Legislator
Legislator > Chris DePhillips

State Assemblymember
Chris DePhillips
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 40
In Office - Started: 01/09/2018
contact info
Franklin Lakes
841 Franklin Ave.
Unit 4
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Unit 4
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Phone: 201-444-9719
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 |
---|---|---|---|
S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
A3558 | Establishes State definition of antisemitism. | Establishes State definition of antisemitism. | In Committee |
AR198 | Establishes the "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation." | This Assembly Resolution establishes the bipartisan "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation." The committee will consist of 12 members of the General Assembly. Six members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and six members will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The committee will organize within 30 days after the effective date of this resolution. The committee will have two co-chairpersons and two co-vice chairpersons. The Speaker of the General Assembly will appoint a co-chairperson and a co-vice chairperson, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly will appoint a co-chairperson and a co-vice chairperson, all from among the committee's membership. The committee will investigate and report on the historical, legal, and geographic claims of the State of New Jersey to Staten Island. The committee will examine information including, but not limited to, colonial-era land grants, the 1834 boundary compact between New York and New Jersey, and any relevant case law. The committee will explore all lawful avenues by which the State of New Jersey may assert or pursue annexation of Staten Island, subject to the consent of its residents, the State of New York, and the United States Congress. The committee will also solicit testimony from experts in their respective fields concerning the historical, legal, and geographic claims. At the conclusion of its work, the committee will develop and publish a report containing its findings and recommendations. The committee will expire upon the conclusion of the committee's work. | In Committee |
AR186 | Honors life of Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. | This resolution honors late Congressman Pascrell. Congressman Pascrell, a tireless advocate for public health and safety who served New Jersey for decades, leaves behind a legacy of distinguished public service. Congressman Pascrell founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, an initiative that has played a critical role in advancing national policy, research, and resources for individuals affected by brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur due to a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, while acquired brain injuries (ABI) result from internal causes such as strokes, aneurysms, or tumors. Individuals who suffer from TBI or ABI often experience long-term disabilities ranging from minor impairments to severe and life-altering conditions, which affect their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Over the years the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has worked to increase awareness of brain injuries, support groundbreaking research initiatives, promote rehabilitation services, and address the long-term effects of brain injuries on individuals, families, and communities. As a co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Congressman Pascrell advocated for research initiatives focused on treatment, rehabilitation, and potential cures for TBI. Brain injuries impact thousands of New Jersey residents in every congressional district, affecting children, veterans, athletes, seniors, and survivors of accidents and medical conditions, all of whom need strong legislative advocacy and support at both the State and federal levels. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force remains a bipartisan effort, currently co-chaired by Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio from Pennsylvannia and Republican Congressman Morgan Luttrell from Texas, and continues to advance Congressman Pascrell's legacy of championing policies that improve brain injury awareness, prevention, research, and treatment. It is vital that New Jersey's congressional delegation continues Congressman Pascrell's legacy by joining and supporting the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to ensure that our State remains a leader in brain injury advocacy and policy. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
A4380 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | In Committee |
S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | An Act making various changes to the "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and the Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program, revising various parts of the statutory law, and repealing parts of P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
A2365 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | In Committee |
A5875 | Expands "Daniel's Law" to prohibit disclosure of personal information of members of NJ Legislature. | This bill expands "Daniel's Law," P.L.2020, c.125, to prohibit the disclosure of personal information of members of the New Jersey Legislature. Under the bill, "member of the legislature" means any person elected or selected to serve in the New Jersey Senate or General Assembly. Currently, Daniel's Law: (1) prohibits the disclosure, by both governmental entities and private parties, of the home address of any active, formerly active, or retired federal, State, county, or municipal judicial officers, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, or child protective investigators and employees of the Department of Children and Families; (2) prohibits disclosure of home addresses and unlisted telephone numbers for active or retired law enforcement officers, child protective investigators and employees of the Department of Children and Families, as well as active, formerly active, or retired judicial officers or prosecutors; and (3) permits criminal prosecution and statutory civil action concerning prohibited disclosures. The bill expands the scope of Daniel's Law to also include members of the legislature. This bill is in response to the violent attacks, on June 13, 2025, against two Minnesota state lawmakers, Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, and their immediately family members, at their home. | In Committee |
A2255 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | In Committee |
A682 | 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. | In Committee |
A5773 | Requires certain preliminary approval of municipality prior to licensure of community group homes. | This bill requires preliminary approval by a municipality as a condition for the Department of Human Services (department) to be able to issue a license to operate a community group home. The bill defines the term "community group home" to mean a living arrangement that is operated in a residence or residences leased or owned by a licensee, which provides the opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities, or drug or alcohol addiction, to live together in a home, sharing in chores and the overall management of the residence, and in which staff provides treatment or specialized services needed to assist the residents to live in a community setting, and supervision, training, or assistance in a variety of forms and intensity as required to assist the residents as they move toward independence. Specifically, the bill requires an applicant who seeks a license from the department to operate a community group home to first obtain a certificate of preliminary approval from the appropriate municipal officials in the municipality in which the community group home is located. The bill requires the preliminary approval to consist of a letter or affidavit from the appropriate municipal officials that the proposed community group home conforms to all applicable municipal ordinances and regulations adopted prior to the date of the request for preliminary approval, including but not limited to, zoning and land use ordinances and regulations. The bill further requires that the department not approve an application for a provisional license, or thereafter, a permanent license, to operate a community group home if the applicant fails to provide this certificate of preliminary approval to the department with the license application. | In Committee |
A5734 | Provides gross income tax deduction for certain wages of qualified health care professionals employed by health care entities. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction related to certain wages earned by qualified health care professionals employed by health care entities in the State. Specifically, the deduction would be equal to 25 percent of the hourly wages paid by a health care entity to the qualified health care professional during the taxable year. A "health care entity" is defined under the bill as a licensed health care facility, an authorized health maintenance organization, a carrier which offers a regulated managed care plan, a State or county psychiatric hospital, a State developmental center, a staffing registry, or a home care services agency. The bill also defines a "qualified healthcare professional" as an individual who is: (1) licensed as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or respiratory care practitioner pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes; (2) certified as a homemaker-home health aide by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, (3) certified as a nurse aide by the New Jersey Department of Health upon completion of a mandatory training program; or (4) certified as a direct support professional through the College of Direct Support, as administered by the Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. | In Committee |
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 |
S742 | Appropriates unexpended funds from "New Jersey Bridge Rehabilitation and Improvement and Railroad Right-of-way Preservation Bond Act of 1989." | An Act concerning the improvement of the State transportation system and bridges and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
A5569 | Requires NJT to rescind certain fare increases. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to rescind the fare increase of three percent, effective July 1, 2025, approved and authorized by the corporation's board pursuant to the April 15, 2024 board meeting minutes. | In Committee |
AJR220 | Designates March 17 of each year as "Profound Autism Day." | This joint resolution designates March 17 of each year as "Profound Autism Day." The definition of autism has evolved over time, creating an increasingly heterogeneous spectrum. While the entire spectrum deserves recognition and support, profound autism is a term intended to provide clarification about the autistic people who require care from an adult caregiver throughout their lives, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. People with profound autism can have a severe intellectual disability or have minimal or no language. They are frequently excluded from research and support programs because of their unique needs. The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released its first prevalence study on profound autism in April 2023. The research concluded that the percentage of 8-year-old children with profound autism among those with autism in the United States was 26.7 percent. The CDC study also found that, compared with children with non-profound autism, children with profound autism were more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, and have self-injurious behaviors, seizure disorders, and lower adaptive scores. | In Committee |
A3169 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | In Committee |
A3496 | Permits certain motor vehicles to display both amber and green warning lights. | Permits certain motor vehicles to display both amber and green warning lights. | In Committee |
AR179 | Adopts articles of impeachment concerning Matthew Platkin, Attorney General. | This Assembly Resolution adopts articles of impeachment in the matter of Matthew Platkin, Attorney General, provides for the presentation of articles to the Senate, and impeaches Matthew Platkin. In light of his record of failing to address ongoing issues within the Division of Criminal Justice and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability; exceeding his statutory authority and unlawfully superseding the Paterson Police Department; failing to defend State law in court proceedings and making a unilateral decision on the constitutionality of State law; targeting certain organizations based upon the political beliefs of the organization, specifically pro-life pregnancy centers; violating the public trust; and his overall failure to perform the duties of his office, it is altogether fitting and proper and within the public interest for the General Assembly to adopt articles of impeachment against Matthew Platkin, and present the articles to the New Jersey Senate in accordance with the New Jersey Constitution, Article VII, Section III, paragraph 2. | In Committee |
A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
A2609 | Appropriates unexpended funds from "New Jersey Bridge Rehabilitation and Improvement and Railroad Right-of-way Preservation Bond Act of 1989." | This bill reappropriates unexpended funds from the "New Jersey Bridge Rehabilitation and Improvement and Railroad Right-of-way Preservation Bond Act of 1989" (bond act) to the Department of Transportation (department). These funds were originally appropriated to support the costs of rehabilitations and improvements to bridges carrying State highways and local roadways, as well as the costs of the preservation and acquisition of railroad rights-of-way. The bill requires the funds appropriated to the department to be administered by the department and be reappropriated to offset any cost permitted under the bond act. The bill permits the funds to be allocated for emergency repairs, in various locations, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Transportation. | In Committee |
AJR63 | Designates January 13 of each year as Korean American Day in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates January 13 of each year as "Korean American Day" in New Jersey. On January 13, 1903, 102 courageous Korean immigrants arrived in the United States initiating the first wave of Korean immigration to America. These pioneering Korean immigrants faced tremendous social and economic obstacles as well as language barriers in America. They established a new home in a new land through resilience, tenacious effort, and immense sacrifice, which became the bedrock for their children and future generations of Korean Americans. Korean Americans have made significant contributions to the economic vitality of the United States, and the global marketplace. Their contributions include achievements in engineering, architecture, medicine, the arts, and writing. Korean Americans have also made enormous contributions to the military strength of the United States and served with distinction in the Armed Forces during World War I, World War II, the Vietnam conflict, the Korean conflict, and subsequent military conflicts across the globe. This State should commemorate the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States, and recognize the invaluable contributions Korean Americans have made to the United States. | Crossed Over |
AJR213 | Establishes New Jersey Delegation on Government Efficiency. | This bill establishes a New Jersey Delegation on Government Efficiency (DOGE). The DOGE will examine various aspects of State government to determine how to better save public funds and how to implement greater efficiencies in government functions, including, but not limited to, the elimination of any agency or government function. The bill is intended to create a State-level version of the "Department of Government Efficiency" program initiated by the current federal administration. The bill structures the hiring and supervision of DOGE members to be as nonpartisan and independent as possible. While responsible government stewardship of taxpayer dollars should always be a priority, it is a particularly acute need now that the State is grappling with a multi-billion dollar structural deficit, meaning the budget is billions short of revenue to pay for its level of spending. With the continuation of full pension payments and the upcoming need to fund the Stay NJ property tax relief program for seniors, reductions and efficiencies in other State spending must be addressed to ensure such priorities can be maintained. The DOGE will consist of the State Auditor, or a designee, who will serve as chairperson, and up to 20 members of the public who will be selected and appointed by the Delegation on Government Efficiency Selection Committee. The selection committee will include the following members: (1) the Governor, or a designee; (2) the President of the Senate, or a designee; (3) the Speaker of the General Assembly, or a designee; (4) the Minority Leader of the Senate, or a designee; and (5) the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, or a designee. The selection committee will select and appoint public members of the DOGE from among qualified persons who submit applications to the selection committee for membership on the DOGE. An applicant will require the approval of at least four members of the selection committee to be selected and appointed to the DOGE. This ensures bipartisan agreement. The selection committee will issue a public notice on the Internet sites of each principal department in the Executive Branch of State government, the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, and the Legislature soliciting applications for public membership. The public notice will include, at a minimum, instructions on how to apply to be a public member of the DOGE, details of the position requirements and approval process, and a description of the duties of a public DOGE member. The position requirements will be developed and approved by at least four members of the selection committee to ensure bipartisan agreement, and will include, at a minimum, appropriate and relevant experience of the applicant in presiding over, managing, or conducting performance audits on any large public or private enterprise, and a statement of potential conflicts of interest from the applicant. The chairperson of the DOGE may dismiss a public DOGE member for any reason, including upon the discovery of unreported conflicts of interest. Vacancies among the public membership of the DOGE due to dismissal or voluntary leave will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The selection committee may set an hourly or per diem rate to be paid to the approved public members for the duration of their tenure on the DOGE. The chairperson of the DOGE may recommend to the selection committee changes to the hourly or per diem rate established by the selection committee as the chairperson deems appropriate to attract and retain public members of the DOGE. The establishment of and any changes to the hourly or per diem rate will be subject to the approval of at least four members of the selection committee. The chairperson of the DOGE will develop a procedure by which members of the public may suggest actions or areas of review that may assist the DOGE in determining how to better save public funds and how to implement greater efficiencies in government functions. The DOGE will meet at the call of the chairperson at the times and in the places necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities. Within 20 months after the its first meeting, the DOGE will issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings and recommendations upon the conclusion of its work. The report will be publicly available on the Department of the Treasury's Internet website. | In Committee |
A5230 | Requires automatic voter registration to be available when applying for certain licenses and permits. | This bill requires the establishment of an automatic voter registration process at an agency, office, or local police force providing certain licenses and permits. The bill requires the automatic voter registration process to be available for persons applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, all around sportsman licenses, beaver trapping, wild turkey, or deer permits under the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, and firearms purchaser identification cards or permits to carry handguns at local police forces or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the respective agencies, offices, and local police forces to establish an automatic voter registration process similar to that currently applicable at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). The bill also adds licenses to operate a power vessel, also known as boating licenses, under the NJMVC's current automatic voter registration process. Under the bill, any agency, office, or local police force that provides the above mentioned licenses and permits, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, would be required to establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom voter registration information is collected would be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The bill requires compliance with the automatic voter registration requirements established under current law for the NJMVC, including the provision of required notices to their clients, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
A5175 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
AR173 | Urges federal government to investigate unidentified drones operating in NJ airspace. | This resolution affirms support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the program's progress in reducing hunger among vulnerable populations in New Jersey. The resolution urges the United States Congress to reject the proposed federal cuts to SNAP. On May 14, 2025, to achieve a minimum $1.5 trillion cut from the federal budget over a ten year period, the House Agriculture Committee voted in favor of a bill that would reduce up to $300 billion in food aid funding, largely aimed at SNAP. In New Jersey, SNAP is a critical resource for residents, with nearly 850,000 individuals, or nine percent of the total population, relying on the program's benefits to feed their families. A significant number of the households that participate in SNAP include some of the State's most vulnerable members: the elderly, disabled, veterans, and children. The New Jersey General Assembly supports State and federal collaboration to identify programmatic efficiencies within SNAP; however, budgetary cost savings implemented at the expense of striping income-limited children, seniors, and families of safety net food and nutrition services is unconscionable. The General Assembly urges Congress to reject these drastic proposed federal funding reductions, or any subsequent proposals, and to maintain SNAP as an accessible resource for those in need of food assistance. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
A5142 | Requires school bus personnel members working with students with disabilities to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires school buses transporting students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features. | This bill requires school bus drivers, school bus aides, and any other individual who works, and is otherwise responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities to call the 911 emergency telephone service for assistance in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on the school bus. A school bus personnel member is required to report that call to the Office of Special Education in the Department of Education. Under the bill, a board of education, or a school bus contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education, that employs a school bus personnel member, as well as the office, is to maintain a record of the calls. A board of education, or a school bus contractor as applicable, is required to ensure that certain training related to school bus safety and interacting with students with disabilities are provided to each school bus personnel member who works on a school bus transporting students with disabilities. Pursuant to current law, these training programs are required to be administered to school bus drivers and school bus aides. The bill expands these programs to cover all other school bus personnel members who work, and are responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities. A board of education or school bus contractor that does not properly administer these training programs is to be subject to applicable penalties established under current law. Pursuant to the bill, the parent or guardian of a student with disabilities, who believes that a school bus personnel member did not properly call the 911 emergency telephone service in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency, may file a complaint with the Office of Special Education within the Department of Education. A school bus personnel member who is found by the office to have violated the provisions concerning 911 emergency notification and follow-up reporting requirements is to be liable for certain civil penalties. The bill also requires a school bus that transports one or more students with disabilities to be equipped with: 1) a video camera on the interior of the school bus to monitor student safety while the students are being transported; 2) a global positioning system that provides information about the location and speed of each school bus in real time; and 3) two-way communications equipment, which may include, but not be limited to, a cellular or other wireless telephone. Under the bill, any video footage collected from a video camera and any data collected from a global positioning system is to be retained for not less than 180 days from the date it was recorded. Finally, the bill requires that each in-terminal school bus inspection conducted by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is to provide for the inspection of the equipment required to be installed on school buses pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
A1878 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DOH for Huntington's Disease Grant Program. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to Division of Community Health in the Department of Health (DOH) for the Huntington's Disease Grant Program. The amount appropriated under the bill, in addition to any other State or federal funds allocated for the same purposes, is to be allocated to support grants to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or New Jersey based and operated research organizations for the provision of pre-symptomatic testing, neurology and psychiatry services, neurophysiological evaluations, treatment, disease management, and counseling for people living with or at risk for Huntington's disease. According to the department's Notice of Fund Availability, the Huntington's Disease Grant Program is currently estimated to distribute $200,437 in FY 2023. This supplemental appropriation would increase that amount to $700,437. Huntington's disease is a fatal rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. Huntington's disease has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders. Many describe the symptoms as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease simultaneously. According to the DOH, there are approximately 900 to 1,200 New Jersey residents who are living with Huntington's disease. The incidence of the disease is estimated between 1 in 8,000 and 1 in 10,000 State residents. There are also about 7,000 at-risk individuals in New Jersey. But since this is a fatal disease, this number may be low since the majority of people who go through genetic counseling decide to not get tested. | In Committee |
A4955 | Creates excuse from jury service for students enrolled in certain education programs. | This bill creates an excuse from jury service for students who are temporarily residing outside of New Jersey to attend an out-of-state secondary or post-secondary education programs. Under this bill, a person who is 18 years of age or older and temporarily residing out of state to attend a secondary, post-secondary, vocational, graduate or professional education program outside of New Jersey, may be excused from jury service. The student shall provide acceptable forms of proof that the student is temporarily residing outside of New Jersey to attend the out-of-state educational program. The New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts shall oversee the requirements for acceptable forms of proof of out-of-state residency. | In Committee |
A5103 | "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act," would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program to solicit bids for the construction of new small modular nuclear reactors in the State. The bill would authorize the BPU to issue financial incentives to SMRs, to be known as SMR incentives, for each megawatt hour of electric energy produced by the reactor. The amount of the incentive would be determined through a competitive solicitation process. Private entities would submit bids to the BPU, which state the level of SMR incentive they estimate they would require to achieve profitability. The BPU would select the lowest bids, except that the bill authorizes the BPU to give preference to certain projects, for example projects sited at former nuclear energy facilities or fossil fuel power plants. The bill would authorize the BPU to use moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," which serves as the repository for funds collected by the State under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), in order to fund the SMR incentives. The bill would direct the BPU to develop the program within one year after the bill's enactment, and to begin the first competitive solicitation round within two years after the bill's enactment. The bill would restrict the owner or operator of an SMR that receives an incentive from otherwise profiting from the environmental attributes of the energy it produces. Finally, the bill would require each SMR that is selected to participate in the incentive program to pay an annual administrative fee to the BPU, to compensate the BPU for its costs in administering the program. | In Committee |
A4967 | 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 |
S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
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 |
A4447 | Allows certain health care practitioners referrals to pharmacies to be made in accordance with certain professional standards. | An Act concerning health care practitioner referrals and amending P.L.1989, c.19. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
A4866 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | In Committee |
A4996 | Designates 9/11 Heart Symbol flag as official State flag; mandates it be displayed at certain public buildings and memorials. | This bill designates the 9/11 Heart Symbol flag as an official State flag for remembrance of the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, the lives that were lost or forever affected on that day, and the heroism and bravery displayed by Americans in response to the attacks. The bill mandates that the flag be displayed during normal business hours at any memorial sites in this State dedicated to honoring the victims of the September 11th terror attacks, and during normal business hours at the State House in Trenton, the principal municipal building in each municipality, and the principal county building in each county seat on September 11th of each year. | In Committee |
A4995 | Prohibits nursing homes from restricting patients from obtaining drugs through prescription drug program offered by federal Department of Veterans Affairs. | This bill prohibits nursing homes from restricting patients from obtaining drugs through a prescription drug program offered by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the bill, no nursing home is to restrict any patient from obtaining prescription drugs through a prescription drug program or health plan offered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. If a nursing home patient obtains prescription drugs through a prescription drug program or health plan offered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the nursing home may require the prescription drugs to be dispensed and administered according to the facility's policies. | In Committee |
A4008 | Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and registration of motor vehicle; requires motor vehicle manufacturers to pay annual fee to MVC in certain circumstances. | Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and registration of motor vehicle; requires motor vehicle manufacturers to pay annual fee to MVC in certain circumstances. | In Committee |
A1364 | Requires certain group homes and supervised apartments to install electronic monitoring devices in common areas under certain circumstances; "Billy Cray's Law." | This bill requires certain group homes and supervised apartments to install electronic monitoring devices in common areas under certain circumstances. A group home or supervised apartment, as these terms are defined in the bill, for individuals with developmental disabilities are to install electronic monitoring devices in a common area, as this term is defined under the bill, for the purposes of monitoring residents' treatment and living conditions. Each licensee, as defined in the bill, is to: (1) provide written notice to all residents of their right to have electronic monitoring devices installed in common areas; and (2) ensure that reasonable accommodations are made, as necessary, to enable the authorized use of electronic monitoring devices. Under the bill, the installation and use of electronic monitoring devices in the common area of a group home or supervised apartment is to: be noncompulsory; be conditioned upon the licensee's receipt of written consent to such monitoring from all roommates; and to the extent practicable, protect the privacy rights of all roommates of the resident who is requesting the monitoring. The bill provides that if a resident's roommate refuses to consent to the installation and use of an electronic monitoring device in a common area, the licensee is to, within a reasonable period of time, and to the extent that it is possible and practicable, present the resident, who is objecting to the installation of the device, with an opportunity to transfer to a different group home or supervised apartment, in order to accommodate the resident's request for electronic monitoring. The bill provides that a licensee who fails to install electronic monitoring devices in a manner that reasonably ensures that electronic monitoring does not occur in an area that is outside of a common area may be liable to a resident whose privacy rights were violated, as described in the bill. Under the bill, the Department of Human Services is to award grant monies to licensees to be used to the cover the cost of the installation of electronic monitoring devices from available funds that may be appropriated or otherwise made available to the department. The Division of Developmental Disabilities is to: 1) establish and publish guidelines for the development of internal policies regarding the installation and use of electronic monitoring devices pursuant to the bill's provisions; 2) develop and provide consent forms that are to be filled out and signed by individuals who consent to, or request, electronic monitoring under this bill; 3) and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature. Any licensee that fails to comply with the provisions of this bill is to be subject to a penalty of $5,000 for the first offense, and a penalty of $10,000 for the second or subsequent offense, to be collected with costs in a summary proceeding, pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). This bill is named in honor of Billy Cray, an individual with a developmental disability who, in 2017, at 33 years of age, was unfortunately found dead in the group home in New Jersey where he resided. | Dead |
A4874 | Requires DOH to establish guidelines for placement of bleeding control kits in State buildings; requires schools to acquire bleeding control kits. | This bill requires the Department of Health to establish guidelines for the placement of bleeding control kits in State buildings, and requires schools to acquire bleeding control kits. Under the bill, "bleeding control kit" means a first aid response kit that contains the necessary items to control severe bleeding and prevent further blood loss for an individual suffering a traumatic injury. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Health to establish and issue guidelines no later than the 180th day after the effective date of the bill, which the commissioner is to recommend for adoption by all State agencies, with respect to the placement of bleeding control kits in State buildings. The bill also requires the board of education of a public school district and the governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school that includes any of the grades kindergarten through 12 - no later than the following school year or 180 days after the effective date of this section, whichever is later - to ensure that each public or nonpublic school has a bleeding control kit. The bleeding control kits, whether in a State building or school, are to contain the following items in such quantities as determined appropriate by the Commissioner of Health: a tourniquet approved by the Department of Health; a chest seal; compression bandages; bleeding control bandages; a space emergency blanket; latex-free gloves; markers; scissors; an instructional document approved by the Department of Health detailing methods to prevent blood loss following a traumatic event; and other items deemed necessary by the commissioner. Moreover, the kits are to be replaced after each use and placed in reasonable proximity, as determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Health, from any automated external defibrillator located in the facility. | In Committee |
A2717 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for costs of exemption. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is 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 |
A2378 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | In Committee |
AR157 | Supports work of pregnancy resource centers and condemns harassment of pregnancy resource centers by AG. | This resolution expresses support for the work of pregnancy resource centers in this State, and condemns Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin for his politically motivated harassment of pregnancy resource centers. A pregnancy resource center is typically a faith-based non-profit organization, which offers pregnant women information and care to support their pregnancy, such as alternatives to abortion, parenting education, medical treatment from licensed health care professionals, counseling, and maternal and baby goods, often at little or no cost. Pregnancy resource centers offer their services and donated goods without regard to a person's religious affiliation or ability to pay. In 2022, pregnancy resource centers in this State provided over $3.6 million in goods and services to over 23,000 people, including women, men, and youth, which included more than 8,000 free pregnancy tests, more than 6,000 free ultrasound examinations, more than 2,000 free screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, more than 9,000 free packs of diapers, more than 75,000 free sets of baby clothes, 55 free car seats, 172 free strollers, 38 free cribs, and more than 1,000 free containers of formula. Despite their significant value to pregnant women and the community at large, pregnancy resource centers are under attack by the Attorney General as part of a coordinated nationwide campaign of intimidation and harassment under the guise of consumer protection. Although there have been no complaints filed by any client of a pregnancy resource center in this State, Attorney General Platkin has issued investigative subpoenas to certain pregnancy resource centers in an apparent misuse of the law enforcement powers of his office. The overbroad and unduly burdensome nature of these subpoenas appear to be a deliberate attempt to target and silence organizations that offer alternatives to abortion. | In Committee |
A1432 | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | In Committee |
