be required to have prior experience in mental health and substance use disorders, law enforcement, health care, health policy, or procurement and processing. The commissioner will assign administrative and clerical staff as necessary to support the activities of the Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator. The Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator will be responsible for: 1) overseeing the bulk purchasing and distribution of opioid antidotes on behalf of all State agencies, as well as certain other entities that distribute or administer opioid antidotes, including, but not limited to, emergency medical response entities, law enforcement agencies, recognized places of public access, public and nonpublic schools, and sterile syringe access programs, when those entities request assistance with purchasing opioid antidotes; 2) working and liaising with the Department of Health, the Office of the Attorney General, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies in the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Governor, and other governmental entities as may be necessary to support those entities in the performance of their duties as those duties relate to the purchase, distribution, and administration of opioid antidotes; and 3) establishing and maintaining an Internet website that provides information to the public concerning opioid antidotes, including information concerning the nature of opioid antidotes, the administration of opioid antidotes, access to opioid antidotes, and responding to a suspected opioid overdose. The Office of the Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator will be supported by such federal funds as may be available for this purpose, as well as by an annual appropriation in an amount as may be needed to ensure the office is fully funded. In addition, the bill requires an appropriation be made to the Department of Human Services from the General Fund to support the establishment of the opioid antidote information website. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature describing the activities of the Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator over the prior year, including the total quantity of opioid antidotes purchased and distributed by the coordinator, the types of entities to which opioid antidotes were distributed and the quantity of opioid antidotes distributed to each type of entity, estimated cost savings realized through the use of bulk purchasing of opioid antidotes, public information and outreach initiatives undertaken by the coordinator, and any other information the commissioner determines to be necessary and appropriate. According to the Department of Health, between June 2017 and April 2021, emergency medical services providers and law enforcement alone administered more than 54,000 doses of opioid antidotes in New Jersey. Opioid antidotes are an essential component of the State's response to the opioid epidemic, and have been a proven resource that saves the lives of New Jerseyans. It is the sponsor's view that, given the critical role opioid antidotes play in responding to the opioid epidemic, it is essential to create an Office of the Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator in order to facilitate the ability of State, county, and local governmental entities, as well as law enforcement, first responders, and public health providers, to access, dispense, and administer opioid antidotes in a comprehensive, efficient, and cost-effective manner. | In Committee |
| S1578 | Increases the income eligibility threshold and eliminates asset test for Medicare Savings Programs; Appropriates funds. | This bill increases the income eligibility threshold and eliminates the asset test for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program, the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program, and the Qualifying Individual (QI) Program. The bill also appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services (DHS) such an amount as is necessary to carry out these provisions. Generally, these programs are referred to as Medicare Savings Programs, which are federal programs administered by each individual state Medicaid agency and provide people with limited income and resources assistance in paying their Medicare cost sharing obligations. The QMB program pays for eligible individuals Medicare Part A and B premiums, copayments, coinsurances, and deductibles. The SLMB and QI programs pay for eligible individuals Medicare Part B premiums. Currently, New Jersey implements the federal income - between 100 percent and 135 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) - and asset cap - $9,090 for individuals and $13,630 for married couples - to determine eligibility for these Medicare Savings Programs. States, however, have the option of modifying federal income and asset eligibility criteria, pursuant to Section 1902(r)(2) of the Social Security Act, by increasing income and asset disregards. Using this authority, the bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to implement a State Medicaid benefit, that maximizes federal funding available under the QMB, SLMB, and QI programs, to provide State residents enrolled in the Medicare program, whose incomes are equal to or less than 200 percent of the FPL, or $29,160 for singles and $39,440 for married couples in 2023, and without regard to resident's assets, with assistance in the payment of all medicare cost-sharing. Under the bill, medicare cost-sharing includes Medicare Part A and B premiums, copayments, coinsurances, and deductibles. To the extent that federal law and regulation do not permit the provision of assistance in the payment all medicare cost-sharing under the SLMB and QI programs, the bill directs the DHS to provide such assistance via a separate subprogram using State funds only. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Commissioner of Human Services to establish alternative income eligibility standards to the standard described under the bill in order to comply with federal law and regulations and to maximize federal funding available under the SLMB and QI programs, provided that the alternative income eligibility standards are no higher than 230 percent of the FPL. The bill explicitly states that its provisions are in no way to be construed to permit the Commissioner of Human Services to alter the federal requirements for the QMB, SLMB, and QI programs beyond the flexibilities provided to the State by the federal government regarding income and asset eligibility. | In Committee |
| S2022 | Eliminates fee for re-issuance of motor vehicle title following loan payoff. | This bill prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from charging a title fee to individuals who have paid off their car loans for the re-issuance of a title without a lienholder noted on it. | In Committee |
| S1992 | Expands duties of Commission on Human Trafficking to include studying connection between human trafficking and illicit massage parlor businesses. | This bill would expand the duty of the Commission on Human Trafficking, created by P.L.2013, c.51, to include studying the connection between human trafficking and illicit massage parlor businesses. A published report by the Polaris Project, a group advocating on behalf of trafficking victims, indicates that massage parlors, including legitimate ones, may be contributing significantly to human trafficking trade in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S1047 | Regulates certain practices of pharmacy benefits managers and health insurance carriers. | This bill regulates certain practices of pharmacy benefits managers and health insurance carriers. Under the bill, a pharmacy benefits manager will be prohibited from the practice of steering, which, for the purpose of this bill, means a practice employed by a pharmacy benefit manager or health carrier that channels a prescription to an affiliated pharmacy, or pharmacy in which a pharmacy benefit manager or carrier has an ownership interest, and includes but is not limited to retail, mail-order, or specialty pharmacies. On March 1 of each year, a pharmacy benefits manager or carrier that utilizes a contracted pharmacy benefits manager will be required to provide a letter to the commissioner attesting as to whether or not, in the previous calendar year, it engaged in the practice of steering. The pharmacy benefits manager will also submit to the commissioner, in a form and manner specified by the commissioner, data detailing all prescription drug claims it administered for covered persons on behalf of each health plan client and any other data the commissioner deems necessary to evaluate whether a pharmacy benefits manager is engaged in the practice of steering. This data will be confidential and not be subject to the "Open Public Records Act;" provided, however, that the commissioner prepare an aggregate report reflecting the total number of prescriptions administered by the reporting pharmacy benefits manager on behalf of all health plans in the State along with the total sum due to the State. The department will have access to all confidential data collected by the Commissioner for audit purposes. Under the bill, a pharmacy benefits manager that engages in the practice of steering or imposing point-of-sale fees or retroactive fees will be subject to a surcharge payable to the State of 10 percent on the aggregate dollar amount it reimbursed pharmacies in the previous calendar year for prescription drugs. Any other person operating a health plan and licensed under this title whose contracted pharmacy benefits manager engages in the practice of steering in connection with its health plans will be subject to a surcharge payable to the State of 10 percent on the aggregate dollar amount its pharmacy benefits manager reimbursed pharmacies on its behalf in the previous calendar year for prescription drugs. The bill also provides that a pharmacy benefits manager will be proscribed from, among other provisions: (1) prohibiting a pharmacist or pharmacy from providing a covered person information on the amount of the covered person's cost sharing for the covered person's prescription drug and the clinical efficacy of a more affordable alternative drug if one is available; (2) charging or collecting from a covered person a copayment that exceeds the total submitted charges by the network pharmacy for which the pharmacy is paid; or (3) transferring or sharing records relative to prescription information containing patient-identifiable and prescriber-identifiable data to an affiliated pharmacy for any commercial purpose; provided, however, that nothing shall be construed to prohibit the exchange of prescription information between a pharmacy benefits manager and an affiliated pharmacy for the limited purposes of pharmacy reimbursement, formulary compliance, pharmacy care, or utilization review. The bill further provides that a health insurance carrier or pharmacy benefits manager will: (1) be prohibited from requiring pharmacy accreditation standards or recertification requirements to participate in a network which is inconsistent with, more stringent than, or in addition to, the federal and State requirements for a pharmacy in this State; and (2) suspend denials based on health care provider credentialing requirements. Any credentialing determination shall be issued within 45 days after receipt by the health insurance carrier of a universal physician application credentialing application or a complete New Jersey physician recredentialing application. The bill additionally provides that a health insurance carrier or pharmacy benefits manager will produce a report every four months, which will be provided to the commissioner and published by the pharmacy benefits manager on a website available to the public for no less than 24 months, of all drugs appearing on the national average drug acquisition cost list reimbursed 10 percent above or below the national average drug acquisition cost, as well as all drugs reimbursed 10 percent or above the national average drug acquisition cost. Under the bill, a pharmacy benefits manager will not be allowed to engage in the practice of medicine, unless a physician employed or contracted by a pharmacy benefits manager is advising on or making determinations specific to a covered person in connection with a prior authorization or step therapy appeal or determination review and is able to meet certain requirements. Finally, the bill provides that a pharmacy benefits manager will, among other related provisions: (1) not require covered persons to use a mail-order pharmaceutical distributor, including a mail-order pharmacy; or (2) offer a health insurance carrier the ability to receive 100 percent of all rebates it receives from pharmaceutical manufacturers. In addition, a pharmacy benefits manager shall report annually to each client, which shall include but not be limited to insurers, payors, health plans, and the department the aggregate amount of all rebates and other payments that a pharmacy benefits manager received from a pharmaceutical manufacturer in connection with claims, if administered on behalf of the client and the aggregate amount of such rebates a pharmacy benefits manager received from a pharmaceutical manufacturer did not pass through to the client health plan. | In Committee |
| SCR24 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of annual veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $1,250, beginning in 2024. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, to be increased by $50 each year over a period of four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| S992 | Requires induction loop listening system installation in certain buildings open to public upon new construction or substantial renovation. | This bill would require the installation of induction loop listening systems in certain public spaces upon new construction or substantial renovation. An "induction loop listening system" refers to a hardwired assistive listening system in which a loop of wire around an area of a building, or hardwired countertop version, produces a signal received directly by hearing aids and cochlear implants used by persons with hearing loss. Induction loop listening systems magnetically transmit sound to hearing aids and cochlear implants that are equipped with telecoil features, and have an effect of filtering out background noise. Under the bill, induction loop listening system installations would be required in a newly constructed area of public assembly or service, unless the associated building permit application was initially submitted on or before the effective date of the bill. The bill would also require any area of public assembly or service to install induction loop listening systems during renovations that cost $40,000 or more. Additionally, the bill would require the posting of prominently-visible permanently-mounted signage to indicate to visitors that the induction loop listening system is available in an area of public assembly or service. Following initial installation, the bill would require the owner, on a biennial basis, to complete a self-certification form, attesting that the induction loop listening system continues to function. Under the bill, an "area of public assembly or service" means a building or structure, or space within a building or structure, that is regularly open for public gatherings, consisting of an auditorium, theater, meeting room, courtroom, community center, library, pharmacy counter, information desk at a medical facility, a waiting area for a medical office, bank teller area, car rental business, restaurant, bar, or other food or beverage counter service location, coat check area, grocery store check-out area, ticket payment location, or other category of space designated by the Department of Community Affairs ("DCA") as an area of public assembly or service. Under the bill, the owner of an area of public assembly or service would not be required to install and maintain an induction loop listening system if a code enforcing agency determines that the installation of the system would be impractical, following an assertion of the impracticality of the installation by the building permit applicant. The bill directs DCA to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including the establishment of standards for: (1) the installation of an induction loop listening system; (2) the conditions that would render installation impractical; (3) the placement and appearance of the required signage; and (4) the frequency and criteria of public access that would cause a space to be designated as open to the public, in relation to the definition of an area of public assembly or service. The provisions of the bill would be enforced as part of the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," ("UCC") P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). The owner of an area of public assembly or service who violates the provisions of the bill would therefore be liable for any penalty imposed by an enforcing agency pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-138), or any other applicable penalty under the UCC. In order to provide DCA with time to prepare for the enforcement of the bill, the bill would take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment. | In Committee |
| S1609 | Creates online job portal for behavioral health care workers and online internship and externship portal for health care students. | This bill creates an online job portal for behavioral health care workers and online internship and externship portal for students enrolled in both physical and behavioral health care training programs. Under the bill the Department of Health (department) is to create, maintain, and update an online job portal that permits in-State employers to post job openings for behavioral health care workers. The bill defines "behavioral health care" to mean health care and associated services for the treatment of a mental illness, emotional disorder, or substance use disorder. In addition, the department will be required to create, maintain, and update an online internship and externship portal that permits in-State employers to post internship and externship openings providing academic credits for students studying to become a health care professional. The department will be authorized to contract with a third-party entity to develop and administer the online behavioral health job portal, the online internship and externship portal, or both. | In Committee |
| S1490 | Converts senior freeze reimbursement into credit applied directly to property tax bills. | This bill would transform the homestead property tax reimbursement program, commonly known as the senior freeze program, from a reimbursement program into a credit program for most eligible homeowners. Currently, eligible seniors and disabled persons may apply for a senior freeze benefit that reimburses them for any property tax increases paid in the prior tax year over and above the amount of property taxes paid in the applicable base year. This bill would allow most of these eligible homeowners to realize these savings in the form of a credit directly applied to reduce the payable amount for their third and fourth quarter property tax bills for the current tax year. Eligible homeowners who reside in a unit in a cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or continuing care retirement community, and who do not pay property taxes directly to the municipality, would receive a rebate payment instead of a credit directly applied to the applicable property tax bill. These rebates would be paid during the current tax year for which the senior freeze benefit is sought so that these homeowners also do not have to wait until the next year to receive their senior freeze benefit. | In Committee |