A1341 | Requires certain group homes to install electronic monitoring devices in common areas, upon request and with uniform resident consent, and to permit consensual use of such devices in private rooms. | This bill would provide certain requirements in association with the use of electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) at group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities. An "EMD" is a camera or other electronic device that uses video, but not audio, recording capabilities to monitor the activities taking place in the area where the device is installed. The safety and quality of life of individuals with developmental disabilities who receive care from group homes is of paramount concern, and the use of video monitoring is one way in which the State can better ensure the prevention of, and the institution of a more proactive response to, the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of group home residents. This bill would make video monitoring technology more readily available in group home settings, while taking great care to strike the important and delicate balance between protecting the privacy rights and protecting the overall well-being of group home residents. Specifically, the bill would enable, but not require, group home residents or their authorized representatives, as the case may be, to cooperatively and collectively decide whether to allow for the installation and use of EMDs in the common areas of the group homes, and to individually decide whether to allow for the installation and use of EMDs in the private residential room of each such resident, so that the treatment of such residents can be recorded and instances of abuse, neglect, or exploitation documented with video evidence. In providing these authorizations, the bill respects the rights of all individuals with developmental disabilities, places a premium on their individuality, and recognizes that different people have different needs and preferences with respect to the use of video surveillance. Scope of Bill The term "group home" is defined more broadly in this bill than it is in other laws. Specifically, the term is defined to mean a living arrangement that is operated in a residence or residences leased or owned by a licensee; which living arrangement either provides the opportunity for multiple adults with developmental disabilities to live together in a non-institutional, home-based setting or provides the opportunity for a single adult with developmental disabilities and extreme behavioral difficulties to live more independently, outside of an institution, while still receiving full-time care; and in which on-site staff provides supervision, training, or assistance, in a variety of forms and intensity, as required to prevent or delay the institutionalization of the individual or individuals residing in the home or to otherwise assist the individual or individuals as they move toward independence. "Group home" does not include a living arrangement that is dedicated for use by children with developmental disabilities. The revised definition used in the bill makes it clear that this term not only includes facilities that house multiple persons with developmental disabilities, but also includes facilities that, while commonly referred to as supervised apartments, provide group home-style living for a single person who has developmental disabilities and particularly severe behavioral difficulties that prevent them from being housed in a group home with other disabled persons. The bill would require group homes, as defined thereunder, to install EMDs in the common areas, upon the agreement, request, and uniform consent of all residents. "Common areas" is defined to include entrances, living areas, dining areas, stairwells, and outdoor areas, but not bathroom areas. The bill would additionally require group homes to permit the installation and use of EMDs in the private rooms of group home residents. The bill is not intended to impose new electronic monitoring requirements on those group home providers who already engage in electronic monitoring pursuant to an internal organizational policy. As a result, the bill includes a provision that grandfathers-in and exempts from the bill's provisions those group homes that have already installed, and are utilizing, EMDs as of the bill's effective date. Specifically, the bill provides that any such group home: 1) may continue to use previously installed EMDs in accordance with the organization's written policies; 2) will not be required to comply with the bill's consent requirements in order to continue utilizing the devices; and 3) will not be required to remove the existing devices from service unless the residents collectively indicate, within six months after the bill's effective date, that they want such devices to be removed. To the extent that a group home's common areas or private rooms do not contain EMDs on the bill's effective date, the licensee will be required to comply with the bill when installing new EMDs in such unmonitored areas. The bill is intended to give residents - particularly those with severe behavioral difficulties - the right to request electronic monitoring in the group home, as necessary to ensure their safe care. The bill is not intended to impose new electronic monitoring requirements on providers that already engage in electronic monitoring; and it is not intended to require other group home providers to commence electronic monitoring, except in those cases where the residents have requested and agreed to such monitoring. Installation and Use of EMDs in Common Areas Under the bill's provisions, any group home that does not have EMDs already installed in the group home's common areas will be required to install EMDs in those common areas, upon the collective request of the residents and the residents' authorized representatives, if all of the residents of the group home and their authorized representatives agree to have EMDs installed and expressly consent to the installation and use of such devices. A licensee will be prohibited from requiring the group home's current residents to consent to the installation and use of EMDs in the common areas as a condition of their continued residency in the group home. A licensee operating a group home that does not have EMDs already installed in the common areas will be required: 1) within six months after the group home adopts an internal electronic monitoring policy pursuant to the bill's provisions, to take affirmative action to determine whether the residents of the group home and their authorized representatives want and collectively consent to have EMDs installed and used in the group home's common areas; 2) annually provide written notice to all residents and their authorized representatives informing them of their right to collectively request and consent to the installation and use of EMDs in the group home's common areas; and 3) install new EMDs in the common areas within one year after receipt of a collective request therefor. The bill would require any group home that installs and uses EMDs in its common areas, pursuant to the agreement, request, and consent of the residents, to: 1) require each person employed by the group home to provide express written consent to the use of the EMDs in the group home's common areas, as a condition of the person's employment; 2) ensure that a prominent written notice is posted at the entrance and exit doors to the home informing visitors that they will be subject to electronic video monitoring while present in the home; and 3) ensure that, following the installation of EMDs in the common areas, the group home only allows residence by those individuals who consent to the ongoing use of EMDs in the group home's common areas. The licensee is to comply with the first two of these requirements within one year after receiving a collective request from residents authorizing electronic monitoring of the common areas. The EMDs installed in a group home's common areas are to be unobstructed and recording at all times. Each licensee will be required to inspect the devices, and document the results of each inspection, on a weekly basis. The DHS will further be required to annually conduct an on-site device inspection, as part of its broader group home inspection authority, in order to ensure that the EMDs installed in a group home's common areas are functioning properly, as required by the bill. A resident or the resident's authorized representative will be authorized to access and review any footage that is recorded by an EMD in the common areas of the group home; provided that the person first submits a request indicating that the resident has experienced, or that the resident or authorized representative has witnessed, an incident of abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurring in the common areas. A group home licensee may require that a resident or the resident's authorized representative remain on the premises of the group home when accessing and reviewing footage recorded in the common areas. All of the costs associated with installation and maintenance of an EMD in the group home's common areas are to be paid by the group home licensee. The bill would specify that an individual's refusal to consent to the use of EMDs in a group home's common areas may not be used as a basis to prevent the timely placement of the individual in appropriate housing without surveillance. Removal of EMDs from Common Areas A group home that has EMDs installed in the common areas will be required to remove those EMDs from service, as provided by the bill, if all of the residents of the group home and their authorized representatives collectively agree to, and request, the removal of the EMDs from the common areas. The bill provides that, if the EMDs in a group home's common areas were already in operation as of the bill's effective date, the licensee will be required to take affirmative action, within six months after the bill's effective date, to determine whether the residents of the group home and their authorized representatives want, and collectively agree, to have the existing EMDs removed from the common areas. If the residents do not collectively agree to the removal of the EMDs, the licensee will be authorized to: 1) continue using the devices in the common areas, in accordance with the group home's internal policies, as provided by section 7 of the bill (which is the section of the bill that exempts from the bill's requirements any group home that already has EMDs installed as of the bill's effective date); and 2) accept, as new residents, only those persons who consent to the ongoing use of the devices in the common areas. The bill further provides that, if the EMDs in a group home's common areas were not in operation as of the bill's effective date, or if the EMDs existing in a group home's common areas on the bill's effective date were removed by the licensee pursuant to the collective agreement of residents, as described above, the licensee will be required to provide written notice to all residents and their authorized representatives, within 10 days after EMDs are newly placed into the common areas under the bill, and annually thereafter, informing the residents and their authorized representatives of their right to collectively request the removal of existing EMDs from the group home's common areas. The bill requires a group home licensee to remove any EMDs from the common areas within one year after receipt of a collective request from residents therefor. Installation and Use of EMDs in Private Rooms The bill would further require all group homes to permit EMDs to be installed and used, on a voluntary and noncompulsory basis, in the private rooms of residents. The installation and use of EMDs in a private single occupancy room may be done by the resident or the resident's authorized representative, at any time, following the resident's provision of written notice to the licensee of the resident's intent to engage in electronic monitoring of the private room. Such written notice is to be submitted to the licensee at least 15 days prior to installation of the devices in the private single occupancy room. Any resident, or the authorized representative thereof, who provides such a notice of intent to install EMDs in a private single occupancy room, or who so installs such devices, will be deemed to have implicitly consented to electronic monitoring of the private room. The installation and use of EMDs in a private double occupancy room may be effectuated only with the express written consent of the roommates of the resident who requested the monitoring, or of the roommates' authorized representatives, as the case may be. A roommate may place conditions on his or her consent to the use of EMDs within the double occupancy room, including conditions that require the EMDs to be pointed away from the consenting roommate at all times during operation, or at certain specified times. The roommate's consent to electronic monitoring, and any conditions on the roommate's consent, are to be memorialized in a formal electronic monitoring agreement that is executed between the consenting roommate and the resident who requested the monitoring, or between their authorized representatives, as appropriate. The licensee, either through its own activities or through a third-party's activities, will be required to ensure that the conditions established in the agreement are followed. If a resident's roommate or the roommate's authorized representative, as appropriate, refuses to consent to the installation and use of an EMD in a private double occupancy room, or if the licensee is unable to ensure compliance with the conditions on such installation and use that are imposed by a consenting roommate or the roommate's authorized representative, the licensee will be required, within a reasonable period of time, and to the extent practicable, to transfer the resident requesting the installation of the device to a different private room, in order to accommodate the resident's request for private monitoring. If a request for private monitoring cannot be accommodated, the resident or resident's authorized representative may notify the DHS, which will be required to make every reasonable attempt to timely transfer the resident to a group home that can accommodate the request. All of the costs associated with installation and maintenance of an EMD in a private room are to be paid by the resident who requested the monitoring, or by the authorized representative thereof. Any recordings produced by an EMD installed in a private room will remain the property, and are to be retained in the possession, of the resident or the authorized representative who installed the EMD in the private room. The bill would specify that a licensee may not require a resident or the resident's authorized representative, as a condition of installing or using an EMD in the resident's private room, to turn over to the licensee, or to otherwise allow the licensee to access or review, any recordings that are produced by the EMD in the private room. Whenever an EMD is proposed to be installed in a private double occupancy room, the consenting roommate or authorized representative thereof, as the case may be, may elect to provide that, as a condition of the installation and ongoing use of the device in the room, the roommate and the roommate's authorized representative shall have the right and ability to access and review any recordings that are produced by the EMD, upon request submitted to the resident or authorized representative who owns the device. This condition, if elected by a consenting roommate or the roommate's authorized representative, is to be memorialized in the electronic monitoring agreement that is executed pursuant to bill's provisions. Any such electronic monitoring agreement will also be required to describe the procedures or protocols that are to be used by the owner of the device to ensure that the consenting roommate or the authorized representative thereof, as the case may be, is provided with timely access to all relevant footage recorded by the device, upon submission of a request therefor.Removal of EMDs from Private Rooms A resident, or the authorized representative thereof, who installs an EMD in a private single-occupancy room or private double-occupancy room will be authorized to remove the device from service at any time following its installation. Any resident or authorized representative who removes an EMD will be required to provide written notice of such removal, to the licensee, within 48 hours after the device is removed from service. Whenever the roommate of a resident, or the roommate's authorized representative, revokes the roommate's previously granted consent for the use of EMDs in a private double-occupancy room, the licensee will be required to transfer the resident who installed the devices to another private room, if possible, or to another group home, if necessary, to accommodate the resident's preexisting request for electronic monitoring. (This is the same requirement that applies, under the bill, whenever a roommate refuses to consent to, or imposes unattainable conditions on, the use of an EMD in a private double-occupancy room). Additional Provisions The bill would require a group home licensee, when seeking to obtain consent from residents for electronic monitoring, to comply with best practices that apply to professional interactions or communications being undertaken with persons with developmental disabilities, and particularly, with those persons who have difficulty with communication or understanding. The DHS would be authorized to impose any additional consent or consent declination requirements that it deems to be necessary. Any recordings produced by an EMD in a group home's common areas will be the property of the group home licensee, and are to be retained by the licensee for a period of 90 days. Any consent forms, consent declination forms, and notice of intent forms submitted under the bill are to be retained by the group home for a period of time to be determined by the DHS. The bill requires each group home employee to maintain the confidentiality of each recording that is retained by the licensee pursuant to the bill, and it prohibits group home employees from disclosing any such recording to any person who is not authorized by law to receive or review it. The bill similarly provides that any authorized representative who installs an EMD in a private single-occupancy or double-occupancy room, and any resident of a private double-occupancy room where an EMD has been installed, will be required to maintain the confidentiality of recordings produced by the installed device and will be prohibited from disclosing any such recording to any person who is not authorized by law to receive or review it. The bill would specify that nothing in its provisions is to be construed to prohibit a group home employee or resident, or a resident's authorized representative, from disclosing a recording, upon request or otherwise, to a State or local law enforcement agency or officer or to any other person who is authorized by law to investigate, prosecute, or take other official remedial action to address instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other improper care or treatment occurring in the group home. Within 180 days after the bill's effective date, each group home will be required to develop and submit to the division a written internal policy specifying the procedures and protocols that are to be used by program staff when installing and utilizing EMDs, when removing EMDs from the common areas, and when transferring, to another room or group home, a resident whose request for private electronic monitoring cannot be accommodated. The internal EMD policy is also to: 1) describe the make and model of EMDs that may be used within the group home; 2) authorize the use of various types of EMDs in the home; and 3) indicate how the licensee will ensure the proper installation, positioning, and use of EMDs in a private double-occupancy room, in a manner that is consistent with all conditions established by the consenting roommate, and establish protocols and procedures to be used by the licensee when an EMD in a private double-occupancy room makes an unauthorized recording of the roommate. Finally, the policy is to describe the procedures and protocols that will be used in the review of footage recorded by EMDs in the group home. Among other things, such procedures and protocols are to identify the persons who will have access to recorded footage, and the standards that are to identify, at a minimum, the types of information that will constitute incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, as are required to be submitted by a resident or the resident's authorized representative in order to receive authorization to access and review any footage that is recorded by an electronic monitoring device in the common areas of the group home. Whenever a licensee receives notice about a complaint, allegation, or reported incident of abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurring within the group home, the licensee will be required to forward to the DHS, for appropriate review, all potentially relevant footage recorded by EMDs in: 1) the common areas of the group home; 2) the private room of the resident who is the alleged victim of the abuse, neglect, or exploitation; and 3) any other private room where the abuse, neglect, or exploitation is alleged to have occurred. Notwithstanding the provisions of the bill to the contrary, any resident or authorized representative who is in possession of potentially relevant footage related to an incident of abuse, neglect, or exploitation will be required to turn over the pertinent recording or recordings to the licensee, upon request, for transmission to the division. However, the bill specifies that nothing in its provisions may be deemed to authorize a licensee to review, or to make copies of, any footage contained on those private recordings, absent the express written consent of the resident or authorized representative. Any residential program that fails to comply with the bill's requirements will be subject to a penalty of $5,000 for the first offense, and a penalty of $10,000 for the second or subsequent offense, as well as an appropriate administrative penalty, the amount of which is to be determined by the DHS. However, a group home licensee will not be subject to penalties or other disciplinary action for failing to comply with the bill's requirements if the group home licensee establishes, through documentation or otherwise, that the group home is exempt from compliance with the bill's provisions related to the placement of EMDs in unmonitored areas. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the assistant commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, will be required to annually report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation of the bill's provisions. Each annual report is to include: 1) a list of group homes that are currently using EMDs in the common areas; 2) a list of group homes that have not installed EMDs in the common areas; 3) a list of group homes that have failed to install and use EMDs in the common areas, despite the licensee's receipt of uniform resident consent, and an indication of the penalties imposed in response to such failures; 4) a list of group homes that are exempt from the bill's provisions; 5) a list of group homes that have authorized the use of EMDs in the private rooms of one or more residents, and an indication of the number and percentage of private single occupancy rooms and the number and percentage of private double occupancy rooms in each such facility where EMDs are installed and being used; 6) a list of group homes that have removed EMDs from the common areas, pursuant to the collective request of residents; 7) to the extent known, a list of group homes that have failed to remove EMDs from the common areas, despite the licensee's receipt of a collective request from residents, and an indication of the penalties imposed in response to such failures; and 8) recommendations for legislative, executive, or other action that can be taken to improve compliance with the bill or otherwise expand the consensual use of EMDs in group homes. The commissioner, in consultation with the assistant commissioners, will also be required to post, at a publicly accessible location on the department's Internet website, the various lists of group homes that the department has produced for its annual reports. Each list posted online is to be searchable both by location and by name of group home. The commissioner will be required to annually update the website to ensure that each posted list contains the most recently reported data. In addition to the commissioner's annual reports, the bill requires the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families to include, in each of the ombudsman's annual reports, a section evaluating the implementation of the bill and providing recommendations for improvement. The bill further requires the commissioner, within five years of the bill's effective date, to provide the Governor and Legislature with a written report that: 1) identifies best practices for the installation and use of EMDs under the bill; 2) identifies best practices and provides recommendations regarding the obtaining of informed consent for electronic monitoring under the bill; and 3) provides recommendations for the implementation of new legislation, policies, protocols, and procedures related to the use of EMDs in group homes. | Dead |
S721 | Exempts sales of investment metal bullion and certain investment coins from sales and use tax. | An Act exempting the sale of certain investment metal bullion and coins from the sales and use tax and amending P.L.1980, c.105. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
A2812 | Exempts sales of investment metal bullion and investment coins from sales and use tax. | Exempts sales of investment metal bullion and investment coins from sales and use tax. | In Committee |
A3908 | Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. | This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA), from the current rate of $50, pursuant to the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, to $140 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. The bill also stipulates that beginning January 1 of the following year after the bill's enactment, the PNA is to be increased annually by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $90 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. | In Committee |
A4607 | Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force. | This bill establishes the Special Education Transportation Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study and make recommendations for best practices in transporting students who receive special education and related services, including preventing, identifying, and responding to medical and behavioral emergencies. The task force is to consist of 18 members, including the Commissioner of Education, the Director of the Office of Special Education within Department of Education, the Special Education Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and their Families, and 14 public members to be appointed by the Governor in consultation with the commissioner. The bill directs the task force to study and make recommendations as to best practices for the transportation of students who receive special education and related services, including recommendations as to appropriate policies and training of school staff and school bus staff that address preventing, identifying, and responding to medical and behavioral emergencies that occur while transporting these students on a school bus. In undertaking its work under the provisions of the bill, the task force is to: (1) review best practices in other states; (2) review current school transportation policies specific to students who receive special education and related services; and (3) identify areas of concern for transportation of these students, including those related to safety, access to necessary equipment, communication with parents and legal guardians, and staffing needs. Pursuant to the provisions of the bill, the task force is to issue a report of its recommendations to the Governor and Legislature no later than 12 months after the organization of the task force. | In Committee |
A4557 | "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act"; bans abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization. | This bill, designated as the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," provides that an abortion is not to be performed or attempted if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater, with certain exceptions noted below. It is to be unlawful for a person to perform an abortion or attempt to do so, unless the person is a physician who has first made a determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child or has reasonably relied upon this determination made by another physician. In making the determination, a physician is to make inquiries of the pregnant woman and perform any medical examinations or tests necessary to accurately determine post-fertilization age. The bill provides an exception to the above provisions if: (1) the abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant women whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by, or arising from, the pregnancy itself; (2) the pregnancy is the result of rape, if reported to a law enforcement agency prior to the abortion; or (3) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest against a minor, if reported to a law enforcement agency or to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families prior to the abortion. In terminating or attempting to terminate a pregnancy under these circumstances, the physician may do so only in a manner which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless the termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk of death of the pregnant woman or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The bill also: outlines the procedures that a physician who performs or attempts an abortion must follow, consistent with the federal "Born Alive Infant Protection Act", if an exception provided in the bill exists and the pain-capable unborn child survives the abortion or attempted abortion; outlines the documentation from a law enforcement agency, Department of Defense victim assistance personnel, or DCCP, that a physician is required to file proving a pregnant woman or minor seeking an abortion has been raped or is a victim of incest; requires the woman seeking the abortion, the physician performing or attempting to perform the abortion, and a witness to sign an informed consent authorization form; and requires any physician who performs or attempts an abortion pursuant to the bill to annually submit a summary of all such abortions to the National Center for Health Statistics as provided by the conditions outlined in the bill. A person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion in violation of the bill's requirements is to be guilty of a crime of the third degree (punishable by three to five years imprisonment or a fine of up to $15,000, or both); however, a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed is to be immune from civil or criminal liability. A woman or the parent of a minor upon whom an abortion is performed in violation of the provisions of the the bill may, in a civil action against any person who committed the violation, obtain appropriate relief the conditions delineated in the bill. The bill, which is modeled on H.R.36 of the 114th Congress, is intended to address the concern that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain by 20 weeks after fertilization, if not earlier. Surgeons in the field of maternal and fetal medicine have found it necessary to sedate an unborn child to prevent the unborn child from engaging in vigorous movement in reaction to invasive surgery. It is the purpose of this Legislature to assert a compelling governmental interest in protecting the lives of unborn children from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates they are capable of feeling pain. | In Committee |
A4393 | Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support programming to address family homelessness. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support New Jersey families that are at risk for or experiencing homelessness. Under the bill, the State would be required to annually appropriate the amounts deposited into the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" to the Family Promise national organization for allocation to each of the independently-run local affiliates operating in the State of New Jersey. Family Promise is a 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization which provides services in the State of New Jersey through a network of independently-run local affiliates throughout the State. The "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" is meant to support the Family Promise New Jersey affiliates in their mission to coordinate local efforts that bring communities together to help families experiencing homelessness regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. Family Promise programming directly addresses family homelessness and primarily includes homelessness prevention services, emergency shelter services, and housing stabilization services. | In Committee |
A4287 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $12 million to Village of Ridgewood for drinking water infrastructure improvements related to per- and poly-fluoralkyl substance pollution. | This bill would appropriate $12 million from the General Fund to the Village of Ridgewood in Bergen County to offset the costs of infrastructure improvements that are needed to mitigate per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) pollution in the drinking water system. The Ridgewood Water Department, also known as Ridgewood Water, is a public community water system that serves over 60,000 residents in Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock, and Wyckoff. The sponsor's intent in introducing the legislation is to avoid the significant rate increases that Ridgewood Water would otherwise need to impose on its ratepayers in order to fund the PFAS-related infrastructure improvements. | In Committee |
A4288 | Provides exemption from DEP permit fees to municipalities after natural disaster involving flooding. | This bill provides that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would not charge any municipality a fee for any permit, approval, or other authorization necessary to construct or repair flood control facilities, or repair any damage to roads, buildings, or other structures sustained in the municipality due to a natural disaster involving flooding. To be eligible for the fee exemption, the municipality would be required to demonstrate to DEP, in a form and manner as determined by the department, that the permit, approval, or other authorization is necessary to repair damage sustained due to a natural disaster. The DEP would also circulate the necessary information by: 1) publishing a notice in the New Jersey Register; 2) posting application information in a prominent location on DEP's Internet website; 3) providing the information to the Department of Community Affairs; and 4) compiling the information for distribution to municipalities following a natural disaster. | In Committee |
A4260 | Prohibits DEP from requiring certain municipalities to adopt ordinance that controls tree removal and replacement. | This bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring any municipality that is assigned to Tier A under N.J.A.C.7:14A-25.3 to: adopt and enforce an ordinance that controls tree removal and replacement as part of the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program (program). Under the program, all municipalities are assigned either to Tier A or to Tier B as follows: (1) an entire municipality is assigned to Tier A if that municipality: (1) is located entirely or partially within an urbanized area as determined by the 2000 Decennial Census by the Bureau of the Census or a subsequent and superseding Decennial Census, and has a population of at least 1,000 within an urbanized area as determined by that Census; (2) has a population density of at least 1,000 per square mile, and a population of at least 10,000 as determined by that Census; (3) has a stormwater sewer system discharging directly into the salt waters of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, or Cape May counties; (4) requests Tier A assignment from the DEP; or (5) operates a stormwater discharge identified under N.J.A.C. 7:14A-25.2(a)4, provided that the DEP determines that such identification warrants assignment of the municipality to Tier A; and (2) every municipality not assigned to Tier A is assigned to Tier B. In November 2023, the DEP modified the New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) Tier A Municipal Stormwater General Permit to require Tier A municipalities to adopt a model ordinance governing tree removal and replacement. This bill would abrogate that provision of the general permit. | In Committee |
A4143 | Permits fair share affordable housing bonus credit for certain housing reserved for occupancy by teachers. | This bill authorizes municipalities to obtain fair share affordable housing bonus credit for certain housing reserved for occupancy by low- and moderate-income households with at least one member of the household who is employed as a teacher. The bill would specifically permit a municipality to obtain one credit and one-half bonus credit for each unit of affordable housing reserved for occupancy by a low- or moderate-income teacher. The bill defines a teacher as a person employed in a public or non-public school to teach in preschool through grade 12. The bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
A2657 | Concerns actions to foreclose right to redeem tax sale certificate under "tax sale law." | This bill would revise the process governing an action filed inSuperior Court by the holder of a tax lien on certain parcels of real property when that person institutes an action to foreclose the right of redemption of the tax lien. The right of redemption of a tax lien is the right of the owner of the property on which the tax lien exists to pay the holder of the tax lien and remove the lien from the property. Currently, under R.S.54:5-86, for persons who do not acquire a tax sale certificate from a municipality, an action to foreclose the right of redemption may be instituted at any time after the expiration of the term of two years from the date of sale of the tax sale certificate. Once an action to foreclose the right to redeem has been filed by a tax lien holder, the right to redeem continues to exist until barred by the judgment of the Superior Court. However, upon the action by the judge to bar the right of redemption and foreclose all liens other than municipal liens, the judge grants the holder of the tax sale certificate the title to the property, and that person becomes the owner of the property. At this point, the previous owner's rights to the property are permanently extinguished and the previous owner also loses any value, commonly referred to as equity, built up in the property through appreciation, or the payoff of a mortgage. For senior citizens, who oftentimes own their homes mortgage-free, or other property taxpayers who have paid down mortgages or whose property has considerably appreciated over time, the loss of the home in a tax lien foreclosure, and all of the equity in their home as well, could lead to homelessness or other hardship, as there are no funds with which to rent, or to purchase, another home. The provisions of this bill are intended to address the unfairness of the loss of that equity to property owners when the property was used as its owners' permanent residence. Under the bill, in the case of a parcel of real property that was the principal residence of the defendant in a tax lien foreclosure action filed in Superior Court, upon the approval of the action to foreclose the right of redemption by the Court, the Court would not grant the plaintiff (the tax lien holder) ownership of the property. Instead, the Court would order that all of the property taxes paid by the plaintiff, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption that were paid by the plaintiff, would be the first priority lien on the property, paramount to any other lien, including any outstanding municipal lien, and would order the sheriff of the county in which the parcel of real property is located to hold an Internet auction of the property. Once the Internet auction is over and the property has been sold, not later than 14 days following receipt by the sheriff of the moneys paid by the winning bidder at the auction, the sheriff must forward to the tax lien holder plaintiff the sum of all property taxes paid by the plaintiff, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption. The sheriff must also pay to the municipality the amount of any other municipal liens on the property plus any interest due and owing thereon, and retain for the sheriff's office sufficient funds to cover the costs of the auction. Once those payments are made, the sheriff would then forward any remaining moneys collected from the winning bidder of the auction to the defendant. This allows the defendant to retain funds to either purchase, or rent, another home. | Dead |
A3993 | Requires use of helmets when operating or riding upon electric bicycle or electric scooter. | This bill requires a person operating or riding upon a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter to wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. A person who violates the provisions of the bill is to be fined a maximum of $25 for a first offense and a maximum of $100 for any subsequent offense. | In Committee |
A3931 | Adds Bergen County as pilot county for purposes of "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act." | This bill revises the "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act" to permit municipalities in Bergen County to participate in the program. The "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act" authorizes the sharing of services for a municipal clerk, a chief financial officer, an assessor, a tax collector, a municipal treasurer, or a municipal superintendent of public works without regard to the tenure rights that persons who hold those positions may have. Under the pilot program, municipalities located in pilot counties may enter into shared services agreements, pursuant to the provisions of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," for the services of tenured local employees, and provide for the dismissal of any tenured local employees who are not selected to be service providers under the shared services agreement. This bill amends the definition of "pilot county" in the "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act" to add Bergen County to the list of counties permitted to participate in the pilot program. Currently, Atlantic, Camden, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Sussex, and Warren Counties are the seven counties whose municipalities may enter into such shared services agreements. | In Committee |
A3929 | Requires certain preliminary approval by municipality prior to licensure of cooperative sober living residence. | This bill requires preliminary approval by a municipality as a condition for the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to be able to issue a license to operate a cooperative sober living residence (CSLR), as defined in the bill. Specifically, the bill requires an applicant who seeks a license from the commissioner to operate a CSLR to first obtain, notwithstanding R.S.55:13B-7, a certificate of preliminary approval from the appropriate municipal officials in the municipality in which the CSLR is located. The bill requires the preliminary approval to consist of a letter or affidavit from the appropriate municipal officials that the proposed CSLR conforms to all applicable municipal ordinances and regulations adopted prior to the date of the request for preliminary approval, including but not limited to, zoning and land use ordinances and regulations. The bill further requires that the commissioner not approve an application for a license to operate a CSLR if the applicant fails to provide this certificate of preliminary approval to the commissioner with the license application. | In Committee |
A3927 | Makes $500,000 supplemental appropriation from General Fund to DEP for dredging and restoration of Peckman River. | This bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. The Peckman River is a tributary of the Passaic River that flows through the Townships of Cedar Grove and Verona in Essex County, and the Township of Little Falls and the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic County. The bill requires the supplemental appropriation to be allocated among the aforementioned municipalities. The bill directs the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to establish an application process to determine the amount of funding provided to each municipality. The application shall include such information as the commissioner may deem necessary to determine the amount of funding allocated to each applicant, including, but not limited to, the municipalities' joint plan for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. The bill further provides that: 1) the Peckman River Dredging and Restoration Project would include the dredging, restoration, cleaning, desnagging, and any other purpose or activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities' joint plan submitted to the commissioner; and 2) the Department of Environmental Protection would waive any permit fee for any activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities' joint plan submitted to the commissioner. | In Committee |
A3947 | Requires public officer or employee forfeit pension upon conviction of certain crimes; alters factors determining honorable service; opens pension to garnishment upon conviction of certain offenses. | This bill would change the factors to be considered by the boards of State or locally administered retirement systems hearing pension forfeiture cases concerning public employees. It would emphasize the nature of the misconduct, the relationship between the misconduct and the person's public duties, and the person's moral turpitude, and require the board to direct the person's entire pension be forfeited based on these factors. Additional factors may only be used subsequently to mitigate this full forfeiture to a partial forfeiture. Where a forfeiture is warranted, this bill requires that the person receive a refund of their contributions, but allows for the board to determine whether that refund is with or without any accrued interest. This bill would require the forfeiture of the pension or retirement benefit of a person if the person is convicted of any crime of the first or second degree, or the equivalent under the laws of another state or of the United States, when the offense is related to the person's performance in or circumstances flowing from the public office or employment held by the person. This bill also specifies that pension forfeiture applies in cases that result in qualifying guilty or nolo contendere pleas, in addition to convictions. This bill would also open a person's public pension to garnishment in order to fulfill court ordered restitution of public funds when a person has been convicted of, or plead guilty or nolo contendere to, certain offenses. | In Committee |
A3928 | Makes $500,000 supplemental from General Fund to DEP for dredging and restoration of Passaic River. | The bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to be provided as State Aid to the Township of Fairfield in Essex County for the dredging and restoration of the Passaic River. A portion of the Passaic River flows through the Township of Fairfield in Essex County. The bill requires the supplemental appropriation to be allocated to that municipality. The bill directs the municipality to file a plan with the commissioner, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, including such information as the commissioner may deem necessary. The bill further provides that: 1) The Township of Fairfield (Essex County) Passaic River Dredging and Restoration Project would include the dredging, restoration, cleaning, desnagging, and any other purpose or activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Passaic River, and provided for in the municipality's plan submitted to the commissioner; and 2) the DEP would be required to waive any permit fee for any activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Passaic River, and provided for in the municipality's plan submitted to the commissioner. | In Committee |
A3926 | Makes $500,000 supplemental appropriation from Property Tax Relief Fund to Borough of North Caldwell to fund restoration of Walker's Family Home at Walker's Park and Walker's Park property. | This bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Borough of North Caldwell, Essex County, to fund the restoration of the Walker's family home at Walker's Park and the Walker's Park property. Walker's Park is a 17-acre site acquired by North Caldwell in 2016. The sponsor intends that the funds appropriated in the bill would be used for the restoration, and that the Borough of North Caldwell be able to use the restored home and property as it sees fit. | In Committee |
A3909 | "Max's Law"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | This bill, to be known as "Max's Law," requires school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Under the bill, the instruction is required to include information on: (1) fentanyl and xylazine abuse prevention; (2) fentanyl and xylazine poisoning awareness; (3) the dangers of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl or any substituted derivative of fentanyl, xylazine, and counterfeit drugs; (4) recognizing the symptoms of fentanyl and xylazine poisoning; (5) how to respond to a fentanyl or xylazine poisoning emergency; and (6) laws that provide immunity or other protections for persons who report drug or alcohol use, or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol poisoning or overdoses for themselves or others. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate resources designed to implement the requirements established under the bill. The information is required to utilize information and resources provided by: (1) the National Institutes of Health; (2) the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; (3) the United States Department of Health and Human Services; (4) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; or (5) any State, county, or municipal department or agency. The bill requires the Department of Education to post and maintain on its Internet website: (1) information for instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine provided to school districts; (2) informational materials containing awareness and safety information for school staff, students, and parents, on opioid poisoning prevention; (3) information on outreach organizations with resources concerning opioid awareness and opioid poisoning prevention; and (4) preventative mental health resources available from applicable federal, state, county, or municipal departments and agencies. Xylazine, commonly referred to as "tranq," is a non-opioid sedatitve, or tranquilizer. While xylazine is not considered a controlled substance in the United States, it is not approved for use in people. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that xylazine and fentanyl mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine and to honor the memory of Max Lenowitz of Woodcliff Lake, a beloved son, brother, and friend, and the thousands of other New Jersey residents who have lost their lives to fentanyl or xylazine poisoning. | In Committee |
AJR155 | Establishes "Autism and Developmental Disabilities Study Commission." | This joint resolution establishes the "Autism and Developmental Disabilities Study Commission," which will consist of seven members, including the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee; the Commissioner of Human Services, or the commissioner's designee; one member to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and one member to be appointed by the Governor. Under the resolution, the commission would study how certain organizations, including hospitals, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, and courts, train their employees to identify and interact with people with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. The members of the commission are to be appointed within 60 days from the date of enactment of the resolution, and the commission is to issue a report one year after the date of its organization. The commission would submit the report, together with any recommendations it may have for legislative or regulatory action, to the Governor and the Legislature, and would dissolve 30 days after the issuance of its report. | In Committee |
A3916 | Establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with theft of motor vehicle be detained prior to trial under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person charged with theft of a motor vehicle is subject to pretrial detention if, during the course of the theft, the person engaged in conduct that caused death or serious bodily injury to another person or engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person. Under current law, a person is guilty of theft of a motor vehicle if the person unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, another person's motor vehicle with the purpose to deprive that person of the motor vehicle. Theft of a motor vehicle is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Additionally under current law, courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of defendants who are found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. The bill provides that if, upon motion by the prosecutor, the court finds probable cause a defendant committed theft of a motor vehicle, and during the course of the theft engaged in conduct that caused death or serious bodily injury to another person or engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person, there would be a rebuttable presumption that the person be detained pending trial because no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or combination thereof would reasonably assure the safety of any other person or the community. The presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of a preponderance of the evidence in support of the defendant. Under current law, this rebuttable presumption applies when the court finds probable cause that the defendant committed murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. | In Committee |
AR115 | Urges Congress and President of US to enact "Kids Online Safety Act." | This resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Kids Online Safety Act." Social media use is associated with poor mental health outcomes for minors. Social media platforms are designed to promote addictive behavior patterns, encouraging its users to engage with social media more frequently and for a greater length of time. As a result, over the past decade, the rate of social media use has risen significantly among both tween (children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old) and teenage (children between the ages of 13 and 17 years old) populations. Simultaneously, the prevalence of mental illness among children and adolescents has grown at an alarming rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36.7 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 report feeling sad or hopeless, 18.8 percent have seriously considered attempting suicide, and 15.7 percent have developed a suicide plan. A seminal 2020 psychological study found strong associations between increased social media use and higher rates of mental illness among minors, especially adolescent girls. Since then, several studies have published findings to support the negative impact of social media on depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia among children and adolescents. Despite this growing wealth of research, the social media sector has yet to meaningfully address the mental health impact of its technology on minors. The "Kids Online Safety Act" was introduced by United States Senator Richard Blumenthal and various cosponsors and would promote data safety, prevent and mitigate patterns of use that indicate or encourage addictive behaviors, expand parental control features, and require social media platforms to prevent promotion of harmful material for minors. By enacting the "Kids Online Safety Act," Congress and the President of the United States can address the growing mental health crisis associated with social media use among children and adolescents. | In Committee |
AJR154 | Designates April of each year as "Autism Acceptance Month" in NJ. | This resolution designates April of each year as "Autism Acceptance Month" in New Jersey to coincide with National Autism Acceptance Month. Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by atypical development in socialization, communication, and behavior, symptoms that generally appear before three years of age and continue over a lifetime. People with autism face a variety of communication, socialization, safety, and financial challenges. Although there is no known cure for autism, research suggests that early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the cost of lifetime care and improve outcomes for people with autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 36 American children born today will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. New Jersey has the highest rate of autism in the nation, and the prevalence of autism in the State continues to exceed and outpace the rate of autism in other states. | In Committee |
A3834 | Requires school districts to let nonpublic school students participate in district high school interscholastic athletics. | This bill requires school districts to allow students who attend nonpublic schools to try out for, and participate in, a high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence. The nonpublic school student is required to provide proof of residence in the district, and to meet the sports participation requirements established by the district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examination, insurance, fees, age, and academic requirements. The nonpublic school student is also to comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad. A board of education may charge a nonpublic school student, other than a student with financial hardship, a fee no greater than the actual cost per pupil of participating in the sport. | In Committee |
A3832 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $5,000 income tax deduction. | This bill permits volunteer firefighters and first aid or rescue squad members to claim an additional exemption of $5,000 to be taken as a deduction from their gross income if they meet certain qualifications. Under the bill, firefighters may claim the $5,000 deduction if they: 1) volunteered during the entire tax year; 2) performed 60% of fire duty; and 3) had, by January 1st of the tax year, attained the rank of Firefighter I Certified according to approved standards. To satisfy the "60% of fire duty" requirement, volunteer firefighters without duty hours must have responded to 60% of the regular alarms and drills in which the department or force participated and volunteer firefighters with duty hours must have at least 400 duty hours during a calendar year of which not more than 50% was for drills. First aid or rescue squad members may claim the deduction if they: 1) volunteered during the entire tax year; 2) performed 10% of rescue duty; and 3) had, by January 1st of the tax year, either passed an approved training program or qualified as an emergency medical technician. To satisfy the "10% of rescue duty" requirement, first aid or rescue squad members who volunteer with duty hours must complete at least 400 hours of duty during the year, of which not more than 50% is for drills. If they volunteer without duty hours, the squad members must attend and render first aid at not less than 10% of the regular alarms and participate in 60% of the drills. The bill defines duty hours as those during which volunteers committed themselves to respond to alarms. The bill requires eligible volunteers to submit proof with their tax claim that they are entitled to the deduction. The Director of the Division of Taxation is responsible for establishing the manner of this proof. An official of each fire department or force is responsible for providing a list of firefighters who are eligible for the deduction for the previous tax year to the Department of Community Affairs by March 31st. Similarly, an official of the rescue or first aid squad is responsible for providing a list of squad members who are eligible for the deduction for the previous tax year to the Department of Health and Senior Services by March 31st. The lists are to be made available to the Director of the Division of Taxation for verification purposes. An official who files a false list is subject to prosecution under section 29 of P.L.1987, c.76 (C.54:52-19), which makes it a crime of the fourth degree to knowingly certify a false statement with the intent to evade a tax. Fourth-degree crimes are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
A3587 | Upgrades burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree; requires mandatory period of parole ineligibility if residence was occupied at time of offense. | This bill would upgrade burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree and provide that an offender is not eligible for early release if a person was present in the residence at the time of the offense. Currently, all burglary offenses are crimes of the third degree unless the offender purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on someone or if the offender is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon, in which case it is a crime of the second degree. This bill would provide that it is also a crime of the second degree to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. Additionally, the bill would provide that, if a person was present in the dwelling at the time of the burglary, the offender would be subject to the provisions of subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.117 (C.2C:43-7.2), commonly known as the "No Early Release Act (NERA)," which requires that certain offenders must serve a minimum 85% of the sentence of imprisonment imposed for the offense. A crime of the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for five to 10 years, up to a $150,000 fine, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, up to a $15,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
A3586 | Elevates leaving scene of accident resulting in death to crime of first degree. | This bill elevates the crime of leaving the scene of an accident from a crime of the second degree to a crime of the first degree if the accident results in the death of another person. Current law provides that a motor vehicle operator who knows he is involved in an accident and knowingly leaves the scene of that accident under circumstances that violate the law which requires that the operator (1) provide appropriate identification, (2) render assistance to any victim, and (3) when necessary, contact law enforcement, is guilty of a crime of the second degree if the accident results in the death of another person. A crime of the second degree is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000 or both. This bill will elevate leaving the scene of an accident to a crime of the first degree if the accident results in death of another person. A crime of the first degree is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | In Committee |
AR96 | Condemns Hamas for its attacks on Israel and supports Israel's right to exist. | This House strongly condemns Hamas for its terroristic attacks against Israel and the atrocities perpetrated against innocent people. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a massive, unprovoked war on Israel by air, land, and sea. Hamas terrorists crossed the land border and began killing Israelis, abducting people as hostages, slaughtering ordinary civilians and entire families, including babies and elderly people, setting houses on fire, and raping women. Since October 7, 2023, Hamas has launched over 4,500 rockets into southern and central Israel, at least 1,400 people have been confirmed dead in Israel, of whom 30 were American citizens, and another 3,400 have been injured. Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization, designated as such by the United States and the European Union, for its history of suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Jewish people and the State of Israel. Israel is a non-NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States, and the United States has declared its commitment to Israel, reaffirming our 75-year partnership with Israel and the Jewish people in the advancement of our shared democratic values and cultural ties. The Israeli people and its government have shown unwavering bravery in response to the unprovoked act of terrorism by Hamas. The State of New Jersey is proud of its strong relationship with Israel and its citizens, and reaffirms its commitment to Israel in the face of these terrorist attacks. New Jersey condemns the terrorist acts of Hamas against Israel and supports Israel as it defends its right to exist. | In Committee |
A3411 | Requires MVC and AAA to contract to allow for provision of certain motor vehicle services at AAA facilities. | The bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to enter into a contract with AAA to allow for the provision of certain motor vehicle services to AAA customers at certain AAA facilities throughout the State. The contract would be required, at a minimum and to the extent practicable, to allow for the following motor vehicle services to be provided at certain AAA facilities: (1) motor vehicle registration renewals, replacements, and duplicates; (2) driver's license renewals, duplicates, and upgrades to a REAL-ID license; (3) non-driver identification card renewals, duplicates, and upgrades to a REAL-ID identification card; (4) license plate surrenders; and (5) vision tests. The bill also requires, no later than one month after the contact agreement is signed by both the commission and AAA, the commission to publish on its Internet website information concerning the motor vehicle services to be offered at AAA facilities throughout the State. | In Committee |
A3392 | Prohibits mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 as condition of attending public K-12 schools. | This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Health and other State governmental entities from requiring immunization against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a condition of attendance at a public primary or secondary school. | In Committee |
A3359 | 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 |
A398 | Creates offense of making false child abuse report; permits assessment of penalty. | This bill makes it a crime of the third degree to knowingly or willfully make a false report of child abuse. A crime of the third degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Also, the bill permits the assessment of an additional civil penalty of up to $10,000, payable to the State Treasurer for use by the Department of Children and Families. | In Committee |
A1754 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption. | This bill permits eligible volunteer firefighters and first aid or rescue squad members to take an additional $2,000 exemption as a deduction from gross income under the New Jersey gross income tax. The bill specifically sets forth eligibility requirements for persons who want to claim the additional personal exemption. Fire company members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 60 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills, and have attained the rank of Firefighter I Certified. First aid and rescue squad members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 10 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills, and have passed an approved training program or qualified as an emergency medical technician. Volunteers that have duty hours would be eligible if they serve at least 400 duty hours during any calendar year, with no more than 50 percent as drills. The bill requires the Director of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Commissioner of Health, to promulgate rules or regulations to effect certain provisions of the bill. The official in charge of each fire department or force or first aid or rescue squad is required to submit annually to the appropriate State agency a list of members who have met the committee substitute requirements. | In Committee |
A715 | Provides research and development tax credit under gross income tax. | This bill allows taxpayers subject to the New Jersey gross income tax to claim a credit for research and development (R&D) expenses and payments in the same way that taxpayers subject to the corporation business tax may claim the credit. The credit is based on the federal R&D tax credit, and is intended to incentivize R&D spending, which will stimulate technological and economic growth in New Jersey. | In Committee |
AR57 | Urges immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of marine life off the coast of New Jersey. | This resolution urges the State and federal governments to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of whales and dolphins off the coast of New Jersey. Since December 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recorded at least twelve whale deaths off the coast of New Jersey, eight of which have been humpback whales. In addition, there were also five deaths of dolphins recorded in February 2023 alone. Most of these deaths remain unexplained, but have occurred in or near areas of offshore wind energy development. Given the unprecedented number of these recent deaths, their occurrence in or near areas of offshore wind energy development may be more than coincidental and warrants State and federal investigation. A possible cause of these deaths is the increased use of sonar and other underwater mapping technologies for the development of offshore wind energy projects, which may interfere with marine mammals' ability to hear, communicate, and navigate underwater. Therefore, an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping for these offshore wind energy projects is urged, so that further scientific study of these projects' impact on marine life can be conducted. | In Committee |
AR77 | Declares support for Ukraine; expresses solidarity with its citizens. | The resolution declares support for Ukraine in the current conflict with Russia and expresses solidarity with the people of Ukraine. This resolution condemns the actions of Russia, including the attacks and bombings of various regions of Ukraine, such as Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odessa and importantly, the city of Kyiv. This resolution calls on Russia to stop the violence and work to bridge peace with the Ukrainian people. Further, this resolution condemns the violations of international law committed by Russia in the annexation of Crimea, blocking of parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Finally, this resolution recognizes and supports Ukraine as a sovereign state, one that is free to choose its own leader and future. | In Committee |
A1111 | Requires certain commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with certain global positioning systems. | This bill requires a commercial motor vehicle operating upon the public highways of this State to be equipped with a global positioning system navigation program that provides information about upcoming highway infrastructure with low vertical clearance and weight restrictions and dynamic route directions that account for commercial motor vehicle restrictions. | In Committee |
A968 | Authorizes municipal challenge to non-redevelopment housing projects ordered by COAH unless order is based on exclusionary zoning; excludes flood-prone land from affordable housing vacant land analysis; provides housing obligation cap. | This bill allows a municipality to challenge an order by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to construct, or allow to be constructed, a non-redevelopment housing project on undeveloped land. The municipal challenge would be successful, unless the order by COAH is based on exclusionary zoning practices occurring in the municipality at the time the order is made. Additionally, this bill caps the number of units a municipality may have allocated as its fair share affordable housing obligation with regard to the size of the municipal population. Current law provides that no municipality shall be required to address a fair share of affordable housing units beyond 1,000 low and moderate income units within 10 years from the grant of substantive certification; except that a municipality may be allocated more than 1,000 units if, based upon an evidentiary hearing, it is found likely that the municipality, through its zoning powers, could create a realistic opportunity for more than 1,000 low and moderate income units within that 10-year period. For some municipalities in the State, this many additional units may increase the overall municipal population dramatically. In order to prevent the disparate impact this can create for municipalities with small populations, this bill provides that an allocation of units to a municipality as its fair share shall not exceed an amount that would result in an increase of the municipal population by more than five percent. Finally, this bill requires the exclusion of flood-prone land when computing a municipal adjustment of available land resources as part of the determination of a municipality's fair share affordable housing obligation. Currently, land may not be considered in determining a municipality's available land resources for affordable housing purposes if it contains any one of various special features, consisting of: (a) land owned by a government entity, and intended for a public purpose, (b) certain park land, open space and other land dedicated for conservation, (c) certain very small land parcels held in private ownership, (d) historic and architecturally important sites, (e) agricultural land with restricted development rights, (f) sites designated for active recreation, and (g) environmentally sensitive land where development is prohibited by law. This bill would also exclude from determinations of available land resources for affordable housing purposes any land that is (1) lower than the most recent "flood elevation determination," measured under federal standards, (2) lower than the applicable flood elevation standard required under regulations adopted pursuant to the "Flood Hazard Area Control Act," P.L.1962, c.19 (C.58:16A-50 et seq.), or (3) within 100 feet of category one waters, as designated by the Department of Environmental Protection. As defined under 44 C.F.R.59.1, a "flood elevation determination" refers to a determination by the Federal Insurance Administrator of the water surface elevations of a "base flood," also understood as a flood level that has a one percent or greater chance of occurrence in any given year. This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules and regulations to guide determinations of flood-prone lands by the first day of the seventh month next following enactment. This bill remains inoperative until the first day of the seventh month next following enactment. | In Committee |
A1854 | 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. 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, undermining the ability of local health departments to operate as the front line service ensuring health of the public. 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. The re-establishment of dedicated, Public Health Priority Funding is critical to allowing local health departments to plan for operational expenses and support core local public health programs. | In Committee |
A977 | Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill indexes for inflation the taxable income brackets under the New Jersey gross income tax. This adds to the State personal income tax a common-sense taxpayer protection called inflation indexing that has been provided under the federal income tax since the 1980s. Inflation indexing means that tax brackets are revised annually to reflect nominal price and wage increases that result from inflation. When tax brackets are not indexed for inflation it results in what is called "bracket creep," which is an increase in effective tax rates caused by inflation. Higher income can bump a taxpayer into the next tax bracket, even if that higher income is merely keeping pace with inflation. A lack of inflation adjustment can also push more of a taxpayer's income into the highest bracket for which they qualify. The final result is a tax increase that occurs without any legislation being passed. Indexing addresses this by altering each bracket level each year by the level of annual inflation. Under this bill the inflation adjustment for taxable income brackets is the national consumer price index for all urban consumers as prepared by the United States Department of Labor. This is the same measure of inflation that is used for indexing the taxable income brackets under the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill compares an annual inflation measure from the year prior to the one for which taxes will be imposed to a base year measure from the year prior to the one in which the bill is enacted. This delay allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to determine the adjusted amounts when the tax year begins. | In Committee |
ACR46 | Proposes amendment to New Jersey Constitution to prohibit exclusionary zoning and clarify municipal obligations regarding affordable housing construction. | This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify municipal obligations regarding affordable housing. The amendment would place language in the State Constitution to specifically prohibit the practice of exclusionary zoning. Exclusionary zoning can prevent the development of low income housing units and has been declared illegal by federal and State courts. Pursuant to the amendment, towns would not have an obligation to actually construct, or cause to be constructed, affordable housing units. This would eliminate litigation that results in the forced construction of specific residential projects. It has been more than 40 years since the first court case was initiated in New Jersey concerning the opportunities for poor and minority families to obtain affordable housing. The opinion of the New Jersey Supreme Court in this case and subsequent decisions have become known as the Mount Laurel doctrine. Since that time, the demographics of the State have changed markedly, including increased population growth and density, wider disparity of income levels among residents, and perhaps most importantly, tremendous increases in the average cost of housing. The early judicial decisions concerning this issue identified certain local government zoning practices as a bar to increasing the opportunities for housing for low and moderate income households. A somewhat melded judicial and statutory scheme was created to impel municipalities to eliminate these practices voluntarily. Certain regulatory measures were implemented requiring municipal financial expenditures if certain zoning mechanisms were not embraced. Competing financial concerns for resources, such as new infrastructure and schools, have played a role in the complicated interpretation of the Mount Laurel mandate. This amendment is intended to overturn the Mount Laurel mandate regarding the actual construction of affordable housing units and eliminate the so-called "builder's remedy" lawsuit, while reaffirming the State's commitment to elimination discriminatory zoning practices. The courts could remedy constitutional violations of the prohibition on discriminatory zoning by striking down zoning ordinances, rather than forcing the specific construction of any particular project. | In Committee |
A2490 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
ACR58 | 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 2024, $1,500 in tax year 2025, $2,000 in tax year 2026, and $2,500 in tax year 2027, 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 |
A1331 | Gradually reduces CBT rate. | This bill gradually reduces the corporation business tax rate from 9 percent to 2.5 percent of income. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, the rate will be 7 percent. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the rate will be 5 percent. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the rate will be 3 percent. For privilege periods ending after December 31, 2023, the rate will 2.5 percent. For a taxpayer with less than $100,000 of income, the rate of tax will be reduced faster. Currently, the rate is 7.5 percent for taxpayers with income between $50,000 and $100,000, and 6.5 percent for taxpayers with less than $50,000 of income. Pursuant to this bill, the rate will be 3.5 percent for taxpayers with less than $100,000 of income for privilege periods ending between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. For privilege periods ending after December 31, 2021, the rate will be 2.5 percent. A "privilege period" is the 12 month accounting period for which tax is due for the privilege of doing business in the State. | In Committee |
A1309 | Provides tax credits to companies contributing to loan and loan redemption program for residents who attend institutions of higher education in State and work at such company upon graduation. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Talent Retention Loan and Loan Redemption Program within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The goal of the program is to keep the most talented students in New Jersey from leaving the State during college or at the beginning of their working career. The program is a financial aid program that offers certain New Jersey high school students who attend college in New Jersey, loans of up to $10,000 per year and up to a $40,000 maximum, and then forgiveness of those loans in exchange for employment with certain New Jersey companies. The companies that are eligible under this program to employ students are the companies that provide the funding for the loan program through donations to the New Jersey Talent Retention Loan Fund which is also established in HESAA. Employers that contribute to the loan fund are eligible to take a tax credit equal to 50% of the amount contributed in the taxable year of the contribution. Contributions to the loan fund will be used to fund loans for eligible students. The employer is eligible to take an additional tax credit equal to 50% of the contribution by employing students who have received loans under the program upon their graduation. For every $40,000 contributed to the loan fund, an employer may select a student who receives a loan under the program and that student is then contractually obligated to apply to and accept an offer of employment with that company before he is eligible to accept employment with any other company that has made a contribution. A student who wants to participate in the program must submit an application to HESAA. HESAA will accept students in accordance with standards of academic merit that it is directed to establish under the bill. The accepted students will be placed on a qualified applicants list. Employers and HESAA will then select from among the qualified applicants list to decide which students will be admitted into the program. Companies that contribute the greatest amount to the loan fund will select first and then other companies will make selections in descending order of contribution amount until all monies in the loan fund for that year have been disbursed. A student admitted to the program will then be eligible for a loan from HESAA of up to $10,000 per year with a maximum amount of $40,000 for a baccalaureate degree program and $20,000 for an associate degree program. After graduation, the student must obtain employment with one of the employers that contributed to the loan fund. If the participant does not obtain employment with a qualified employer within 18 months of graduation, the participant will have to begin paying back the loans. If the participant does find employment with a qualified employer, the student will have 25% of the loan amount redeemed for every 12 months of full time employment, until the loan is completely forgiven. | In Committee |