| S2030 | Requires certain issuance standards and open enrollment for Medicare supplement policies. | This bill requires certain issuance standards for Medicare supplement policies, and provides that those policies must have a continuous open enrollment period. Specifically, the bill prohibits issuers of Medicare supplement policies from denying or conditioning the issuance or effectiveness of a policy or discriminating in the pricing of a policy because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition of an applicant. The bill also requires applicants to be accepted at all times throughout the year for any Medicare supplement policies available from an issuer. The requirements of the bill are applicable to applicants enrolled in Medicare whether enrolled by reason of age or by reason of disability. | In Committee |
| S1505 | Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for persons 18 or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs. | This bill requires health insurance carriers, including insurance companies, health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, or health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey or any entity contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program or School Employees' Health Benefits Program to provide coverage for persons 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs. The bill requires that the benefits be provided for expenses incurred in conducting medical services, procedures, or testing, nursing care, and the purchase of medical equipment or prescription drugs to persons 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs, provided the attending licensed health care provider determines it medically necessary. In addition, the bill requires that health insurance carriers and contracts for health benefits or prescription drug benefits purchased by the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program approve any benefit for a person 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs within three days of receipt of a letter from the attending licensed health care provider and shall not condition the payment of any benefit for a medical service, procedure, test, nursing care, or purchase of medical equipment or prescription drug upon any pre-approval or precertification of any kind if that medical service, procedure, test, nursing care, or purchase of medical equipment or prescription drug is otherwise covered under the health benefits plan and it has been prescribed by a licensed health care provider. | In Committee |
| S1058 | Requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided to victims of domestic violence upon request. | This bill requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided, upon request, to victims of domestic violence. Under the bill, a domestic violence victim, or the victim's legal representative, may request copies of certain records from the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a domestic violence complaint. If the release of the records would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, the records are required to either be redacted so that release to the victim does not jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, or released pursuant to a protective order. A person who disseminates a copy of a law enforcement record in violation of a protective order issued under the bill may be subject to criminal prosecution.The following records may be requested:· photographs taken by a law enforcement officer;· law enforcement officer body worn camera or dashboard camera footage;· 9-1-1 transcript or recording; or · contents of the police report. The bill clarifies that the right to access records provided under the bill is in addition to the right of a victim to obtain records under current law pursuant to the open public records act (OPRA) or the Rules of Court. The records are to be provided at no charge within 10 calendar days of the request. If the law enforcement agency is unable to produce a copy of a requested record within the 10-day period, the law enforcement agency may request additional time from the court. If granted additional time, the law enforcement agency is to provide a copy of the records to the victim or victim's legal representative within 24 hours after the record becomes available. A record is to be provided in accordance with the request of the victim or victim's representative. A victim of domestic violence who is seeking to access law enforcement agency records under the bill, but who is not seeking other relief in the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court may enforce their right of access pursuant to OPRA on an expedited basis. The victim shall not be required to complete a formal OPRA request form to access the records. Under current law, a hearing is to be held in the family part within 10 days of the filing of a domestic violence complaint. If a plaintiff has requested records pursuant to the provisions of the bill but has not received the records as of the date of the original or rescheduled hearing, the law enforcement agency's failure to provide the requested records is to be noted on the record prior to the court making a final determination on the request for restraints. The absence of law enforcement records is not to be a basis to deny relief. The bill also provides that a party to a domestic violence complaint may request the release or unsealing of expunged records. The records may be provided to either party, the county prosecutor, Criminal Division of the Superior Court, or Attorney General, in relation to a domestic violence temporary or final restraining order, weapons forfeiture complaint, or a temporary or final extreme risk protective order. Under the bill, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding brought pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" would estop the defendant from denying the same conduct in any proceeding brought under the bill. | Dead |
| S2053 | Provides tax credits to small businesses to offset increases in unemployment insurance contributions. | This bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to small businesses to help offset increases in their unemployment insurance contributions, including increases scheduled pursuant to P.L.2020, c.150. The tax credit provided by the bill to a small business is an amount equal to the difference in the business's actual unemployment insurance contribution as required pursuant to R.S.43:21-7(c)(5) and the amount the small business would have paid if contributions had been computed based on rates set by column "C" of the table in R.S.43:21-7(c)(5)(E). The credit will be provided for any year in which the unemployment insurance contribution rates are greater than those imposed under column "C", and will end upon the first year in which the tax rates are equal or less than the rates of column "C". The bill adopts the U.S. Small Business Administration's definitions of a small business based on size standards and other applicable criteria. The tax credits are non-refundable, but may be carried forward for seven years. If a small business utilizes alternative relief options, such as grants or subsidies, to offset their increase in employer contributions, the small business would not be eligible for the bill's tax credits. | In Committee |
| S2197 | Directs Department of Agriculture in consultation with DOE to establish online applications for National School Lunch Program and school breakfast programs. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to develop and make available to each school district and nonpublic school participating in the National School Lunch Program or in a school breakfast program, an Internet-based online school meal application for eligible students to participate in these programs. Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or in a school breakfast program would be encouraged to make the online school meal application available. A participating school district or nonpublic school that implements the online school meal application would also be required to continue to make available paper applications. | In Committee |
| S1007 | Provides rental and lease protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. | This bill would provide rental and lease protections for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims. Under the bill, a landlord may not terminate a tenancy, fail to renew a tenancy, or refuse to enter into a rental agreement based on the tenant's or applicant's or a household member's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or based on the tenant or applicant having terminated a rental agreement pursuant to the "New Jersey Safe Housing Act," P.L.2008, c.111 (C.46:8-9.4 et seq.). Under the "New Jersey Safe Housing Act," a tenant may terminate a lease prior to its expiration if the tenant provides written notice that the tenant or a child of the tenant faces an imminent threat of serious physical harm from another person if the tenant remains on the premises, and provides appropriate documentation. The bill provides for the same documentation requirements as those set out in the "New Jersey Safe Housing Act." The documentation may be any of the following: (1) a copy of a permanent domestic violence restraining order; (2) a copy of a permanent restraining order from another jurisdiction, issued pursuant to the jurisdiction's laws concerning domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (3) a law enforcement agency record documenting the domestic violence, or certifying that the tenant or a child of the tenant is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (4) medical documentation of the domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking provided by a health care provider; (5) certification, provided by a certified Domestic Violence Specialist, or the director of a designated domestic violence agency, that the tenant or a child of the tenant is a victim of domestic violence; or (6) other documentation or certification, provided by a licensed social worker, that the tenant or a child of the tenant is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Under the bill, a landlord who refuses to enter into a rental agreement in violation of this section may be liable to the tenant or applicant in a civil action for damages sustained by the tenant or applicant. The prevailing party may also recover court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2A:18-53 and N.J.S.A.2A:18-61.1, which concern actions by landlords to remove tenants, to provide that these sections of law shall not be construed to authorize the removal of a lessee or tenant or the assigns, under-tenants or legal representatives of such lessee or tenant from any house, building, mobile home or land ina mobile home park or tenement leased for residential purposes based upon such person's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. | In Committee |
| S1614 | Requires at least one drive-up ballot drop box in each county; requires certain information to be posted at ballot drop boxes and locations. | This bill requires the county board of elections in each county to establish at least one drive-up ballot drop box in the county and to post certain information at ballot drop boxes and locations. Under current law, each county board of elections is required to establish at least 10 ballot drop boxes at locations throughout the county following several criteria. Under this bill, at least one of those locations would be required to be a "drive-up ballot drop box," defined as a ballot drop box and location designed and evaluated to possess accessible features including, but not limited to, sufficient vehicle turning radius adjacent to the driver side, curb cuts, availability of handicap parking, and an unimpeded path to the ballot drop box from handicap parking. The bill requires the drive-up ballot drop box to be easy to locate and readily visible by voters with adequate lighting and a clear line of sight from the street and parking area. The bill would also require certain information to be posted at ballot drop boxes and drop box locations. Under the bill, all ballot drop boxes would be marked as an "Official Ballot Drop Box." In addition, in a uniform manner prescribed by the Secretary of State, the following information would be posted at drop boxes and drop box locations in all languages required under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and under current law for the county: the penalties for drop box tampering; a-toll free voter hotline; a statement indicating that no postage is necessary for depositing the ballot into the drop box; a statement indicating that the drop box is for mail-in ballots only for that county; and a statement informing the public of the applicable deadline for accepting ballots at the drop box. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of State and county boards of elections to include guidelines for county boards of elections to follow to establish an electioneering boundary of 100 feet around each ballot drop box in compliance with current law. The bill requires the posting of signs and information to notify the public of the prohibited electioneering activities within the boundary of the ballot drop box. | In Committee |
| S2032 | Modifies eligibility for electric vehicle incentive program; appropriates $30 million to Plug-In Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund. | This bill would allow for the payment of the one-time incentive for the purchase of a light duty plug-in electric vehicle for vehicles that were purchased between June 1, 2022 and July 25, 2022. Under the existing incentive program, $30 million per year is made available. However, demand for the incentives has outstripped the available funding and purchasers of otherwise eligible vehicles who purchased between June 1, 2022 and July 25, 2022 were not able to receive the incentive due to lack of funding. This bill would expand eligibility retroactively to eligible electric vehicles purchased or leased between June 1, 2022 through July 25, 2022. Current law offers the incentives to new light duty plug-in electric vehicle, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of below $55,000, purchased or leased after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.362 (C.48:25-1 et al.) and registered in New Jersey. The bill also provides a one-time supplemental appropriation of $30 million to the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2019, c.362 (C.48:25-7). | In Committee |
| S1480 | Requires calculation of national average time needed to approve applications for initial credential in profession or occupation and use of average time as standard in New Jersey. | The bill requires the boards created under Title 45 in current law to collect, from each state in the country, the amount of time, or the average amount of time, required or necessary to approve an application for an initial credential for each profession or occupation in which the New Jersey board also issues a credential. A board may contact a national or regional association to obtain data regarding average approval times in other states. Based on the data collected, a national average of the time required or necessary for application approval is to be calculated for each profession and occupation and used by the corresponding board in New Jersey as the amount of time it has to approve an application for an initial credential. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, or a designee, is to review and approve the calculated national averages of times prior to their use by the boards. After one year of using the calculated national average of times by the boards, the division is to review if the boards are meeting the requisite calculated average times for approval of applications for initial credentials. If the review demonstrates a board is not meeting the calculated time, licensing fees collected by the board are to be used to contract with a third-party, with expertise in the professions or occupations regulated by the specific board, to determine best practices that the board is to implement to meet the calculated average time for application approval. Upon completion of the review by the third-party, the board is to implement the best practices immediately. The division is to review the data on the approval of applications for initial credentials by the board six months after the implementation of best practices to ensure the calculated national average time is met. The boards have six months after the effective date of the bill to complete the initial collection of data and calculate the national average time. Additionally, an annual review of the calculated national average time is to be performed by each board, in collaboration with the director or a designee, to determine the accuracy of the calculations. The bill stipulates that each board is entitled to retain all funds collected as a result of fees paid for an initial credential and for the renewal, reactivation, and reinstatement of a credential in order to administer the provisions of this bill, until the board is meeting or surpassing its calculated national average time for application approval. | In Committee |
| S1491 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| S1332 | Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to qualified veterans purchasing franchises. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish a program that provides grant funding to a veteran, approved by the EDA for program participation, who becomes a "franchisee," as defined in the bill, after the effective date of the bill. The EDA is to establish the terms and conditions by which a veteran may apply and receive approval from the EDA for program participation. The EDA is to enter into an agreement with a qualified veteran concerning the EDA's provision of grant funding to a qualified veteran for this purpose. The EDA is to provide a one-time grant of no more than $10,000 to each veteran approved by the EDA for participation in the program. The EDA is to provide priority assistance to a qualified veteran who submits an application and receives program approval within six months after the effective date of the bill providing proof the veteran is a franchisee, or has received a valid offer from a franchisor for the veteran to become a franchisee, operating at a location within this State. The bill requires the EDA to establish and maintain a fund to provide grant funding to a veteran that participates in the program and to administer the program. The fund is to be credited with an appropriation made to the EDA, with monies made available by the EDA for the purpose of the fund, and monies received by the EDA from any other public or private donations. In administering the program and the fund, the EDA is to establish: 1) procedures and timelines for applications for the program and approvals thereof; 2) criteria for determining grant funding to be disbursed from the fund to a qualified veteran; 3) reporting requirements for a veteran participating in the program and the qualified veteran's receiving grant funding from the fund; and 4) any other policies deemed necessary by the EDA for the administration of the program and the fund. The EDA, in its sole discretion, may amend these policies at any time if the policies are established or amended in a manner consistent with the provisions of the bill. The reporting requirements require a veteran receiving grant funding under the program to report to the EDA, in a form and manner determined by the EDA, within a year of receiving grant funding. The report is to include: 1) proof that the veteran used grant funding to purchase a franchise within the State; and 2) any other information the EDA requires in a form and manner determined by the EDA. | In Committee |