A2712 | Establishes NJ Military Family Relief Fund; provides for designation on State gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to military family relief fund. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the military family relief fund. Under the bill, a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" is established in the Department of the Treasury. Moneys in the fund would be held by the State Treasurer and made available for the purposes of the bill. The purpose of the military family relief fund would be to provide grants up to $2,500 to defray the costs of food, housing, medical services, and other essential expenses for (1) members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, and their families, (2) members of the New Jersey National Guard and their families, (3) veterans and their families, or (4) the surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces, or a reserve component thereof, a member of the national guard, or a veteran. The bill provides that the Legislature would annually appropriate all funds deposited in the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which would be credited with: (1) moneys received by the State as gifts, grants, or donations for the purpose of military family relief, including, at the discretion of the Adjutant General, grants accepted by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; (2) moneys that the Legislature may appropriate; and (3) other moneys made available including, but not limited to, funds provided by the federal government. Under the bill, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs would determine the application process, and establish the eligibility documentation required for a person to be considered a qualified applicant, and issue the grant from the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund," if adequate moneys are available, to those qualified applicants. To be qualified, the applicant is required to be a New Jersey resident and must have resided in the State for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months immediately prior to submitting an application. An applicant must also provide documentation of financial hardship to the department in order to receive the grant and is prohibited from receiving a grant from the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" more than once in any 12-month period. Under the bill, "veteran" means an individual who received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions from active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, or the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
A1352 | Modifies membership of State Capitol Joint Management Commission. | The State Capitol Joint Management Commission was created to maintain the House Complex, consisting of the State House and the State House Annex. The complex is home to the New Jersey Legislature and all its members and employees. Executive officials, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing construction to the State House, have not utilized the House Complex to the same extent as the Legislature. In order to more appropriately balance decision-making authority regarding management and maintenance of the House Complex, this bill changes the composition of the commission. This bill increases the legislative representation in the commission, with two members each being appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. Additionally, the executive members of the commission, the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, the General Services Administrator and two members appointed by the Governor, will become non-voting members of the commission. | In Committee |
A1354 | Requires psychological examination when parent loses custody of child and wants to regain custody of child who is in care or custody of grandparent. | This bill requires the parents or parent of a minor child who have lost custody due to being deemed unfit or for other reasons, but have not had their parental rights terminated, and the child is in the care or custody of a grandparent, to undergo a psychological examination prior to the court changing the custody arrangement, if such change is appropriate. Under current law, parents may lose custody of their children for reasons which include, but are not limited to, being grossly immoral, unfit, or for neglecting the child. Under the bill, if they have not had their parental rights terminated by the court, and the child is in the care or custody of a grandparent, then the parent or parents are required by the court to undergo a psychological examination before the court alters the custody arrangement, if altering the custody arrangement is appropriate. The bill also amends R.S.9:2-10 to direct the court to require a psychological examination of a parent or parents who have lost custody of their child and want to regain custody, but the child is in the care or custody of a grandparent, who has instituted an action for custody pursuant to R.S.9:2-9. | In Committee |
A1105 | Exempts from sales and use tax sales of medical marijuana. | This bill exempts from the sales and use tax the sale of medical marijuana authorized pursuant to the "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act," N.J.S.A.24:6I-1 et seq. The Department of the Treasury has interpreted the "Sales and Use Tax Act" to apply to the dispensation of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is prescribed in New Jersey for several chronic and debilitating diseases, such as terminal cancer, multiple sclerosis, and seizure disorders, among other life altering conditions. Drugs sold pursuant to a doctor's prescription are exempt from the sales and use tax; however, medical marijuana is still subject to the sales and use tax despite being prescribed by doctors. The patients who are prescribed medical marijuana will incur the full cost since medical marijuana is federally prohibited from being insured. The bill's intent is to help patients, who are suffering from a chronic and debilitating disease, afford their prescribed medication by removing the burden of taxation. Thus, the bill eliminates the sales tax imposed on medical marijuana purchases. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to medical marijuana sold on or after the first day of the first month of the first calendar quarter beginning at least 90 days after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
AJR82 | Designates May 27 of each year as "Richard Rescorla Day." | This joint resolution designates May 27 of each year as "Rick Rescorla Day" in New Jersey. Colonel Rick Rescorla, born as Cyril Richard Rescorla on May 27, 1939 in the town of Hayle in Cornwall, England, was a United States Army officer and decorated Vietnam veteran. Rick Rescorla, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Calvary Division, successfully led his platoon during America's first major battle of the Vietnam conflict, the Battle of Ia Drang. Rick Rescorla's leadership and bravery in Vietnam earned him two Bronze Stars, a Silver Star, the Purple Heart, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. On September 11, 2001, Rick Rescorla, a resident of Morristown, New Jersey, was serving as Vice President of Security for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter at their headquarters in the World Trade Center. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Rick Rescorla dismissed Port Authority announcements to remain in the building and led a massive evacuation of Morgan Stanley's 2,700-person workforce located in the South Tower. After the last of the employees had evacuated the South Tower, Rick Rescorla returned to the building, despite fears that the towers would fall, to make a final sweep. Rick Rescorla was last seen alive accompanying firemen up the stairwell on the tenth floor, shortly before the South Tower collapsed, moving toward danger much in the same way he had done 36 years prior at the Battle of Ia Drang. Although Rick Rescorla's remains were never found, the brave military officer is forever memorialized at the Raptor Trust Bird Rehabilitation Center in Long Hill, New Jersey where his epitaph is enshrined at the bald eagle sanctuary that served as a place of solace for him and his wife. Additional public memorials and accolades include the following: · an engraving at the South Pool, on Panel S-46 at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum; · a statue of Rick on permanent display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia, along with a dedicated portion of the museum's forthcoming exhibit covering the Global War on Terror;· the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience created by the Department of Homeland Security, · a passenger train operated by Great Western Railways in the United Kingdom commissioned in honor of Rick; · a plaque honoring Rick at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial;· a 2009 induction into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame;· a stone monument in Cornwall, England; · the Department of Homeland Security's highest honor, the Distinguished Public Service Medal, awarded posthumously; and· the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian award, award posthumously. It is fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate May 27 of each year, Rick Rescorla's birthday, as "Rick Rescorla Day" to honor a decorated Vietnam veteran who made a valiant and selfless sacrifice on one of our nation's darkest days. | In Committee |
A2645 | Dedicates State reserve of certain federal funds to in-person and hybrid school districts. | This bill intends to reward and compensate those school districts that offered substantial in-person instruction in the 2020-2021 school year for their extraordinary efforts and the costs incurred in meeting the challenges of educating children during a global pandemic. The bill requires that the total amount of the State reserve of moneys received by New Jersey under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II (ESSER II) Fund be distributed to "in-person school districts" and "hybrid school districts." The distribution would be made on an equal per pupil basis, except that in-person school districts would receive a per pupil amount that is 1.5 times greater than the per pupil amount received by hybrid school districts. Under the bill, a hybrid school district is defined as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on more than 25 percent but less than 75 percent of school days during the 2020-2021 school year. An in-person school district is defined as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on 75 percent or more of school days during the 2020-2021 school year. The ESSER II Fund was authorized pursuant to the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. Of the total $1.23 billion that New Jersey received from the ESSER II Fund, a minimum of 90 percent is required to be awarded to local education agencies (LEAs) in proportion to the amount of funds the LEAs received under part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. No more than 10 percent of the funds received by New Jersey under the ESSER II Fund may be reserved by the State Department of Education for certain emergency needs to address issues responding to COVID-19. | In Committee |
A1346 | Requires screening of certain high-risk pregnancies and reporting of fetal deaths. | This bill requires that various actions be taken during the perinatal period, which is from the 20th week of gestation through the 28th day after birth, in order to improve birth outcomes and protect the health of low-income expectant mothers who may be at risk for complications. Specifically, the bill amends R.S.26:8-4, which currently requires reporting of births and deaths (including fetal deaths) to the State registrar, to require that fetal deaths occurring 20 or more weeks after gestation also be reported to a State electronic birth certificate and perinatal database. In addition, the bill requires that health care professionals in clinics providing prenatal care to patients and care to newborns apply the criteria contained in the most recent edition of the Guidelines for Perinatal Care, developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to determine which high-risk conditions require referral to a perinatologist, which is a specialist in the care of mothers and fetuses at higher-than-normal risk for complications. | In Committee |
A1311 | Extends certain federal income tax advantages of individual health savings accounts to individual taxpayers under the New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill allows gross income tax advantages in connection with Health Savings Accounts in conformity with the federal income tax advantages extended to these accounts under recent federal law. The bill provides a gross income tax deduction for deposits to, and an exemption for withdrawals from, health savings accounts. Individuals can use these accounts to cover out-of-pocket medical care costs under high-deductible medical care plans. The bill also excludes the earnings in an account from gross income taxation, as the account earnings are excluded from federal income taxation. The federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 permits eligible individuals to establish health savings accounts (HSAs) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004. Under the federal income tax, HSA contributions are deductible from adjusted gross income, contributions grow tax-free over the years, and amounts can be distributed tax-free to pay or reimburse qualified medical expenses. HSAs are similar to Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs) established as tax-advantaged accounts under the federal income tax and accorded similar tax-free treatment under the New Jersey gross income tax. However, HSAs are more flexible and available to many more individuals than MSAs. Taxpayers can be expected to embrace them enthusiastically because the federal tax benefits are generous; HSAs are akin to tax-favored accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s. Eligible individuals are individuals who are covered by a high-deductible health plan. A high-deductible health plan is a health plan that has a deductible that is at least $1,000 for self-only coverage or $2,000 for family coverage. The policy must also have an out-of-pocket maximum that can be no greater than $5,000 for self-only coverage and $10,000 for family coverage. Out-of-pocket expense includes deductibles, copayments, and other amounts (other than premiums) that the individual must pay for covered benefits under their medical care plan. This bill makes contributions made by or on behalf of an eligible individual that are deductible for federal income tax purposes deductible by the individual for gross income tax purposes. Also, the bill makes employer contributions to an HSA excludible from gross income to the extent the contribution would be deductible if made by the employee. The maximum aggregate annual contribution that can be made to an HSA, as set by federal law, is the lesser of 100 percent of the annual deductible under the high-deductible health plan, or the maximum deductible permitted under an MSA as adjusted for inflation. Contributions can be made to individual HSAs by individual and their employers. For 2018, the amount of the maximum high deductible is estimated to be $6,650 in the case of self-only coverage and $13,300 in the case of family coverage. Under the gross income tax as under the federal income tax, tax-free rollover contributions from Archer MSAs and other HSAs into an HSA will be permitted. Rollovers will not be subject to the annual contribution limits. Under the bill, distributions from an HSA for qualified medical expense (most medical expenses defined as deductible for federal income tax purposes) for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and dependents generally will be excludable from New Jersey gross income. Distributions from an HSA that are not for qualified medical expenses will be includable in New Jersey gross income. However, distributions that are not for qualified medical expenses will not be includable in gross income if they are made after death or disability, or after the individual attains the age of Medicare eligibility (age 65). HSAs give workers the opportunity to save tax-free for routine medical bills like doctor visits or medicines, the security of funds to cover the out-of-pocket expenses of a major illness, and the freedom of knowing that the account is worker-owned, not under the control of an insurance company, and is portable whenever a worker changes employers. During years when an individual's family health care spending is low, the money remaining in the HSA earns tax-free interest, dividends or gains and is available in the future when unexpected medical expenses arise. Health savings accounts are a new option which will give families access to affordable health care will reducing health insurance premiums. The tax advantages provided under federal law are not available under the current New Jersey gross income tax. This bill will extend that tax conformity. | In Committee |
A1498 | Revises Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program; requires all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. | This bill revises the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief ("ETR") Aid Program by requiring all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. Historically, energy providers and public utility companies were required to pay gross receipts and franchise taxes based on their use of public lands. For many decades, these taxes were paid directly to municipalities as a means of compensation for hosting such facilities. In the 1980s, the State began to collect these taxes on behalf of municipalities, distribute a portion of the proceeds to municipalities as State aid, and retain the remaining revenues for other State purposes. In the late 1990s, this practice was continued when the State established the ETR Aid program after reforming the taxation of energy providers and public utility companies. Under current law, the State is required to annually deposit a statutorily determined amount of monies into the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund" and distribute those monies to municipalities as ETR Aid. Every year, the total distribution of ETR Aid is required to increase based on inflation. During any year in which the State fails to provide this aid, the State is required to forego the collections of certain taxes on energy providers and public utilities (e.g., sales tax collections for energy services, corporation business tax collections from certain public utility companies, etc.), hereinafter referred to as "energy taxes." Under this bill, the ETR Aid program would be restructured to reflect the original design of the gross receipts and franchise taxes, wherein all energy taxes were paid directly to municipalities. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, and during each year thereafter, the bill requires the State Treasurer to: (1) determine the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided Statewide; (2) determine the amounts provided to each municipality; (3) direct each energy taxpayer to make direct payment of energy taxes to one or more municipalities; and (4) advise each municipality of the name of each energy taxpayer that would make direct payment of energy taxes to the municipality, the amounts owed therefrom, and the dates on which each payment would be provided. The State Treasurer would also be required to establish additional requirements concerning the payment of ETR Aid, including but not limited to dates on which each payment would be provided. The bill provides that whenever an energy tax payment is made directly to a municipality, the amount of the payment may be taken as a credit against the tax liability of the energy taxpayer, as prescribed by the State Treasurer. Additionally, the bill provides that beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided during any fiscal year is required to equal the greater of: (1) the total amount that would have been otherwise provided under current law; or (2) the total amount of energy taxes due and payable during that fiscal year. Consequently, the bill would prevent the State from retaining any portion of these energy tax collections for other State purposes. Under the bill, if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year exceed the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the difference would be distributed amongst all municipalities in proportion to the equalized assessed valuation of real and personal property owned by all energy taxpayers located within each municipality, as determined by the State Treasurer. Alternatively, the bill also provides that if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year is less than the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the State Treasurer is required to make such additional payments as are necessary, from the Property Tax Relief Fund, to ensure that each municipality receives the amount owed. During any fiscal year in which the State fails to comply with the requirements of this bill, the State would be required to forego the collection of all energy taxes. | In Committee |
A1314 | Revises and updates public utility franchise process; allows State's political subdivisions to revoke franchises; increases certain penalties. | This bill updates the laws concerning the awarding of a public utility (utility) privilege or franchise (franchise) by political subdivisions of the State and the process of approving the franchise by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Under the bill, all new franchises are to be for a term no longer than seven years. The bill provides in statute and enhances existing BPU rules and regulations on the process, terms, and conditions by which the BPU is to review and approve a franchise. The bill requires the BPU to deny approving a franchise granted by a political subdivision if the board finds that the utility is not able to continuously afford safe, adequate, and proper service within the political subdivision at just and reasonable rates. The bill allows a political subdivision of this State to revoke a franchise granted to a utility if the governing body of the political subdivision finds, after public hearing, that the utility has violated the terms and conditions of the franchise and passes a resolution, in a manner provided by law, revoking the franchise. If the political subdivision revokes a franchise, the political subdivision is to make provisions for the continuous and uninterrupted utility service within the political subdivision as determined by the BPU. Another utility operating in the State seeking to provide utility service to that political subdivision is to submit to the BPU a certified copy of the privilege or franchise granted by the political subdivision. If a political subdivision revokes a privilege or franchise and chooses to provide electric, water, or sewer utility service within the political subdivision in a manner provided by law, the political subdivision is to submit to the BPU a certified copy of a statement attesting to that fact. Further, the bill amends existing law to increase the civil penalties paid by a utility, person, or entity subject to the jurisdiction of the BPU for violating any law, rule, regulation, or order of the BPU. Civil penalties are to be increased from $100 a day to $25,000 for each violation, but penalties are not to exceed $2,000,000 for any series of related events. The bill establishes the "Utilities Civil Penalty Fund" in the BPU, into which the civil penalties collected are to be deposited. The monies in the fund are to be credited to utility customers in a manner to be determined by BPU regulation. Each customer is to be awarded a pro-rata share of the funds through a credit on the utility bill of a customer within 60 days after the date the BPU receives penalty monies recovered from a utility. Any monies received by the BPU that are not credited to utility customers shall be used by a public utility to improve utility service quality and reliability in the best interests of utility customers in a manner specified by the BPU. The bill prohibits civil penalties assessed against a utility from being recoverable from its ratepayers. | In Committee |
A1536 | "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 |
A1318 | Provides for vacancy in county surrogate, clerk, register of deeds and mortgages, and sheriff offices occurring 70 days before general election to be filled at second succeeding general election. | This bill provides that a vacancy in the offices of county surrogate, county clerk, county register of deeds and mortgages, and county sheriff will be filled at the second succeeding general election if the vacancy occurs 70 days before the general election. Under current law, when a vacancy occurs in these county offices, other than by expiration of the term, the Governor is required to fill the vacancy with the advice and consent of the Senate by appointing a member of the same political party as that of the previous incumbent of the office. That appointment continues until a successor is elected and qualified. The successor is required to be elected for a specified term at the general election next succeeding the occurrence of the vacancy. However, if the vacancy occurs within 37 days next preceding the general election, the vacancy is required to be filled at the second succeeding general election. This bill changes that 37 days to 70 days. The timeframe established in this bill matches the same timeframe for filling vacancies in other public offices at the general election in accordance with Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, thereby accomplishing uniformity in the election administration process. This timeframe also allows for compliance with the requirements established under federal and State law for the mailing of vote-by-mail ballots to voters at least 45 days before the general election. | In Committee |
A1540 | Creates offense of tracking for unlawful purpose; imposes enhanced penalties. | This bill creates the offense of tracking a vehicle with purpose to commit an unlawful act using a location tracking device, and imposes enhanced penalties for the offense. Under the bill, tracking a vehicle with purpose to commit an unlawful act using a location tracking device is a crime of the fourth degree, ordinarily punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000 or both. Under the bill however, the offense shall be sentenced under N.J.S.A.2C:43-7 to an extended term of imprisonment. Under N.J.S.A.2C:43-7, a person who has been convicted of a fourth degree crime included under paragraph (5) of subsection a. shall be sentenced, to an extended term of imprisonment of five years. It is the sponsor's view that the increased use of electronic device technology such as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) or GPS-enabled devices to track an individual's whereabouts has contributed to domestic violence abuse, sexual assault, and vehicle theft, and, when misused in this manner, can have widespread damaging and even lethal effect warranting enhanced penalties. | In Committee |
A2715 | 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 |
AR50 | Urges US President and Congress to establish student loan forgiveness program for certain doctors, nurses, and emergency medical services employees. | This resolution urges Congress to establish a student loan forgiveness program for doctors, nurses, and emergency medical services employees that provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Doctors, nurses, and EMS employees respond to, care for, and protect American citizens from illness and injury every day. However, the already stressful job of doctors, nurses, and EMS employees is exacerbated during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has increased the workloads of healthcare professionals and has forced doctors, nurses, and EMS employees to risk their lives while providing professional care services for others amidst this dangerous disease. Healthcare professionals continue to protect and care for their patients, during the COVID-19 pandemic, amongst limited resources and shortages of protective equipment. The bravery, courageousness, selflessness, and ceaseless work ethic of the nation's healthcare professionals, during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be rewarded. Although there is no reward that equates to the risks these healthcare professionals have taken, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States can provide monetary aid to these healthcare professionals, which will help minimize the massive student loan debts these healthcare professionals have accumulated over the years as a result of lengthy education. Establishing a student loan forgiveness program for doctors, nurses, and EMS employees who provided services during the COVID-19 pandemic will reduce financial stressors among these hardworking healthcare professionals and show them that the United States acknowledges and appreciates their hard work during this challenging time. | In Committee |
A1330 | Requires reporting of first responder suicides to DOH. | This bill requires reporting of first responder suicides to the Department of Health (DOH). Under the bill, the chief of a squad or association of first responders in this State, or the chief's designee, is to report within a reasonable time to the DOH, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Health (commissioner), any incident of a completed suicide by a first responder. The report is to include: (1) the month and year during which the first responder's death occurred; (2) the first responder's age, salary, and length of service as a first responder at the time of the first responder's death; (3) the race and gender of the first responder; (4) any known facts pertaining to the cause or method of suicide; and (5) the military veteran status and level of education of the first responder; The bill provides that the commissioner is to aggregate the data provided pursuant to the bill's provisions, which is to be made publicly available for use in suicide prevention and intervention studies. Under the bill, "first responder" means a paid or volunteer firefighter, paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad or association, or any other individual who, in the course of his or her employment, is dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance. | In Committee |
A1800 | Establishes "Innovation Partnership"; provides funding for certain nonprofit partnerships to promote certain emerging technology businesses. | This bill establishes the "Innovation Partnership," (partnership) to be administered by the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (commission) and which is to include one or more independent nonprofit organizations (partners) either certified by or established and incorporated by the commission, working individually, in partnership with each other, and in partnership with the commission, to advance the development of emerging technology businesses in this State and to create a supportive and collaborative innovation ecosystem across New Jersey. This bill lists the goals and policies of the partners. The commission is to establish the exact geographical boundaries for the partners to focus their efforts, and the partners are to be responsible for implementing the following goals for the following regions: 1) the northern region of the State having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on financial information technology, cybersecurity, or a combination thereof; 2) the central region of the State having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on healthcare, life sciences, biotechnology, or a combination thereof; 3) the southern region of the State having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on agriculture, aviation, or a combination thereof; and 4) the shore region of the State, having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on renewable energy and autonomous vehicles. A nonprofit organization established as of the date of the bill's enactment and meeting one of the regional requirements may submit to the commission an application, in a form and manner determined by the commission, for certification as a partner. Once certified, a partner may apply to the commission, in a form and manner determined by the commission, to receive grant funds from the fund established pursuant to this bill. The commission, upon approving a grant application submitted by a partner, is to sign a grant agreement with the partner, which is to permit the partner to execute the goals and policies pursuant to this bill only if matched by private sector funds on a minimum basis to be established by the commission. In selecting and certifying a nonprofit organization as a partner, the commission is to give priority to a nonprofit organization with diverse leadership, organized with at least one location in a municipality that meets the criteria for State aid pursuant to State law. If the commission is unable to certify a nonprofit organization as a partner for a certain regional focus, pursuant to the bill, the commission is to establish and incorporate an independent nonprofit organization to serve as a partner for that particular regional focus. In appointing the board for the partner, the commission is to consider the ethnic, racial, and gender diversity of the community in which the partner is located. The commission may modify or revoke a partner's participation in the partnership if the commission determines the partner does not achieve the goals or does not implement the policies of this bill. Additionally, upon receipt of a grant, a partner is to implement the terms of the grant agreement. Failure to comply with the grant agreement is to result in the forfeiture of the grant. Lastly, this bill directs partners to annually submit certain information to the commission and the commission to annually issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature describing the activities of the commission and each partner. | In Committee |
A944 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
A932 | Excludes certain contributions to deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings under the gross income tax. | This bill provides taxpayers a gross income tax exclusion in the amount of contributions made to certain retirement plans, and allows a deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts, or premiums paid to individual retirement annuities, that qualify for federal income tax deductions. 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 January 1 next following enactment of the bill. | In Committee |
A1016 | Revises emergency care services referral standards for providers of telemedicine and telehealth. | This bill expands the requirements of current law pertaining to emergency care referrals made during a telemedicine or telehealth encounter. This bill provides that if a health care provider observes a patient experiencing a health care emergency while the patient is engaged in a telemedicine or telehealth encounter, the health care provider is to make a good faith effort to: facilitate contact and coordination with local emergency services; and remain on a synchronous connection with the patient, if the emergency arises during a synchronous connection, until emergency services have reached the patient's location or, in the health care provider's clinical judgment, the situation is resolved. The bill requires health care providers to have a written emergency protocol that is appropriate pursuant to the standard of care. The written emergency protocol is to include good faith methods of enabling the health care provider to facilitate the following, if reasonably feasible: furnishing relevant information known by the provider regarding the patient to emergency services to assist in the deployment of emergency services, including the patient's name and location; attempting to learn the patient's approximate location at the time of the observed emergency, if the patient is not within the patient's primary residence and is unaware of his or her current location; and furnishing the patient's contact information to emergency services if the patient's contact information is known and accessible to the healthcare provider. The bill requires a health care provider to report suicide attempts in accordance with applicable State mandatory reporting laws. The health care provider is to, if appropriate, provide a patient with contact information for the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline. | In Committee |
A945 | Prohibits payment to public employees at retirement for certain unused sick leave, provides for forfeiture of payment for unused sick leave for certain criminal convictions, and requires documentation for use of sick leave. | This bill prohibits the payment by the State, local governments, and boards of education of supplemental compensation to any current or future public officer or employee for accumulated unused sick leave earned after the bill's effective date. Supplemental compensation for any time earned prior to that date will be payable as under current law. In addition, the bill provides that the payment of supplemental compensation for unused sick leave will be suspended if an officer or employee is indicted for any of the crimes which under current law are grounds for pension forfeiture and that supplemental compensation will be forfeited upon conviction. The bill also requires all public officers and employees to provide medical documentation for absences of six or more consecutive days and imposes penalties for the failure to do so. The bill requires the Attorney General to develop guidelines or establish procedures to ensure that public employers are notified when a public officer or employee is indicted for, or convicted of, any crime or offense that triggers the suspension or forfeiture of payment for supplemental compensation. It also provides that the suspension or forfeiture of payment for supplemental compensation will apply only in the case of crimes or offenses committed after the bill's effective date. The bill will take effect on the first day of the second month following enactment. | In Committee |
A1317 | Requires election by certain public employees of certain health care benefit plans; prohibits payments by public employers for waiver of such plans. | Under this bill, if an employee of the State, a local government, or a local board of education, or agency or authority thereof, and the employee's spouse are both public employees and eligible for health care benefits coverage provided by each public employer, the employee with the highest annual compensation will be required to select coverage with the employer and the employee's spouse will not be eligible for health care benefits coverage provided by the public employer of the spouse This bill also prohibits public employers from making payments in any form or manner to an employee who waives coverage under the public employer's health care benefits plan or program to which the employee is entitled by virtue of employment with the public employer. The decision of a public employer to allow its employees to waive coverage will not be subject to the collective bargaining process. | In Committee |
A1336 | Establishes Open Public Records Act Study Commission. | This bill establishes an 11 member commission, to be known as the Open Public Records Act Study Commission. The study commission will examine how the open public records act, OPRA, is implemented and utilized in actual day-to-day situations. At a minimum, the commission will: review OPRA and examine how the statute compares with actual operation and use; evaluate how advancements in technology, administrative decisions, and court rulings have impacted OPRA; analyze how OPRA requests are balanced with the public's right to privacy; examine how OPRA has been used for commercial, marketing, business, and research purposes; research public records statutes and their operation and use, both positive and negative, of other states; consider such other matters relating to OPRA as the members of the commission may deem appropriate; and make recommendations for legislation or such other action as it deems appropriate with regard to improving, expanding, and facilitating OPRA. The commission will report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor within one year of its initial organizational meeting. The commission will expire 30 days after submission of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor. This bill is a recommendation of the League of Municipalities 2018 Conference. | In Committee |