| S1608 | 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 |
| S2029 | Establishes High Efficiency Accelerated Learning Grant Program. | This bill requires the Department of Education to establish and administer the High Efficiency Accelerated Learning Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to provide high-impact tutoring opportunities to students throughout the State. The grant program supports high-impact tutoring programs implemented by local education providers, in partnership with a tutoring provider included on the department's list. The bill details the criteria that a tutoring program must meet in order to be considered. The bill also requires the Department of Education to publish a list of tutoring providers with a record of high quality instruction in mathematics and English language arts. The department will develop performance standards and guides, and will establish a rubric to evaluate each tutoring program and determine the minimum qualifications for a tutoring program to be included in the department's list of high quality tutoring providers. The department will compile and make the list publicly available on its Internet website no later than 90 days following the effective date of the bill. A tutoring program wishing to be included on the list of high quality tutoring providers will be required to submit an application to the department. The bill outlines the application process for a local education provider wishing to participate in the grant program. A tutoring provider may apply for a grant on behalf of a local education provider. Grant awards will be allocated to local education providers on a competitive basis, in a manner to be determined by the department. In determining grant recipients, the department will consider the local education provider's plan with respect to the alignment with elements of high impact tutoring programs, the potential number of students impacted by the program, the need of the local education provider to supplement classroom learning, and the estimated cost of implementing the program by the local education provider. The bill stipulates that school employees may only serve as tutors during times that do not conflict with existing school duties. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any individual hired as a tutor under the grant program is not required to have or maintain a principal residence in the State unless required to do so as a condition of another position of employment. Under the bill, any local education provider participating in the High Efficiency Accelerated Learning Grant Program must conduct an annual evaluation or provide an annual external evaluation of the tutoring program implemented according to the criteria developed by the Department of Education. The evaluation will be reported in a manner determined by the department, in consultation with the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. The bill also outlines information to be included in the evaluation. The bill also requires updates to be made to the Governor and to the Legislature concerning the outcomes and efficacy of the program. | In Committee |
| S2229 | Increases benefit amounts and expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program. | This bill increases the benefit amounts under the New Jersey earned income tax credit (NJEITC) program and expands eligibility for taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) and those taxpayers who have been victims of domestic abuse Currently, the program provides a tax credit equal to 40 percent of the federal earned income tax credit. The bill increases this amount from 40 percent to 45 percent over a five-year period. This bill allows taxpayers with ITINs to qualify for the NJEITC program. Under the federal earned income tax credit program, a taxpayer, including a spouse if filing a joint return, is required to have a Social Security number issued by the federal Social Security Administration in order to qualify. Eligibility for the NJEITC program is generally linked to the federal earned income tax credit program; thus, an individual taxpayer who has an ITIN does not qualify for either the federal or State programs. The bill modifies the eligibility criteria under the NJEITC program to allow taxpayers with ITINs to qualify for the tax credit. The bill also expands eligibility under the NJEITC program for taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse. Under the federal program, if a taxpayer is married, the taxpayer is required to file a joint return with their spouse to be eligible for the federal earned income credit. However, victims of domestic abuse typically file as married filing separately, losing their federal earned income credit and NJEITC program eligibility in the process. The bill exempts a married taxpayer from the joint filing requirement if the taxpayer files as married filing separately and the taxpayer: (i) was living apart from the taxpayer's spouse on the last day of the taxable year for which the credit is claimed; (ii) was a victim of domestic abuse, as defined by the bill, within the past three years; and (iii) indicates on the taxpayer's gross income tax return that the taxpayer meets the criteria set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| S1393 | Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis. | This bill authorizes the home cultivation of medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient's personal medical use. Specifically, the bill provides that a registered qualifying patient who is 21 years of age or older who provides notice to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission of the intent to home cultivate medical cannabis will be allowed to either home cultivate medical cannabis himself or herself, or authorize a designated caregiver to home cultivate medical cannabis on the patient's behalf. A home cultivator will be allowed to cultivate and possess up to four mature cannabis plants and up to four immature cannabis plants. Medical cannabis may only be home cultivated at the residence of the authorized home cultivator that is on file with the commission. The notice of intent to home cultivate medical cannabis provided to the commission is to specify which individual will home cultivate the medical cannabis. In no case may more than one individual home cultivate medical cannabis for a registered qualifying patient at one time. A patient may change the designated home cultivator upon providing 10 days' notice to the commission. At least 10 days after providing the notice of change, but no more than 30 days after providing notice, any medical cannabis plants in the former home cultivator's possession may be transferred to the new designated home cultivator. Any plants that are not transferred to the new home cultivator are to be promptly surrendered to law enforcement for destruction. The failure to provide notice of a change in designated home cultivator will result in the patient's registration with the commission being deemed null and void. The commission will be required to promptly update the registry information for the patient and any affected designated caregiver upon receiving notice of the patient's intent to home cultivate medical cannabis or of a change in who is authorized to home cultivate medical cannabis for the patient. Any designated caregiver of a patient who elects to home cultivate medical cannabis will be authorized to possess, transport, and assist the patient with the administration of home-cultivated medical cannabis in dried form or in any other consumable form, regardless of whether the designated caregiver is designated as the patient's home cultivator. In addition to any other civil or criminal penalties as may apply, any individual in possession of home-cultivated medical cannabis in the form of a mature or immature plant or in any consumable form, who sells, donates, or furnishes the home-cultivated medical cannabis to any individual who is not authorized to be in possession of the home-cultivated medical cannabis under the bill, will be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000. In addition, the individual's registration with the commission will be deemed null and void, and the individual will be permanently ineligible for re-registration with the commission as a qualifying patient, a designated caregiver, or an institutional caregiver. It is the sponsor's intent to expand access to medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients who may find the medical cannabis that is available through a medical cannabis dispensary unaffordable, or who may otherwise benefit from the convenience of home cultivation or the ability to readily access medical cannabis in the strain and form appropriate to the patient's individual treatment needs. Of the 36 states that have approved a comprehensive medical cannabis program, 17, or nearly half, currently allow for home cultivation of medical cannabis: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. | In Committee |
| S2067 | Requires prescription drug services covered under Medicaid program to be provided via fee-for-service delivery system. | This bill requires prescription drug services covered under the Medicaid program to be provided via fee-for-service delivery system. Currently, the majority of prescription drug services are provided through managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires that the reimbursement for covered outpatient brand name and generic drugs, as well as covered outpatient specialty drugs dispensed by a mail order pharmacy, is calculated based on the lower of: (1) the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) Retail Price Survey, in accordance with section 1927(f) of the federal Social Security Act or the Wholesale Acquisition Cost in the absence of a NADAC price, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (2) the federal upper limit, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (3) the State Maximum Allowable Cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (4) the State submitted ingredient cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; or (5) the provider's usual and customary charge, including any discount price which may be in effect on the date the drug is dispensed to the Medicaid beneficiary. Furthermore, the bill requires that the reimbursement for covered outpatient drugs dispensed by a covered entity as defined in section 340B(a)(4) of the federal Public Health Service Act is be calculated based on the lower of: (1) the Actual Acquisition Cost, which shall not exceed the federal 340B program ceiling price, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (2) the federal upper limit, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (3) the State Maximum Allowable Cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (4) the State submitted ingredient cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; or (5) the provider's usual and customary charge, including any discount price which may be in effect on the date the drug is dispensed to the Medicaid beneficiary. And finally, the bill requires that the reimbursement for covered clotting factors dispensed by a specialty pharmacy or a Hemophilia Treatment Center is based on the NADAC Retail Price Survey, in accordance with section 1927(f) of the federal Social Security Act or the Wholesale Acquisition Cost in the absence of a NADAC price, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92. Under the bill, clotting factors are required to be billed through a Point of Sale System as of January 1, 2020. The transition is expected to generate significant State prescription drug savings, to increase access and savings to prescription drugs for Medicaid patients, and to create a fairer system for pharmacy providers, as demonstrated by other states implementing similar policies. For example, in March 2019, the West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services released a report showing savings of $54.4 million to the state Medicaid program due to the carve out of the prescription drug benefit from Medicaid managed care. The report also notes that in addition to the savings, the program resulted in $122 million paid to West Virginia pharmacies in the form of fixed dispensing fees, money that had formerly gone to out-of-state pharmacy benefit managers. Moreover, on April 1, 2023 New York shifted the Medicaid prescription drug benefit from managed care to a fee-for-service Medicaid Pharmacy Program. According to the New York Executive, this program is anticipated to generate a net state savings of $40.0 million in the first year of implementation, and $180.0 million in subsequent years. | In Committee |
| S1401 | Changes eligibility of Administrative Law Judges from DCRP to PERS. | This bill provides for the enrollment of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). These judges currently participate in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). The bill also provides for the transfer into PERS of all judges currently participating in the DCRP. | In Committee |
| S2077 | Requires public institution of higher education to provide academic credit for certain examinations. | This bill requires public institutions of higher education to provide academic credit to students who receive a score of three or above on an advanced placement examination or a score of 50 or above on a college-level examination program learning assessment. Under the bill, to receive the academic credit, a student is required to be pursuing an associate or baccalaureate degree, and while in grades 9 through 12, has completed either the applicable advanced placement course and advanced placement examination or the applicable college-level examination program learning assessment while enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Additionally, the bill requires each institution to post the institution's policies and procedures for awarding academic credit for advanced placement examinations and college-level examination program learning assessments on its website and submit the policies and procedures to the Secretary of Higher Education. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education is subsequently required to post each institution's policies and procedures on the office's website. The bill also requires each institution to report any proposed change to the policies and procedures to the Secretary of Higher Education no less than 60 days before the change takes effect. Finally, the bill permits the secretary to provide an institution with an exemption to the academic credit requirements established under the bill on an individual course basis provided that the institution submits data that a required score differing from the academic credit requirements established under the bill are necessary for a student to be successful in a related or more advanced course. | In Committee |
| S1671 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S910 | Prioritizes distribution of 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund monies; permits use of funds for certain expenses incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services. | This bill permits funds from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" to be appropriated for the purposes of paying for certain costs incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services and prioritizes funds. Currently, pursuant to N.J.S.A.52:17C-19, funds in the trust fund account are allocated for the following purposes: (1) the costs incurred in the initial installation of the Statewide enhanced 9-1-1 network and for the costs incurred by a county for the employment of a county 9-1-1 coordinator in an amount not to exceed $25,000 per county 9-1-1 coordinator (N.J.S.A.52:17C-13) as well as the installation, operation, and maintenance costs required to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 services (N.J.S.A.52:17C-14); (2) the costs of funding the State's capital equipment (including debt service), facilities, and operating expenses that arise from emergency response; (3) the cost of emergency response training, including any related costs or expenses of the Office of Emergency Management in the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety; (4) the cost of operating the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services; (5) the cost of operating the Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission; (6) any costs associated with implementing any requirement of the Federal Communications Commission concerning 9-1-1 service that is not otherwise allocated to a carrier and not eligible for reimbursement under law or regulation; (7) any costs associated with planning, designing, or implementing an automatic location identification technology that is not otherwise allocated to a wireless carrier and not eligible for reimbursement under law or regulation; and (8) any costs associated with planning, designing or acquiring replacement equipment or systems (including debt service) related to the enhanced 9-1-1 network. This bill provides that funds in the 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account may also be allocated for costs incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services including, but not limited to, costs associated with emergency response training, operating expenses, and capital expenses. Finally, the bill requires funds to be distributed on a prioritized basis first to county, regionalized, or large centralized public safety answering points, followed by other local public safety answering points. | In Committee |
| S670 | Authorizes schools to administer commercial driver license exam and other motor vehicle services for school bus drivers. | This bill authorizes the administration of all motor vehicle services associated with becoming a school bus driver, except for the road test, by school districts, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The bill requires the MVC to implement a program that promotes the administration of these motor vehicle services at school facilities and requires the MVC to coordinate with school districts for the administration of the these services for prospective school bus drivers. | In Committee |
| S2137 | Requires civil service examination for police and correctional police officers to include questions to identify implicit racial bias. | This bill requires the State Civil Service Commission to include on the Civil Service entry-level law enforcement examination questions designed to identify implicit bias, including racial bias, in candidates applying for appointment to law enforcement officer positions. The test is required for applicants for municipal and county police officers, adult and juvenile correctional police officers, sheriff's officers, and other law enforcement officer positions. Implicit bias refers to unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions and may cause feelings and attitudes about other people based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, age, and appearance. | In Committee |
| S2045 | Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance. | This bill requires any cat, dog, or ferret used for product testing or research conducted or contracted by a company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility in the State to be offered to an animal rescue organization or private individual for adoption when the testing or research is concluded, if the animal is assessed to be suitable for adoption. Current law limits circumstances under which animal product testing or research may be conducted by manufacturers and contract testing facilities. Current law also requires, pursuant to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act," P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), that cats and dogs used for educational, research, or scientific purposes by an institution of higher education or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for such use of cats and dogs, to be assessed for the suitability of adoption, and if suitable, to be offered for adoption. The bill expands the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to include testing or research using ferrets and to provide for adoption of ferrets used in that way. The bill directs the Office of Veterinary Public Health (OVPH) in the Department of Health (DOH) to establish procedures for documenting the assessment and disposition of any cat, dog, or ferret used by a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or a research institution for such purposes. The bill authorizes the OVPH to monitor compliance with the procedures and enforce the provisions of section 1 of the bill and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), concerning the assessment of the suitability of animals for adoption and the requirements to offer suitable animals for adoption. The bill further requires that each company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility that is subject to the bill, and each institution of higher education and research institution that is subject to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to register with the OVPH when undertaking animal testing with cats, dogs, or ferrets, and to report to the OVPH: 1) the type and number of animals being used; 2) the date on which the testing or research is completed or upon which the animal is no longer being used in the testing or research; 3) an assessment of the condition of any animal no longer being used in the testing or research and its suitability for adoption; 4) the disposition of the animal, including the name and contact information of the animal rescue organization with which, or the animal rescue organization facility in which, the animal is placed; and 5) if an animal assessed as suitable for adoption is not adopted, documentation of the good faith effort to place the animal with an animal rescue organization or in an animal rescue organization facility, and any effort to offer the animal for private adoption. The bill provides that private individuals who have adopted animals would not have to be identified but requires documentation of which animals were adopted by private individuals. The bill establishes civil penalties for noncompliance with the bill's provisions and requirements, and the provisions of the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." The bill provides for a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense, and $50,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by the DOH pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Upon finding of a third offense, the DOH is required to institute an action for an injunction to prohibit the company, corporation, manufacturer, contract testing facility, institution of higher education, or research institution from conducting animal testing. The bill provides that the Superior Court would have jurisdiction for enforcing the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and for imposing an injunction for a third violation. Finally, the bill requires the DOH to maintain a registry of animal rescue organizations and animal rescue organization facilities, directs the DOH to establish a database of those animal rescue organizations and facilities that accept animals that have been used in testing or research, and requires a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or research institution, as applicable, to contact an animal rescue organization or animal rescue organization facility listed in the database whenever a cat, dog, or ferret used in testing or research is determined to be suitable for adoption. | In Committee |
| S2271 | Requires each government entity in this State to conduct review of cybersecurity infrastructure and make recommendations. | This bill requires each government entity in this State to conduct a review of the entity's cybersecurity infrastructure and make recommendations. The bill requires the head of the entity or the entity's governing body, as the case may be, at a minimum, to: (1) evaluate the efficiency and security of the current cyber infrastructure of the government entity; (2) identify any high-risk cybersecurity issues facing the government entity; (3) offer strategies on how the government entity can improve and modernize its cybersecurity infrastructure, including its computer systems, networks, and software and hardware programs; and (4) provide any proposed changes to laws, regulations, or policies concerning cybersecurity in this State that the government entity finds appropriate to modify. The bill also requires the head or governing body of each government entity, as the case may be, to report the findings and recommendations from the internal review to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 45 days following the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1402 | Establishes surplus revenue reserve account in the Property Tax Relief Fund if certain levels of unanticipated gross income tax revenue are collected. | This bill establishes a Surplus Gross Income Tax Revenue Account in the Property Tax Relief Fund to serve as a "rainy day fund" for property tax relief programs and State Aid programs that offset local property taxes. The State Treasurer is required to credit to the Surplus Gross Income Tax Revenue Account, on or before December 31, 2020 and annually on or before December 31 thereafter, an amount equal to one-half of the excess gross income tax revenue collected during the preceding fiscal year if actual gross income tax revenues exceed the Governor's certified revenues by more than six percent. Balances in the Surplus Gross Income Tax Revenue Account may be appropriated by the Legislature: 1) if anticipated gross income tax revenues are estimated to be less than the Governor's certification; 2) to offset gross income tax revenue declines instead of increasing the gross income tax rate or modifying the gross income tax; or 3) for meeting the costs of any emergency identified by the Governor that is within the purposes of the Property Tax Relief Fund. If in any fiscal year there is enacted an appropriation from the Surplus Gross Income Tax Revenue Account, the Legislature is prohibited from imposing any increases in existing gross income tax rates or gross income tax modifications having the effect of increasing gross income tax revenues. However, if gross income tax revenues decline by at least two percent of the total available gross income tax revenues as certified by the Governor, the Legislature may increase gross income tax rates or modify the gross income tax, and the balances in the Surplus Gross Income Tax Revenue Account may be appropriated in any other manner as found to be in the best interests of the fiscal condition of the Property Tax Relief Fund. | In Committee |
| S1998 | Requires issuance of one free copy of birth certificate to military veteran. | This bill requires the issuance of one free copy of a birthcertificate 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 |
| S2076 | Requires DOE to establish database of novice teachers and host job fairs. | This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a database of novice teachers to assist school districts in filling staffing vacancies and requires the department to hold three job fairs per year. Under the bill, the department is required, within 180 days of the effective date of the bill, to establish and maintain a database of novice teachers that is to be available to school districts and novice teachers to assist in filling staffing vacancies. The database is to include the following information: (1) the novice teacher's name, telephone number, email address, and method by which a school district may contact the novice teacher; (2) the novice teacher's employment status; (3) the certificate and endorsement held by the novice teacher; and (4) any other information the Commissioner of Education deems necessary. The bill requires the department to develop a mechanism by which a novice teacher may opt out of inclusion in the database and permits a novice teacher to request to be excluded from the database at any time. Under the bill, a novice teacher is permitted to request the department limit the contact information included in the database to that of a preferred method of contact. The department is required to comply with this request. The bill also requires the department to hold three job fairs per year, with one held in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The department is required to invite school districts to participate in the job fairs, and to notify each novice teacher included in the database established under the provisions of the bill of the date, time, and location of each job fair. Novice teachers, individuals enrolled in an educator preparation program, and any other individual appropriately certified to work in a public school in the State are permitted to attend the job fair. The bill permits the department to charge employer participants a reasonable, nominal fee to participate in the job fair, but limits use of any fees collected to covering costs associated with identifying and securing a location for the job fair, hospitality services, and any other administrative costs as determined by the commissioner. The bill defines "novice teacher" as a teacher eligible to work under a valid certificate of eligibility or certificate of eligibility with advanced standing who has not yet been issued a provisional certificate, and "school district" to mean a school district, charter school, renaissance school project, county special services school district, or county vocational school district. | In Committee |
| SCR15 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Senate concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| S2035 | Prohibits DHS from deeming certain teachers and school employees ineligible for child care subsidies due to number of hours worked when school is not in session for students. | This bill prohibits the Department of Human Services (DHS) from deeming certain teachers and school employees ineligible for child care subsidies due to number of hours worked when school is not in session for students. The Division of Family Development in the DHS administers the State's child care subsidy program, which provides low-and moderate-income working parents with subsidies for child care, including preschool instruction, after-school programs for children up to age 13, and care for children and teens with special needs. In order to be eligible for the program, a parent must be a New Jersey resident, work a minimum of 30 hours per week or be enrolled in a school or training program for a minimum of 20 hours, and meet certain income requirements. This eligibility criteria regarding number of weekly hours worked is challenging for teachers and school employees, who are otherwise eligible for subsidies, but who are not employed 30 hours or more a week during certain times of the year when schools are not in session for students. Currently, a teacher or other school employee, deemed eligible for subsidies initially, may be determined ineligible during the redetermination process due to non-compliance with the weekly work requirement. This bill mandates that an applicant or participant in the State' s child care subsidy program who is a teacher or other school employee is not to be determined ineligible for subsidies due to number of hours worked during weeks that fall outside of the school year. As used in the bill, "school year" means the part of the year in which a school or school district is in session for students. Moreover, a teacher or other school employee who qualifies for subsidies under the bill are not required to report to the DHS changes in the number of hours worked during weeks that fall outside of the school year, but are required to participate in any redetermination process required by the commissioner of all participants. | In Committee |
| S2036 | Establishes Legislative Enactment Oversight Committee to ensure implementation of enacted laws and joint resolutions. | This bill establishes a Legislative Enactment Oversight Committee within the Department of State to review the implementation of enacted laws and resolutions. The committee will monitor the implementation of laws and joint resolutions to ensure that they are implemented by the appropriate public entity effectively and efficiently, in a timely manner, and in accordance with their specific provisions. The committee will consist of 15 persons who will be New Jersey residents, and will serve for a term of five years. Each member will receive an annual salary fixed and established by the Governor. The salary for the chair will not exceed $120,000, and the salary for the remaining members will not exceed $90,000. The committee will annually adopt a schedule of regular meetings, and special meetings may be held at the call of the chair. The appointed members will be members of the State's unclassified service. The committee, in its discretion, may divide its membership into subcommittees in the course of carrying out its duties. The committee will submit periodic reports, no less than twice a year, concerning its findings and actions related to its duties. | In Committee |
| S516 | Extends pension eligibility for survivors of certain emergency services volunteers who contracted COVID-19 during 2020 public health emergency declared by Governor. | This bill extends pension eligibility to the widow, children, or parent of any volunteer firefighter, first aid worker or rescue squad worker, or emergency medical technician who contracted COVID-19 during the public health emergency in this State declared by the Governor on March 9, 2020. Under current law, if any volunteer firefighter, first aid worker, rescue squad worker, or emergency medical technician has died as the result of injuries sustained in the course of performance of duty as a member of the volunteer fire company or first aid or rescue squad on or after January 1, 2000, the widow or children or parent of the volunteer is eligible for a survivor's pension. The pension is $15,000 per year, and $10,000 or $5,000 depending on the survivor's relationship to the deceased. Once approved by the municipality, the pension will be payable by the State. Under this bill, for a survivor's pension, the death of a volunteer attributable to COVID-19, complications therefrom, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused thereby will be deemed to have occurred as the result of injuries sustained in the course of performance of duty as a volunteer if: the volunteer contracted COVID-19 and the volunteer's death occurred after receiving a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 during the public health emergency; the volunteer died as a result of COVID-19; and the volunteer's regular or assigned duties required the volunteer to interact, and the volunteer so interacted, with the public or to directly supervise other personnel so interacting with the public on any date during the public health emergency and within 14 calendar days prior to the appearance of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that were confirmed in writing by a licensed health care provider on a form approved by the board of trustees and also confirmed by a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2. An eligible beneficiary of a volunteer who died during the public health emergency may apply for a survivor's pension pursuant to this bill. If approved by the governing body of the municipality, the survivor's pension will be retroactive to the first calendar year after the year of the volunteer's death. | In Committee |
| S1999 | Increases hourly limit of reimbursable personal care assistant services under NJ WorkAbility Program. | This bill increases the hourly limit of reimbursable personal care assistant services under the NJ WorkAbility Program from 40 hours per calendar workweek to 112 hours per calendar workweek. The NJ WorkAbility Program provides full State Medicaid health coverage to individuals with disabilities who are working and whose earnings would otherwise make them ineligible for Medicaid. The regulations (N.J.A.C.10:72-9 et seq.) governing the Program provide that all services available through the NJ WorkAbility Program must be provided through existing Medicaid contracts held by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) in the Department of Human Services. Currently, the reimbursement of personal care assistant services under such contracts is limited to 40 hours per calendar work week. Individuals must meet the following guidelines in order to be eligible for the NJ WorkAbility Program: 1) be between the ages of 16 and 64; 2) work part time, full time, or be self-employed and have proof of employment; 3) have a permanent disability as determined by the United States Social Security Administration or the Disability Review Team in DMAHS; and 4) have an earned income below 250 percent, and an unearned income below 100 percent, of the federal poverty level. An individual participating in the program must pay a $25 monthly premium in order to receive full Medicaid coverage. | In Committee |