A1322 | Requires physician to offer to test patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency prior to patient undergoing chemotherapy. | This bill requires a physician to offer to test a patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency prior to the patient undergoing chemotherapy. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency is a disorder in which the human body experiences difficultly or is unable to breakdown chemotherapy drugs leading to a harmful reaction. Under the bill, health insurance plans in this State are to cover expenses incurred in conducting one test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency every year. | In Committee |
A405 | Requires certain toll road operators and bi-state agency to allow drivers to choose towing company. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), which has jurisdiction over the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), which has jurisdiction over the Atlantic City Expressway, to adopt regulations that allow motor vehicle operators on the respective authorities' toll roads to select a towing company for the provision of towing and storage services, provided however, that the respective authority may award contracts for towing and storage of motor vehicles deemed abandoned. The bill also requires the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (commission), which has jurisdiction over the Palisades Interstate Parkway, to adopt similar regulations for the Palisades Interstate Parkway and other roadways under the jurisdiction of the commission. The bill repeals sections of law concerning the registration of towing companies by the NJTA and SJTA. | In Committee |
A2646 | Redistributes fiscal year 2023 transportation and security aid from remote school districts to in-person school districts. | This bill requires that 50 percent of the amount of transportation aid and security aid allocated to "remote school districts" in the 2022-2023 school year will be redistributed to "in-person school districts" on an equal per pupil basis. The bill defines an in-person school district as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on 75 percent or more of school days during the 2021-2022 school year. A remote school district is defined as a school district whose superintendent certifies under penalty of perjury that it offered all of the students of the district in-person instruction on 50 percent or less of school days during the 2021-2022 school year. | In Committee |
A1353 | Establishes Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant must:· be a resident of the State;· be an active volunteer emergency responder; · have completed an undergraduate degree or certificate program at an in-State institution of higher education; and· provide the authority with a sworn or official statement from the chief or other presiding officer with the volunteer fire company, the volunteer first aid, rescue or ambulance squad, or the county or municipal volunteer Office of Emergency Management, as appropriate, attesting that the applicant is an active member in good standing. The redemption of loans under the program would amount to $16,000 or the outstanding balance of eligible student loan expenses, whichever is less, in the following manner:· first year of active service following graduation from the degree or certificate program, an amount up to $4,000, but not to exceed 25 percent of the original qualifying loan;· second year of active service following graduation from the degree or certificate program, an amount up to $4,000, but not to exceed 25 percent of the original qualifying loan; and· third year of active service following graduation from the degree or certificate program, an amount up to $8,000, but not to exceed 50 percent of the original qualifying loan. | In Committee |
ACR31 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Assembly 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 |
A1362 | Increases, from 18 percent to 30 percent, amount of rent constituting property taxes for purposes of gross income tax deduction for certain tenants. | This bill revises a provision of the "Property Tax Deduction Act," P.L.1996, c. 60 (C.54A:3A-15 et seq.) that would provide additional income tax relief by increasing, from 18 percent to 30 percent, the amount of rent defined as "rent constituting property taxes" for tenants with annual gross incomes of $150,000 or less, while maintaining the amount of rent defined as "rent constituting property taxes" as 18 percent of rent paid during the taxable year for tenants with annual gross incomes over $150,000. Under the "Property Tax Deduction Act," a taxpayer is entitled to a deduction of up to $15,000 from gross income for property taxes, or the rental equivalent thereof paid by tenants, due and paid for that calendar year on a taxpayer's homestead. For tenants, the amount of the deduction is based on the amount of "rent constituting property taxes." Current law sets the amount of rent constituting property taxes at 18 percent of the rent paid by the taxpayer for the occupancy, during the taxable year, of a unit of residential real property which the taxpayer occupies a principal residence. The bill would increase the amount of rent constituting property taxes for tenants with annual gross incomes of $150,000 or less from 18 percent of rent paid to 30 percent of rent paid for occupancy during the taxable year, while maintaining the amount of rent constituting property taxes for tenants with annual gross incomes over $150,000 as 18 percent of rent paid by the taxpayer for occupancy during the taxable year. Increasing the cap on the amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property taxes for those with annual gross incomes of $150,000 or less would allow eligible taxpayers to deduct a higher amount of rent from their gross income, thereby lowering the amount of gross income subject to taxation and reducing a tenant's tax burden. | In Committee |
A1335 | Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in Chinese pharmaceutical companies. | The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread harm, claiming over 200,000 lives to date. The pandemic has also shut down the economies of the world, leading to massive closures of small businesses and loss of employment. In the United States alone, over 20 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the pandemic reached our shores. The risks of COVID-19 were hidden from foreign nations by the Chinese government, increasing the risk and toll of the pandemic worldwide. Chinese companies should not be rewarded with additional investment from State and national resources while they control a large proportion of pharmaceutical manufacturing. The state should reinvest in New Jersey-based pharmaceutical manufacturing to improve health and economic resources. This bill prohibits investment in any Chinese pharmaceutical company and any company that has an equity tie or is engaged in business operations with a Chinese pharmaceutical company. The State Investment Council will work with an independent research firm to track any current investments in Chinese pharmaceutical companies and take appropriate action to end the investment. The Division of Investment will submit an annual report to highlight the progress in fulfilling the requirements of the bill. The bill also protects the State Investment Council, employees of the Division of Investment, and other State officers and employees from legal action that may arise due to the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
A1351 | Prohibits public utility from increasing rates until conclusion of hearing and BPU determination that rate increase is just and reasonable. | This bill prohibits a public utility from increasing any rate for a product supplied or service rendered until the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has determined, at the conclusion of the hearing on the rate increase petition, that the rate increase is just and reasonable. Current law allows a public utility to increase its rates for a product supplied or service rendered, upon receiving BPU approval, prior to the conclusion of a rate increase hearing and the BPU making a determination that the rate increase is just and reasonable. | In Committee |
A504 | "Vegetation Management Response Act"; concerns vegetation management related to electric public utility infrastructure. | This bill authorizes an electric public utility (electric utility) to utilize all reasonably available methods according to ANSI A300 tree care standards and pursuant to Board of Public Utilities (BPU) rules and regulations, which may include, but not be limited to, clearing, moving, cutting, or destroying to remove, replace, or maintain dangerous vegetation and to establish a program to develop effective strategies to implement the bill's provisions. Under the bill, "dangerous vegetation" is defined as a tree, shrub, plant, or any other vegetation growing in, near, or adjacent to the electric utility's right-of-way, and its distribution and transmission system, but not including a service line to an individual customer, which may fall into, touch, affect, or otherwise interfere with a distribution line, as determined by the electric utility or local government entity having control of the right-of-way. The bill requires an electric utility to notify all customers, property owners, and local and other government entities that may be affected by planned vegetation management activity near the electric utility's distribution or transmission system. The bill also requires an electric utility to conduct an annual public education program to inform its customers and local and other government entities in the electric utility's service territory of the importance of vegetation management and of the electric utility's role and responsibility in performing vegetation management. The bill prohibits the Community Forestry Council (council) and a county or municipal shade tree commission (commission) from interfering with or restricting an electric utility's removal, replacement, or maintenance of dangerous vegetation. The bill provides that, upon there being a vacancy on the council after the effective date of the bill, the State Forester is to appoint an electric utility employee who is an approved forester to represent the electric utility on the council until such time as there are at least two members serving on the council meeting that description. The bill also provides that, in order to allow any public utility or cable television company to clear, move, cut, or destroy dangerous vegetation upon any lands in which it has acquired an easement or right-of-way or upon any public right-of-way, a public utility or cable television company is not required to receive the permission of any commission to undertake that work and is not subject to any penalty imposed by any commission as provided by law. Under the bill, a public utility or cable television company is not exempt from any penalty or replacement assessment imposed as a result of damage to a tree, shrub, or plant caused by non-compliance with any rule or regulation of a commission, provided that the rule or regulation does not interfere with or restrict any vegetation management work conducted by the public utility or cable television company from complying with any federal rule, regulation, or law, any vegetation management rule, regulation, or order of the BPU, or any national or federal standard applicable to a public utility or cable television company. The bill provides that a public utility or cable television company, that is acting in good faith, with due diligence and reasonable judgment, in its performance of vegetation management pursuant to the bill's provisions and any board rules or regulations, is not to be held liable, penalized, or otherwise subject to undue hardship by a governing body of a county or municipality or a commission. | In Committee |
A1365 | Prohibits school buses from traveling in left lane of roadway except for turning and emergencies. | This bill prohibits school buses from driving in the left lane of a roadway except for turning and emergencies. Under the bill, when a roadway has been divided into two or more lanes of traffic in any one direction, a school bus is prohibited from being driven in the left-hand lane or lanes, except for the following circumstances: (1) to the extent necessary to prepare for a left turn, a school may be driven in the farthest left lane for up to one mile to prepare for a left-hand turn; (2) when necessary to enter or leave a roadway by entrance or exit to or from the left lane, a school bus may be driven in the farthest left lane for up to one mile to prepare to enter or leave the roadway; or (3) when reasonably necessary in response to emergency conditions, such as poor visibility, snow, accidents, or the presence of emergency vehicles. A violation of the bill's provisions is to result in a fine of not less than $100 or more than $300 and a surcharge of $50. | In Committee |
A1119 | Permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes paid on principal residence from gross income tax obligation. | This bill permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes, due and paid in a calendar year on the taxpayer's principal residence, from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. Under current law, a taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of property taxes due and paid in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. If the taxpayer is a renter, the taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of the amount of "rent constituting property tax," which is defined in P.L.1996, c.60, s.2 (C.54A:3A-16) to mean 18 percent of rent, due and paid in the calendar year from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. This bill eliminates these $15,000 maximum allowable deductions, thereby permitting a taxpayer to deduct the full amount of property taxes, or rent constituting property taxes, due and paid by the taxpayer in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence. | In Committee |
A1328 | Provides gross income tax deduction to surviving spouses of certain veterans. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction to surviving spouses of certain veterans in the amount of $6,000. Under current law, a taxpayer who is a veteran honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the United States Armed Forces or a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of New Jersey in a federal active duty status, may be eligible to receive a gross income tax deduction in the amount of $6,000 for each taxable year in which the veteran qualifies. This bill provides a gross income tax deduction to the surviving spouse of a veteran who has died while on active duty; was honorably discharged from active duty; or was released from active duty under honorable circumstances. If a surviving spouse remarries or cohabitates with another person and holds that person out to be his or her spouse, the surviving spouse becomes ineligible to receive the deduction. A surviving spouse who remarries remains eligible for the personal deduction if the remarriage was void or has been annulled, unless it was determined that the annulment was obtained through fraud or collusion, or if the surviving spouse remarries after the age of 57. | In Committee |
A1347 | Provides that municipality only use drop boxes within four mile radius or within discretion of county elections board. | This bill provides that a municipality conducting an election that is not held during the November general election may only use drop boxes within a four mile radius or within the discretion of the county elections board. | In Committee |
A437 | Immunizes from civil liability first responders who forcibly enter property to provide emergency assistance. | This bill provides compensated and volunteer public and private first responders, including emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement officers, and firefighters and police officers appointed by the governing body of an independent institution of higher education pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1970, c.211 (C.18A:6-4.2) with immunity from civil liability for any damages that may result from a forcible entry into a home, business, or other structure at which an emergency is reported. This immunity applies only where the first responder's decision is based upon a good faith belief that forcible entry is necessary to provide emergency medical care or to prevent imminent bodily harm and where no occupant of the property responds to the first responder's requests for entry within a reasonable period of time. | In Committee |
A1361 | Requires legislative approval of updates or revisions to core curriculum content. | This bill requires legislative approval of updates or revisions to core curriculum content standards. Under current law, the State Board of Education is directed to review and update the core curriculum content standards every five years. This bill provides that any update or revision made to the core curriculum content standards following the bill's effective date will require the approval of the Legislature. The State board is required to submit the update or revision to the Legislature, and the Legislature is required to adopt a concurrent resolution within 45 days of submission to approve or disapprove the update or revision. If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the update or revision, it is required to be implemented. If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the update or revision, it may not be implemented. | In Committee |
ACR39 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide registered voters with right to cast ballot in person at polling place on election day; requires mail-in ballot request before voter receives mail-in ballot. | This constitutional amendment would ensure that registered voters in this State, who are qualified to vote, have the right to cast a ballot in person on the day of any election in this State, and would permit mail-in ballots to be distributed only to voters who submit a written request for a mail-in ballot. This amendment would bar the Legislature from passing laws, and the Governor from issuing executive orders, that would: (1) limit or deny in-person voting for a registered voter who wishes to vote in person, or (2) automatically distribute mail-in ballots to all voters. | In Committee |
A970 | Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations. | This bill would establish additional specific factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment for a municipality's fair share affordable housing obligation. The bill also caps the number of units a municipality may have allocated as its affordable housing obligation with regard to the size of the municipal population. The additional factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment are as follows: (a) population of the municipality; (b) water supply and sewerage capacity in the municipality; (c) school class sizes and school services in the municipality; (d) public safety services in the municipality; and (e) public transportation and traffic in the municipality. The bill requires a municipal adjustment if maintaining approximately the same school class sizes would be a significant cost or if adequate school, public safety, and public transportation resources are not available or would be a significant cost to provide. A municipal adjustment would also have to be made if present traffic conditions would be substantially disrupted. The additional municipal adjustment factors required by the bill would require a more holistic examination of the actual state of affairs in a municipality, as well as of the potential impacts of additional development, in calculating its fair share affordable housing obligation. This will help ensure that reasonable numbers are arrived at that will not be disruptive to the quality of life and provision of local government services in a municipality. The bill's population cap would protect those municipalities that may face dramatic municipal population increases if mandated to add a large amount of additional affordable housing. Current law provides that no municipality shall be required to address a fair share of affordable housing units beyond 1,000 low and moderate income units within 10 years from the grant of substantive certification; except that a municipality may be allocated more than 1,000 units, if based upon an evidentiary hearing, it is found likely that the municipality through its zoning powers could create a realistic opportunity for more than 1,000 low and moderate income units within that 10-year period. In order to prevent the disparate impact such a potentially large affordable housing mandate can create for municipalities with small populations, this bill provides that an allocation of units to a municipality as its fair share shall not exceed an amount that would result in an increase of the municipal population by more than five percent. | In Committee |
ACR47 | Proposes constitutional amendment to require Statewide calculation of affordable housing obligation. | This amendment to the State Constitution would require that the constitutional affordable housing obligation be calculated at the State level. Currently, municipal affordable housing obligations mandated by the State Constitution are calculated based upon regional housing needs. This amendment would eliminate that requirement. Accordingly, any affordable housing obligation placed on a municipality would no longer be based on regional housing needs. Instead, this amendment would require the Legislature to pass laws providing for the calculation of the affordable housing needs of the entire State. This single number calculation of affordable housing units needed Statewide would represent the exclusive affordable housing obligation required by the State Constitution. | In Committee |
A1047 | "Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors, 65 years and older. | This bill, entitled the "Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act," would reduce the school property tax burden on senior residents of the State who are 65 years or older by 50%. The bill provides a reimbursement for property taxes paid to eligible claimants from the Casino Revenue Fund. The bill phases in eligibility over a three-year period through income limits. For the first year, only seniors with incomes of $35,000 or less would be eligible for the reimbursement. The income limit rises to $75,000 for the second year and there is no income limit for the third year and thereafter. A surviving spouse who is at least 55 years of age also would qualify for the reimbursement. The Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury would be responsible for promulgating application forms for the reimbursement and issuing rules and regulations. | In Committee |
A972 | Prohibits imposition of builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation. | This bill prohibits the imposition of a builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation. The builder's remedy, as a method of achieving fair share housing, has been contrary to the public interest and public policy goals in that it resulted in the development of extraordinary amounts of market rate housing in densely populated regions while producing comparatively little affordable housing, to the overall detriment of specific communities and the State as a whole. Municipalities have attempted to navigate the rulings of the court for nearly four decades, but have been unable to adequately address the affordable housing needs of the State despite the threat of builder's remedy lawsuits. Under the bill, if a court determines that a municipality has failed to meet its obligation to provide a reasonable opportunity for the development of affordable housing, a court may impose a remedy other than a builder's remedy. For the purposes of the bill, "builder's remedy" means a court imposed remedy for a litigant who is an individual or a profit-making entity in which the court requires a municipality to utilize zoning techniques such as mandatory set-asides or density bonuses which provide for the economic viability of a residential development by including housing which is not for low and moderate income households. | In Committee |
A969 | Requires COAH to calculate affordable housing obligations on Statewide basis. | This bill would change the calculation of affordable housing obligations to a Statewide perspective rather than a local level. In addition, under the bill, the Council on Affordable Housing would submit a report every five years on housing affordability. The report would calculate the ratio of the median cost, including property taxes, mortgage rates and payments, insurance, cost of utilities, and other necessary factors in the discretion of the council, to maintain the home to the median income for the State. This report would be used to update the growth-share calculation each time the council issues a report. | In Committee |
A967 | Requires COAH to administer affordable housing obligations of municipalities based on statewide obligation. | This bill would require that affordable housing obligations be calculated and administered at the State level. Affordable housing is an issue of Statewide concern and importance. It is also a highly complex issue that requires technical expertise, often ends up in litigation, and is expensive to administer. This bill would eliminate the current municipality-to-municipality patchwork approach to affordable housing. The bill would centralize administration of this issue in the State agency with the necessary Statewide policy perspective and technical expertise, and which can serve as a cost-effective, fair forum to address this issue - the Council on Affordable Housing (the "council"). Currently, affordable housing need is calculated at the regional level and fair share plans are created by municipalities. Under the bill, the council would calculate the affordable housing need of the entire State. The council would then select which municipalities will have a role to play in fulfilling this Statewide need and will assign them a fair share of this obligation. Such municipality would then submit a housing element that provides basic information on the current housing stock and properties suited for affordable housing development that could satisfy the municipal fair share. After receipt of the housing element, the bill requires the council to grant the municipality a substantive certification that shields it from exclusionary zoning suits. The council would next draft a fair share plan for the municipality that directs the municipality on how to satisfy its fair share obligation. The municipality would be required to adopt a fair share ordinance effectuating that fair share plan. The council would be required to engage in a mediation process if an objection is made to its fair share plan for a municipality. Any exclusionary zoning suit to a fair share plan for a municipality would have to be brought against the council, with the municipality having the option to be a party in the litigation. | In Committee |
AR26 | Establishes special committee of General Assembly entitled "New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Homes Investigation Committee." | This bill establishes a special committee of the General Assembly entitled the "New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Homes Investigation Committee." The committee is to investigate all aspects of the effects of State actions, executive orders, legislation, and State and federal regulations and policies on the veterans' memorial homes, the residents and their families, and the memorial homes' employees. The committee will investigate the period from March 2020 to the present, and focus on changes implemented at each memorial home after a federal inspection, beginning with the 2020 inspection. The term "veterans' memorial homes" means the Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park, Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus, and the Veterans' Memorial Home-Vineland. Under the bill, the committee will be comprised of seven members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, not more than four of whom are to be of the same political party. The Minority Leader of the General Assembly will submit a list of recommended members for appointment to the special committee. Under the bill, the committee is to have all the powers conferred under the laws and the Constitutions of the State of New Jersey and of the United States, including, but not limited to, the following powers: (1) to issue subpoenas to compel attendance and testimony of persons and the production of books, papers, correspondence, other documents and materials, and electronic records and data, as well as any other power conferred pursuant to chapter 13 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes; (2) to hold hearings, take testimony under oath, and receive documentary or physical evidence relating to the matters and questions it is authorized to investigate or study; (3) to use any and all reasonable means of interviewing or fact gathering, including, but not limited to, preliminary conferences or interviews; (4) to convene a meeting or hearing to determine the adequacy of the return and rule on the objection if a return on a subpoena or order for the production of documentary evidence is incomplete or accompanied by an objection; (5) to utilize the powers provided under R.S.52:13-3 or hold individuals or entities in contempt of the committee; (6) to make findings and reports to the public and to the Legislature of any recommendations, including recommendations for enforcement, that the committee may consider appropriate with respect to the willful failure or refusal of any person to appear before it, to answer questions or give testimony during an appearance of that person as a witness, or to produce before the committee any books, papers, correspondence, other documents and materials, and electronic records and data that the committee may request; (7) to respond to any judicial or other process, or to make application to the courts of this State, or any other state, or the United States; (8) to report possible violations of any law, rule, regulation, or code to appropriate federal, State, or local authorities; and (9) to adopt additional rules or procedures not inconsistent with this resolution. The committee will be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of the State of New Jersey, any political subdivision of the State, and any agency thereof, as may be required and as may be available for that purpose, and to employ any other services as may be deemed necessary, in order to perform its duties, and within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose. | In Committee |
A2215 | Increases degree of crime for unlawful taking of motor vehicle. | This bill increases the penalties for joyriding. Specifically, the bill increases the degree of crime for unlawful taking of a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or other person authorized to give consent. Currently, the unlawful taking, operation, or exercise of control over a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or other authorized person is a fourth degree crime. This bill makes it a third degree crime for any person to commit such an act. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Finally, this bill increases the degree of crime for any person to take, operate, or exercise control over a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or other person authorized to give consent in a manner that creates a risk of injury to any person or a risk of damage to property. Currently, this is a third degree crime. This bill makes it a second degree crime to commit such an act. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
A2408 | Requires public schools to develop policy for emergency administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and use of manual vagus nerve stimulator on student with seizure disorder. | This bill requires a board of education to develop a policy in accordance with the guidelines established by the Department of Education for the emergency administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and the emergency use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator on a student with a seizure disorder. Pursuant to the policy, the school nurse is to have the primary responsibility for the administration of nasal seizure rescue medication. The certified school nurse is required to designate at least two additional employees of the school district who volunteer to administer the nasal seizure rescue medication and use a manual vagus nerve stimulator on a student when the school nurse is not physically present at the scene. The certified school nurse is required to determine that:· the designees have been properly trained;· the parents of the student consent in writing to the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication and use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator by the designees;· the parents are informed in writing that the district and its employees have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication and the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator; and· the parents sign a statement acknowledging their understanding that the district has no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication and the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator. The policy developed by the school district is to require: (1) the transportation of the student to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication, and if indicated in the emergency action plan after the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator. The student is to be evaluated and receive medical clearance in order to return to school; (2) an alternative plan in the case that a student's seizure action plan does not permit the administration of nasal seizure rescue medication or the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator by a designee; and (3) the parent to provide an ample supply of the prescribed nasal seizure rescue medication to the school nurse and to the designees. Alternatively, if provided for in the seizure action plan, the nasal seizure rescue medication may be permitted to be carried on the student's person. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, appropriate medical experts, and professional organizations representing school nurses, principals, and teachers, is required to establish and disseminate to each board of education guidelines for the development of a policy by a school district for the emergency administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator on students. The Departments of Education and Health are also required to jointly develop protocols, in consultation with the New Jersey State School Nurses Association, for the training of additional school employees as volunteer designees to administer the nasal seizure rescue medication and use a manual vagus nerve stimulator when the school nurse is not physically present. The bill requires the Department of Education to take appropriate action to ensure that each school district incorporates age-appropriate education on epilepsy and seizure disorders, consistent with the classroom education programs developed by the Epilepsy Foundation of America, at least once between kindergarten and third grade and at least once between grades six and 12. The bill will take effect on the first day of the 12th month next following the date of enactment, except that the Department of Education may take anticipatory administrative action to implement the bill's provisions. This delayed effective date will allow time for the development of training protocols for school employees designated by the certified school nurse to administer the nasal seizure rescue medication or use the manual vagus nerve stimulator when the school nurse is not present. | In Committee |
A1744 | Provides certain veteran benefits to veterans of the global war on terror conflicts and those of certain military engagements served during certain periods. | This bill provides veterans status to a veteran of any operation, mission or conflict during the global war on terror, including those who served in Operation Noble Eagle, in the United States or abroad. Under current law, only members of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom are veterans of the global war on terror. Under current law, members of Noble Eagle or any other concurrent or subsequent operation, mission or conflict related to the global war on terror do not qualify. This bill will include those persons. This bill amends several statutes that define "veteran" for the purposes of civil service hiring preferences, the purchase of service credit and the calculation of retirant benefits in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), for the purchase of service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and for the receipt of a property tax deduction or exemption. Also, under this bill, the "in country" 14-day active service requirement that limits the definition of veteran for some military engagements is supplemented with a minimum 90-day active military service requirement regardless of location, exclusive of any period (1) of assignment for a course of education or training which course was a continuation of a civilian course and was pursued to completion, or (2) as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (3) of service performed pursuant to an enlistment in the Army National Guard or Air National Guard or in the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve, unless mobilized for active duty at the call of the President of the United States, provided, that any person receiving an actual, service-incurred injury or disability will be classed as a veteran, whether or not he has completed the 90 days' service as herein provided. Consequently, active military service for at least 90 days performed anywhere, in whole or in part, during the dates for the specific engagements named will qualify a person as a "veteran" for the purposes of the statutes amended. Thus, the bill will permit a greater number of individuals to receive the benefits specified. | In Committee |
A197 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | This bill provides for a gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers in exchange for their sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. The New Jersey gross income tax provides a deduction for a charitable, qualified conservation contribution of real property interests for land preservation purposes modeled on the similar federal income tax deduction which covers full land interest sales and restricted land use easements. But land interest sales in New Jersey to various conservation programs for which a purchase price is paid to the New Jersey taxpayer can result in taxable gains for those New Jersey sellers who need to garner some investment income from these sales. To allow a deduction for these transfers with preservation or conservation restrictions on the real estate can prevent developers from buying up environmentally valuable land in this State and benefit both the taxpayer and the residents of the State at large. The bill will allow the deductions for both parts of some mixed transfers referred to as bargain sales in which there is both a charitable donation aspect and a cash purchase payment for less than the land's fair market value (FMV). The donation value is the difference between the FMV and the cash payment. In a bargain sale, a real estate owner is both a seller (for the cash portion) and a donor (for the donated portion) of the real estate interest. The bill will also allow a deduction for full market value sales to conservation organization which include certain governmental programs and non-profit run preservation programs. These programs will include but not be limited to those run by a governmental unit, charitable trust, foundation or charitable non-profit organization that participates in a Green Acres program, Blue Acres program, farmland preservation program, historic preservation program, the Highlands Transfer Development Rights Program, a park or forestry or an open space and recreation space preservation or conservation program or a wildlife, hunting or fishing conservation and restoration program. | In Committee |
A3012 | Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing. | This bill prohibits, in New Jersey, the treatment, discharge, disposal, application to a roadway or other release into the environment, or storage of any wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts resulting from hydraulic fracturing for the purpose of natural gas exploration or production in any state. | In Committee |