| S1030 | Requires DCA to establish procedures for inspection and abatement of mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities, and certification programs for mold inspectors and mold hazard abatement workers. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish certification programs for persons who wish to conduct mold inspections and mold hazard abatements, respectively, on residential buildings and school facilities. The bill also requires the DCA to establish procedures for the inspection and abatement of mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities. These procedures would be used to develop the two certification programs and be based on industry standards and guidelines developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Under the bill, beginning on the first day of the sixth month after the DCA has established the certification programs, any person who conducts a mold inspection or mold hazard abatement on a residential building or school facility is required to possess the applicable certification. Moreover, the bill prohibits any person from presenting himself as an expert in mold inspection or mold hazard abatement unless certified by the DCA in accordance with the bill. However, the bill provides that an employee of a multiple dwelling or school district, who is engaged in the routine maintenance of a multiple dwelling or school facility, would not be required to possess either certification in order to address the presence of mold in a multiple dwelling or school facility owned and managed by their employer, provided that the multiple dwelling or school district otherwise complies with the procedures established by the DCA concerning the inspection, identification, evaluation, and abatement of mold hazards. In addition, a residential property owner would not be required to complete the certification programs in order to perform mold inspections or mold hazard abatements on his own property. The bill authorizes the DCA to (1) charge an annual fee for persons possessing the mold inspection and abatement certifications; (2) require the successful completion of a continuing education course for certified inspectors or abatement workers at least once every two years; and (3) conduct examinations to determine an applicant's proficiency with respect to State and federal laws, rules, and regulations and any standards or requirements applicable to the inspection or abatement of mold hazards. The bill also authorizes DCA to maintain a list of the names and addresses of all persons certified by DCA in accordance with the bill, and annually forward the list to the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety for inclusion and publication as an additional contractor list pursuant to the "Contractors' Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.16 (C.56:8-136 et seq.). In addition, the bill authorizes the DCA to adopt rules and regulations to enforce compliance with the mold inspection and mold hazard abatement certification programs established by the bill. The bill also authorizes the DCA to grant mold inspection and mold hazard abatement certifications to persons who demonstrate that they have successfully completed an accredited program in mold inspection and mold hazard abatement by a nationally accepted accreditation organization, provided that those persons pay the annual fee charged by the DCA, complete any continuing education course required by the DCA, and comply with any other rules and regulations adopted by the DCA. | In Committee |
| S2243 | Establishes five-year community schools pilot program. | This bill establishes a five-year Community Schools Pilot Program in the Department of Education. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education is to identify and enter into a contract with an institution of higher education or a qualified nonprofit organization with the appropriate capacity and experience located in the State to manage the pilot program. The organization or institution and the department will be responsible for selecting one public school of a school district, renaissance school, or charter school in each county of the State that would receive direct assistance from a site coordinator assigned to the school. Additionally, the selected institution or organization is required to establish a technical assistance center that would be available to schools participating in the pilot program and would be responsible for making group training sessions and information about community schools available to any school district, renaissance school, or charter school interested in establishing a community school. The technical assistance center will be responsible for the Statewide dissemination of information on effective and promising practices in the establishment and ongoing management of community school strategies through professional development and technical assistance activities. Under the bill, the department, in coordination with the organization or institution, and the New Jersey Community Schools Coalition, is to develop specific criteria for selecting schools to participate in the program and receive direct support from a site coordinator. The selection criteria would be posted on the department's website. The organization or institution is required to employ and train individuals who would be assigned to serve as a site coordinator. Site coordinators are to be employees of the organization or institution, and not the school district, renaissance school, or charter school to which they are assigned. The salaries, wages, and other financial compensation of the site coordinators would be the responsibility of the organization or institution. The bill directs a public school selected to participate in the pilot to enter into an agreement with the selected institution or organization outlining at a minimum the role, responsibilities, and authority the site coordinator has in supporting the establishment of the community school site. The organization or institution can enter into an agreement with another nonprofit entity to assist it in fulfilling responsibilities enumerated in certain sections of the bill, subject to approval of the commissioner. The commissioner would receive an annual audit of the accounts and financial transactions of the organization or institution for the duration of the pilot program. The bill also directs the commissioner to enter into a contract with an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the pilot program. The final report, which the commissioner would forward to the Governor and the Legislature, would be due no later than six months following the conclusion of the pilot program. The bill establishes the Community Schools Pilot Program Fund in the Department of Education. The fund is to consist of any funds that are appropriated by the Legislature, investment earnings of the fund, and moneys contributed to the fund by private sources. The bill allows the moneys in the fund to be invested and reinvested as other trust funds in the custody of the State in the manner provided by law. | In Committee |
| S797 | Requires suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners. | This bill requires suicide prevention training both as a condition of initial mental health licensure and as an ongoing requirement for mental health practitioners in the State. The bill requires that new applicants for licensure as a mental health practitioner complete a minimum of four hours of suicide prevention training and submit proof of completion to the appropriate State Board of Examiners or Committee. Following their licensure, mental health practitioners are to complete a minimum of four hours of suicide prevention training every six years. Mental health practitioners who are already licensed to practice on the bill's effective date will be required to complete a minimum of four hours of suicide prevention training within one year following the bill's effective date, and every six years thereafter, and provide proof of completion to the appropriate State Board of Examiners or Committee. The bill defines "mental health practitioner" as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, alcohol and drug counselor, professional counselor, associate counselor, rehabilitation counselor, clinical mental health counselor, psychologist, or psychoanalyst who is licensed or otherwise authorized to practice pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. The bill defines "suicide prevention training" as a training program, provided online, in person, or through telephonic means, concerning the prevention, assessment, screening, treatment, and management of suicide in the clinical context that has been approved by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to establish a list of approved suicide prevention training programs and a protocol by which providers of suicide prevention training may seek approval of their training programs by the division. | In Committee |
| S296 | Requires mail-in ballot applications to include prepaid postage. | Under current law, a voter may complete and return to the county clerk by regular mail an application requesting to receive a mail-in ballot. This bill requires the mail-in ballot application form sent by mail to include prepaid postage, to be paid by the State. The bill will be implemented following the 2023 primary election. | In Committee |
| S2043 | Establishes requirements for removal of students from public school pending mental health clearance. | This bill requires that school districts, educational services commissions, and approved private schools for students with disabilities follow specific procedures when the district, educational services commission, or approved private school for students with disabilities makes a determination to remove a student from school for mental health clearance by a licensed mental health clinician in order to return to school. A mental health clearance is defined as an assessment conducted by a licensed mental health clinician to determine, at the time of the assessment, whether a student is substantially likely to injure themselves or others if returned to school. Under the bill, school districts, educational services commissions, and approved private schools for students with disabilities are required to adopt a policy that complies with the regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education under the bill, and also includes the following: 1) removal for mental health clearance is only used in an emergency in which the student is exhibiting behavior at the time of removal that places the student or others in immediate physical danger; 2) the removal is documented in writing in sufficient detail to be used in the mental health clearance and to enable staff to address student behavior. In the case of a classified student, consultation with the child study team will occur prior to removal; 3) upon the student's return to school, in the case of a classified student, the child study team is to review and update the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), and in the case of a student with a 504 plan, the 504 team is to review and update the 504 plan. In the case of a general education student, the student is to be evaluated to determine if the student is eligible for special education programs and services or a 504 plan; 3) the student's parent or guardian is immediately notified by telephone or electronically when the decision is made to remove the student. A full written report of the incident is to be provided to the parent or guardian within 48 hours of the removal decision; 4) appropriate instruction is provided to a student who is removed from school for more than five days. In the case of a student with an IEP or a 504 plan, the instruction is to be consistent with that plan; 5) the family will bear no cost for the mental health clearance except in certain circumstances; and 6) every reasonable effort is made to ensure the student's prompt return to school. The policy is to be provided to the parent or guardian of a student who is removed from school, and be posted on the website of the school district, educational services commission, or approved private school for students with disabilities. The website also is to include a list of employees who will serve as a point of contact on the removal of students for mental health clearance. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, is directed to promulgate regulations that are to include: 1) a definition of what constitutes cause for the removal of a student for mental health clearance; 2) any limitations on the use of removal of a student for mental health clearance, including other interventions that are required before removal, and that the removal is consistent with the IDEA; 3) the maximum period of time that a student may be removed from school awaiting the mental health clearance before the student is returned to school or an alternate educational placement is provided; 4) the establishment of criteria that a mental health clearance is to meet and the school district, educational services commission, and approved school for students with disabilities is required to accept as an appropriate evaluation; 5) the development of a Statewide list of licensed mental health clinicians available to conduct mental health clearances that meet the criteria; 6) the actions to be taken by the school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities if the student's evaluation indicates that the student should not return to school, including the standards for a hearing that will provide the student and the student's parent or guardian with an opportunity to challenge the decision; and 7) the actions to be taken by the school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities upon the return of the student to school, and the resources to be provided to the student and the parent or guardian. A school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities is required to provide the parent or guardian of a student removed from school for mental health clearance with the Statewide list of licensed mental health clinicians available to conduct the evaluation of the student as developed by the State board under its regulations. The school district, educational services commission, and approved private school for students with disabilities is to also provide the parent or guardian with a list of licensed mental health clinicians employed by, or under contract with, the school district, educational services commission, or approved private school for students with disabilities available to conduct the mental health clearance. A parent or guardian may select a licensed mental health clinician who is not on either of these lists to conduct the student's mental health clearance, but in this case the parent or guardian will bear the cost of the clearance. The bill directs the department to annually collect data on the number of students that were removed from school for a mental health clearance, the duration of the student's removals, the number of students who were returned to school with a mental health clearance, and the number of students who were not cleared for return to school. The department is required to publish the data on its website in a manner that protects student privacy. The data is to be disaggregated by general education students and students with disabilities, by county, and by race, gender, and age of the student. | In Committee |
| S2194 | Requires members, officers, and employees of Legislature to undergo implicit bias and cultural competency training. | This bill requires implicit bias and cultural competency training for members, officers, and employees of the Legislature. Implicit bias is a bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. Cultural competency is the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from different cultures or belief systems. An online tutorial must be completed by April 1 of every even-numbered year and training must be done annually. Successful completion of both the online tutorial and the annual training must be communicated to the Legislative Counsel and such communications will be considered public information. Every day, the Legislature creates laws that impact people of all backgrounds and cultures. In doing this important work, it is critical for all members, officers, and employees of the Legislature to understand their own biases as well as cultures and belief systems different from their own. | In Committee |
| S901 | Requires Secretary of State create website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots; establishes "Vote by Mail Study Commission." | This bill requires the Secretary of State to create a website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots they receive. The bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission." Under the bill, the secretary would establish on the Division of Elections website a link for voters to report irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot received by the voter. The link would enable the voter to complete a form containing the voter's name, address, and contact information, and sufficient space for the voter to describe the issues with the mail-in ballot. The form may also include choices for the voter to select from among possible irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot, such as when the intended recipient of the ballot does not reside at that address or is deceased. The website would automatically forward each form to the appropriate county clerk, county board of elections, and county superintendent of elections, as the case may be, for follow-up. The bill also requires the secretary to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than January 15 of each year, a summary of the forms received through the website for the previous calendar year. This bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission," consisting of the following nine members: (1) the Secretary of State or a designee, who would serve as chairperson; (2) two county clerks, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Officers Association - Clerk Section; (3) one member representing the county boards of elections and one member representing the superintendents of elections, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Election Officials Association; (4) two members of the Senate to be appointed, one each, by the President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader; and (5) two members of the General Assembly to be appointed, one each, by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The bill directs the commission to investigate, research, and evaluate irregularities pertaining to the implementation, accuracy, and integrity of the vote-by-mail process and systems established in this State. The commission would hold at least three public hearings, one each in the Northern, Central, and Southern parts of the State, to receive testimony from the public and elections experts on matters concerning voting by mail. The commission's inquiries would include, but may not be limited to: (1) procedures to prevent the mailing of more than one mail-in ballot to the same person; (2) measures that may be implemented to prevent the mailing of mail-in ballots to inactive, deceased, and non-resident voters; (3) maintenance activities that may be implemented to enhance the accuracy of the voter rolls and the mail-in voter designation in the Statewide Voter Registration System; and (4) any other matter concerning voting by mail the commission deems appropriate. The bill directs the commission to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following its first meeting. The commission would expire upon the submission of its report. | In Committee |
| S2039 | Requires MVC to provide certain services at each MVC agency location and to make available certain informational brochures. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide all 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 in-person service to certain walk-in customers and to the extent practicable accommodate all walk-in customers, including at all times in which a location experiences a no show appointment or is not booked to full capacity. The bill requires the commission to provide for emergency printing services, and to create additional regional service centers where space and staff permit. The bill also requires the commission to adopt a permanent online scheduling system for commercial motor vehicle drivers to use and requires that certain commercial motor vehicle tests be available at each commission agency location. Finally, the bill requires the commission to create and make available informational pamphlets listing all commission services and instructions pertaining to those services for consumers. | In Committee |