A2143 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), to prohibit smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Current law prohibits smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces, with certain exceptions, including indoor public places and workplaces which are within the perimeter of casinos and casino simulcasting facilities and accessible to the public for wagering. This bill would eliminate these exceptions from the smoking ban. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that casino workers are at greater risk for lung and heart disease because of secondhand smoke, and a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that the air in casinos can have up to 50 times more cancer-causing particles than the air on rush-hour highways. This bill would protect all workers in New Jersey from the hazards of second hand smoke by requiring that casinos and casino simulcasting facilities be smoke-free workplaces. | In Committee |
A1833 | Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and registration of motor vehicle; requires motor vehicle manufacturers to pay annual fee to MVC. | This bill requires an official motor vehicle inspection facility or licensed private inspection facility to provide written notice to the owner of a motor vehicle being inspected of all open recalls applicable to the motor vehicle at the time the motor vehicle is inspected. The recall notice is to include a description of each open recall and a statement that each open recall may be repaired by certain motor vehicle dealers at no cost to the owner, except in certain circumstances. The bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide written notice to the owner of a motor vehicle, at the time a vehicle is registered or upon mailing a motor vehicle's registration renewal notice, of all open recalls applicable to the motor vehicle. The recall notice is to include a description of each open recall; a statement that each open recall may be repaired by certain motor vehicle dealers at no cost to the owner, except in certain circumstances; and a statement that, except in certain circumstances, the commission will not issue a registration certificate for the motor vehicle until each open recall is repaired. Under the bill, the owner is required to obtain the necessary repairs before the motor vehicle's next registration renewal. The Chief Administrator of the commission is required to deny an application for registration renewal if the open recalls have not been remedied by the next registration renewal. The chief administrator is required to extend for six-month intervals, the registration of a motor vehicle subject to an open recall if the parts or equipment needed to repair the open recall are unavailable. The chief administrator may also extend the registration of a motor vehicle subject to an open recall for one six-month period, if the owner of the motor vehicle fails to make the required repairs due to circumstances beyond the control of the owner or due to undue hardship. Nothing in the bill is to alter the liability under common law of any motor vehicle manufacturer or motor vehicle dealer approved by a manufacturer to repair an open recall. The bill limits the liability of certain individuals for acts or omissions related to open recall notices provided pursuant to the provisions of the bill, except in cases of gross negligence. Under the bill, "open recall" means a safety recall applicable to a specific motor vehicle, according to information made available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that has not been repaired. | In Committee |
AJR36 | Establishes "New Jersey Domestic Violence and Legal Access Task Force." | This joint resolution establishes the "New Jersey Domestic Violence and Legal Access Task Force" for the purpose of studying the nature, extent and consequences of unmet legal needs of State residents in domestic violence matters. The task force would have 16 members. The task force would submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 18 months of its organization. The membership of the commission would be as follows: (1) two public members appointed by the Governor, one of whom is a representative of a pro bono program organized by a law firm located in the State, and one of whom is a State resident who has been a pro se litigant who has appeared as a plaintiff in a domestic violence matter in the New Jersey State courts; (2) two public members appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the President of the Senate, one of whom is the representative of a non-profit organization dedicated to the services and assistance of victims of domestic violence and one of whom is a State licensed and certified family law attorney; (3) two public members appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom is a director of a legal clinic program of a law school located in the State and one of whom is a State resident who has been a pro se litigant who has appeared as a defendant in a domestic violence matter in the New Jersey State court; (4) one member appointed by the Chief Justice, who is a retired judge of the Superior Court who had been previously assigned to the Family Division; (5) the Administrative Director of the Courts, or his designee; (6) the Public Defender, or the Public Defender's designee; (7) the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee; (8) the dean of Seton Hall University School of Law, or the dean's designee; (9) the co-dean of Rutgers Law School Newark Campus, or the co-dean's designee; (10) the co-dean of Rutgers Law School Camden Campus, or the co-dean's designee; (11) the executive director of New Jersey Legal Services, or the executive director's designee; (12) A representative of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence; and (13) A representative of Partners for Women and Justice. The task force would be co-chaired: one co-chair would be the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee, and the other co-chair would be appointed by the Governor from among the public members and would serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The task force would meet at the call of the co-chairs. The presence of nine members of the task force would constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof. | In Committee |
A1671 | Provides deduction from gross income of $500 for full-time educators and paraprofessionals and $350 for part-time educators and paraprofessionals. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction for eligible educators and paraprofessionals. A deduction in the amount of $500 is available to eligible educators and paraprofessionals who are full-time employees. A deduction in the amount of $350 is available to eligible educators and paraprofessionals who are not full-time employees. The bill requires a full-time employee to be employed for a minimum of 25 hours per week. The bill defines an "eligible educator" as a teacher who is employed in a school district, charter school, renaissance school project, approved private school for students with disabilities, or nonpublic school in New Jersey. The bill additionally defines a "paraprofessional" as an individual who is employed as a school aide or classroom aide who assists a teaching staff member with the supervision of pupil activities. | In Committee |
A2321 | Requires Division of Highway Traffic Safety to conduct public awareness campaign regarding bicycle and pedestrian safety. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information to the public concerning bicyclist and pedestrian safety. The campaign is to include, but is not limited to, information regarding the provisions under current law that require a person operating a bicycle to keep to the right side of the road, the penalties and dangers associated with violating this provision, information regarding the provisions under current law concerning motorists safely passing a pedestrian, bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or any other lawful personal conveyance, and the penalties and dangers associated with violating this provision. | In Committee |
A1826 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of electronic cigarette usage as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill would require each school district to incorporate instruction on the dangers of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) usage into the health education curriculum for students in grades six through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction would provide students with information on, at a minimum: the amount of nicotine that can be found in e-cigarettes manufactured by different companies; how the use of e-cigarettes during adolescence can lead to addiction; the physical health effects of inhaling certain chemicals that can be found in e-cigarette products; and the provisions of the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act." The use of e-cigarettes among middle school and high school students has become a major public health concern as the use of such devices has increased greatly over recent years. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Tobacco Surveyindicates that, in 2011, just 1.5 percent of high school students in the United States used e-cigarettes; in 2017, that number increased to 11.7 percent. Similarly, in 2011, just 0.6 percent of middle school students in the United States used e-cigarettes; in 2017, that number went up to 3.3 percent. While the use of e-cigarettes has become a popular trend among young people across the country, research indicates that using e-cigarettes during youth can have negative health effects. For one, most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is the addictive drug found in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products. Reports have shown that nicotine levels in e-cigarettes are highly variable, with some reaching levels near regular cigarettes. A 2016 United States Surgeon General report asserted that using nicotine in adolescence can harm the developing brain and may increase the risk for future addiction to regular cigarettes, other tobacco products, and drugs. In addition, e-cigarettes can contain several other substances, including cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, diacetyl, and formaldehyde, which may be harmful to young users. Lastly, what many students using e-cigarettes on school grounds might not be aware of is that, pursuant to the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," the use of e-cigarettes on school property is prohibited. | In Committee |
A669 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism," while noting that criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country is not antisemitic. The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Under the bill, nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. The bill also provides that nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. | In Committee |
A1340 | Establishes child care costs reimbursement grant program in DCF; appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes in the Department of Children and Families a grant program in which an eligible parent or guardian with a child who is enrolled or will be enrolled in a child care center licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) as a result of school closures or the use of virtual or remote school instruction due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency will be reimbursed for child care tuition costs incurred by the parent or guardian. The grant program is to be funded from monies appropriated to the DCF from a portion of the federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act," Pub.L.116-136, and any other monies appropriated or made available for the grant program. Under the provisions of the bill, an eligible parent or guardian who wishes to participate in the grant program is to submit an application to the Commissioner of Children and Families (commissioner), in a manner and on forms determined by the commissioner. The commissioner is to: establish selection criteria for awarding grants under the program; award grants under the program based upon review of the applications and subject to the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program; allocate the approved grant funds to each eligible parent or guardian participating in the program in a timely manner; and establish the amount of each grant awarded for an eligible parent or guardian. The bill stipulates that the grant awarded to an eligible parent or guardian will be used to reimburse child care tuition costs incurred by the parent or guardian who are required to enroll their child in a licensed child care center as a result of school closures or the use of virtual or remote school instruction due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. As used in the bill, "eligible parent or guardian" means an individual who: is employed full-time or part-time; and has a child who is enrolled or will be enrolled in a child care center licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.492 (C.30:5B-1 et seq.) as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. | In Committee |
A1107 | Requires municipalities to share certain payments in lieu of property taxes with school districts; informs counties, school districts, and DCA of certain information related to property tax exemptions and abatements. | This bill revises various aspects of the laws governing property tax exemptions. Specifically, the bill requires municipalities to share certain payments in lieu of property taxes (PILOTs) with school districts. The bill also requires notice to be provided to the county, school districts, and Department of Community Affairs (DCA) when a municipality considers and approves a property tax exemption. Under current law, any urban renewal entity that benefits from a long-term property tax exemption is required to make annual PILOTs to the municipality in which it is located. Currently, the municipality is required to remit five percent of the PILOT to the host county, thereby retaining 95 percent of the payment. Under the bill, municipalities would also be required to remit certain portions of these PILOTs to the school districts that serve the municipality, including regional school districts. For a residential property, the municipality would be required to provide those school districts with an amount equal to the product of: (1) the number of school-age children who attend a public school or regional school district that serves the municipality, and who reside in the project; and (2) the base per pupil amount determined by the Commissioner of Education for the previous school year pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-49). Alternatively, this amount would equal five percent of the PILOT, or an in-kind contribution equal in value to that amount, if the long-term tax exemption concerns nonresidential or mixed-use property. When an amount is remitted to more than one school district, the amount would be divided amongst those districts in proportion to each district's share of the total school tax levy in the municipality. The bill also provides that when an urban renewal entity applies for a long-term property tax exemption, the entity would be required to provide copies of the application to the county, school districts, and the Director of the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) in the DCA. The DLGS would be required to post this application on the Internet website of the DCA. Under current law, the mayor of a municipality is required to submit recommendations to the municipal governing body within 60 days of receiving an application from an urban renewal entity for a long-term tax exemption. The bill would require these recommendations to be simultaneously submitted to the county and the local school districts that serve the municipality. Thereafter, representatives of the county and school districts may submit recommendations to the governing body within 10 days of receiving the mayor's recommendations. The bill would also require a municipality to provide the DLGS and the school districts with a copy of an ordinance and financial agreement approving a long-term tax exemption. Currently, a municipality is required to only provide the county these documents. The bill also requires the DCA to post the ordinance and financial agreement on the DCA's website. After an application for a long-term property tax exemption is approved, current law requires the urban renewal entity to submit an annual audit to the municipality. Under the bill, this annual audit would be required to certify the number of school-age children attending public school who are residing in the approved project. The bill would also require an urban renewal entity to provide copies of the audit to the Director of the DLGS for publication on the DCA's website. The bill also requires a municipality to provide the DLGS with a copy of an ordinance that effectuates a five-year property tax abatement, and requires the DLGS to post this ordinance on the website of the DCA. | In Committee |
AR49 | Condemns hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. | New Jersey has nearly one million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders residing in the State, approximately 10 percent of the State population. Twenty three million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for seven percent of the population of the United States. Across the United States, over two million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in fields such as health care, law enforcement, first responders, transportation, and other service industries. Following the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021, there were 3,795 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate crimes reported from the 50 States and the District of Colombia. During that timeframe, race was cited as the primary reason for discrimination, making up over 90 percent of the incidents. In addition, Asian American and Pacific Islander youths under 20 years old made up approximately 13 percent of the victims, and the elderly over 60 years old made up approximately seven percent of the victims. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made significant contributions to America's economy and culture, and they are a significant and important community in New Jersey. They should not live in fear of attack and discrimination, and verbal and physical attacks against these communities are intolerable and should be condemned by all persons of this State. | In Committee |
A3339 | Establishes "Parents Bill of Rights Act"; prohibits school district from interfering with fundamental right of parent or guardian to engage in and direct student's education; permits opt-out of school district curriculum. | This bill establishes the "Parents Bill of Rights Act." The bill provides that a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school in the State has a fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education. Under the bill, the parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education includes, but is not limited to, the right to (1) a summary of the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (2) review the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (3) review a list of the media services, textbooks, and books that are used in the classroom and that are available to a student through the school district; and (4) opt their child out of any curriculum that the parent or guardian believes is in conflict with their conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. No penalties as to credit or graduation are permitted as a result of a parent or guardian's decision to opt their child out of the curriculum under the provisions of the bill. The bill prohibits a school or school district from interfering with a parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education or denying a request by a parent or guardian for information made pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
A1113 | Establishes Red Tape Review Commission. | This bill creates the Red Tape Review Commission to assess the effect that rules and regulations and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. Under the bill, the commission would be comprised of eight members, consisting of representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches of State government, who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The bill requires each department, office, division, or agency of the State to cooperate with the commission and furnish it with any information, personnel, and assistance it needs to accomplish its duties. The commission's finding would be advisory and cannot be used as a basis for any legal challenges based upon the action or inaction of any department, office, division, or agency of the State. The bill requires the commission to: (1) Review all proposed and adopted rules and regulations and operative Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments; (2) Call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply the commission with data and other information, personnel, or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties; (3) Solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, and environmental organizations, businesses, workers, and other affected persons or entities as the commission deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; and (4) Provide annually a written report to the Governor and the Legislature in which the commission must provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. | In Committee |
A1358 | Increases gross income tax relief based on rent constituting property taxes for residential tenants and establishes refundable gross income tax credit in place of gross income tax deduction for residential tenants. | This bill increases tax relief under the New Jersey gross income tax for residential tenants. The bill provides income tax relief for tenants by increasing, from 18 percent to 30 percent, the amount of rent defined as "rent constituting property taxes". The bill also changes the gross income tax deduction for residential tenants to a refundable gross income tax credit of up to $15,000 for "rent constituting property taxes." Increasing the cap on the amount of rental payments defined as "rent constituting property taxes" and allowing that amount to be a refundable tax credit of up to $15,000 will reduce residential tenants' tax burdens. | In Committee |
A1312 | Requires personnel at gated communities and multi-unit complexes to allow service of process. | This bill would allow certain individuals to serve process in gated residential communities and multi-unit buildings and complexes. The bill would authorize any sheriff, constable, State investigator, Special Civil Part court officer, court attendant, and other authorized persons to serve process on individuals residing in gated residential communities or multi-unit buildings or complexes where a security guard or other personnel must approve or facilitate the entry of visitors and guests beyond the entrance or lobby area of the building. Anyindividual who does not allow an authorized person to serve process on these premises commits a petty disorderly persons offense. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 30 days, up to $500 fine or both. The purpose of this bill is to assist these authorized persons in their lawful attempt to successfully serve process on persons residing in these communities. | In Committee |
A1350 | Exempts protective face coverings from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts protective face coverings from taxation under the "Sales and Use Tax Act." In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor has mandated New Jerseyans to wear protective face coverings, commonly referred to as masks, indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not feasible. As defined in the bill, protective face coverings are medical masks, respirators, or other coverings that are designed, or sold for use, to protect the wearer or others from the spread of infection or illness. | In Committee |
A1323 | Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $10 million to DOT for construction of highway guard rail along entirety of Route 208 through Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland in sections without highway guard rail, where necessary to ensure health and safety of motorists and residents whose properties abut Route 208. | This bill would appropriate up to $10,000,000 to the Department of Transportation for the purpose of installing highway guide rail along the entirety of Route 208 through Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland in sections that do not already have highway guard rail installed, where necessary to ensure the health and safety of motorists and residents whose properties abut Route 208. | In Committee |
A1321 | Repeals surtax imposed on certain businesses. | This bill repeals the recently enacted surtax on certain businesses. In July of 2018 a surtax was imposed for four privilege periods on businesses subject to the corporation business tax, other than public utilities, with more than $1 million of taxable net income. For the first two privilege periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, the surtax is imposed at 2.5 percent of income. The surtax is imposed at 1.5 percent for the two privilege periods after that. This bill eliminates the surtax for privilege periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019, so that the surtax would no longer be in effect for the three privilege periods beginning on or after that date. | In Committee |
AJR55 | Designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. Service dogs play an important role in assisting veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder. It is estimated that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience PTSD, and 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience TBI. New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000. However, despite federal law to expand the availability of service dogs to veterans, the training and placement of service dogs falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations, such as Paws Healing Heroes of Glassboro. The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is not covered by insurance or other veterans' benefits. Designating "Paws Healing Heroes Day" will promote greater awareness of the unique role of service dogs in assisting veterans. | In Committee |
AJR42 | Designates March 10 of each year as "COVID-19 Memorial Day." | This joint resolution designates March 10 of each year as "COVID-19 Memorial Day" and as a day of public mourning in the State of New Jersey in honor of all the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. The joint resolution respectfully requests the Governor to lower State flags to half-staff and to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
A1319 | Concerns business entities employed by the Governor or the office of Governor to conduct certain investigations. | This bill prohibits any business entity that holds a contract with any State agency, or that has made a campaign contribution to the Governor, from entering into a contract with the Governor or the office of the Governor to conduct an investigation into any matter that involves, or may involve, the Governor or the office of the Governor for the duration of that Governor's term in office. In addition, the bill prohibits a business entity that has entered into a contract with the Governor or the office of the Governor to conduct an investigation into any matter that involves, or may involve, the Governor or the office of the Governor from entering into any other contract with any State agency or from making any campaign contribution to that Governor for the duration of that Governor's term in office. | In Committee |
A1749 | Increases penalties for identity theft when victim is a senior citizen or veteran. | This bill would increase the penalties for identity theft in cases when the victim is a senior citizen or veteran. Under the bill, the penalties would be increased as follows:· If the offense only involves one victim, and a senior citizen or a veteran is deprived of an amount less than $500, a first offense would constitute a crime of the third degree, rather than fourth degree, and a second or subsequent offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than third degree;· If there are two to five victims or the actor obtains a benefit of $500 to $75,000, and any of the victims is a senior citizen or a veteran, the offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than the third degree; and· If there are more than five victims or the actor obtains a benefit of $75,000 or more, any of the victims is a senior citizen or a veteran, the offense would constitute a crime of the first degree, rather than the second degree. Similarly, for crimes of trafficking in personal identifying information pertaining to another person, this bill would increase penalties as follows:· If the offense only involves one piece of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the third degree, rather than the fourth degree;· If the offense involves 20 or more pieces of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than third degree;· If the offense only involves 50 or more pieces of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the first degree, rather than second degree. A crime in the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of $10,000, or both. A crime in the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both, and a crime in the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime in the first degree is punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | In Committee |
A1344 | Provides temporary deduction for food and beverage establishments from certain sales and use tax remittances. | This bill provides a temporary deduction for food and beverage establishments from remittances under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.). Through this deduction, these establishments would retain a portion of the sales taxes that are collected at certain business locations. Under the bill, a qualifying food or beverage establishment may deduct from the remittance required under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.), the amount of taxes collected from not more than $70,000 in taxable sales received per eligible business location during each month of a four-month relief period. However, the deduction may not exceed the amount of taxes collected at the business location during the month for which the deduction is claimed. After claiming the deduction, a qualifying food or beverage establishment would retain the collection of any taxes for which the deduction is claimed. The following food and beverage establishments would qualify for the deduction: (1) alcoholic beverage establishments, including breweries, wineries, distilleries, and brew pubs; (2) restaurant and food establishments, not including fast-food restaurants, and (3) mobile food service establishments, including food trucks and food stands. The bill allows a qualifying food or beverage establishment to claim the dedication for not more than five business locations. However, if a seller operates both a restaurant establishment and a mobile food services establishment, the deduction could be claimed for not more than five business locations and not more than five motorized vehicles or nonmotorized carts. Under the bill, the four-month relief period would begin on the first day of the second month following the date of enactment and conclude on the last day of the fifth month following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
A1357 | Requires NJT to provide Wi-Fi service on passenger trains. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to provide Wi-Fi service on each passenger train owned or operated by the corporation. Currently, the corporation offers high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots at select rail stations, and the corporation's Wi-Fi service has been approved for expansion to the corporation's bus services. | In Committee |
A1313 | "Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act"; requires institutions of higher education to post information on student suicides and attempted suicides on website. | This bill is entitled the "Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act." Madison Holleran, a track star at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, New Jersey, committed suicide in January of 2014 while enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania. The bill requires an institution of higher education, beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, to provide for public inspection on its website information concerning the total number of students enrolled in the institution who committed suicide or attempted suicide in the prior academic year. Under the bill, an institution must update the information annually. According to the "2017 New Jersey Youth Suicide Report" issued by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for New Jersey youth ages 10-24. The most recent data for 2013-2015 shows that of the 283 youth suicides in New Jersey, 70% were committed by young adults ages 19-24. Requiring an institution of higher education to provide information on students enrolled in the institution who commit suicide or attempt suicide will help raise awareness of this critical issue. | In Committee |
A1363 | The "New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act." | The "New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act" would require stricter safety standards to be adopted for existing bleachers at places of public accommodation within the State. Each year, there are an average of 19,100 injuries to people in the United States, many of them children, directly attributable to falls from bleachers or unsafe conditions of bleachers. In the past twenty years, there have been at least 10 deaths related to falls from bleachers, four of them involving children under the age of 15. Recently in New Jersey, three-year old Adam J. Graham suffered severe injuries when he tumbled through a gap in the bleacher seating at a school athletic event. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, falls from bleachers can occur when guardrails are missing from the backs or open sides of bleachers. Falls from bleachers also occur when there are large enough openings between components in the seating and the guardrails to permit a person to pass through them. Often the falls involve openings between the components of the seating, such as between the footboard and seat board, as was the case with Adam's fall, but other falls through spaces related to the guardrails have occurred as well. In addition to the risk of falls, some bleachers are dilapidated or poorly constructed, and are at risk of collapsing. Although the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code (UCC) has incorporated standards for bleacher safety, these standards are applicable to new bleachers only, and do not require the retrofitting of existing bleachers with safety features to prevent falls or injuries. This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt, within six months of the effective date of the bill, safety standards for existing bleachers, which would involve replacement of these bleachers, or their retrofitting to make them safe. In promulgating the standards, the commissioner is directed by the bill to utilize the guidelines created by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for the retrofitting of existing bleachers, or to use standards for the retrofitting of bleachers developed by nationally or internationally recognized model code agencies. The commissioner is also directed by the bill to establish certification and inspection procedures. The bill requires a place of public accommodation, defined as a public or privately- owned sports or entertainment arena or park, gymnasium, auditorium, stadium, hall, special event center in a public park or other facility for public assembly, to replace or retrofit existing bleachers in compliance with the code. Governmental entities from which funding would be available for such purposes are required to comply immediately after regulations are adopted by the commissioner. An example of governmental entities which may have access to funding for such purposes would be school districts, which are eligible for funds from bond acts or other funding for school facilities. Governmental entities not having access to immediate funding would have one year from the date of the promulgation of the regulations requiring retrofitting to comply. Private or nonprofit entities would have two years to comply with the regulations. Entities would be required to post a warning notice on bleachers that have not yet been certified as being in compliance with the UCC for safety features. A bleachers that is not certified as in compliance with the State Uniform Construction Code by the end of the allotted time period (one year for governmental entities, two years for all others) will be required to have a notice posted in a conspicuous place forbidding its use until certification has occurred. | In Committee |
A670 | Prohibits board of education from providing instruction in family life education, sex education, sexual health, sexual orientation, or gender identity to students in preschool through grade four. | This bill prohibits a board of education from providing instruction in family life education, sex education, sexual health, sexual orientation, or gender identity to students enrolled in preschool through grade four. The bill also requires that the State Board of Education, within 30 days of the bill's effective date, revise the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education to reflect the bill's provisions | In Committee |
A2713 | Provides additional home ownership assistance for certain military service members. | This bill provides additional home ownership assistance for certain military service members. The assistance would be in addition to the "First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program" and the "Down Payment Assistance Program" and would permit the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) to award an additional $5,000 to eligible service members or surviving spouses for down payment and closing cost assistance on primary residences. Eligible service members would be defined as a person who is or was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard of New Jersey or another state, or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, who served at least 90 days of active duty service beginning on or after September 11, 2001, or during the period of Operation "Desert Shield/Desert Storm" of the Persian Gulf Conflict, beginning August 2, 1990, and ending April 6, 1991, and was honorably discharged or generally discharged under honorable conditions. Eligible service members would also include an eligible service member who was honorably discharged prior to the 90-day active duty threshold due to injuries occurred during the dates listed above. | In Committee |
A1325 | Requires involuntary commitment of certain individuals who have been administered opioid antidotes. | This bill requires the involuntary commitment of individuals who have been administered an opioid antidote for the emergency treatment of an apparent opioid overdose. This bill amends the law governing involuntary commitment by amending the definition of the term "dangerous to self" to include individuals who have been administered an opioid antidote for the emergency treatment of an apparent opioid overdoes.. The bill defines the term "opioid antidote" to mean naloxone hydrochloride, or any other similarly acting drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of an opioid overdose. Under the bill, an individual who has recently been administered an opioid antidote is to be determined to be dangerous to self. Under current law, section 2 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.2), "dangerous to self" means that "by reason of mental illness the person has threatened or attempted suicide or serious bodily harm, or has behaved in such a manner as to indicate that the person is unable to satisfy his need for nourishment, essential medical care or shelter, so that it is probable that substantial bodily injury, serious physical harm or death will result within the reasonably foreseeable future; however, no person shall be deemed to be unable to satisfy his need for nourishment, essential medical care or shelter if he is able to satisfy such needs with the supervision and assistance of others who are willing and available. This determination shall take into account a person's history, recent behavior and any recent act, threat or serious psychiatric deterioration." | In Committee |
A1338 | Directs State Auditor to audit DOLWD Division of Unemployment Insurance. | This bill directs the State Auditor to conduct a performance review audit of the Division of Unemployment Insurance in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill requires the performance review audit of the Division of Unemployment Insurance to analyze whether the Division is achieving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in employing available resources and whether the office is in compliance with statutory law and regulations governing its operations. The audit must include an analysis of the office's use of federal and State allocated funding; a determination of whether the existing personnel of the office is adequate to meet the statutory mandate of the office; an evaluation of the efficiency of the office's internal operations, including during a state of emergency; recommendations to address any organizational deficiencies that may be revealed by the audit; and a cost estimate of replacing the Information Technology system used by the division. The State Auditor is required by the bill to complete the audit and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report summarizing the results of the audit within 90 days of the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
A1359 | Increases tax credits for investments made in emerging technology businesses under "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act." | This bill increases the amount of the tax credits provided under the "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" for qualified investments made in New Jersey emerging technology businesses. Under current law, taxpayers are allowed credits against the gross income tax and corporation business tax equal to 20 percent of a qualified investment made by the taxpayer in a New Jersey emerging technology business, in a New Jersey emerging technology business holding company that makes a verified transfer of funds to a New Jersey emerging technology business, or in a qualified venture fund. Taxpayers can qualify for an additional five percent credit provided that the qualified investment is made in an emerging technology business that is located in an opportunity zone or a low-income community, is a minority or women's business, or, in the case of a qualified venture fund, if the qualified venture fund commits by contract to invest 50 percent of its funds in diverse entrepreneurs. The bill would increase the amount of the tax credit provided to taxpayers that make qualified investments from 20 to 30 percent while increasing the total amount of the tax credit provided for taxpayers that qualify for the additional five percent credit from 25 to 35 percent. | In Committee |
A1348 | Permits county board of elections to begin canvassing early votes before election day under certain conditions; permits county board of elections to begin counting mail-in ballots as mail-in ballots are received by county board. | 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 for an election are not permitted to be counted until election day. Under this bill, county boards of elections are permitted to begin canvassing each early vote no earlier than 24 hours after the conclusion of the early voting period. The bill also permits a county board of elections to begin opening the inner envelopes and canvassing the mail-in ballots as the mail-in ballots are received by the county board. The bill also directs the Secretary of State to establish guidelines concerning the canvassing process of early votes to ensure the security and secrecy of the votes cast. The canvassing results of both early votes and mail-in ballots would remain confidential and be disclosed only in accordance with current law, regulations, and guidelines concerning the disclosure of election results. 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. | In Committee |
A1356 | Adds county and municipal representation to State Health Benefits Commission. | This bill increases the number of members on the State Health Benefits Commission from five to seven. This bill requires that the two additional members of the commission be appointed by the Governor. One of the additional members appointed by the Governor must be a municipal business administrator recommended by New Jersey's League of Municipalities and the other must be a county administrator recommended by the New Jersey Association of Counties. The State Health Benefits Commission is responsible for establishing a health benefits program for the employees of the State, and any related rules and regulations. In this capacity, decisions made by the commission have significant consequences for not only the State, but also for local governments. By adding these two members to the commission, this bill ensures that county and municipal governments have a voice in the administration of State Health Benefits Programs, including health plan rate increases. | In Committee |
A1310 | Establishes certain ethical standards and financial control requirements for State authorities. | This bill codifies Executive Order No. 41 (2005), issued by Acting Governor Codey on June 15, 2005. Specifically, it provides that: the Governor's Authorities Unit, in conjunction with the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards and the Inspector General, will conduct training sessions for members of independent State authorities, as well as members of boards, commissions, or agencies that are in but not of a principal department, in government ethics and proper fiscal practices, including specific training in the requirements of the federal Sarbanes Oxley Act, as related to their duties as authority members and will include the responsibility of authority members in the employment of authority staff, oversight of procurement and fiscal operations and approval of contracts; as of January 1, 2006 and annually thereafter, the executive director of each authority will certify in writing to the Director of the Governor's Authorities Unit that each member of the authority has completed such training; such training will be updated annually at the direction of the Director of the Governor's Authorities Unit to include such federal mandates as directed by Congress and such State mandates as directed by the Office of the Inspector General; the Inspector General will assess the internal controls that are in place at every authority and make recommendations concerning what uniform practices and procedures should be established for all State authorities; within 30 days of the bill's effective date, the Director of the Governor's Authorities Unit will provide recommendations concerning whether there are any authorities, boards, commissions or agencies that are not presently covered by the bill's provisions or Executive Orders Nos 10 (2002), 122 (2004) or 134 (2004), but should be included within their scope, and the director will further review whether any executive director of an authority also serves as a member of the authority and recommend whether legislative or regulatory changes are necessary to eliminate this service in dual capacities; within 30 days of the bill's effective date and annually as of May 15 thereafter, the executive director of an authority will certify in writing to the Director of the Governor's Authorities Unit that all authority members have met the requirements of Executive Order No. 10 (2002); within 45 days of the bill's effective date and annually as of January 1 thereafter, each executive director will certify in writing to the Director of the Governor's Authorities Unit that the authority has met the requirements of Executive Order No. 122 (2004), which includes the requirement that every authority covered by that executive order have an audit committee that serves independently of the management of the authority in soliciting, procuring and overseeing the function of the independent auditor and ensuring that the relationship with such auditor is the function of the board and not the management of the authority; within 60 days of the bill's effective date and annually as of January 1 thereafter, each executive director will certify in writing to the Director of the Governor's Authorities Unit that the authority has met the requirements of Executive Order No. 134 (2004), which includes the requirement that every authority comply with procedures designed to limit or ban campaign contributions by vendors doing business with the State or the authority; and the failure of any authority member, officer or employee to comply with the bill's provisions will constitute good cause for his or her removal from office or employment. | In Committee |
A1339 | Prohibits, under certain circumstances, disclosure of certain personal identifying information, including home address and photographic image, concerning any federal, State or municipal judicial officer, or that judicial officer's immediate family members. | This bill would prohibit, under certain circumstances, the disclosure of the personal identifying information of any federal, State, or municipal judicial officer, or any immediate family member of that judicial officer. As further detailed herein, it would make the posting or publishing of such information on the Internet a crime, and provide for a corresponding civil cause of action, if the act was done with purpose to expose a judicial officer or immediate family member to harassment or risk of harm to life or property, or in reckless disregard of the probability of such exposure; and it would also prohibit a State or local governmental agency from posting or publishing such information concerning a judicial officer or family member unless the governmental agency first obtained the written permission of the judicial officer. The bill defines "personal identifying information," "judicial officer," and "immediate family member" as follows: "'Personal identifying information" means any name, home address, photographic image, reproduction, or other depiction of a person, or other information that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a person as a judicial officer whenever that person is not engaged in the performance of the person's official duties as a judicial officer, or to identify any immediate family member as the immediate family member of a judicial officer"; "'Judicial officer' means the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, a judge of the United States Court of Appeals, a judge of a federal district court, including a magistrate judge, a judge of any other court established by federal law, the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, a judge of the Superior Court, a judge of the Tax Court, a judge of a municipal court, a judge of the Office of Administrative Law, a judge of the Division of Workers' Compensation, or a judge of any other court or who handles proceedings in the executive branch of the State government or a local government established by State law"; and "'Immediate family member' means a judicial officer's spouse, domestic partner as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3), partner in a civil union couple as defined in section 2 of P.L.2006, c.103 (C.37:1-29), child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, sibling, stepsibling, half sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, grandparent, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law, whether related by blood or by law, who either permanently resides or resides for an extended period of time in the same household as the judicial officer. For the crime of posting or publishing the personal identifying information of a judicial officer or an immediate family member of that judicial officer, if the act was a reckless violation of the bill's provisions, it would be graded a crime of the fourth degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. If the act was a purposeful violation, it would be graded a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. As to the corresponding civil action that could be brought by a judicial officer or immediate family member for the commission of the same act of posting or publishing the officer's or family member's information, the bill provides that the standard of proof would be a preponderance of the evidence, and the fact that a criminal prosecution against a person is not instituted or, if instituted, terminates without conviction would not preclude the civil action against that same person. If a final judgment is rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding, this would estop the defendant from denying the same conduct in any civil action brought against that person. In any civil action, the court could award: - actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation of subsection a. of this section; - punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; - reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred; and - any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. | In Committee |
A497 | Prohibits use of fireworks under certain circumstances. | This bill provides enhanced penalties for the use of fireworks under certain circumstances. Current law prohibits the sale, possession, or use of fireworks, excluding sparkling devices and novelties, other than by an authorized purchaser with a valid permit to purchase fireworks for public display as approved by a municipality. This bill makes it unlawful for any person to use fireworks on a public highway, street, road, or alley or on any property directly adjacent to a property on which horses are housed or boarded. The bill provides that any person who violates its provisions is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
ACR33 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing municipalities, by ordinance, to provide partial property tax exemption on primary residence of certain volunteer first responders. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would authorize a municipality, by ordinance, to provide a partial property tax exemption on the primary residence of volunteer first responders serving in the municipality. The exemption would mean the volunteer first responder would not pay property taxes on part of the home's assessed value. An eligible first responder would be an active member of a volunteer fire department or a volunteer first aid or ambulance squad who owns a home in the municipality in which the volunteer serves, and the home must be the volunteer's primary residence. The municipality would decide the percentage amount of the exemption, which cannot exceed 10 percent of the assessed value. The State would not be required to reimburse municipalities for the cost of the exemption. | In Committee |
A1324 | Adds member from Judicial Retirement System to State Investment Council. | Under current law, the membership of the State Investment Council includes one representative each from the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund. This bill would add a member to represent the Judicial Retirement System (JRS). Under the bill, the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court would designate one board member of the Board of Trustees of the JRS to serve on the council. This change would increase the council's membership from 15 to 16 total members. The State Investment Council was created by law to formulate policies the Director of the Division of Investment follows when investing the State's pension funds, including JRS funds. | In Committee |
A410 | Provides that public school parent who objects to learning material or activity that parent considers harmful may receive voucher from school district to enroll student in nonpublic school. | This bill provides that in the event that the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district objects to a learning material or activity that is part of the curriculum, on the basis that the material or activity is harmful, withdraws his child from the school district and enrolls the child in a nonpublic school, the resident school district is required to provide the parent or guardian with a voucher to support the tuition and fees of the nonpublic school. The voucher will equal 75 percent of the resident school district's annual spending per pupil prorated based upon the number of days remaining in the school year. An objection to a learning material or activity on the basis that it is harmful includes, but is not limited to, an objection that the material or activity questions, violates, or conflicts with the parent or guardian's belief or practice regarding sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, conscience, ethics, morality, or religion. | In Committee |
A1810 | Prohibits sale of flavored cigarettes, non-premium cigars, and oral nicotine pouches. | This bill extends the current ban on the sale of flavored cigarettes to include menthol cigarettes, which were exempted from the flavored cigarette ban when it was first enacted in 2008. The bill also bans flavored oral nicotine pouches and non-premium cigars, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill additionally makes the prohibitions and the penalties under the flavored cigarette ban applicable to retailers, rather than individuals. The revision to the flavor ban means that a retailer is not to, either directly or indirectly by an agent or employee, or by a vending machine owned by the retailer or located in the retailer's establishment, sell, offer for sale, distribute for commercial purpose at no cost or minimal cost or with coupons or rebate offers, give or furnish, to a person an oral nicotine pouch, a non-premium cigar, or a cigarette, or any component part thereof, which contains a natural or artificial constituent or additive that causes the oral nicotine pouch, non-premium cigar, or cigarette, or any smoke emanating from the cigarette or non-premium cigar, to have a characterizing flavor other than tobacco. In no event is an oral nicotine pouch, a non-premium cigar, or a cigarette or any component part thereof to be construed to have a characterizing flavor based solely on the use of additives or flavorings, or the provision of an ingredient list made available by any means. The existing penalties under the flavored cigarette bill will continue to apply, such that a retailer who makes a prohibited sale will be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation, and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. In addition, upon the recommendation of the municipality in which the violation occurred, following a hearing by the municipality, the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury may suspend or, after a second or subsequent violation, revoke the retailer's tobacco retailer license. The licensee will also be subject to administrative charges, based on a schedule issued by the Director of the Division of Taxation, which may provide for a monetary penalty in lieu of a suspension. | In Committee |
A1307 | "Informed Consent for Vaccination Act"; revises requirements for administration of vaccines to patients. | This bill, designated as the "Informed Consent for Vaccinations Act," revises the requirements to administer vaccines to patients. Specifically, the bill requires that, at least at least 48 hours prior to administration of the vaccine, the health care practitioner who will administer the vaccine is to furnish to the to the patient, or to the patient's parent or guardian in the case of a patient who is an unemancipated minor, a copy of the vaccine insert for the vaccine and information concerning the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) co-managed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Food and Drug Administration, including an overview of the VAERS, instructions on how to report vaccine injuries, a copy of the Reportable Events Table, and a copy of the Vaccine Injury Table. a vaccine may be administered only if the patient, or the patient's parent or guardian, returns a signed copy of the vaccine insert confirming the patient consents to receive the vaccine. The health care practitioner will additionally be required to provide the patient, or the patient's parent or guardian, as applicable, with the option to opt out of receiving the vaccine, along with a description of the potential implications of opting out of the vaccine, including the risks of contracting or transmitting a communicable infectious disease and the potential that the patient may not be allowed to attend school unless the patient obtains a medical or religious exemption from student immunization requirements for that vaccine. The bill provides that a health care practitioner may not refuse to provide health care services to a patient or seek to transfer care of the patient to another health care practitioner solely on the basis of the patient's refusal to receive a vaccine. The bill further provides that, except in the course of a public health emergency declared pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), no vaccine may be administered pursuant to a standing order. | In Committee |
A1535 | Appropriates $2.5 million to NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for purpose of expanding memorial and museum. | This bill appropriates $500,000 to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for the purpose of providing financial assistance for the expansion of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and Vietnam Era Museum. The bill also appropriates an additional $2 million to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Fund for the same purposes; provided, however, the Legislature would be required to appropriate those funds, in $500,000 increments, to the foundation starting in the State Fiscal Year next following enactment. The expansion would position the museum to become a major tourism destination, solidifying its foothold as the only museum in the country dedicated to the study and preservation of the Vietnam Era. With this expansion, the foundations aims to have the museum recognized as the National Vietnam Museum, the first national museum located in New Jersey. | In Committee |
A403 | Prohibits candidates from nomination for more than one elective office at primary or general election. | This bill prohibits candidates from being nominated for more than one elective office in any primary or general election. Under the bill, a candidate nominated by petition would be prohibited from accepting such nomination if the candidate has already accepted a nomination for a candidacy to any other office in that election. A candidate nominated through the primary process would be prohibited from being nominated as a candidate for more than office in any primary or general election. The bill also prohibits any person from being certified as a candidate for more than office in the same election. | In Committee |
A1360 | Allows candidates for Senate and General Assembly to appear together in same nominating petition. | This bill allows candidates for Senate and General Assembly to appear together in the same nominating petition, provided they seek nomination from the same legislative district and are of the same political party. Under current law, several candidates for nomination to the same office may appear together in the petitions of nomination that are circulated to appear on the primary election ballot. This bill expands this authorization to enable such Senate and General Assembly candidates to appear together in the same primary nomination petition. This bill also allows such Senate and General Assembly candidates to appear together on petitions for direct nomination for the general election. Under current law, Senate and General Assembly candidates from the same legislative district require the same number of signatures on their nominating petitions. This bill does not change the required number of signatures, but would simplify the process of gathering these signatures for candidates running in the same legislative district who are from the same political party, should the candidates choose to be named on the same petition. | In Committee |
A3072 | Requires electric public utilities to establish interest-free revolving loan program to help residential customers purchase standby emergency power generators. | This bill directs an electric public utility (utility), in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the Division of Rate Counsel, to establish an energy resilience loan program (loan program) for the purpose of providing interest-free financing, to be deployed through a financing program, to make standby emergency power generators (generator) affordable for residential customers of the utility. The loan program will be entirely administered by the utility and residential customers are to purchase the generators from the private sector. The loan program is to include direct loans to residential customers, on terms approved by the BPU, which are to include, but not be limited to: 1) the establishment by the utility of a nonlapsing revolving loan fund to service the loan program; 2) interest-free loans for an amount not to exceed $8,000 per generator per residential utility customer; and 3) an interest-free repayment period as determined by the board. The bill provides that utility is to impose an energy resilience fee (fee) on any residential customer participating in the loan program, which revenues from the fee are to be pledged to secure and be applied to the repayment of the financing costs as described in the bill. The fee may be a usage-based surcharge, a flat user fee, or a charge, based upon a residential customer's electric usage, as determined by the BPU, for each residential customer. The fee is to be itemized and separately identified on the periodic bill of any residential customer subject to the fee. Nothing in the bill is to effect the right to impose, collect, and adjust from time to time the fee imposed on a residential customer. The obligation of any utility residential customer subject to the fee to pay the fee and the obligation of the utility to collect the fee is not to be subject to any setoff, counterclaim, surcharge, or defense by the utility or by any utility residential customer, or in connection with a bankruptcy of any utility or any residential customer The bill provides that the BPU is to ensure that all reasonable costs incurred by a utility to start and implement the loan program may be recovered as part of the utility's revenue requirement, including necessary billing system adjustments, costs arising out of the billing and collection of, and any costs for fees that are not recovered via a participating residential customer's fee payments, or otherwise. The fee is not to be considered revenue of a utility and accordingly, is not to be subject to any tax, fee, charge, or assessment authorized pursuant to State law. The bill provides that the loan program or the act of serving as an agent to bill and to collect the fee is not to cause any utility to be subject to the laws that regulate financial institutions, escrow depositories, or collection agencies. A utility is not to be responsible for lending, underwriting, and credit determinations. | In Committee |
ACR38 | Proposes constitutional amendment permitting Gold Star families to receive veteran's property tax deduction. | This constitutional amendment would extend the veteran's property tax deduction, currently $250 per year, to Gold Star families. The deduction would be equal to those already authorized for honorably discharged wartime veterans. A Gold Star Family in this context is the parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian, or other legal custodian of a member of the armed services who died while on active duty for the United States. Unmarried surviving spouses of such veterans are already eligible for the benefit. Under the amendment, only one deduction would be permitted per Gold Star Family, and the priority for the deduction among eligible family members would be established by law. | In Committee |
A2718 | Requires public institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart Medal military recipients. | This bill requires public institutions of higher education to waive the tuition and fees for any service member or veteran living in New Jersey who is the recipient of a Medal of Honor or Purple Heart Medal provided that the service member or veteran has: (1) been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution; and (2) applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the service member or veteran is eligible. The service member or veteran is permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at the institution and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free for a maximum of eight semesters. Under the bill, a service member or veteran will demonstrate eligibility for waived tuition and fees in a manner and by a date determined by the governing board of the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
A971 | Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities. | This bill would revise the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), to prohibit any categorical affordable housing obligation exemption for municipalities that are eligible for the Municipal (Urban) Aid Program. Prior rules of the Council on Affordable Housing excluded these municipalities from providing any contribution toward a region's affordable housing need. Those exemptions, however, can lead to undue development burdens on the other municipalities in the region. Additionally, directing more affordable housing development to urban municipalities would help minimize urban sprawl and would direct development to areas that already have extensive infrastructure in place, allowing for more cost-effective accommodation of new development. | In Committee |
A2706 | Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations. | This bill provides that any order, rule, or regulation issued by the Governor pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act" will terminate on the 15th day after issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of concurrent resolution. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to the bill for the same emergency. The bill does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act"; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act." | In Committee |
A1108 | Excludes payments made for unemployment compensation benefits related to layoffs resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic from calculation of employer contribution for unemployment compensation benefits. | This bill excludes from the calculation of employer contributions to the unemployment compensation fund payments made for unemployment compensation benefits related to layoffs from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Under current law, an employer's contribution rate to the unemployment compensation fund is affected by the employer's experience rating; that is, the number of times a former employee of an employer collects benefits impacts the employer's contribution rate for the following year. This bill excludes from the calculation of the employer contribution rate benefits paid to employees in relation to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. | In Committee |
A1334 | Provides one-time deduction of $10,000 for certain taxpayers under GIT. | This bill provides a one-time deduction of $10,000 from gross income that can be claimed in addition to other deductions. This deduction applies to households and joint filers earning under $250,000 and single filers earning under $125,000. The purpose of the bill is to provide relief in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. | In Committee |
A1329 | Requires annual suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners. | This bill requires annual suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners. Under the bill, mental health practitioners are to complete a minimum of two hours of suicide prevention training within one year following the effective date of this bill. Thereafter, mental health practitioners are to complete a minimum of two hours of suicide prevention training each year. Mental health practitioners are to submit proof of completion of suicide prevention training 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 (division). The bill provides that the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs 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 |
A1098 | Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests. | This bill would provide free admission to State parks and forests to disabled veterans residing in New Jersey who have been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who have been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree. This bill would also exempt such disabled veterans from any fees for accessing State park beaches by motor vehicle in order to fish there, including fees for mobile sportfishing vehicle permits. State law currently only provides free admission to State parks and forests to New Jersey residents who are 62 or more years of age, totally disabled, or active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training, and current law does not specifically exempt disabled veterans from fees for motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish. This bill would extend free State park and forest admission, as well as free motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish, to all veterans who have incurred a service-connected disability, regardless of the degree of disability. | In Committee |
A2711 | Establishes New Jersey Veteran Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Veteran Grant Program for veterans enrolled in public institutions of higher education. The purpose of the program is to assist veterans in achieving their higher education goals. The program will be administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Under the program, an eligible student may attend a public institution of higher education at no cost to the student. The bill provides that a grant under the program will be in an amount established by the authority and subject to the amount of available appropriations. A grant will be subject to the prior application of other grants and scholarships against the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for up to 18 credit hours in any semester, for an eligible student enrolled in a course of undergraduate or graduate study at a public institution of higher education. In the event that the grant amount does not cover the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees, the public institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled will be required to waive any remaining balance. In order to qualify for the program, the bill requires that a student must: (1) have fulfilled at least one year of federal active duty service in the Armed Forces of the United States, which includes active duty service in the New Jersey National Guard or a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces; or served in a foreign country in a time of hostilities in that country; or received a medical discharge due to an illness or injury related to the performance of duties; (2) have received an honorable discharge from military service, or is currently honorably serving; (3) be a State resident; (4) have applied for all other available forms of State and federal need-based grants and merit scholarships, exclusive of loans; (5) be enrolled in good academic standing in an undergraduate or graduate course of study at a public institution of higher education in the State; (6) not be a current scholarship recipient of the Reserve Officer Training Corps; and (7) not be in default on any student loan, or owe a refund on any State or federal grant. The bill provides that a student who is dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons from a public institution of higher education will no longer be eligible for the program. If a student participating in the program is dismissed for disciplinary reasons, the student must repay in full all amounts received under the program. The bill provides that a student grant may be renewed upon the student's filing of a renewal financial aid application and providing evidence that the student has satisfied the program's requirements. Finally, the bill annually appropriates from the General Fund to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority such funds as are necessary to effectuate the bill's purposes. | In Committee |
A1316 | Exempts volunteer fire companies from paying annual charitable registration fee. | This bill exempts volunteer fire companies from paying the annual registration fee that is required by the State "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." The State Attorney General has authority to set annual registration fees for charitable and other non-profit organizations. These fees are currently based on the amount of revenue received by an organization, starting with a $30 annual fee for an organization receiving up to $10,000 per year, to a $250 fee for an organization receiving over $500,000 per year. While there are certain exemptions that apply to the fee and registration requirements under current law, volunteer fire companies are not categorically exempted from registration and fees. If enacted, this bill would exempt volunteer fire companies from paying an annual registration fee, but it would not relieve volunteer fire companies of their obligation to register as non-profit organizations. | In Committee |
A1118 | Revises gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and designated as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. | The bill revises the gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and is designated as the Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. As is common with progressive income tax structures, a marriage penalty occurs when married taxpayers, who would have otherwise faced a lower income tax liability by remaining single and filing individual tax returns, face a higher tax liability due to their marital status and filing their taxes jointly. For the sake of tax equity, the bill would amend the tax brackets for those filing jointly to align the tax brackets with those imposed on taxpayers filing individual tax returns. These changes would lower the gross income tax liability of most joint filers. The bill accomplishes eliminating the so-called marriage penalty by making the following changes to the tax brackets of joint filers:· Taxable income up to $40,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.40 percent. · Taxable income over $40,000 but not over $70,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.75 percent. The bill would take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. | In Committee |
A2714 | Establishes "Bring Veterans to New Jersey Program." | This bill establishes the "Bring Veterans to New Jersey Program" in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. This program shall help New Jersey employers recruit qualified veterans to fill positions in New Jersey by providing relocation assistance to those qualified military veterans through eligible employers. The department shall contract with a nonprofit organization in New Jersey to administer the program. The department shall enter into an agreement with participating employers, who agree to provide relocation assistance to eligible veterans for eligible expenses. The department shall reimburse these expenses to participating employers in an amount not to exceed $5,000. The department shall develop criteria for the granting of relocation assistance. The process for receiving relocation assistance shall be as follows: (1) A veteran must create a profile with the nonprofit contracted to administer the program. A participating employer shall use these profiles to select and contact candidates regarding available positions. (2) After accepting a position, document the eligible expenses necessary for reimbursement. Upon receipt of the documentation, the participating employer shall reimburse the veteran for relocation expenses that are eligible in accordance with its relocation policy or procedure in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per household. The Adjutant General may adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the program. | In Committee |
A1320 | Bars public entities and public employees from entering into confidential settlements of claims against them; provides that such settlements constitute public records. | This bill would bar public entities and public employees from entering into confidential settlements of claims or actions where the public entity is a party, except for matters involving national security. The bill also provides that such settlements constitute public records under the open public records laws. Under current law, set out in P.L.1989, c.336 (C.2A:82-46), the name, address, and identity of a victim of a sex crime or child abuse who was under the age of 18 at the time of the offense shall not appear on the indictment, complaint, or any other public record. The bill specifically provides that it is not intended to affect this requirement. The bill provides that it shall not be deemed to preclude or otherwise limit the provisions of the open public records laws. | In Committee |
A1342 | Requires biennial inspection of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. | This bill requires biennial inspection of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The bill provides that, within 180 days following the bill's effective date, the Department of Health (department) is to establish uniform care and operating procedures and standards for nursing homes and assisted living facilities in this State. The department of is to conduct biennial, on-site inspections of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to ensure that nursing homes and assisted living facilities in this State operate in accordance with procedures and standards promulgated by the department. The department is to conduct such other periodic reviews of nursing homes and assisted living facilities as deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Health. Finally, the department is to post on its Internet website each inspection report prepared following an inspection of a nursing home or assisted living facility that is performed pursuant to the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