| S2041 | Establishes four-year pilot program, and creates Triploid Grass Carp Commission, to study use of triploid grass carp in freshwater lakes for weed control; appropriates $150,000. | This bill would establish a four-year pilot program and create a Triploid Grass Carp Commission (commission) in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to study use of triploid grass carp in freshwater lakes for weed control. The purpose of the four-year pilot program is to evaluate the use of triploid grass carp as an alternative to the use of herbicide in freshwater lakes, while ensuring the protection of native plants and aquatic ecosystems. The pilot program would provide matching grants to three qualified lake management organizations for the purchase of triploid grass carp and the construction of the containment barriers necessary to introduce the carp into a freshwater lake. To be eligible for a grant pursuant to this program, a lake is required to be between 10 and 25 acres in size. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation of applications. The commission would be charged with: (1) considering the efficacy of using triploid grass carp as an alternative to herbicides for aquatic weed control in freshwater lakes; (2) evaluating whether triploid grass carp may be safely used in the State without negatively impacting native fisheries or aquatic ecosystems; (3) evaluating current laws, rules, and regulations in effect in other states concerning the use of triploid grass carp and the effectiveness of the use of triploid grass carp in other states and the protection of native fisheries and aquatic ecosystems; and (4) at least annually, evaluating the pilot program established pursuant to the bill. In addition, the commission would be required to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature at the conclusion of the four-year pilot program. The commission would be comprised of seven members appointed by the Governor, as follows: a representative of the DEP's Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring; a representative of the New Jersey Audubon Society; a representative of Rutgers, the State University, with expertise in freshwater fisheries and aquatic ecosystems; a representative of Rowan University, with expertise in freshwater fisheries and aquatic ecosystems; and a representative of each lake management organization selected to receive a grant pursuant to section 1 of the bill. The commission would expire 30 days after submission of its final report. The bill would appropriate $150,000, from the General Fund, for the purposes of providing the matching grants to be issued by the pilot program established by the bill. Grass carp are an aquatic plant-eating species of carp native to eastern Asia, and the "triploid" is a genetically altered form thereof which is unable to successfully spawn. Stocking triploid grass carp in certain bodies of water can substantially aid in managing vegetative growth and improve the overall health of the waterbody. | In Committee |
| S1456 | Directs AOC to establish implicit bias training for judges and judicial personnel. | This bill would direct the Administrative Office of the Courts to establish an evidence-based training program on implicit bias. This training course would be reviewed at least every two years and modified by the Administrative Office of the Courts from time to time as need may require. The Administrative Director of the Courts would be responsible for ensuring that all judges and judicial personnel attend initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer and annual inservice training. The bill defines "implicit bias" as a bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. In addition, "implicit stereotypes" is defined as the unconscious attributions of particular qualities to a member of a certain social group, influenced by experience, and based on learned associations between various qualities and social categories, including race and gender. | In Committee |
| S174 | Permits appointment of Class Three special law enforcement officers by county sheriffs. | This bill permits the appointment of Class Three special law enforcement officers by county sheriffs. Under current law, a local unit, which is defined as any municipality or county having established a regular police force, may appoint special law enforcement officers to perform certain duties. Current law provides that Class Three special law enforcement officers are authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a public or nonpublic school or a county college on the school or college premises during hours when the public or nonpublic school or county college is normally in session or when occupied by students, teachers, or professors. Under the provisions of this bill, in addition to a local unit, a county sheriff would also be permitted to appoint Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at schools or county colleges. | In Committee |
| S2023 | Concerns issuance of permit to purchase handgun and firearms purchaser identification card to persons age 18 to 25. | This bill concerns the issuance of a permit to purchase a handgun and a firearms purchaser identification card to persons age 18 to 25. Under the provisions of this bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Attorney General, is required to develop a screening process and establish criteria to determine whether a person between 18 and 25 years of age who intends to apply for a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card poses a significant danger of bodily injury to self or others by having custody or control of, owning, possessing, purchasing, or receiving a firearm. In addition, the bill requires a person who is between 18 and 25 years of age to undergo the screening process established by the bill prior to applying for a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card. The bill further provides that a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card is not to be issued to a person who is determined to pose a significant danger of bodily injury to self or others by having custody or control of, owning, possessing, purchasing, or receiving a firearm pursuant to the screening process established by the bill. | In Committee |
| S674 | Exempts birthing facilities from certain health care practitioners referral restrictions. | This bill provides that health care services provided at a birthing facility are exempt from the prohibition against health care practitioners referring patients to health care services in which the practitioner, the practitioner's immediate family, or the practitioner in combination with the practitioner's immediate family, has a significant beneficial interest. Under current law, a health care practitioner generally is not to refer a patient, or direct an employee of the practitioner to refer, a patient to a health care service in which the practitioner, the practitioner's immediate family, or the practitioner in combination with the practitioner's immediate family, has a significant beneficial interest. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. This bill adds to the list of exceptions by permitting health care practitioners to refer patients to birthing facilities in which the practitioner has a significant beneficial interest. | In Committee |
| S2059 | Establishes nonpublic school transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for mandated nonpublic school busing. | This bill establishes a nonpublic school consortium transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for participating school districts' mandated nonpublic school busing for those students. Under the program, a participating school district will disburse to the consortium an amount equal to the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount (currently set at $1,022) for each nonpublic school pupil who is attending a nonpublic school which is a part of the consortium and who is required by law to be transported by a school district. The consortium is to assume the responsibilities of transporting the pupils for whom it receives the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount. The bill provides that if the per pupil cost of the lowest bid received exceeds the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount, the parent or guardian of the student will be eligible to receive the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount from the consortium for that school year. In addition to providing transportation for students who are mandated to be transported, the consortium may provide non-mandated busing to students attending the nonpublic schools that are a part of the consortium, provided that the parents or guardians of those students pay all of the costs of that transportation. At the end of the school year, the consortium will refund to individual participating school districts a portion of the aid-in-lieu-of amount the district provided to the consortium for a nonpublic school student who did not receive transportation for the entire school year. If any unexpended funds remain, the bill requires the consortium to allocate that amount among the school districts in proportion to the number of nonpublic school pupils for whom the school district distributed funds to the consortium. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a committee to oversee the operations of each consortium in implementing the program. The oversight committee will consist of five members appointed by the commissioner, one of whom must represent a nonpublic school that is part of the consortium, and one of whom must represent a school district that is participating in the program. Under the provisions of the bill, the consortium is required to annually enter into a contract with an independent entity to audit the implementation of the program and the audit is required to be submitted to the commissioner no later than December 1 of each year. The bill stipulates that nothing in the bill is to be construed as altering the amount paid by the State for nonpublic school transportation costs pursuant to N.J.A.A18A:39-1a for any school district that participates in the program. The bill takes effect immediately and provides that the program will first be applicable in the 2023-2024 school year. | Dead |
| S669 | Extends COVID-19 Medicaid per diem rate, and requires Medicaid coverage without prior authorization, for certain partial care behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services. | This bill requires the extension of certain policies established by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the reimbursement and coverage of partial care behavioral health services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. Under the bill, "partial care services" means comprehensive, individualized, structured, non-residential behavioral health care and support services for an adult with severe mental illness or substance use disorder in order to facilitate community integration and prevent hospitalization and relapse. Partial care services may include, but are not limited to: psychiatric care, individual and group counseling, case management, and prevocational services. First, the bill requires the division to reimburse partial care services providers under Medicaid at the per diem rate, established by the division for partial care services provided by telehealth during the COVID-19 emergency period, for 180 days following the expiration of the federal Medicaid waiver authorizing the per diem rate. Telehealth services reimbursed under the bill are required to be provided without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements and in accordance with the policy guidance issued by the division regarding the qualifications for the per diem rate, provided that a partial care services provider: is open for onsite services; and submits a status report to the division following day 90, day 150, and day 180 of the 180-day period. The status report is required to include data on the total number of patients served, the number of patients receiving in-person services, and the nature of the in-person services rendered as a means to demonstrate the provider's best efforts to expand in-person services over the course of the 180-day period. Furthermore, the bill directs the division to use the status reports to assess the need to continue the per diem rate beyond the 180-day period. The division is required to make a determination to extend the per diem rate no later than 20 days prior to the end of the 180-day period. During an extension of the 180-day period, partial care services providers are required to comply with the provisions set forth in the bill, except that providers are tosubmit a status report to the division every 60 days. The per diem rate was established at the onset of the pandemic to allow partial care providers to continue to support patients via telehealth, while the basis of most programs - in-person, group services intended to promote socialization - was contraindicated because of the virus. Currently, the per diem rate will remain in effect until the end of the federal waiver authorizing the rate, and is equal to $89.60 per diem for partial care behavioral health services provided via telemedicine, and $78.31 per diem for partial care substance use disorder services provided via telemedicine. By extending the per diem rate 180 days beyond the expiration of the federal waiver, this bill affords providers the necessary time to stabilize their operations and cash flow as they gradually transition their staff and patients from primarily telehealth services back to in-person services. Second, the bill permanently extends the division's policy to not require prior authorization requirements for partial care services under Medicaid during the COVID-19 emergency. Under the bill, the division is required to provide coverage of such services to an eligible individual on an hourly basis for up to five hours a day, five days a week, without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements. In doing so, this bill reduces the burden on providers to secure approval for services and allows them to focus, instead, on making the appropriate clinical decisions based on each patient's needs. | In Committee |
| S2046 | Require voting machines to be recertified annually and after software modifications. | This bill requires the Secretary of State to examine and recertify all voting machines both annually and when there are modifications to the software on the machines. As part of the examination and recertification, the Secretary of State will develop a test and a check list to confirm that each voting machine is operating properly and is able to accurately record and tabulate all of the votes cast for each election. | In Committee |
| S418 | Makes FY2023 supplemental appropriation of $17 million to DEP for grants for certain lake management activities. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the General Fund. The bill directs the DEP to establish a program to use these funds for grants to assist qualified entities to pay certain costs associated with the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects submitted by qualified entities responsible for a lake with public access; and projects to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill defines "qualified entity" to mean: the Greenwood Lake Commission; the Lake Hopatcong Commission; a local government unit; an entity established pursuant to law or an entity established pursuant to ordinance by the municipalities surrounding a publicly-accessible lake for the management of the lake, including, but not limited to, the Deal Lake Commission or the Lake Topanemus Park Commission; or a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3) and whose mission is the management or maintenance of a publicly-accessible lake. | In Committee |
| S2052 | "New Jersey Disclosure and Accountability Transparency Act (NJ DaTA)"; establishes certain requirements for disclosure and processing of personally identifiable information; establishes Office of Data Protection and Responsible Use in Division of Consumer Affairs. | The bill, entitled the "New Jersey Disclosure and Accountability Transparency Act (NJ DaTA)," establishes certain rights for consumers concerning the disclosure and processing of a consumer's personally identifiable information. A controller, as that term is defined in the bill, that collects the personally identifiable information of a consumer may lawfully process the personally identifiable information pursuant certain provisions in the bill only if at least one of the following applies: 1) the consumer has given consent to the processing of the personally identifiable information for at least one specific purpose provided by the controller; 2) processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the consumer is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the consumer prior to entering into a contract; 3) processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject; 4) processing is necessary to protect the vital interest of the consumer or another person; 5) processing is necessary for the performance of a task conducted in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller; or 6) processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where those interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the consumer, which require protection of personally identifiable information, including that of a child. The bill provides that a controller that collects the personally identifiable information of a consumer is to, at the time when personally identifiable information is collected, provide to a consumer information concerning the processing of that personally identifiable information in a concise, transparent, intelligible, and easily accessible form, using clear and plain language, in writing, or by other means, including, where appropriate, by electronic means that shall include, but not be limited to, certain information listed in the bill. The bill further provides that where the controller intends to process a consumer's personally identifiable information for a purpose other than that for which the personally identifiable information was collected, the controller is to provide certain disclosures to the consumer prior to that processing. The processing of personally identifiable information revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinion, religious or philosophical belief, or trade union membership, and the processing of biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a person, information concerning health or a person's sexual history or orientation is to be prohibited except in certain circumstances provided in the bill. The bill provides that a controller that discloses a consumer's personally identifiable information to a processor or third party is to make certain information provided in the bill available to the consumer free of charge upon receipt of a verified request from the consumer for this information through a designated request address. The bill provides that a controller that receives a verified request from a consumer is to provide a response to the consumer within 30 days of the controller's receipt of the request and is to provide information concerning all disclosures of personally identifiable information. The bill provides that if the controller does not take action on a consumer's verified request the controller is to inform the consumer without undue delay and at the latest within one month of receipt of the verified request of the reasons for not taking action and on the ability for the consumer to lodge a complaint with the Office of Data Protection and Responsible Use (office) in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, established by the bill. The bill provides that the purpose of the office is to serve as a clearinghouse of information; comprehensive resource for consumers, controllers, and processors; and regulatory body concerning the security and processing of personally identifiable information. The office's functions are enumerated in the bill. The bill provides that a consumer is to have the right to obtain by any means from the controller rectification of inaccurate personally identifiable information. A consumer is to have the right to obtain by any means from the controller the erasure, or restriction of the processing, of personally identifiable information under certain circumstances provided by the bill. The bill provides that where processing has been restricted, personally identifiable information, with the exception of storage, is to only be processed with the consumer's consent or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another person or legal entity or for the public interest. The bill provides that a controller is to notify each processor and third party that received a consumer's personally identifiable information of any rectification or erasure of personally identifiable information made by a consumer pursuant to the bill or restriction of processing made by a consumer pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that a consumer is to have the right to object, by any means, to the processing of personally identifiable information, at which time the controller is to no longer process the personally identifiable information unless the controller demonstrates compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which overrides the interests, rights, and freedoms of the consumer or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims. Where personally identifiable information is processed for direct marketing purposes, including profiling, the consumer is to have the right to object at any time to processing of personally identifiable information for this purpose, at which time the personally identifiable information is to no longer be used for this purpose. The bill provides that where personally identifiable information is processed for scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes, the consumer is to have the right to object, by any means, to the processing of their personally identifiable information unless the processing is necessary for the public interest. The bill provides that a consumer is not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated decision making, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning the consumer or similarly significantly affects the consumer, except under certain circumstances provided in the bill. The bill provides that a controller is to implement the appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure and to be able to demonstrate to the office that processing is performed in accordance with the requirements of the bill. The bill requires a controller and processor, in certain situations provided in the bill, to designate in writing to the office a representative that is to serve as a liaison between the controller or processor and the office and public. The bill provides that, where processing is to be conducted on behalf of a controller by a processor, the controller is to contract with a processor providing sufficient guarantees to implement appropriate technical and organization measures in a manner that processing shall meet the requirements of the bill. The processor shall not engage another processor without prior specific or general written authorization of the controller. Processing by a processor is to be governed by a contract between a processor and controller that is to include certain provisions provided in the bill. The bill allows the office to adopt standard contractual clauses for the contracts between controllers and processors. The bill provides that a controller and, where applicable, the controller's representative, is to maintain a record of processing activities under its responsibility. A processor and, where applicable, the processor's representative, is to maintain a record of all categories of processing activities carried out on behalf of a controller. These records are to be in writing, including in electronic form, and be made available to the office upon request. Taking into account the technology, the costs of implementation, and the nature, scope, context, and purposes of processing, as well as the risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of a person, the bill requires a controller and processor to implement appropriate technical and organization measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk, including certain measures provided in the bill. In assessing the appropriate level of security, account is to be taken concerning the risks that are presented by processing, such as from unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to personally identifiable information transmitted, stored, or otherwise processed. Adherence to a code of conduct or certification mechanism approved by the office may be used as an element by which to demonstrate compliance with the requirements established pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that, notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, in the event of a data breach resulting in the unauthorized access of personally identifiable information, the controller is to immediately and, where feasible, not later than 72 hours after having become aware of it, notify the office. Where the notification to the office is not made within 72 hours, it is to be accompanied by reasons for the undue delay. A processor is to notify the controller immediately after becoming aware of a data breach resulting in the unauthorized access of personally identifiable information and the notice is to contain certain information provided in the bill. The controller is to document any data breaches resulting in the unauthorized access of personally identifiable information, its effects, and remedial action taken, which is to be made available to the office at the office's request. The bill further provides that, notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, in the event of a data breach resulting in the unauthorized access of personally identifiable information that is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of a person, the controller is to notify a consumer without undue delay. The bill provides that the data breach notification is to describe in clear and plain language the nature of the data breach, but notification is not to be required under certain circumstances provided in the bill. The bill allows the office to notify consumers of a data breach resulting in the unauthorized access of personally identifiable information if the office determines there is a high risk to the rights and freedoms of a person. The bill requires a controller to, prior to processing personally identifiable information, conduct a data protection impact assessment that is to contain certain information provided for in the bill. The office is to establish and publicize a list of the kind of processing operations that are subject to the requirements of the data protection impact assessment. The office may establish and publicize a list of the kind of processing operations for which no data protection impact assessment is required. Where appropriate, a controller is to request input from consumers on the intended processing. The bill requires a controller to consult with the office prior to processing in the event the data protection impact assessment indicates that the processing would result in a high risk to a consumer's personally identifiable information in the absence of measures taken by the controller to mitigate the risk. If the office determines that the controller's data protection impact assessment indicates the processing may violate the provisions the bill, the office is to, within eight weeks of the submission of the data protection impact assessment, provide written advice to the controller, and processor where applicable, concerning best industry practices to conform with the requirements of the bill. The attorney general is to, in consultation with the State's chief information officer, appoint an executive director to head the office who is to be an individual qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office and who is to devote the time as executive director solely to the performance of those duties. It is to be an unlawful practice and violation of the consumer fraud act for a controller or processor to violate any provision of the bill, which includes a $10,000 fine for the first offense and a $20,000 for each subsequent offense. | In Committee |
| S2006 | Requires certain providers to perform intimate partner violence screenings and all health care professionals to take certain actions to prevent perpetrator of intimate partner violence from obtaining copies of victim's medical record. | This bill would require certain health care providers in the State, including licensed physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, certified midwives, certified professional midwives, and certified nurse midwives, to conduct a periodic intimate partner violence screenings of patients in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines. The bill requires providers to document the findings from each screening in the patient's medical record and requires any health care professional who documents evidence or findings of intimate partner violence in a patient's medical record to advise the patient that the patient may take appropriate action to prevent the disclosure of the patient's medical record to the perpetrator of the intimate partner violence. Under the bill, an intimate partner violence screening performed under the bill is to be performed in a private area, which may include screening the patient using telemedicine and telehealth or by the patient self-administering the screening using a paper-based or electronic screening instrument. If, based on a screening performed pursuant to this bill, a provider finds that a patient is or may be a victim of intimate partner violence, the provider will required to provide the patient: 1) during the same visit, with a list of resources and services that are available in the State and region to assist and protect victims of intimate violence; and 2) with referrals to other appropriate health care providers, as deemed by the provider to be necessary to help the patient fully address the physical or mental consequences of the intimate violence. The Department of Children and Families and the Department of Health, will be required to make available to providers in the State, and update on at least a biennial basis a list identifying all of the resources and services that are available in the State, and in each region of the State, to assist and protect victims of intimate partner violence. | In Committee |
| S2031 | Requires certain information about provision of special education services in group setting be included in individualized education programs. | This bill requires school districts to include in a student's individualized education program (IEP) the number of students in the same group and the number of teachers present during the provision of special education services in a group setting. The bill requires school districts to revise a student's IEP to include this information during the next scheduled review of the student's IEP following the bill's date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S1420 | Establishes "VETeach Pilot Program" in DOE to facilitate teacher certification of veterans. | This bill establishes the "VETeach Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. The purpose of the pilot program is to address the shortage of certified public school teachers by taking advantage of the qualified workforce represented by the State's veterans. Under the pilot program, a participating four-year public institution of higher education will enroll, in a 36-month teacher preparation program, veterans who served in the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001. The program will lead to a baccalaureate degree and completion of the requirements necessary to apply to the State Board of Examiners for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, which will authorize the veteran to seek employment as a teacher in grades kindergarten through eight, and in certain secondary education fields. Under the bill, a four-year public institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the pilot program is to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in a form prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner is to select up to four institutions to participate in the pilot program. | Dead |
| S571 | Authorizes members of the New Jersey State Legislature to solemnize marriages and civil unions. | This bill adds members of the New Jersey State Legislature to persons permitted to solemnize marriages. The bill permits every current member to solemnize marriages or civil unions while that person holds office. | In Committee |
| S999 | "Manufacturing in Higher Education Act"; requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to manufacturing industry. | This bill requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to the manufacturing industry. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, Commissioner of Education, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, and representatives of the business community, will promote and support the implementation of the manufacturing career pathway offered through the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative operated by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce Development to provide students interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing with the instruction and skills necessary to gain employment in the manufacturing or advanced manufacturing sectors. The manufacturing career pathway will include traditional and advanced manufacturing processes and methods of production including, but not limited to, the machinery, technology, tools, and equipment used in a wide range of manufacturing industries. The bill establishes a "Higher Education Manufacturing Grant Program," to be administered by a three-person commission which will include the Secretary of Higher Education, a representative of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, and a representative of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. The commission will annually award $10 million to New Jersey institutions of higher education, proprietary institutions, and county vocational school districts for the purpose of establishing or expanding programs in the manufacturing fields, and marketing and promoting current programs in the manufacturing fields. Under the bill, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, will designate an existing or newly hired employee of the Business Action Center in the Department of State to act as a liaison between the State and manufacturing businesses located in this State. The duties of the liaison will be to assist manufacturing businesses by:· advertising manufacturing businesses' products or services nationally and internationally through the Business Action Center; · establishing a business referral service where manufacturing businesses may be referred to other State, federal, or private business resource organizations; and· identifying and promoting opportunities throughout the State for postsecondary pathway programs to actively reskill and upskill the current workforce to better meet the needs of manufacturing fields. The Secretary of State is to work with State departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and authorities to direct resources, create incentives, and provide technological, financial, and workforce development opportunities for manufacturing businesses. The bill also establishes in the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission, the New Jersey Advanced Manufacturing Council. The council will consist of 11 members who are individuals with experience in the fields of labor, education, or workforce development or training. The bill directs the council to:· convene and enable industry-led, private-public partnerships focused on engaging New Jersey institutions of higher education in manufacturing innovation;· design and implement an advanced manufacturing initiative to facilitate collaboration and information sharing across State departments and agencies;· assist private companies to enhance technological transfer in New Jersey manufacturing industries to help companies overcome technical obstacles to scaling up production of new technologies; and· submit an annual report to the Governor, to the Legislature, and to the State Employment and Training Commission, of its assessments and recommendations to enhance State policy related to the advanced manufacturing industry in New Jersey. | Dead |
| S373 | Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of US Armed Forces, NJ National Guard, and reserve component of US Armed Forces; creates permanent commission to study various definitions related to veteran status. | This bill establishes a task force on returning members of the United States Armed Forces and reserve components, and the New Jersey National Guard. The purpose of the task force will be to identify and review the issues and concerns facing members of the United States Armed Forces, New Jersey National Guard, and a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces returning from overseas deployments involving the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate. The task force will: examine current data, research, programs, and initiatives related to the physical, social, emotional, and mental impact of military service upon service members and their families; identify effective strategies for promoting lifelong physical, social, emotional, and mental health of service members and their families; and develop recommendations to implement those strategies, including legislation if appropriate. The task force will prepare and issue a final report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate. The task force will expire 30 days after submission of its report. The bill also creates a permanent study commission to study the definitions related to veteran status. The study commission will: compile and analyze the various definitions of "veteran," "disabled veteran," "service-disabled veteran," and any other definition of veteran in the statutes; identify statutes with unique and restrictive requirements for the various definitions and determine if the requirements may be revised to achieve more uniform definitions; identify potential revisions to be made to the statutes to provide for a clearer understanding of the requirements for qualification under the various definitions; consult with the military community for expertise and input; and use the findings of the study commission, and the expertise from the military community, to recommend changes to the various definitions and submit the findings, conclusions, and recommendations in its annual reports. | In Committee |