A1343 | Provides gross income tax deduction for costs of purchasing and installing battery backups for certain home solar electrical generators. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction for the costs of purchasing and installing a battery backup for a solar electrical generator in the taxpayer's primary residence. On a sunny day, rooftop solar panels can produce more electric power than is need to power the home. If there is no way to store that power, the excess power is transferred into the grid for consumption elsewhere. During delivery power failures, the solar panel generators are automatically disconnected from the grid, so that they will not send a power surge through electric lines that are being repaired. This bill provides an incentive for homeowners to install battery backup systems, so that the homes with solar power generators can have a supply of electricity while the line supplies of power are under repair. | In Committee |
A1333 | Increases, from 18 percent to 30 percent, amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property taxes for purposes of deduction from gross income for property tax payments. | This bill amends the "Property Tax Deduction Act," (N.J.S.A.54A:3A-15 et seq.) to provide additional income tax relief for tenants by increasing, from 18 percent to 30 percent, the amount of rent defined as "rent constituting property taxes". Under the "Property Tax Deduction Act," a taxpayer is entitled to a deduction of up to $15,000 from gross income for property taxes, or the rental equivalent thereof paid by tenants, due and paid for that calendar year on a taxpayer's homestead. For tenants, the amount of the deduction is based on the amount of "rent constituting property taxes". Current law sets the amount of rent constituting property taxes at 18 percent of the rent paid by the taxpayer for the occupancy, during the taxable year, of a unit of residential real property which the taxpayer occupies a principal residence. This bill increases the amount rent constituting property taxes from 18 percent of rent paid to 30 percent of rent paid. Increasing the cap on the amount of rental payments defined as rent constituting property taxes would allow eligible gross income taxpayers to deduct a higher amount of rent from their gross income, thereby lowering in the amount of gross income subject to taxation and reducing a tenant's tax burden. | In Committee |
A1261 | Clarifies that law enforcement officers employed by educational institutions may possess firearms on campus. | This bill clarifies that campus law enforcement officers are permitted to carry a firearm in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of a school, college, university or other educational institution in the course of the officer's employment or traveling to or from the officer's place of employment. The bill defines "law enforcement officer" as a person empowered to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law and who has successfully completed a firearms training course administered by the Police Training Commission. | In Committee |
A1443 | Establishes procedures for disqualification from public office or employment upon conviction of certain crimes; creates registry. | This bill would amend N.J.S.2C:51-2 concerning forfeiture of public office, position or employment upon conviction of certain criminal offenses. Currently under subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:51-2 a court shall enter an order of forfeiture when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty in State court, or upon application of a county prosecutor or Attorney General when the criminal offense is based on another state's law or federal law. Currently under subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:51-2 any person convicted of an offense "involving or touching" his public office, position, or employment is forever disqualified from holding any office or position of honor, trust or profit in the State or any of its administrative or political subdivision. This bill would establish a procedure for disqualification in subsection d. similar to the procedure set out in N.J.S.2C:51-2 under subsection b. concerning forfeiture. The bill would require that the court order concerning the disqualification of employment set forth in subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:51-2 be entered at the same time the court enters the order of forfeiture set forth in subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:51-2. However, if the conviction is for an offense under the laws of another state or of the United States, the county prosecutor or the Attorney General would be required to make an application to a Superior Court judge designated by the Chief Justice for a disqualification order. This disqualification order would be deemed to have taken effect on the date the person was found guilty by the trier of fact or pled guilty to the offense. The Administrative Office of the Courts would be required to establish and maintain a central registry of all persons who have had disqualification orders entered pursuant to subsection d of the statute. | In Committee |
A1332 | Supports activities of New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. | This bill would establish a permanent new source of funding of up to $1.5 million for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc., (NJMEP) or an appropriate successor from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund. The NJMEP is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to improve the profitability and competitiveness of manufacturers in this State. NJMEP helps organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve employee performance. Under current law, of the total revenues dedicated to the Workforce Development Partnership Funds, 37% is reserved for and appropriated to the Office of Customized Training. The bill reduces this allocation by $1.5 million. | In Committee |
A1345 | Increases qualified research expenses tax credit for corporation business taxpayers engaged in targeted industries; increases basic research payment tax credit; allows research tax credit to be refundable. | This bill makes several changes to the research tax credit provided under the corporation business tax, including increasing the qualified research expenses credit for taxpayers engaged in targeted industries, increasing the basic research payments tax credit for all taxpayers, and allowing the total credit to be refundable. Under current law, a corporation business taxpayer may receive a research tax credit in an amount equal to (1) 10 percent of the excess of qualified research expenses for the privilege period over the base amount; and (2) 10 percent of the basic research payments for the privilege period. This bill increases the qualified research expenses tax credit from 10 percent to 15 percent for taxpayers who are primarily engaged in business in one or more targeted industries. For the purpose of calculating the qualified research expenses tax credit, the base amount is determined based on a fixed percentage of the taxpayer's average annual gross receipts. Qualified research expenses are also defined to include the sum of in-house research expenses and contract research expenses that are paid or incurred during the privilege period. Under the bill, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority would be responsible for periodically identifying a list of targeted industries. However, the bill requires the initial list of targeted industries to include advanced transportation and logistics, manufacturing, aviation, autonomous vehicle and zero-emission vehicle research or development, clean energy, life sciences, hemp processing, information and high technology, finance and insurance, professional services, film and digital media, non-retail food and beverage businesses including food innovation, and other innovative industries that disrupt current technologies or business models. Additionally, the bill increases the basic research payments tax credit from 10 percent to 15 percent for all taxpayers. State regulations define basic research payments to include cash payments provided by a corporation to qualified organizations (e.g., institutions of higher education, certain scientific research organizations, and certain scientific tax-exempt organization) for the performance of basic research. Under state regulations, the credit is calculated based on the provisions of section 41 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. s.41), as in effect on June 30, 1992. The bill also allows the research tax credit to be refundable for privilege periods beginning on or after the date of enactment. Under current law, the research tax credit cannot be refunded, and taxpayers are permitted to carry forward the unused portion of the credit for seven privilege periods. Under the bill, a taxpayer may instead elect to receive the unused portion of the credit as a tax refund, or carry forward the unused credit. When a tax credit is refundable, the State is required to provide the taxpayer with a cash payment in the amount of the unused credit, which represents an overpayment of tax. | In Committee |
A1326 | Requires health insurance coverage for annual mental health screening. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and the State Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for an annual mental health screening. The provisions of the bill will take effect 90 days after the date of enactment and will apply to all health benefits plans issued or renewed on or after that date. | In Committee |
ACR36 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase to $500 veterans' property tax deduction. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to: $300 in calendar year 2023, $350 in calendar year 2024, $400 in calendar year 2025, $450 in calendar year 2026 and $500 in calendar year 2027 and for each year thereafter. The veterans' property tax deduction provided for in the State Constitution was last increased in 1999, when the amount of the annual deduction was raised from $50 to $250 over four years. | In Committee |
A2129 | Create COVID-19 Memorial Commission. | This bill establishes a COVID-19 Memorial Commission in the Department of Health. The memorial will honor the New Jersey residents whose lives were lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission will consist of 11 members and will be responsible for selecting a suitable design and location for the construction of a COVID-19 memorial, and determining appropriate methods of financing the construction and maintenance of the memorial. A non-lapsing fund will be established for the design, construction, and maintenance of the memorial. The COVID-19 outbreak spread across the United States and the world. The outbreak was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and on March 9, 2020, Governor Murphy signed an executive order declaring a State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency. Statistics show that, as of February 1, 2021, New Jersey had approximately 700,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and approximately 21,500 deaths related to COVID-19. The highly contagious nature of the virus prevented many from spending time with their friends and loved ones, especially those who died alone and afraid in hospitals and nursing homes. The highly contagious nature of the virus also prevented many from giving their loved ones a proper burial or funeral service, preventing a final and peaceful goodbye. Most New Jerseyans know someone, whether directly or indirectly, who was affected by COVID-19. The establishment of a memorial to honor the New Jersey residents whose lives were lost to COVID-19 is necessary and appropriate. | In Committee |
A1308 | Establishes "Long-Term Care Facility Infectious Disease Preparedness and Home Health Care Study Commission." | This bill establishes the "Long-Term Care Facility Infectious Disease Preparedness and Home Health Care Study Commission" (commission). The purpose of the study commission is to analyze the ability of long-term care facilities to respond to an infectious disease outbreak and to determine methods to encourage home health care in the State. Specifically, the commission is to examine policies and procedures established by long-term care facilities to respond to an infectious disease outbreak and to curb the spread of the disease; analyze whether long-term care facilities have a sufficient number of employees to meet residents' needs in the event of an infectious disease outbreak within the long-term care facility; make recommendations as to how long-term care facilities may better respond to an infectious disease outbreak; analyze methods to retain home health aides within the State; and examine methods to encourage home health care in the State. Under the bill, "home health care" means nursing and other home health care services rendered to a person in the person's place of residence, under the following conditions: (1) on a part-time and intermittent basis, except when full-time or 24-hour services are needed on a short-term basis; (2) if continuing hospitalization would otherwise have been required if home health care were not provided; and (3) pursuant to a physician's order and under a plan of care established by the responsible physician in collaboration with a home health care provider, which plan is to be periodically reviewed and approved by the physician. "Long-term care facility" means a veterans' home or a nursing home, assisted living residence, comprehensive personal care home, residential health care facility, or dementia care home licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.). The commission is to consist of 15 members as follows: the Commissioner of Human Services, or the commissioner's designee; the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee; and 13 members of the public with significant operational, financial, or managerial expertise in the home health care and long-term care facility industry, four of whom are to be representatives of entities currently operating a long-term care facility or home health care service in the State. The bill provides that not later than 12 months after the initial meeting of the commission, it is to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature presenting its analysis of long-term care facility infectious disease preparedness and methods to encourage home health care in the State. The commission is to expire on the first day of the third month following the submission of its written report to the Governor and Legislature. | In Committee |
A1327 | Prohibits candidates and elected public officials charged with crimes from using campaign contributions for their legal defense. | This bill clarifies that no contributions received by a candidate for elective public office, or the committee of such a candidate or a legislative leadership committee, can be used by that person for the payment of any expense arising from his or her legal defense for violating any provision of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, or for violating any other criminal statute in another jurisdiction or of the federal government. The provisions of this bill apply to any person serving in elective public office because the definition of a candidate in current State campaign finance law includes a person elected to public office. Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes provides, for example, that a person found guilty of bribery in official and political matters, and a person found guilty of official misconduct, has committed crimes of the second degree, each of which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 5 and 10 years and a fine of up to $150,000. The campaign contributions that a person raises for election to public office were never intended for use by a candidate, or an elected public official, for his or her legal defense against criminal charges. This bill amends current law so that it is interpreted to conform with the original intention of the Legislature with regard to the permissible uses of campaign contributions. | In Committee |
A1337 | Reduces CBT rate; retroactive to January 1, 2020. | This bill reduces the corporation business tax (CBT) tax rate from 9 percent to 2.5 percent of income for privilege periods ending after December 31, 2019, and provides for that tax rate to remain at 2.5 percent in perpetuity. Under the bill, the 2.5 percent rate is to apply to all CBT taxpayers. A "privilege period" is the 12 month accounting period for which tax is due for the privilege of doing business in the State. The sponsor's intent for the bill is to help businesses to withstand revenue losses incurred as a result of the government-enforced closure of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by allowing those businesses to keep a larger percentage of their earnings. The bill is to take effect immediately upon enactment and apply retroactively to January 1, 2020. | In Committee |
AR51 | Adopts articles of impeachment concerning Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. | This Assembly Resolution adopts articles of impeachment in the matter of Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and provides for the presentation of articles to the Senate, and impeaches Robert Asaro-Angelo. In light of his record of failing to address the ongoing unemployment crisis in New Jersey, failure to take reasonable measures to expeditiously process and pay unemployment claims and address unemployment, including the failure to open the One-Stop Career Centers to the public for in-person services, violation of the public trust, and his overall failure to perform the duties of his office, it is altogether fitting and proper and within the public interest for the General Assembly to adopt articles of impeachment against Robert Asaro-Angelo, and present the articles to the New Jersey Senate in accordance with New Jersey Constitution, Article VII, Section III, paragraph 2. | In Committee |
A1315 | Provides assistance to business accelerators and incubators and startup businesses located within those business accelerators and incubators. | This bill directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education (secretary), to establish and administer the "Startup Businesses in Business Incubators Development Program" (program) to provide financial assistance and support services to an accelerator business or incubator business located within a business accelerator or incubator. To qualify, a business accelerator or incubator is required to be located within an urban transit hub or within one mile of a research institution campus. The EDA is to provide financial assistance to a business accelerator or incubator in an amount that matches 20 percent of the amount of funding provided by a research institution up to a total of $200,000, which may be applied to any aspect of an accelerator or incubator business operating within the accelerator or incubator. The bill requires that, in order to be eligible for financial assistance from the EDA, an accelerator or incubator business at the time of jointly submitting an application for program eligibility, operates in one of several specified fields. The bill requires the EDA and the secretary to promote and facilitate public-private partnerships between businesses, accelerators and incubators, and New Jersey research institutions through the adoption of rules and regulations promoting and facilitating public-private partnerships and to establish the parameters of public-private partnership agreements. An accelerator or incubator business seeking to participate in the program is to submit an application jointly with an accelerator or incubator in a form and manner as the EDA requires. The EDA is to provide financial assistance to an accelerator or incubator pursuant to an agreement. An applicant that fails to comply with the agreement made as a condition of receiving financial assistance is to repay any financial assistance received and, if determined by the EDA, is to pay a penalty not in excess of 10 percent of the amount of financial assistance. The EDA is to establish and maintain the program with the following sources of funds: 1) funds as may be available to the EDA from other business development programs administered by the EDA or other State agencies or authorities, and which the EDA determines to be necessary in light of the volume of applications from accelerator and incubator businesses for eligibility under the program as necessary to implement the bill; and 2) other monies as may be made available to the EDA from public or private sources. The bill also requires the EDA to administer and establish a "Business Accelerator and Business Incubator Network Grant Program" to provide 10 grants annually, for seven years, to business accelerators or business incubators, based upon a competitive application and evaluation process. The grants provided under the program are required to equal $100,000 each. In order to be eligible for a grant, a business accelerator or business incubator is required to qualify to receive financial assistance under the "Startup Businesses in Business Incubators Development Program." The bill requires the EDA to evaluate applications for the grant program and make award decisions upon evaluating the business accelerator's or business incubator's partnerships with innovative businesses, partnerships with a research institution, provision of support services and technology extension services, and partnerships with minority businesses and women's businesses. The EDA is required to fund the grant program through monies as may be available to the EDA from other business development and from other monies available to the EDA from public or private sources. The bill provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits, for seven tax periods, for accelerator and incubator businesses participating in the development program. The credits are equal to 15 percent of the cost of accelerator or incubator business operating expenses during the business's participation in the program. The taxpayer may carry unused tax credits forward, if necessary, for seven tax periods or may file a petition for a refund equal to 50 percent of the amount of an unused tax credit. The bill also requires the Executive Director of the EDA to provide at least $5,000,000 in tax credits available under the "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" to taxpayers for qualified investments in New Jersey emerging technology businesses located in business accelerators and business incubators over the period of the five fiscal years next following the effective date of the bill. The bill requires the EDA to prepare an annual report on the program, deliver the report to the Governor and the Legislature, and make the report available to the public on the authority's website. The sixth annual report is required to recommend to the Governor and the Legislature, whether the grant program, business tax credits, and gross income tax credits should be renewed or discontinued. | In Committee |
A3171 | Requires converting portion of Paramus and Menlo Park veterans' memorial homes into single occupancy rooms; requires upgrades to ventilation systems; provides Adjutant General discretion for additional room considerations. | Under this bill and subject to the availability of federal funds provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and federal funds provided or made accessible to the State from the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will convert at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park and at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus to single occupancy rooms. The rooms will be equipped with negative pressure ventilation to support infectious disease control measures, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems will be upgraded throughout the two homes to infection control system standards. If the federal funds are not sufficient to accomplish the conversions and upgrades, there will be appropriated such sums from the General Fund as necessary, in amounts subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, for use by the department to accomplish the changes outlined in the bill. | In Committee |
A2400 | Requires DOLWD to take measures to ensure State unemployment offices reopen immediately and remain open during and after public health emergency. | This bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to take all measures necessary to ensure that all State unemployment office which offers unemployment insurance services reopen immediately and remain open and ensure that the department and its agencies continue to provide services to individuals, including assistance with unemployment insurance. The commissioner is also required to re-open as soon as is practicable, by March 1, 2022, any State unemployment office closed on the effective date of this bill. The bill imposes salary reductions to the commissioner and other employees if the reopening deadline is not met. Under the bill, the total compensation of the commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioners, and the department's chief of staff are to be reduced by five percent every two weeks, for the first month, thereafter until all closed State unemployment office are reopened. Furthermore, after the first month of compensation reduction, the total compensation of the commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioners, and the department's chief of staff are to be reduced by 10 percent every subsequent month thereafter and until all closed State unemployment offices are reopened. There is established a special fund in the Department of the Treasury to be known as the "Unemployed Workers Compensation Fund," into which shall be deposited the sums collected from the compensation reductions under the bill. | In Committee |
A2710 | "Made in New Jersey Tax Credit Act"; provides CBT tax credits to taxpayers that purchase "New Jersey made" products. | This bill, designated the "Made in New Jersey Tax Credit Act," provides tax credits under the corporation business tax to taxpayers who produce purchase New Jersey made products for the purposes of retail sales, manufacturing, or a manufacturing production process. The tax credit is equal to 25 percent multiplied by the ratio between the costs incurred in the purchase of the New Jersey made products and the taxpayer's total costs incurred in the purchase of products for the purposes of retail sales or manufacturing. The total costs exclude any costs for products that the taxpayer can demonstrate could not have been substituted with a similar made in New Jersey product. However, if two-thirds or more of a taxpayer's total costs incurred are excluded, then the taxpayer is ineligible for the credit. When this credit is combined with other credits, it cannot exceed the tax liability otherwise due and cannot reduce the tax liability below the statutory minimum. The credit can be carried forward up to seven privilege periods after the privilege period for which the credit is allowed. "New Jersey made" means that all or virtually all the significant parts, processing, and labor that produce that product originate or are sourced in the State of New Jersey, and that the products do not contain or contain only negligible out of state content. | In Committee |
A2719 | Provides employer and employee protections pursuant to the use of legalized cannabis items. | This bill in section 1 amends section 48 of P.L. 2021. c. 16 concerning certain rights and obligations of employers and employees concerning the use of cannabis items. The bill provides that a drug test for cannabis shall not be done as part of a pre-employment screening, except for the employees outlined in paragraph (1) of subsection b. of 48 of P.L. 2021, c. 16. The bill provides an employer may determine to employ or not to employ a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert in the employer's discretion. Nothing in subsection a. of section 48 of P.L. 2021, c. 16 shall be interpreted to require that an employer use a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert for either drug testing or determinations of suspicion of an employee's usage of a cannabis item while engaged in the performance of the employee's work responsibilities nor shall the use of the Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert be deemed the industry standard for testing or making such suspicion determinations. An employer shall remain free to use scientifically reliable testing services and to exercise its own judgment in making a good faith suspicion determination. The bill provides that no employer shall take any action which has the effect of prohibiting an employee using cannabis products during non-work hours except under the following circumstances: (1) Upon a determination by an employer that the nature of the work of an employee at a critical infrastructure facility or a construction site has an exceptionally high risk of potential harm to other employees or to public safety if the employee were to be impaired through the use of cannabis. The approval to designate categories of such employees, or a specific employee of an employer, shall be made by the commission upon application of the employer. The commission shall approve such application upon finding that the standards in the bill have been met; (2) when the nature of the work of an employee is operating, maintaining, constructing or repairing a public utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities; (3) when such actions are required under the federal Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, 49 U.S.C. s. 5331; or (4) when the employer is subject to the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq. (5) when the employee is a law enforcement officer and the duties of the employment require the possession of a firearm. Section 2 of the bill amends N.J.S.A. 52: 17B-71 to provide that the Police Training Commission shall consult with the New Jersey State Police with respect to its administration of police training courses or programs for the training of police officers to be certified as a Drug Recognition Expert for detecting, identifying, and apprehending drug-impaired motor vehicle operators, and to consult with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission established by 31 of P.L.2019, c.153 (C.24:6I-24) with respect to developing standards and course curricula for certification as a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert in detecting and identifying an employee's usage of, or impairment from, a cannabis item or other intoxicating substance, and for assisting in the investigation of workplace accidents. | In Committee |
A488 | Establishes Overdose Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board. | The bill establishes the Overdose Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board in, but not of, the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the board would be to review overdose fatalities and near fatalities in New Jersey and to identify their causes, their relationship to governmental support systems, and methods of prevention. Specifically, the 13-member board would consist of the Commissioners of Health and Human Services, the Attorney General, and the Superintendent of State Police, or their designees; the State Medical Examiner, and the Executive Director of the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, who shall serve ex-officio; and seven public members appointed by the Governor. The public members would include representatives from the New Jersey Prosecutors Office, the Facing Addiction Task Force, The Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, New Jersey Prevention Network, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse New Jersey, a physician with expertise in drug addiction and substance use disorder treatment, and a substance use disorder counselor. The board would identify all overdose fatalities and near fatalities involving controlled substances or controlled substance analogs that occur in the New Jersey and determine which overdose fatalities and near fatalities would receive full review. Under the provisions of the bill, the board would be allowed to establish local or regional community-based teams to review the facts and circumstances surrounding the overdose fatalities and near fatalities identified by the board. The teams would include, at a minimum, members of the medical, law enforcement, forensic pathology, and drug addiction and substance use disorder treatment fields. The teams could add additional members or seek the advice of experts in other fields, according to the facts of a case. Each team would submit a report about its findings and recommendations, based on its review, to the board's chairperson. The board would then to review the reports submitted by each team and issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature. The report would include specific information about cases reviewed by the board and recommendations for achieving better coordination and collaboration among State and local agencies and system-wide improvements in services to prevent overdose fatalities and near fatalities. The bill requires the board to maintain a master confidential file containing identifying information and information on an overdose fatality and the circumstances surrounding the fatality. The file would contain similar information for a near fatality reviewed by the board. The file would serve as the minimum record of the case and would not be subject to discovery, but could be used by the board's chairperson to refer a case for an appropriate agency to investigate or to provide services. The board would also be able to subpoena and review school, private medical, hospital, substance use disorder treatment, mental health, and other pertinent records of the person whose overdose death or near fatality is being reviewed, except as provided in any federal or State statute, regulation, or Executive Order relating to the confidentiality of criminal investigations, criminal investigative files, and medical records from programs or activities involving substance use disorder education, prevention, training, treatment, or rehabilitation. If, as a result of a records review, the board believes that an overdose fatality or near fatality is the result of another person's actions, the board would be required to notify or verify that notification has been made to the county prosecutor where the fatality or near fatality occurred or was pronounced. The bill stipulates that board members could not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of providing in good faith any reports, records, opinions, or recommendations pursuant to the provisions of the bill, and allows the board to solicit and receive grants or funds for its purposes made available by governmental, public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit agencies. | In Committee |
A1541 | Establishes mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment for second offense involving use of juvenile in automobile theft. | This bill amends current law to establish an 18-month mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be ineligible for parole, for a second offense or subsequent offense involving use of a juvenile in automobile theft. Under current law, it is a crime of a second degree for a person 18 years of age or older to knowingly use or solicit a person 17 years of age or younger to commit automobile theft. Second degree crimes generally are punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of $150,000, or both. The sponsor's intent is to deter the use of juveniles to illegally procure automobiles. There is currently an increase in automobile crimes in New Jersey, not only for purposes of selling the parts of stolen automobiles, but also to ship automobiles overseas and for use in other crimes. Therefore, this bill ensures that a person who engages in this illegal conduct serves at least 18 months in prison before being eligible for parole. | In Committee |
A1125 | "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act"; repeals certain sections of law; requires additional aid to lower property taxes commensurate with residents' ability to support schools; appropriates $2.9 billion. | The bill is to be known as the "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act." The bill requires that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, State school aid will be provided to school districts at levels consistent with the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) up to their adequacy budget, and prevents future cuts to State aid. It also requires a school district to reduce its tax levy in an amount equal to any increase in State school aid above the prior budget year under certain circumstances, allowing the district to subsequently increase its levy from a lower level than the prior budget year. It is the sponsors' intent to bring equity to New Jersey's school system by increasing State aid contributions to SFRA adequacy budget levels in a manner consistent with the "thorough and efficient" education clause in the State Constitution (N.J. Const. art. VIII, sec. 4, par.1). Providing school aid in this manner will reduce property taxes based on the ability of each school district's residents to support schools. The bill repeals certain sections of law enacted as part of P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to "S2") that resulted in loss of aid and higher property taxes in certain school districts. The bill requires the State to provide aid to school districts equal to the greatest amount of:· aid according to the SFRA; · aid according to the SFRA and, if applicable, additional aid to provided to school districts that lost funding as a result of the implementation of S2; or· State school aid received in any of the school years between and including the 2017-2018 school year and the 2022-2023 school year. Under the bill, a district may petition the Commissioner of Education and State Treasurer for additional aid if it demonstrates a willingness to reduce its adjusted tax levy by an amount equal to any additional aid received. The bill requires a school district to reduce its school tax levy by the same amount of their State school aid increase above the prior year if the total tax levy of the municipality or municipalities comprising the district is more than five percent of school district income. After lowering its levy commensurate with a State aid increase, a school district may increase its levy by an amount necessary to cover an increase in per pupil administrative costs and deferred revenue. The bill requires a district to submit a proposal to voters of the district if it wishes to exceed this limitation. If the voters do not approve the proposal, a school district may add to its adjusted tax levy the difference between the maximum amount to be raised by taxation for the current budget year and the actual amount to be raised by taxation for the current school year if the amount of State school aid and the adjusted tax levy is below the adequacy budget in the next three succeeding budget years. Lastly, the bill appropriates $2,946,618,000 for the purposes of providing additional aid under the bill. The bill stipulates that any unexpended balances are appropriated to the Schools Development Authority for the purposes of supporting school facilities projects and supporting emergent needs and capital maintenance in school districts. | In Committee |
A1349 | Prohibits mandatory mask use at youth camps. | This bill provides that no person working at, volunteering at, or attending a youth camp will be required to wear a mask while present on the premises of the youth camp. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to prohibit any person from voluntarily wearing a mask while present on the premises of a youth camp. | In Committee |
A1755 | Eliminates the New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax and repeals parts of chapters 33 through 37 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes. | This bill repeals the Transfer Inheritance Tax for transfers of estate for decedents dying on or after July 1, 2015. Currently, New Jersey imposes a Transfer Inheritance Tax on beneficiaries for the receipt of assets from a New Jersey resident decedent and certain New Jersey assets of nonresident decedents, as determined by the value of the assets transferred and the beneficiary's relationship to the decedent. The Transfer Inheritance Tax is one of the State's oldest taxes, originating in 1892. The tax is imposed on the transfer of all personal and real property in the estates of New Jersey resident decedents and of all tangible and real property located in New Jersey in the estates of nonresident decedents. The tax was extensively revised in 1985 to exempt from taxation transfers to spouses, ancestors and descendants of the decedent. But "lateral" transfers, bequests to brothers and sisters of the decedent or their children, and to nonrelatives are taxed at rates of up to 16 percent. This bill would eliminate all remaining taxable "classes" of beneficiaries and eliminate New Jersey's distinction as being one of only six states to impose an inheritance tax, and of being one of only two states, including Maryland, to impose both an inheritance tax and an estate tax. | In Committee |
A1355 | Prohibits bill certified for fiscal note or estimate from being released from committee without fiscal note or estimate. | This bill prohibits a bill that that has been certified for a fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate from being released from committee unless and until the fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate is complete. | In Committee |
Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Suspend Rule 22:5b | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 40 | Assembly | Republican | In Office | 01/09/2018 |