| S2040 | Establishes four-year Career and Technical Education Partnership Grant Program. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a four-year Career and Technical Education Partnership Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to create an incentive program in which grants are awarded to county vocational school districts and other school districts that operate approved career and technical education programs or programs of study, to partner with urban districts, other school districts, county colleges, and other entities to create high-quality career and technical education programs in existing facilities. Under the bill, the commissioner will develop and administer the grant program. The commissioner will award grants, within the limit of State appropriations, to selected county vocational school districts and other school districts that operate approved career and technical education programs or programs of study to support the development and implementation of a career and technical education program in an existing school or college facility that is not owned or leased by the grant recipient. The commissioner will determine the amount of each grant awarded under the program and may award multi-year grants. The bill specifies the information that will be included in the grant application. Four years following the grant program's establishment, the commissioner will submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the outcomes of the grant program that includes a recommendation on the establishment of a permanent source of funding for such career and technical education partnership programs. The grant program established pursuant to this bill is modeled on the County Vocational School District Partnership Grant Program established pursuant to P.L.2014, c.73 (C.18A:6-132 et seq.). Grants were provided pursuant to that four-year grant program in FY 2015 through FY 2018 and were available only to county vocational school districts. The grant program established under this bill would permit school districts that operate approved career and technical education programs or programs of study to also be eligible to receive the grants. | In Committee |
| S1987 | Permits victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify in criminal proceedings via closed circuit television; permits judge to make motion to seek closed circuit testimony. | This bill would permit all victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify in criminal proceedings via closed circuit television. Under current law, victims and witnesses of human trafficking involving sexual activity, among others, are permitted to testify via closed circuit television. Also under current law, the victim or witness, the prosecutor, or the defendant or their counsel may make a motion seeking closed circuit testimony. The bill would also permit a trial judge to make a motion. | In Committee |
| S1552 | Requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts and establishes uniform age requirement for enrollment in kindergarten. | This bill requires all school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs for their students. If a school district does not currently provide a full-day kindergarten program, and is classified in district factor groups A, B, CD, or DE, then the district would be required to begin offering such a program by the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. All other school districts would be required to provide such a program by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The bill also establishes a uniform age requirement for a student to enroll in kindergarten. Under current law, each school district determines the date by which a child must attain the age of five years in order to enroll in kindergarten. Under the bill, a child would have to be five years old by October 1 of the school year in order to enroll in kindergarten. | In Committee |
| S1986 | Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. | This bill establishes the School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study, evaluate, and assess the provision of State school aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA). The task force will consist of seven members, including: the Commissioner of Education or a designee; and six public members, each of whom shall have educational experience and expertise in education and municipal finance and school budgeting. Two of the members will be appointed by the Senate President, two members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly will each appoint one member. Under the bill, the duty of the task force is to study the effectiveness of, and provide recommendations on potentially improving, various aspects of the SFRA including, but not limited to:? the manner in which school district adequacy budgets and local shares are calculated;? the current methodology of measuring and weighting at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency and the impact on the educational outcomes of those students; ? the weights applied to students in different grade levels, as well as those applied to students enrolled in county vocational school districts; ? the current methodology used to calculate the geographic cost adjustment;? the formula's use of the census-based funding methodology for determining the amount of State aid a school district receives to educate its special education population and the effects of potentially employing different methodologies; ? the provision of extraordinary special education aid and the cost thresholds used as the bases for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; ? the methodologies used to calculate security categorical aid and transportation aid; and ? the impact that the reallocation of State school aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S-2," had on school districts' finances. The bill requires that the task force will issue a final report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The report will be posted in a prominent location on the Internet website of the Department of Education. | In Committee |
| S1399 | Allows canvassing of early votes and mail-in ballots before election day under certain conditions. | This bill allows county clerks to begin canvassing early votes cast during the early voting period, and county boards of elections to begin canvassing mail-in ballots, before election day under certain conditions. However, the bill excludes provisional and emergency ballots from being counted during the early canvassing process for early votes and mail-in ballots: Under current law, early votes cast during the early voting period may not be canvassed or counted until the polls close on election day. Similarly, mail-in ballots may begin to be canvassed or counted on election day. Under this bill, county clerks are permitted to begin canvassing each early vote no earlier than 24 hours after the conclusion of the early voting period. The bill also allows county boards of elections to open the inner envelopes of mail-in ballots no earlier than five days prior to election day and may begin canvassing each mail in ballot from the inner envelopes no earlier than three days prior to election day. The bill provides that the Secretary of State can establish guidelines concerning the canvassing process to ensure the security and secrecy of the votes cast. The canvassing results would remain confidential and be disclosed only in accordance current law, regulations, and guidelines concerning the disclosure of election results. The bill prohibits the disclosure of the canvassing results prior to the close of polls on the day of the election. Under current law for mail-in ballots, any person who is authorized to receive and canvass completed mail-in-ballots who knowingly discloses to the public the contents of a mail-in ballot prior to the time designated by law for the closing of the polls for each election is guilty of a crime of the third degree. This bill extends the same penalties to the disclosure of early voting results. The bill also requires the board of elections to transmit the media for the early vote canvass to the county clerk no later than the opening of the polls on election day. The bill further requires the county board of elections to transmit the media containing the canvass of mail-in results to the county clerk no later than one hour following the close of the polls. The bill also provides, to the extent capable, the scanning and tabulation system for mail-in ballots to restrict the generation of any tabulation or results report to system administrators only and prohibits administrator passwords from being shared. The bill further prohibits tabulation and results reports from being generated before 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election, and, to the extent such system is capable, requires each county board of elections to submit to the Division of Elections no later than 24 hours following the close of the polls on the day of the election a complete copy of the scanning and tabulation system's audit log. The bill provides that the results from the early canvassing process for mail-in ballots be reported as a separate columns alongside the columns for election day results and early voting results: The bill also requires that the county clerks rather than the board of elections certify the results of the votes cast for members of the county committees to the respective municipal clerks following the canvass of mail-in ballots. | In Committee |
| S2274 | Limits fees charged to patients and authorized third parties for copies of medical and billing records. | This bill would limit fees charged to patients, patients' legally authorized representatives, and other authorized third parties by hospitals and health care professionals for electronic or paper reproductions of medical or billing records. Pursuant to the bill, total costs for reproductions of a medical record, whether the record is stored electronically, on microfilm or microfiche, or on paper, are capped at $50, inclusive of any additional administrative fees charged by the hospital or health care professional for reproducing the requested records. The bill additionally prohibits hospitals and health care professionals from assessing a fee for copies of a patient's billing record if the record is requested by the patient himself, the patient's legally authorized representative, or an authorized third party. Current statute, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.217 (C.26:2H-5n), limits fees charged by general, special, and psychiatric hospitals for copies of patient medical or billing records at $200 per request. These fee limits, however, do not extend to medical records requested from health care professionals, such as a physician practice, a psychotherapist or a dentist. Pursuant to current statute, hospitals may additionally assess a variety of administrative fees for copies of patients' medical and billing records, such as a $10 records search fee, a surcharge for reproductions of x-rays or other materials that are difficult to reproduce on a commercial photocopy machine, a $10 fee per certified copy of a medical or billing record, and any postage and delivery charges. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to facilitate access to patient medical and medical billing records for New Jersey residents and their authorized representatives. Although low-income patients may access copies of their medical records free-of-charge, the exorbitant copying and administrative fees charged by some New Jersey hospitals for patient records prove to be a financial burden for many moderate-income patients. | In Committee |
| S2060 | 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 |
| S651 | Establishes pilot program in which certain selected school districts equip school buses with global positioning systems and DOE develops school bus tracking application. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a four-year pilot program in which a selected school district will equip each of its school buses with a global positioning system (GPS) and in which the Department of Education will develop a school bus tracking application. To be eligible for selection under the pilot program, a school district is required to own and operate its own fleet of school buses. The commissioner will select at least one school district in each the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Each school district selected for participation in the pilot program will equip each of its school buses with a GPS, which will provide information about the location and speed of the school bus in real time and will be operational at all times the school bus is in use to transport students. The GPS will transmit information to a mobile application that will allow an authorized parent or guardian of a student to track in real time the location and speed of the school bus on which the student is riding. The mobile application will be capable of being accessed by an authorized parent or guardian, through installation on the parent or guardian's cellular telephone or other mobile electronic devices. The bill requires the commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Information Technology and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, to contract with a private or public entity to develop and maintain the mobile application to be used by each school district selected for participation in the pilot program. | In Committee |
| S2000 | Establishes "Uniform Crash Investigation Protocol Task Force" to establish uniform crash investigation protocol for State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies when investigating certain motor vehicle and vessel crashes. | This bill establishes the "Uniform Crime Investigation Protocol Task Force" to establish a uniform crash investigation protocol for State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies when investigating certain motor vehicle and vessel crashes. The bill establishes a task force known as the "Uniform Crash Investigation Protocol Task Force" to establish a uniform crash investigation protocol for every State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to follow in every case where a motor vehicle or vessel crash involving a fatality or serious injury occurred and the law enforcement agency determines that at least one of the following criteria are known or suspected: 1) alcohol; 2) drugs; 3) excessive speed which is above the speed limit or too fast for existing conditions; 4) distracted driving, including the use of a wireless device or electronic communication device, 5) hit and run; 6) two or more moving violations; 7) a person with a revoked or suspended operator's license; 8) a pursuit where the pursued party causes death or serious injury; 9) an emergency vehicle is involved or was responding to an emergency call; 10) multiple fatalities or serious injuries to more than one person, including the operator or passenger of any motor vehicle or vessel involved in the crash or a pedestrian; 11) purposeful use of a vehicle or vessel to inflict death or injury; 12) any other evidence of reckless operation, regardless of whether there is a known risk or deviation from the conduct of a reasonably prudent person; 13) an active bench warrant that was issued for the operator of the motor vehicle or vessel that is related to a motor vehicle offense; or 14) the operator of a motor vehicle involved in the crash has previously been involved in a crash resulting in a fatality or serious injury to another person. The task force is to consist of the following seven members: 1) the Attorney General or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio; 2) the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio; 3) three public members with experience investigating motor vehicle crashes, upon recommendation by the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police, and the State Troopers Fraternal Association; and 4) two public members with experience prosecuting cases involving motor vehicle or vessel crashes, upon recommendation of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors' Association of New Jersey. All appointments are to be made by the Governor. Under the bill, a report containing the uniform crash investigation protocol established by the task force is required to be submitted to the Attorney General, who is to issue an Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive consistent with the uniform crash investigation protocol established by the task force, no later than one year after the appointment of all of the members of the task force. In addition, the bill provides that after submission of the report to the Attorney General, the task force is required to meet two times per year for the purpose of receiving feedback on the implementation of the uniform crash investigation protocol established by the task force. In addition, the bill requires the task force to hold three public hearings and update the uniform crash investigation protocols as necessary, with an updated report being submitted to the Attorney General. The Attorney General is to revise the Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive regarding the uniform crash investigation protocol as appropriate. | In Committee |
| S4713 | Establishes various requirements for charter schools, charter school board of trustees members, and charter management organizations. | Establishes various requirements for charter schools, charter school board of trustees members, and charter management organizations. | Introduced |
| S4717 | Prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from operating pharmacy practice sites directly or indirectly. | Prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from operating pharmacy practice sites directly or indirectly. | Introduced |
| S4716 | Concerns charter school enrollment, student placements, reporting, and athletics. | Concerns charter school enrollment, student placements, reporting, and athletics. | Introduced |
| S4714 | Permits farm brewery licensees to sell products to consumers for consumption on licensed premises. | Permits farm brewery licensees to sell products to consumers for consumption on licensed premises. | Introduced |
| S4715 | Revises definition of health care professional in aggravated assault statute to match definition under "Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act." | Revises definition of health care professional in aggravated assault statute to match definition under "Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act." | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4028 | Limits amount of payment that State agency as property owner may withhold from certain contractors on State construction contracts to two percent of amount due. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4451 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4400 | Extends hours that minor employed by national sports association, league, or team may work under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 11 | Senate | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2018 |